Moderate sleep apnea, want to wait...

[Hawthorne]

I'm glad you made the call and are getting the process under way! Hopefully you can get an appointment next week.

Taping is different for everyone. If you search "mouth taping" on this forum you will get lots of tips.

Everyone who tapes, I think, puts chapstick on their lips right before taping. The lips would take a beating from the tape without it. Do the search though and you will get a lot of ideas. There was a thread yesterday asking about types of tape that won't irritate skin.

[MichelleFL]

Just read about this in our wisdom... I don't think I want to tape anymore...

“The safety of taping the mouth shut has not been proven and there are potential risks of regurgitation and aspiration of food and of suffocation.” TS Johnson MD et al, Sleep Apnea – The Phantom of the Night, p. 167. Mouth taping is especially dangerous for anyone who ever gets blocked nasal passages during the night. If air can’t get in through the nose, it needs to get in through the mouth. Mouth taping is also risky in case of a hose disconnect or power outage.

[Hawthorne]

Well, a lot of us tape. Some have been doing it for years. I am lucky in that my mouth breathing is minimal. I just need a strip of 1" hypoallergenic tape placed vertically across my lips and I can open them a good slit. It seems I am not a serious mouth breather and just need that little bit of tape, placed vertically, to remind me to keep my mouth shut!

If I were feeling unwell, with the possiblity of vomiting, I would not tape on that night. I have never had that happen.

I keep my nasal passages clear, in spite of allergies, but using a saline nasal spray about an hour before bed and, with a cotton swab, putting some Ayr Gel (or Naso Gel) in each nostril just before I put on my mask. It just takes a few minutes and works well for me.

The other option, for a mouth breather, is a Full Face mask. There are lost of those as well but, as with any mask, it is trial and error to get the right one for you.

[birdshell]

“The safety of taping the mouth shut has not been proven and there are potential risks of regurgitation and aspiration of food and of suffocation.” TS Johnson MD et al, Sleep Apnea – The Phantom of the Night, p. 167.

WHAT?????

This guy has an MD, is editing/contributing to a book on apnea and he doesn't even know research methodology? I mean, he (or another contributor) is saying that the safety has not been proven. This means that it has not been disproven, either. Sheesh, I cannot believe that. It is another unfounded opinion--well, unless something I don't know has happened.

I have said it before and I'll say it again: Show me the research. Show me someone who is NOT drunk, drugged, comatose, had a stroke, has serious breathing problems or is otherwise impaired--IOW, just one of us who is going to sleep--who has aspirated any vomitus and/or suffered any consequences.

Mouth taping is especially dangerous for anyone who ever gets blocked nasal passages during the night. If air can’t get in through the nose, it needs to get in through the mouth.

When I use milk of magnesia smeared on the skin around the lips, and chapstick on my lips, I will sometimes just pull the tape loose by having to cough, etc. I think this will happen similarly if I wanted to breathe through my mouth. I also turn over a piece of tape on itself at a corner or an end so that I can rip it off easily by hand.

Beside the above techniques, I use the methods that rooster outlined here: Just One Man's Very Successful Mouth Taping Procedure

Mouth taping is also risky in case of a hose disconnect or power outage.

How in the WORLD can a simple disconnected hose cause a problem? Masks have been designed so that one can breathe through vents with a disconnected hose or a power outage. I disconnect my hose and wear the mask should I need to use the toilet in the middle of the night. So far, I have been breathing adequately during this time.

And, if I do this and block the flow of air accidentally while disconnecting the hose, I am jolted a bit by the lack of airflow. I am guessing that this would awaken me should the hose be blocked. And, if something blocks the hose, say, me rolling over on it, I am awakened. What is different about that if my mouth is taped?

Further, for me, a full-faced mask is not an option. I have just had gum surgery for one "rogue" tooth that is a bit crooked. The Liberty pressing on this tooth and gum killed the tissue, and any other mask will similarly press on the gum. So, much as I loved my Liberty (except for it breaking off pieces regularly) I cannot use it or any other full faced mask. That means, either I tape (since chin straps didn't work for me) or get no treatment from the cpap because my mouth will leak.

I think that when medical professionals are unable to correctly interpret research that we all fail. This is why I like the doctors who say, "I'll do some research and get back to you." I have a number of unusual conditions, as well as typical ones. The medical field is too large and complicated for one person to know everything.

However, the Sleep Apnea – The Phantom of the Night and TS Johnson MD, et. al. are doing a disservice. I have a few doctors who could teach them how to properly draw conclusions from research. If they are too busy, I'd be happy to help them out myself. I am qualified to comment on the research and the methods.

Karen,
Who just contributed my worth.

[MichelleFL]

Sorry about that as I thought you knew all about this as if you look at the top right, the lightbulb that says Our Wisdom that this was written there. So naturally I thought it was board approved.. Whoops.. Sorry...

[Georgio]

Yes, taping is a sensitive subject around here and everyone has slightly different habits. There are the blue tapers, white paper tapers, hypoallergenic tapers, 1" tapers, 2" tapers, horizontal tapers, vertical tapers and the list goes on. I have tried most of them, but decided not to tape unless I just am really in the mood! I would always choose tape over a full face mask.

They should add a qualification to that statement that no one knows of anyone expiring from mouth taping associated with CPAP.

Besides, if you have to puke, don't you usually wake up?

Georgio

[birdshell]

Michelle, there is absolutely no need to apologize. It just frosts my cookies to see such uninformed results from those who SHOULD know better.

Anyone can nominate a post to be included in the Collected Wisdom section. As it says at the bottom of each page:

The information provided on this site is not intended nor recommended as a substitute for professional medical advice.


I don't know if anyone really considered that a new person to the forum would consider that information under the Collected Wisdom section to be approved...it is an excellent point. Thank you for bringing that to light!

Karen,
Who may overreact to mouth taping criticism

[MichelleFL]

No problem Karen, you did not over-react.. I actually appreciate it when someone tells it like it is.. Because if some of the people who answered my very first post, they told me like it was and would of been soft instead, I might of changed my mind about doing this whole thing. I appreciate both sides and everyone's experiences. It is up to the the individual to make the final choice. But it's so appreciated, especially by me, to hear all sides to make an informed decision.. Thank you!

[goose]

Ha -- thin skins do not do well here....
We are very honest people, who have been down the road and generally don't sugar coat our opinions......but it's all good!!!

I had the loss of power experience this morning.....It was a bit harder to draw a breath which kind of put me in that nether land and when I reached up and there was no exhaust coming from the headrest, I looked at the clock and saw nothing.....so, I just took off the mask, laid back down, closed my eyes but didn't go back to sleep -- I have a very difficult time sleeping without the mask anymore. Power came back on a couple hours later, but I was done -- got up and started my day.....

I didn't do taping because I have facial hair and when I trim, i generally don't pull it out by the roots -- I've always found that if I'm going to barf, my body gives me a bit of notice......even when I'm sleeping!!!! Not an issue for me...
I don't mouth breathe, but when I was testing due to an elevated leak rate I used the Polident strips (still a problem not solved -- but the numbers are consistent with any mask I use).
I don't mouth breathe, even when my nose is very clogged up. I tried the HC431 FF mask probably 3 nights last spring when the allergies were "killing" me, but with the hair that mask doesn't seal worth beans, so......Maybe a Quattro or a UMFF in the future??

I'm with Karen -- show me the research!!!!!!! Like in the Movie "Phenomenon", "Specifics Bob. Give me specifics"....

take care
cheers
goose