Mouthtaping and the BLOWFISH!!!

vdol52 · Post by **vdol52** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 9:16 am

Whodathunk that mouthtaping, which seems to be working well for me, wouddaturned me into a BIG FATCHEEK BLOWFISH?

Seriously, just when I got my AHI down to 1.5-2.5 range I wake up with cheeks (not butt-cheeks) the size of Manhattan.

Whassup with this. Is there no end to this. As soon as I get relaxed enough to go back to sleep there go the cheeks, thus waking me up. This happens mostly in the early morning but maybe all night and I just sleep through it.

Anyone else expereinced the BLOWFISH SYNDROME?

Anyone have any suggestions on how to stay "flat-cheekeed" (again, not butt-flatcheeked for those of you who can't seem to keep your minds from wandering.)

Victoria

NeedinZs · Post by **NeedinZs** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 11:47 am

Yeah, that happens to me too.

I'm wondering if we're somehow holding our breath, I know I do that some during the day, and there was a thread about that last week.

Maybe the cheeks fill up, because the pressure isn't enough to open the airway immediately? I have an auto w/ SmartCard, so I'll look the next night I notice it happening to see if my pressure is at it's highest limit... it might need to be set higher?? Just guessing....

jimbassett · Post by **jimbassett** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 12:57 pm

I have this problem also. What I have done and it is working very well is to make an ACE bandage strap to go around my neck and over my mouth. I put the two inch tape sticky side against the ACE with the back side of the tape resting against my lips. I use just enough tape so it covers my lips. This goes right across the cheeks and helps to hold them in. Works for me and its cheap!! jim

roster · Post by **roster** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 2:38 pm

When mouth taping, I had the same problem: pressure leaks from the airway back into the mouth. It cause so many arousals that I finally switched to a full face mask and breathing through the mouth.

vdol52 · Post by **vdol52** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 6:50 pm

Thanks guys,

I agree that the Blowfish syndrome must be caused by the obstruction in my throat, probably worse when I am on my back.

I do have a FF mask but I experienced leaks like crazy early in the AM about the same time as the Blowfish syndrome. I'll bet that is also when I am on my back. Someone told me that we expereince deeper REM sleep in the morning and that might have something to do with it.

I'll try the Ace bandage and just happen to have one handy.

If that doesn't work I'll try the FF mask again.

Yikes this is alot of work. But better than suffocating.
Victoria

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 7:10 pm

Blowfish Syndrome, is caused by the same thing that makes you a mouthbreather. Picture a balloon(your mouth), open on one end and cut open on the other. If you mouthbreath the treatment pressure goes in one end of your mouth(balloon) and out of your mouth (the far end of the balloon). So you tape your mouth (the far end of the balloon), the air can't escape so it does the blowfish, just like a balloon would.

If you can train your tongue to park on the roof of your mouth, and forward against your teeth, the opening to the mouth is sealed, Mr. Blowfish is Dead.

Wrapping the fish up with a Ace Bandaid, will do it, but at the cost of another layer of pain and suffering. Jim

RosemaryB · Post by **RosemaryB** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 7:18 pm

Hi Victoria. I've been dealing with blowfish lately. Here's an earlier post of mine that shows a photo of JeffH wearing a headband around his mouth and cheeks. This does keep your cheeks from puffing out quite well.

viewtopic.php?t=23387&highlight=

At first when I tried this, I made the band too tight and it was leaving intense red marks. I then experimented with it more and found I could leave the headband looser than I was and it's now working fine. It sounds like the ace bandage fix, but I'm not sure I could use an ACE bandage on my sensitive rosacea-prone skin.

I did try the hybrid but it left my throat very dry, so I'm hoping that the "Mouthband" that JeffH models in this thread will continue to work for me. I do mouth tape under it, but find I need less tape.

I found a rather soft headband/sweatband that seems to work. I also tried a pantyhose tight, but that really left bad marks.

The blowfish was blowing through my tape and causing really bad leaks. I'd see a straight line for the first part of the night (a small part) and then it would be all bumpy and even some large leaks.

I'm also trying to train myself to keep my tongue in the top of my mouth to prevent this, but so far I haven't been able to. I will continue trying, though. If you read what Snoredog has to say on that same thread, you will have a very complete idea of some other ways to deal with blowfish. I'm going to work on them all.

TWolf · Post by **TWolf** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:54 am

I was having this problem when I first started taping. All I've done to correct it is to put the tape on a little off center and leave a little of my mouth (just at the very corner of my lips) untaped. I turn a little of the tape under to make a flap in order to make the tape easier to pull off. I just let this tiny flap end at the corner of my lips (or a smidge past it) instead of the sticky part. Sort of a pressure relief valve. It's worked so far.

TW

roster · Post by **roster** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 1:13 pm

TWolf wrote:I was having this problem when I first started taping. All I've done to correct it is to put the tape on a little off center and leave a little of my mouth (just at the very corner of my lips) untaped. I turn a little of the tape under to make a flap in order to make the tape easier to pull off. I just let this tiny flap end at the corner of my lips (or a smidge past it) instead of the sticky part. Sort of a pressure relief valve. It's worked so far.

TW

TWolf,

I am interested in this because I had to stop taping and go with a FF mask due to cheeks puffing. Have you checked your leak rate and how it compares to other "setups" you have used?

TWolf · Post by **TWolf** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 3:00 pm

rooster wrote:
TWolf wrote:I was having this problem when I first started taping. All I've done to correct it is to put the tape on a little off center and leave a little of my mouth (just at the very corner of my lips) untaped. I turn a little of the tape under to make a flap in order to make the tape easier to pull off. I just let this tiny flap end at the corner of my lips (or a smidge past it) instead of the sticky part. Sort of a pressure relief valve. It's worked so far.

TW
TWolf,

I am interested in this because I had to stop taping and go with a FF mask due to cheeks puffing. Have you checked your leak rate and how it compares to other "setups" you have used?

Rooster,
I'm still getting used to working with the data. When I first started I didn't have a data capable machine. The one one I ended up with is the PB 420S. The only thing I seem to be able to get from it is AI's, HI's and snoring episodes. I don't know how to check leak rate and I'm not sure that I can.

I started taping before I switched to the new machine so I can't compare numbers untaped to numbers taped. I have tried out a couple of full face masks (Hybrid, 431, and ComfortFull) hoping that I could maybe stop taping or at least have a back if I get a cold and (number-wise) I seem to do way better using the Breeze and tape. I'm at work so I don't have the specifics in front of me, I can check it later if you like.

Incidentially, the vent hole idea wasn't mine. It was suggested on an old post about mouth taping that I found in the archives.

TW