SHUT MY MOUTH: I Am Taping... and I'm Lovin' It!

[socalmonkey]

Last night was my very first time taping! Like many of you, I was horrified at the thought of taping my mouth shut. But I had no problem adjusting to it... and got great first night results!

My AHI was 0.5 and that's about as low as I have ever been!

The previous night I was at 2.5. Then bam... down to 0.5... I could feel it when I woke up. Of course, I had to wait until afternoon to read the data off my LCD (as I have been resetting the data everyday). My AHI's had been mostly around 1.8 and 1.3 - so I am surprised by how great an 0.5 makes you feel.

I am using plan old CVS 1.5 inch latex free sports tape. It's more flexible and comfortable than I thought it would be. There was a little problem with one corner of my mouth... the tape had become unstuck. It seems I was drooling out of that corner. It may have been my bad first attempt at applying it... I didn't count on needing scissors to cut it. So I handled it too much, and that caused the adhesive not to stick as well.

I am very excited about the results. Now I can continue with the mask I know and love, and quit obsessing over a full face mask (which never seems to work for me). If you are grossed out by the thought of taping your mouth shut... you might think twice (as I did). Because it works!

I'm a confirmed Tape-O-Holic now!

[Marietjie]

I'm a confirmed Tape-O-Holic now!

JA ! me too

and quit obsessing over a full face mask

Didn't know taping was SO easy!

[twokatmew]

I resumed taping last night, too. I stopped when I turned on EPR=3, as I realized I was no longer getting chipmunk cheeks. It was great while it lasted, but taping last night did help, and I didn't wake up with a mouth and throat so dry I couldn't swallow!

If I could find a FFM that worked for me, I'd switch though.

[rested gal]

For new readers who might be wondering, "Huh?? Tape?? What???!!"

Here are a few (lol...what an understatment!) topics to get you up to speed:
LINKS to: Mouth leaks - Air Leaks - Tape - DIY Guard
viewtopic.php?t=8011

I've been taping for over 5 years now.

[howkim]

It would be nice for me if I could tape, but I'm allergic to adhesives. Never found one that didn't cause an allergic dermatitis (itchy rash) after about an hour.

[Hawthorne]

Did you ever try "3M Micropore Hypoallergenic Surgical Tape"?

I have an allergic reaction to lots of adhesives on bandaids, etc but this tape - no problem.

Just wondered if you had tried it. I bought it online so you could search it. It's not very expensive either!

Just in case you haven't tried it, I thought I should mention how it works for me.

[Uncle_Bob]

When people talk about taping i get confused as to what they mean exactly.

For example for some people tape an X over their mouth, maybe thinking that they have stopped the jaw dropping and hence stop the leaking. I did that but found that i was also having mouth puff leaks out of each side of my mouth.

So now when i tape i do the X first and then three strips horizontally across my lips so its completely sealed. Leak = 0 every time.

Just my 2¢

[spacetoast]

So now when i tape i do the X first and then three strips horizontally across my lips so its completely sealed. Leak = 0 every time.

Just my 2¢

That is some serious taping! I've only ever just used one piece across my lips. However, I know there were some nights where my cheeks would puff up and I'd be leaking air near the corner of my mouth.

[Uncle_Bob]

and quit obsessing over a full face mask (which never seems to work for me)

Its great when taping works but given my recent experience I would recommend a full face as a backup. I recently had to have both nasals cauterized due to nose bleeds. My nose was sore and congested for a whole week, i could not use a nasal mask. I'm not sure of your apnea severity but i was pretty bad and i felt like crap for that whole week, I'm talking depressed, anxious, cranky, time off work, the whole nine yards. Plus i hear there are two types of people that move to Arizona, those who have allergies and those who are going to get allergies I now find myself obsessing over a full face as a backup or primary mask.

I have a backup machine, hose, masks why not have a backup airway on face that i can use for therapy also

Also i wonder what the cost of mouth taping is over 30+ years is verses the cost of trying a few full face masks

[Bapple]

I'm a pretty new user...about 3 months now, and I use a full face mask. I am experiencing what I am calling "reverse burps." I'm sure I'm not the only one with this problem...is taping something that would help this? I am not having much of a problem with leaks...except when I just have to scratch my nose.

Bill

[twokatmew]

So now when i tape i do the X first and then three strips horizontally across my lips so its completely sealed. Leak = 0 every time.

Just my 2¢

Goodness, Bob! Sounds like you'd need a box cutter to get your mouth free come morning!

I use one strip of the 1" gentle paper tape, and I fold a short tab over at each end. After applying lip balm, I roll my lips in slightly and then tape across my entire mouth. I smooth it over good, especially at the ends, and then I try blowing out to make sure there aren't any leaks in the tape seal. Then I don my mask.

I tried partial taping, but those mouth puffs did me in.

I still haven't given up on finding a FFM that'll work for me. Today I picked up some moleskin to see if I can make either or both of the ones I have work for a whole night.

[twokatmew]

I'm a pretty new user...about 3 months now, and I use a full face mask. I am experiencing what I am calling "reverse burps." I'm sure I'm not the only one with this problem...is taping something that would help this? I am not having much of a problem with leaks...except when I just have to scratch my nose.

Bill

Could you elaborate on the "reverse burp?" I understand a reverse sneeze, but I'm not sure I understand the reverse burp.

[Bapple60]

I'm a pretty new user...about 3 months now, and I use a full face mask. I am experiencing what I am calling "reverse burps." I'm sure I'm not the only one with this problem...is taping something that would help this? I am not having much of a problem with leaks...except when I just have to scratch my nose.

Bill

Could you elaborate on the "reverse burp?" I understand a reverse sneeze, but I'm not sure I understand the reverse burp.

It's like a burp going the wrong way...I suppose the pressure (only 9) is forcing air down my esophagus. Does that make sense?

[williamco]

Hawthorne: where do you get the surgical hypoallergic tape?????

[Spirit]

Wonderful news, taping is working well for you, hope you continued success. Taping worked well for me, till my allegies/sinuses acted up, then I would rip off the mask, not being able to breathe. The hybrid was the miracle cure. Hybrid is an amazing mask, very comfortable and eliminates taping, just another option for you.