Taping Mouth and rebreathing CO2?

sleepytom · Post by **sleepytom** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 9:49 am

Hi: I'm a mouth-breather and about to give up on CPAP, but read about mouth-taping as a solution. Not worried about vomiting and dying, but there was one post (can't find any more) about:

What happens if your CPAP stops working (say, a power outage), your mouth is taped, and you start "rebreathing" your own CO2? Wouldn't that be fatal?

I use a Mirage Swift ResMed thing with nasal pillows, so there is a place for CO2 to get "pushed out" through the little vent with the machine on.

Thanks,
Tom

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): resmed, mirage, swift, CPAP, Nasal Pillows

JeffH · Post by **JeffH** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 9:58 am

If you are like me the instant the power goes off and your cpap stops you will wake up. That's why I have a marine deep cycle battery and an inverter next to the bed...so I can still sleep when the power goes out.

Don't worry about it. Tape up and go to sleep.

JeffH

Lyza · Post by **Lyza** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 10:11 am

taped or not taped... if your machine stops working you will know it and you'll either wake up or subconciously rip that mask off in your sleep.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 10:17 am

How many times have you ever vomited in your sleep?
All masks are supposed to have valves that prevent suffocation.
Get a surge protector and a UPS.

Den

sleepytom · Post by **sleepytom** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 10:24 am

Thanks for the input, all:

Again, I'm NOT worried about vomiting. Just about rebreathing CO2 if the power goes off.

Thanks,
Tom

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:04 am

Last week my power went out for three minutes, I use a nasal interface, and don't tape because I don't mouthbreath. I never dies or even woke up. I kept the mask on.

In my cave, I have a APC 1250, but on the roof of my cave, I just use normal A/C power. Jim

GeneS · Post by **GeneS** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 11:14 pm

Cpap does not work if you breath through your mouth so I can understand why you would be ready to give up on cpap. The good news is there are several ways to eliminate mouth breathing. Ones that I am aware of are.

1) Use good chin strap. I use a wide one that is good.
2) Use a dental device with the chin strap. I use a snorban.
3) Use a full face mask. Cpap will then work even if you breath through your mouth.
4) Tape your mouth. I have never tried it. Read other posts from people who have done it.

Based on what I have read about CO2 rebreathing there needs to be a certain volume of airflow to flush the CO2. If you breath without the cpap running for any period of time you will likely rebreath CO2. I do not use a battery backup and keep my mouth strapped shut. As far as I know I always wake up when the power shuts off accidently. I do not know how much CO2 will cause a problem or why I seem to wake up.

GeneS

sleepytom · Post by **sleepytom** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 11:19 pm

Thanks so much for the input!
I went to my friendly neighborhood sleep appliance store today and got a Comfort 2 Full Face Mask. Going to try it tonight.

Wish me luck!

Tom

Taping Mouth and rebreathing CO2?

Taping Mouth and rebreathing CO2?

Let's not get on a vomiting sidetrack

Got a Full Fask Mask

Mask

Additional Comments: Equipment isn't correct, S9 ASV w/H5i