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I am a long time vent user. Over the years, I have used a Cuirass shell,
trach, and now an IPPV (Bantam) with a Lip-Seal mouth piece. I have used
this last system for the past 16 years >>
I used a lip seal at night for a long time, then switched to a nasal
vent and have been extremely happy with it (except when stuffed up with a
cold, when I go back to the lip seal). I find that I don't drool so much,
and also I can talk with my wife without having to remove the lip seal. All
I used to get back, if I did not was, "What are you trying to say?" I had a
further problem.....since using the lip seal for a number of years my front
teeth do not close, and I cannot bite well. If I try to eat a sandwich with
tough meat in the center, out pulls the entire slice of meat. It can be
embarrasing....has anyone else had this problem? I suspect that either my
front teeth wore down from the bite on the lip seal, or my molars grew down
while the front teeth could not.
A MAJOR advantage of the nasal mask is that you don't need a water
humidifier in the line....try that with a lip seal -- after 2 hours your
tongue is like leather. If you do have some dryness, however, try using
something like a "Thermoven1200" in-line heat and moisture exchanger. This
has a volume of 50-75 cc and has a membrane which absorbs moisture from your
breath on the exhale and releases it on the inhale.
Anyway, I've been really happy with the nasal vent. Indeed, there is a
sometime problem of getting a good seal, but if you are able to adjust the
controls on your vent you can compensate. One problem in getting used to it
is to learn how to keep the back of your throat closed so that the air goes
to your lungs instead of directly out your mouth.
My mask is supplied through my health-care agency, but unfortunately I
cannot give you the name of it. It is NOT the Monarch Mini-Mask that was
discussed on this list some time ago. I tried it and found it decidedly
inferior to the type that has a silicone rubber cushion for each nostril.
I wish you well - maybe you can give the nasal seal another try.
Dick T