I love my mask but HATE my chinstrap

Lynmar · Post by **Lynmar** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 12:08 pm

I have the ResMed Activa mask and am in love with it. I don't even know I have it on unless I really toss and turn or sometimes when I try to plant my face in the pillow. :0 I've been on apap for maybe a couple of months.

But I positively CAN'T wear the @#$% chinstrap. I've tried it every way from so loose it won't stay on my head to so tight I wake up with a headache. I've thought about putting tape on my mouth but where they put the tape on me for the sleep studies when they took it off I was all red and irritated and it was supposed to be special tape that didn't do that.

Any suggestions out there? Help!

Lyn

tater pie · Post by **tater pie** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 12:14 pm

Wow! I'm absolutely astounded!!!! I' ve never heard of a sleep study lab or any professional for that matter even condoning much less using tape to stop mouth breathing. All of the professionals I've ever been involved with or heard other talk about are completely shocked when I mention mouth taping and tell me they've never heard of taping your mouth shut and sternly warn me not to do it but a lot of people do anyway, me being one of them. You may need to research different types of tape to find one that works for you. Chin straps are worthless and miserable to boot.

I hope you find something that works for you but persoanlly, I would toss the chin strap.

Lyza · Post by **Lyza** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 12:16 pm

I hate chinstraps as well. mouthtaping... its all about how slowly you peel off that tape. otherwise i too will have an exact red replica of where the tape has been all day long. Even with the sensitive tape. Try the taping again.. But when finished Peel it off very very slowly.

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 12:37 pm

tater pie wrote:I' ve never heard of a sleep study lab or any professional for that matter even condoning much less using tape to stop mouth breathing.

My assumption is that the poster is referring to the tape to hold the leads down and the pulse ox on, etc.

Anyway, if you're having that much trouble with the chin strap (sure sounds like it), then it won't hurt to try several different kinds of tape to see if you can find one that agrees with your skin more than theirs did.

Lynmar · Post by **Lynmar** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 12:40 pm

Tater Pie, I'm sorry I didn't make myself clear. They put the tape on the electrodes - not my mouth. If I tell them I'm taping my mouth they'll have a fit but I need to do *something*.

Lyza. Maybe I'll try it. I'll just be sure to do it on a day where I don't have to go anywhere the next day. Not only is it a replica but it actually peels off some of my senior citizen skin.

Thank you,

Lyn

Lyza · Post by **Lyza** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 12:42 pm

Then you might have to try the polident route and polident your lips together.

Tape.. I use the 3M Gentle Paper Tape: Micropore Surgical Tape (Sensitive Skin)

patbringer · Post by **patbringer** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 1:22 pm

I suggest you give the Hybrid mask a try. That will eliminate the need to use chin straps or tape and won't be uncomfortable as a FF mask. The only caveat is that you should able to tolerate nasal pillows. The Hybrid pillows are soft (I don't have a problem with them).

Cheers!

Pat

tater pie · Post by **tater pie** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 2:25 pm

Silly me. I should have know better!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:52 pm

blarg wrote:
tater pie wrote:I' ve never heard of a sleep study lab or any professional for that matter even condoning much less using tape to stop mouth breathing.
My assumption is that the poster is referring to the tape to hold the leads down and the pulse ox on, etc.

Anyway, if you're having that much trouble with the chin strap (sure sounds like it), then it won't hurt to try several different kinds of tape to see if you can find one that agrees with your skin more than theirs did.

I have been using the large size of those adhesive strips they use on the bridge of your nose as an anit-snore aid. If you place them just right across your mouth, they seal your lips and hold like an alligator. Even though they are only about 1/2 inch wide. These have the only adhesive my skin can tolerate without a rash. The only drawback for me is they are pretty expensive.

Another less expensive aid I have just found is those boilable mouthguards that you can buy at WalMart for about 97 cents. The ones I use are translucent white and can be compressed to exactly fit your upper tooth pattern. I then trim the gumline down on the outside as much as possible and reboil and reset to the point of almost biting thru the guard.

The last one I did fits perfectly and I don't need any tape to prevent mouth leaks when I use it. I have been using a mouthguard off and on for years because of accidently biting my tongue in my sleep (have two teeth missing on one side), so it was no problem for me to get accustomed to using it.

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 7:10 pm

I have very sensitive skin and use the Kendalls Tenderskin tape with no problems at all.

Brenda

Lynmar · Post by **Lynmar** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 8:10 pm

These are all great suggestions. I'll buy a couple of them and experiment.

Thank you, everyone!!