Good Morning ALL- I have been trying to use the Poligrip strips as an alternative to taping since my skin was beginning to get sore, but I cannot seem to get the darn strips to work. How in the world do you get them to stick. They just seem to get gooey and then don't keep my lips together. What am I doing wrong?? Trust me my mouth has a life of its own when I'm asleep and I even have to double tape most nights so this strip doesn't seem to have enough power(if you know what I mean). Also, do you use more than 1 strip at a time?? One strip just doesn't seem to be long enough. HELP!! I really need to get this to work somehow. THANKS!!!!
HELP!! Can't get Poligrip to work
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grumpygirl
- Posts: 296
- Joined: Sun Dec 09, 2007 1:36 pm
Most cut the one length into two, lengthwise. The be sure to just dampen the strip, don't get it soaking wet. Just a few drops of water should do it. If you get it too wet it turns to goo.
Brenda
Brenda
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Sorry you did not get more response to your plea for help!!
The way I use Poligrip Strips is as follows: at about the mid point, cut part of the wa through, not quite reaching the other side. Bend into a V shape. Thoroughly lick bottom lip. Place V-shaped strip onto lip. Thoroughly lick upper lip. Firmly close lips together, using fingers to press lips together.
That's all it takes for me. I have a pretty small mouth, so this one strip is enough to almost fully cover my bottom lip. There are a few people who use two strips to fully cover their lips. The trick is not to get them too wet, but wet enough. I used to keep a small container of distilled water on my dressing table and would hold the strip with a pair of tweezers and make a quick dip into the water before placing it on dry lips. That worked well, too, but my new way is just a little easier.
This has been working for me very well for almost two years now. However, if you have to double tape, they may not be strong enough for you. Good luck.
The way I use Poligrip Strips is as follows: at about the mid point, cut part of the wa through, not quite reaching the other side. Bend into a V shape. Thoroughly lick bottom lip. Place V-shaped strip onto lip. Thoroughly lick upper lip. Firmly close lips together, using fingers to press lips together.
That's all it takes for me. I have a pretty small mouth, so this one strip is enough to almost fully cover my bottom lip. There are a few people who use two strips to fully cover their lips. The trick is not to get them too wet, but wet enough. I used to keep a small container of distilled water on my dressing table and would hold the strip with a pair of tweezers and make a quick dip into the water before placing it on dry lips. That worked well, too, but my new way is just a little easier.
This has been working for me very well for almost two years now. However, if you have to double tape, they may not be strong enough for you. Good luck.
Linda B.
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Guest
Also, make sure you don't have any lipstick or lip-balm residue at all on your lips.
Press your lips together with your fingers and hold for about 15 seconds with the damp strip in place. I also bend the strip into a V shape and do a quick dunk in my water glass before applying.
Hope you have some luck with this!
Press your lips together with your fingers and hold for about 15 seconds with the damp strip in place. I also bend the strip into a V shape and do a quick dunk in my water glass before applying.
Hope you have some luck with this!
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irritatedRPSGT
Oh my goodness, I'm very curious to find out who instructed you to do this in the first place!?
My first thought is, if you're mouth is opening, you're pressure's not adequate for you. The majority of the time the patients mouth will close when they start receiving the proper amount of oxygen. If not, we use a chinstrap, but you should adjust over time.
For those pts who wear dentures or just have air seaping through their lips we add humidity to create moisture, therefore achieving a seal. I was NEVER told taping lips was acceptable.
As a LAST resort there's a mask that fits over the nose and mouth. Again, who told you something this silly?!?! What really concerns me is, there seems to be more than one person who does this!
My first thought is, if you're mouth is opening, you're pressure's not adequate for you. The majority of the time the patients mouth will close when they start receiving the proper amount of oxygen. If not, we use a chinstrap, but you should adjust over time.
For those pts who wear dentures or just have air seaping through their lips we add humidity to create moisture, therefore achieving a seal. I was NEVER told taping lips was acceptable.
As a LAST resort there's a mask that fits over the nose and mouth. Again, who told you something this silly?!?! What really concerns me is, there seems to be more than one person who does this!
It's good to see a RPSGT taking the time to read the forum, and especially to post. (Even though I'm not really sure what a RPSGT is.) I think you'll find that here we tend to deal with the real world, where if something can go wrong it often will, not the theoretical one where everything goes according to the plans laid out by medical professionals.irritatedRPSGT wrote:Oh my goodness, I'm very curious to find out who instructed you to do this in the first place!?
My first thought is, if you're mouth is opening, you're pressure's not adequate for you. The majority of the time the patients mouth will close when they start receiving the proper amount of oxygen. If not, we use a chinstrap, but you should adjust over time.
For those pts who wear dentures or just have air seaping through their lips we add humidity to create moisture, therefore achieving a seal. I was NEVER told taping lips was acceptable.
As a LAST resort there's a mask that fits over the nose and mouth. Again, who told you something this silly?!?! What really concerns me is, there seems to be more than one person who does this!
Many people use chin straps, but that only keeps the teeth together, if your pressure is high then the lips often leak even with a chin strap, and then you use tape. So low pressure causing mouth leaks is not necessarily correct.
The biggest issue for CPAP is compliance, and the biggest issue for compliance is the mask - many of us do not tolerate full face masks, and while some manage to adjust some do not. Even with a full face mask, you can still get mouth breathing, but there at least you're getting treatment.
Hard and fast rules, when they do not accept that some people will not fit the rule, will either encourage people to become non-compliant or to move away and find answers elsewhere. For "elsewhere" read "here". This is the most practically supportive group of people you could hope to find. They may not be professionals, but they know what they are talking about because they do it, every day.
Colin
Who, not matter what it looks like, is not attacking irritatedRPSGT
Mr irritatedRPSGT can you explain who the 'we' you refer to in your (not you're) post? If you are a 'sleep professional' you could share more of your knowledge and experience with the forum as a registered member?
The forum is full of people posting about taping or sticking lips together as well as using chin straps. I seem to mouth breath from time to time but cannot (cannot!) tolerate a full face mask as I feel totally claustrophobic with one on.
So I've tried chin strapping and have some success. I've also tried taping but have limited success due to mustache & beard, so am interested in any other fix someone can come up with, including 'polident'.
Cheers
Michael
The forum is full of people posting about taping or sticking lips together as well as using chin straps. I seem to mouth breath from time to time but cannot (cannot!) tolerate a full face mask as I feel totally claustrophobic with one on.
So I've tried chin strapping and have some success. I've also tried taping but have limited success due to mustache & beard, so am interested in any other fix someone can come up with, including 'polident'.
Cheers
Michael
Michael
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grumpygirl
- Posts: 296
- Joined: Sun Dec 09, 2007 1:36 pm
Well, I never thought my little post would create such a response. I cannot imagine what I would be feeling like now if I had not found this site to help me adjust to CPAP and that includes TAPING!! I have tried many FF masks and just cannot seem to find one I can STICK with !! The Opus is the only mask I have been able to tolerate for any length of time and the only one I have been 100% compliant with. I may still have issues to work out with the mouth breathing but I find it mildly irritating that someone would consider this solution(taping) silly! My own sleep doc said it was something she could not endorse but if it was helping me be compliant then she couldn't say much,especially since I have NOT found a FF mask I can wear.
Many of us have issues other than OSA that can interfere with picking a mask. I for one have TMJ so that makes most chin straps difficult if not very uncomfortable to wear. Also I have certain neck issues that make many of the FF mask painful since the lower straps hit me at a place that often causes migranes for me. THEREFORE- if I want to benefit from CPAP therapy AT ALL I must find a way to wear a nasal mask that will enable me to be compliant. That involves TAPING or something similar!!
If anyone has any other suggestions as to how I can comfortably wear a FF mask or how I can keep my mouth and lips closed while sleeping PLEASE let me know!!! My very life depends on it!!! THANKS for allowing me this opportunity to vent.
Many of us have issues other than OSA that can interfere with picking a mask. I for one have TMJ so that makes most chin straps difficult if not very uncomfortable to wear. Also I have certain neck issues that make many of the FF mask painful since the lower straps hit me at a place that often causes migranes for me. THEREFORE- if I want to benefit from CPAP therapy AT ALL I must find a way to wear a nasal mask that will enable me to be compliant. That involves TAPING or something similar!!
If anyone has any other suggestions as to how I can comfortably wear a FF mask or how I can keep my mouth and lips closed while sleeping PLEASE let me know!!! My very life depends on it!!! THANKS for allowing me this opportunity to vent.
I believe that RPSGT stands for Registered Polysomnography Technician.
Irritated, thanks for posting. I completely understand that medical "professionals" cannot in good conscience recommend something such as lip taping.
HOWEVER, if it is "just" a case of air escaping thru lips, a chin strap is not going to do diddley-squat for us. Full face masks are NOTORIOUS for being difficult to fit w/comfort and w/o leaks for many CPAP patients AND the local DME suppliers for a good part are NOT as lenient w/their mask trial/exchange policy as can be NECESSARY for full face mask fit. Those DME supplier are difficult enough to work w/getting a good comfortable, virtually leak-free nasal cushion or nasal pillows!
GrumpyGirl, you may well be one who both attempts to mouth breathe AND experiences the "lip flutters". Try RestedGal's suggestion of the leg of a pantyhose tights for a chin strap. You tie it at the TOP of your head, not at the neck where you have your problems.
As for the advice: "if you're mouth is opening, you're pressure's not adequate for you. The majority of the time the patients mouth will close when they start receiving the proper amount of oxygen. If not, we use a chinstrap, but you should adjust over time."
That has NOT necessarily been my experience. It does sometimes hold true if my snozz is stuffy - BUT - for the most part it turned out to be a matter of the pressure being too high. This is especially true for the "lip flutters" which sleep medicine really has NO answers for except a good fitting, comfortable, full face mask IF you can find one.
And therein is where taping and Polident Denture Gel or Strips enter into the picture and usually provide the assistance need to stop the leaks and leaking.
Stop in again to visit or to post, Irritated. You will seldom find us "knocking" or "picking on" the RPSGTs. Its the DME suppliers, the DME suppliers' RTs and the sleep "specialist" doctors you will generally see us picking on (with avid glee a good share of the time - and usually deservedly so). The RPSGTs usually garner our most respect of those in the sleep profession, moreso than the doctors. And we even had SEVERAL DME suppliers' RTs who frequent the forum that we REALLY like and RESPECT! But for the most part it is the RPSGTs we favor and respect the most in the profession.
And, please, oh please!, our well-liked and respected RTs who favor us w/your participation do NOT take the above as a slight!!!! I am talking each of the segments of the sleep profession as an entirety.
Personally, I fault the sleep doctors the most. At least the DME supplier's RTs have some reason for their "laxity" in that they are hampered by their bosses' restrictions and usually CPAP is not the major portion of their job. The RPSGTs are for the majority, the most professional and caring of the sleep profession lot! And most deserving of our respect.
Irritated, thanks for posting. I completely understand that medical "professionals" cannot in good conscience recommend something such as lip taping.
HOWEVER, if it is "just" a case of air escaping thru lips, a chin strap is not going to do diddley-squat for us. Full face masks are NOTORIOUS for being difficult to fit w/comfort and w/o leaks for many CPAP patients AND the local DME suppliers for a good part are NOT as lenient w/their mask trial/exchange policy as can be NECESSARY for full face mask fit. Those DME supplier are difficult enough to work w/getting a good comfortable, virtually leak-free nasal cushion or nasal pillows!
GrumpyGirl, you may well be one who both attempts to mouth breathe AND experiences the "lip flutters". Try RestedGal's suggestion of the leg of a pantyhose tights for a chin strap. You tie it at the TOP of your head, not at the neck where you have your problems.
As for the advice: "if you're mouth is opening, you're pressure's not adequate for you. The majority of the time the patients mouth will close when they start receiving the proper amount of oxygen. If not, we use a chinstrap, but you should adjust over time."
That has NOT necessarily been my experience. It does sometimes hold true if my snozz is stuffy - BUT - for the most part it turned out to be a matter of the pressure being too high. This is especially true for the "lip flutters" which sleep medicine really has NO answers for except a good fitting, comfortable, full face mask IF you can find one.
And therein is where taping and Polident Denture Gel or Strips enter into the picture and usually provide the assistance need to stop the leaks and leaking.
Stop in again to visit or to post, Irritated. You will seldom find us "knocking" or "picking on" the RPSGTs. Its the DME suppliers, the DME suppliers' RTs and the sleep "specialist" doctors you will generally see us picking on (with avid glee a good share of the time - and usually deservedly so). The RPSGTs usually garner our most respect of those in the sleep profession, moreso than the doctors. And we even had SEVERAL DME suppliers' RTs who frequent the forum that we REALLY like and RESPECT! But for the most part it is the RPSGTs we favor and respect the most in the profession.
And, please, oh please!, our well-liked and respected RTs who favor us w/your participation do NOT take the above as a slight!!!! I am talking each of the segments of the sleep profession as an entirety.
Personally, I fault the sleep doctors the most. At least the DME supplier's RTs have some reason for their "laxity" in that they are hampered by their bosses' restrictions and usually CPAP is not the major portion of their job. The RPSGTs are for the majority, the most professional and caring of the sleep profession lot! And most deserving of our respect.
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Sleepdeprived
- Posts: 325
- Joined: Mon May 14, 2007 3:07 pm
- Location: Florida
[quote="irritatedRPSGT"]Oh my goodness, I'm very curious to find out who instructed you to do this in the first place!?
My first thought is, if you're mouth is opening, you're pressure's not adequate for you. The majority of the time the patients mouth will close when they start receiving the proper amount of oxygen. If not, we use a chinstrap, but you should adjust over time.
For those pts who wear dentures or just have air seaping through their lips we add humidity to create moisture, therefore achieving a seal. I was NEVER told taping lips was acceptable.
As a LAST resort there's a mask that fits over the nose and mouth. Again, who told you something this silly?!?! What really concerns me is, there seems to be more than one person who does this!
My first thought is, if you're mouth is opening, you're pressure's not adequate for you. The majority of the time the patients mouth will close when they start receiving the proper amount of oxygen. If not, we use a chinstrap, but you should adjust over time.
For those pts who wear dentures or just have air seaping through their lips we add humidity to create moisture, therefore achieving a seal. I was NEVER told taping lips was acceptable.
As a LAST resort there's a mask that fits over the nose and mouth. Again, who told you something this silly?!?! What really concerns me is, there seems to be more than one person who does this!
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irritated RPSGT
Hi guys,
One person asked me not to take this as a slight. I try to not to take anything personally. Just wanted to clarify a few things.
RPSGT stands for Registered Polysomnographic Technologist. We get registered the same as RNs.
In reading some of your replies I get the feeling some of you thought I was a proponent of the FFM. This can't be further from the truth. I believe nasal masks are the best route. Nasal pillows are also up there except for those pts who require a high pressure. Please note, my OPINIONS only come from experience.
The way I explain mouth breathing to my pts is like this:
A lot of people come in and say they're mouth breathers. They may be. The obstruction in their airways (nose to lungs) are causing them to use 2 sources to get the O2 the body needs. However, once you start getting the proper amount of oxygen you're mouth should close. If it should happen to take you a little longer to adjust we have what's called a chinstrap. It will be placed under your chin and fastened snuggly on top of your head to resist your jaw from opening.
You may also experience, what I call 'lip flapping'. This is where a tiny bit of air will escape through your lips. In this case I'll add heated humidity to help create more of a seal for your lips.
Once I hit what's called the optimal pressure for you your airways will be held open to allow you to breathe more consistently and in turn, sleep more consistently. Prior to hitting this pressure your mouth will act as a second source of O2. If the pressure should get higher than you can tolerate you'll start 'mouth popping' when you exhale. You'll start to look like a blowfish. This is not desired and definitely not an adequate pressure for you.
The bulk of my training has come from a few reputable people. The Dr. is considered the "Grandmother of Sleep Medicine" and another person is a former President of the BRPT (Board of Polysomnographic Technologists--who we are registered by). I'm not the type of person who shoots my mouth off without good reason. I only have the best intentions in mind. I would hate to see anybody do harm to themselves. When I asked my co-worker, who is an RPSGT and CRT, her thoughts on this her eyes grew just as wide and jaw dropped just as far.
Please, all I ask is that you ask the Dr. who prescribed CPAP/BiPAP/VPAP to you if he/she agrees with sealing your mouth with tape or if they feel your pressure is somehow inadequate. Remember, your pressure will change over time.
I'm only a tech and our job is to collect the data. Your Dr.'s are the ones with answers.
Oh yeah, I agree with you on the DME companies. Hope I helped clarify my initial thought.
One person asked me not to take this as a slight. I try to not to take anything personally. Just wanted to clarify a few things.
RPSGT stands for Registered Polysomnographic Technologist. We get registered the same as RNs.
In reading some of your replies I get the feeling some of you thought I was a proponent of the FFM. This can't be further from the truth. I believe nasal masks are the best route. Nasal pillows are also up there except for those pts who require a high pressure. Please note, my OPINIONS only come from experience.
The way I explain mouth breathing to my pts is like this:
A lot of people come in and say they're mouth breathers. They may be. The obstruction in their airways (nose to lungs) are causing them to use 2 sources to get the O2 the body needs. However, once you start getting the proper amount of oxygen you're mouth should close. If it should happen to take you a little longer to adjust we have what's called a chinstrap. It will be placed under your chin and fastened snuggly on top of your head to resist your jaw from opening.
You may also experience, what I call 'lip flapping'. This is where a tiny bit of air will escape through your lips. In this case I'll add heated humidity to help create more of a seal for your lips.
Once I hit what's called the optimal pressure for you your airways will be held open to allow you to breathe more consistently and in turn, sleep more consistently. Prior to hitting this pressure your mouth will act as a second source of O2. If the pressure should get higher than you can tolerate you'll start 'mouth popping' when you exhale. You'll start to look like a blowfish. This is not desired and definitely not an adequate pressure for you.
The bulk of my training has come from a few reputable people. The Dr. is considered the "Grandmother of Sleep Medicine" and another person is a former President of the BRPT (Board of Polysomnographic Technologists--who we are registered by). I'm not the type of person who shoots my mouth off without good reason. I only have the best intentions in mind. I would hate to see anybody do harm to themselves. When I asked my co-worker, who is an RPSGT and CRT, her thoughts on this her eyes grew just as wide and jaw dropped just as far.
Please, all I ask is that you ask the Dr. who prescribed CPAP/BiPAP/VPAP to you if he/she agrees with sealing your mouth with tape or if they feel your pressure is somehow inadequate. Remember, your pressure will change over time.
I'm only a tech and our job is to collect the data. Your Dr.'s are the ones with answers.
Oh yeah, I agree with you on the DME companies. Hope I helped clarify my initial thought.
Thanks for taking the time to explain you position so clearly - and I hope you'll sitck around to share more of your experience.Please note, my OPINIONS only come from experience.
Our opinions too, come from experience - they come from having slept many thousands of hours on cpap - and tracking our data with data tracking machines, night in night out. Thousands of nights of experience, tens of thousands of hours.
After my titration study - in which I slept very fitfully - the report stated very clearly that I did not open my mouth - true: I had it firmly locked. However, when I sleep deeply - which I manage to do at home, my mouth sometimes drops open, and air rushes out of it. I don't mouthbreath during the day.
When I add humidity above a certain level - my nose congests.
It took me 8 months to dare to tape because is sounded so nutty and weird, and frightening. Some nights I don't tape - and sometimes I'll mouthleak, and sometimes I won't - my software shows me a minute by minute graph.
Many of us know the reflex of taking the mask of our faces because it's a bother, and we're just as speedy at taking the tape off should the need arise. Granted - some people can't react speedily.
Being a person who choked as she slept, before cpap therapy, I found the mere sight of nasal pillows masks horrifying. And yet, those are the masks I found myself using - and loving.
You have to experience the air blowing in and helping you breathe to understand how doable it is. And I think you have to have slept with cpap to understand how helpful mouth taping can be.
I think you and your colleague's horror of taping is of a similar kind to my initial horror. Here's a suggestion: Take a piece of tape, fold a flap in on either side, put chapstick on you lips, stand in front of the mirror, purse you lips in, and put the tape on them. And then see how easy it is to take it off.
When other alternatives fail - it's worth checking. Think of it as you would of other medical treatments that have side effects.
Its not prefect, some people should not use it - but if all else fails - its better than nothing, and maked an immense difference to nightly therapy.
O.
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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Titration, CPAP, Nasal Pillows
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Flying_Norseman
- Posts: 321
- Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2007 7:14 pm
I'll add some anecdotal notes to the discussion. When talking to my DME, we discussed mouth taping and while he wouldn't endorse it, he did say that the last sleep doctor he worked for (as an RSPGT) used to tape his mouth due to mouth breathing. I guess you can take that for what it is worth.
I don't tape any more although I did for a little while. I use a Tiara Topaz chinstrap and I am happy with my therapy. Your mileage may vary.
FN
I don't tape any more although I did for a little while. I use a Tiara Topaz chinstrap and I am happy with my therapy. Your mileage may vary.
FN
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Last week when I went for my titration study, I told the tech that I had concerns that I was mouth breathing and had been taping my mouth and she looked aghast! Seemed like she had not heard of it before. I asked her to watch speciifically for mouth leaks/breathing and in the morning she said I had no problems with it. (I did not tape that nite).
Trice
Trice
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