yes i mouthbreathe, my tongue is a bit tongue tied so i can't even get it to the roof of my mouth properly ffs
Other than invasive jaw surgery, I find that the mouthguard is the best solution for sleep apnea, as it actually changes the structure of your lower third (temporarily). CPAP machines (continuous positive airway pressure) machines are hit or miss. Some people love them, some people hate them. You have to wear a mask that hooked up to a machine that forces air into your mouth. And you have to keep the mask tightly gripped to your face. The air tickles and dries out your throat, which gives you a noncontagious cough the next day.
While I found the CPAP uncomfortable at first, I did find it helped a little, but it wasn't enough. However, using it in conjunction with my mouthguard has helped. Even though the mouthguard opens my airway, it obstructs my mouth opening. So the machine helps the air get in. If you decide to go the CPAP route, I'd suggest getting a used one. Going through the insurance to get a new one is a pain the ass. You have to get a sleep test first, which can take forever to get an appointment for.
There's two type of sleep tests. One where you take home a machine, and one where you sleep overnight in a lab, hooked up to a more complex machine. I didn't like the take home test. It was very uncomfortable, and I wasn't able to sleep long enough to get an accurate reading. I was initially only diagnosed with "mild apnea", which didn't match up with how shitty I felt.
I ended up doing the in lab test, which is more comprehensive. I was diagnosed with severe apnea, with an AHI (Apena Hypoindex) of 37 apnea events per hour.
Another annoying aspect of going through insurance is that they may give you the wrong type of mask. They initially gave me a nasal mask, which is bs since I have a deviated setpum, chronic nasal congestion, and am a mouthbreather. I had to go through the insurance yet again to get a full face mask. And you need to make sure it fits right. If it doesn't, air will leak out, and you won't get the air you need. I had to go through 3 before getting one that fit right.
Also, insurance will force you to use the machine for a certain amount of hours per night, (like 4 or so). However, some people find the machine super uncomfortable, and find it hard to meet compliance. On the other hand, it can force you to adapt and get used to the machine.
TL;DR just get a used machine and mask. Just do your research so that you make sure you have the right kind of machine and mask.
As for the custom mouthpiece (which I recommend), I had to pay $650 out of pocket to get it made by the dentist. You can get cheap mouthpieces online, where you boil them in a pot of water, and bite into it, creating an imprint. However, I have spent so much time and money trying to fix this, I went with the dentist to be safe.
I really hope you get better. Nobody deserves to feel this way.
