Bleep

[remoo1]

I have been using the bleep for 8 months. Recently I have been having intense itching under the tape that wakes me up. I have been using smith and nephew skin prep which seems to help about 4 hours and I have to get the ports off. Ideas please?

[loggerhead12]

Have you tried using something different for prep? I like straight rubbing alcohol, but some people think that's too harsh.

[booksfan]

I would suggest contacting Stuart to see what he suggests. He is incredibly helpful and I am sure would have some ideas.

FWIW, I use the Bleep wipes. I am one who finds alcohol too strong . And, yes, I do suffer from itchiness occasionally, but it is not a Bleep thing, I think it is a ME thing <sigh>

[remoo1]

I guess I need to learn to ignore it. It is the best cpap system I have found.

[booksfan]

I guess I need to learn to ignore it. It is the best cpap system I have found.

Could it be itching because you CAN'T scratch? I think that happens to me some nights. As soon as I have put the ports on, my nose starts itching and of course, it is right UNDER the adhesive, where I can't reach! I agree with you, it is the best mask system I have used as well.

[khauser]

I think the itch (or sometimes tickle) is the adhesive releasing from a stress area. When I first connect them and air pressure starts, there's an area under the nostrils that puff out a bit. This sometimes causes me that itchy/tickling feeling.

What do I do? I lightly wiggle the adapter to somewhat address the itch, and it usually subsides for me.

I can usually get past that. If I develop a leak, that wakes me up instantly, even a small leak. I feel the coolness and can't get past it. Usually means I need to add a bit of tape...

[loggerhead12]

If I develop a leak, that wakes me up instantly, even a small leak. I feel the coolness and can't get past it. Usually means I need to add a bit of tape...

Does that work for you? I never had success taping a leak that was already developed, but that was early on. I don't think I've had a leak in over a year.

[booksfan]

I think the itch (or sometimes tickle) is the adhesive releasing from a stress area. When I first connect them and air pressure starts, there's an area under the nostrils that puff out a bit. This sometimes causes me that itchy/tickling feeling.

What do I do? I lightly wiggle the adapter to somewhat address the itch, and it usually subsides for me.

I can usually get past that. If I develop a leak, that wakes me up instantly, even a small leak. I feel the coolness and can't get past it. Usually means I need to add a bit of tape...

OMG, right?! That happens to me too, although actually it has been quite a while. Somehow a little tunnel develops under the tape and...all of a sudden a feeling of cool air wakes me up. A bit of the end tapes (that I cut off and save ), and I am good to go the rest of the night!

[khauser]

If I develop a leak, that wakes me up instantly, even a small leak. I feel the coolness and can't get past it. Usually means I need to add a bit of tape...

Does that work for you? I never had success taping a leak that was already developed, but that was early on. I don't think I've had a leak in over a year.

Yes it works, but I am talking about the Hypafix tape, not a cut off end of a dreamport, just to be clear. But the damage is done, I've been awakened, had to turn sufficient light on to repair, and then fall back asleep. It costs 15 minutes of sleep on top of the poor sleep while I struggled with it trying to get back to sleep without fixing it.

Fortunately this is now pretty rare, and usually means I rushed the application (none of us ever do that, right?)

[Deborah K.]

I used to have that happen, but haven't recently. I started putting the tape on, then pressing down on it quite hard to make sure it is tightly sealed. That seems to help. Sometimes when I put it on, I can see that a little wrinkle has developed. I push down hard on the little wrinkle, then add a cut off tape end over it and overlap it onto my face. This stops a leak from developing too, even if application was not perfect.

[booksfan]

I used to have that happen, but haven't recently. I started putting the tape on, then pressing down on it quite hard to make sure it is tightly sealed. That seems to help. Sometimes when I put it on, I can see that a little wrinkle has developed. I push down hard on the little wrinkle, then add a cut off tape end over it and overlap it onto my face. This stops a leak from developing too, even if application was not perfect.

Yes, I agree. I occasionally get that little tape wrinkle as well and have found that being proactive and using the cut-off tape end right then and there prevents a leak from developing at 3am ! (I have quite the collection of tape ends )

[kteague]

I'm another one who can't use straight alcohol. Made my skin burn and itch and feel raw under the tape and the irritation continued after removal. I do fine with cleaning the area with a facial astringent like Sea Breeze and it is just enough to cut the oils and allow good adhesion but not irritate.

[HD4Mark]

I find the bleep leak is always in the same spot on the sides of my nose so I use Nexcare absolute waterproof tape that looks just like the adhesive on the ports and put a little extra on each side every night.

Itch wise I also find that jiggling the port where it itches usually stops it. I do have to be careful removing any tape because once I scratched my face with a fingernail and had to go back to my Dreamwear gel nasal until it healed.

[khauser]

I do have to be careful removing any tape because once I scratched my face with a fingernail and had to go back to my Dreamwear gel nasal until it healed.

I remove the dreamports by grasping them and tilting them upwards, which causes the seal across the lip to release ... it has the least amount of adhesive. Then I can grab the lifted part and pull the whole thing off ... takes my extra tape, etc with it.