Joining the ranks of those who tape

Since I switched to the Airsense Auto and the Dreamwear Mask I've been noticing here and there that I'm mouth breathing, which never used to be a problem. My husband has occasionally complained about the "noise of the machine" at night, which must be somewhat loud if he can hear it without his hearing aids. When I question him, I'm pretty sure he is hearing the air rushing out of my mouth, since my machine is almost dead silent. I haven't checked with Sleepyhead, but my machine doesn't show excessive leaks with that mask.

Recently I had a cold. I used my Quattro while I was gooey and stuffed up, but now my nose is clear and I'm back on the DreamWear. I woke myself a few times the other night with air streaming out of my mouth. So last night I used a small band aid, positioned vertically from the skin above my upper lip to mid-chin, to keep my jaw from dropping. That seemed to do the trick--I don't want to do the full on taping to seal the lips as that seems a little claustrophobic to me. My asthma is kicked up and it was hard enough to cough with just that little bit of tape.

Since they don't sell those smallish bandaids individually, this could get kind of expensive. What tape is best to use? I have pretty sensitive skin.

PS, please don't suggest a cervical collar. Because of my genetic disorder I have a short, very wide neck and would be exceedingly uncomfortable in that. And I have this "thing" about things around my neck (thank goodness I'm female and never had to wear a tie!). So I'm not going to try a cervical collar.

What tape is best to use? I have pretty sensitive skin.

I use CVS "Gentle Paper" tape. It sticks well, removes easily, and does not irritate my skin at all.
I also used to awaken to the sound of air rushing out of my mouth, and the tape eliminated that.

Please see my recent thread where I tell you specifically which tape works the best and is available cheaply at WalMart: viewtopic/t113726/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=113581

Taping is something that you get used to - just give it a little time. Look at the numbers on your machine to see the difference, as I show in the pictures I posted in the thread above.

For band-aides, the best by far are the ones my doctor used on me and the best price is on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JXV5G6/ These things are amazing and can stay on for days. Cheap too at $8 for 100. I think they are not the best choice for taping lips, though because the pad is in the way, unless you put them across your lips sideways. I never tried them for taping my mouth as I prefer the feel of the paper tape and it doesn't irritate my skin at all.

You might try a headband as illustrated here: viewtopic/p1086296/Flow-Examples-of-Mou ... l#p1086296
I think it is more comfortable and more "natural" than tape and in the long run probably cheaper. You might even have one lying about.

It didn't work for me, but we are all different. I would still blow air out through my fluttering lips even with a headband or chinstrap. For me, the only thing that is going to work is holding the lips together. I am glad that I experimented.

Thanks, all. I guess a trip to Walmart is in order this weekend to check out the 3M tape.

I do plan to tape vertically, I'm assuming that's what you mean by "sideways"--perpendicular to the lips, not horizontal across the lips. I liked the bandaid because the pad was over the red part of my lips, rather than having to "suck them in" when applying the tape, but I can work with the tape.

I have a receding lower jaw, essentially no chin, so chinstraps would simply not work.

I'm still wondering if it's something with the algorithm of the Autosense that is causing me to leak at the mouth? It was never a problem with the PRS1, although, to be fair, I had only been using a FF mask the last few years with the PRS1, and possibly that changed my facial "posture" by pushing the jaw back more.

OTOH, no taping last night, no waking to the dragon's roar, no dry mouth, and I slept entirely through the night for the first time in a very long time (with weird, vivid dreams). I don't get many nights like that.

Paper tape. I have very sensitive skin and allergy to adhesives and that works for me. One caveat, though, is that I sometimes have to replace the tape 2 or 3 times during the night. Annoying but not a big deal. Also, I've noticed the 3M brand of tape is *very* sticky and I was getting into a panic that I couldn't get it off in the morning. I started making a little folded over tab on one side so it's easy to rip off in a hurry.

Janknitz - yes, I actually do tape horizontally across the lips from left to right. I suspect that taping just the middle of the lips would be sufficient but I like the secure feeling of just taping across. Your leak readings on the website or sleepyhead will tell you how well it's working. Taping this way gives me zero leaks.

Note that the package in WalMart is labeled Nexcare - the 3M is smaller and in red just above that and also can be seen on the inside of the tape roll where the much more well known name is - 3M Micropore. They also had two different types of Nexcare tape - I prefer the "gentle paper" and have not tried the other one, which I think is plastic.

This stuff sticks to skin like nothing else, but only once - it can't be moved. I also fold over a bit on the end or corner to provide a "tab" for easy removal and suck my lips in before applying which gives me a nice straight line to put the tape over.

The back of the package reads:

Ideal for:
- fragile or sensitive skin
- frequent gauze changes
- easy removal
- post sugery applications

Other benefits:
- tears easily for desired length/width
- breathable - for added comfort
- hypoallergenic
- dermatologist tested

Hello.

(influenced by taping threads)

I thought I would share, "fyi-style", that a few days ago, I was a few dollars short on my Amazon order to get a special "add on order price" and I needed to spend a couple dollars.

I looked up lip masks since it had been a cpaptalk topic and was on my mind that day ... there were several to choose from on amazon. So I bought a pack of 10.

I've had one on for a few hours tonight.
No way would they stick your mouth together like tape.

...but ...

I am not sorry to have used one.
Very interesting!

My lips feel super soft and I currently moved it somewhere else

They are definitely worth having for creative times.
...for creative types.

cpap serendipity

I've seen this on the net but have yet to try them.

http://www.chinupstrip.com

I'd be using them in conjunction with my cervical collar if I got them.

Instead of tapes, have you tried this full face mask:




http://www.directhomemedical.com/pdf/mi ... itting.pdf

There is:
FREE 30-DAY SATISFACTION GUARANTEE
Try this item at home and, if you're not completely satisfied, return it within 30-days for a full refund of the original purchase.

The only items that you need to specify are the mouth cushion, Small or Large, and the headstraps.

I taped last night and slept through the night without waking. This is pretty unusual for me, there's almost always a wake up around 4:30 a.m. although I can usually go right back to sleep. I think the tape is helping.

Especially nice since my daughter's high school was on a rare late schedule for a morning teacher's meeting and I didn't have to get up at the crack of dawn to get her to school at 7 a.m. for her "zero period" class. So lovely to sleep all night and get an extra hour of sleep besides!!!

Janknitz wrote:I taped last night and slept through the night without waking. This is pretty unusual for me, there's almost always a wake up around 4:30 a.m. although I can usually go right back to sleep. I think the tape is helping.

If I was awaken at 4:30 then I would need to remove the tape to be able to rinse my mouth with mouth wash from the accumulation of junk in it. To go back to sleep I would need to retape and remask and next watch some TV.

avi123 wrote: rinse my mouth with mouth wash from the accumulation of junk in it.

I'm sure someone is mildly horrified and sympathetic to the fact that your mouth accumulates junk... must be the thoughts leaking from your head that normally wind up here.

Full face masks don't work so well at high pressure and I start at 13. It's much easier to keep a seal with nasal pillows and the AirFit P10 is the best mask I have ever tried.

Tape is cheap, works wonderfully, and gives me a "secure" feeling when I tape for the night.

With less leaks, I am getting less arousals:

It's all a matter of preference. Do what you like and what works for YOU!