Taping mouth closed to breath through nose

[sleeping beauty guy]

Hi there

I have been thinking about what and how I was going to write here for over a month now.

How should I word it, be polite and still be politically correct.

Last week I had a scary experience that prompted me not to wait any longer.

My thought was about those that tape their mouth closed so that they can comfortably breath solely through their nose.

I have been using a full face CPAP system since last fall and I may change my name to, "Table Napkin Guy", due to my extreme mask alergy.

Early in the morning last week my sinuses let go and I was choking on my mucus, this was a first time event.

Fortunately, I was able to rip the mask off or I may have drowned in my own fluid.

I'm not trying to gross anyone out, just stating my experiences.

I was previously wondering if ones lips were taped and one was to sneeze, maybe one or both ear drums would be damaged.

The other issue is, if someone was vomiting and could not remove the tape extremely fast they may drown in their own fluids.

Just a thought for today.

Vern from Vancouver

[Julie]

Hi, the trick is to fold over a tiny edge of the tape on one side (or both I suppose) to leave a tag you can pull quickly if you need to.

[archangle]

That's one of the reason medical professionals are horrified at the thought of mouth taping. Google "aspiration pneumonia" if you want to get even more scared.

Yes, folding the edge of the tape is a good idea, but are you going to be able to rip it off in time when you wake up confused and sick in the middle of the night vomiting. Remember, even if you get the tape off before you suffocate, you can still mess your lungs up.

[LinkC]

That's one of the reason medical professionals are horrified at the thought of mouth taping. Google "aspiration pneumonia" if you want to get even more scared.

I'm sure aspiration pneumonia is not fun.

But you imply it is somehow related to taping. Do you know of any incidence where mouth taping lead to that? Or that AP is actually "one of the reasons" professionals discourage discourage taping?

The last time we went around this mulberry bush, you couldn't produce evidence of mouth taping harming a single CPAP patient. Only supposition.

[sleeping beauty guy]

Hi again

I mentioned this only to raise awareness, not to have a confrontation.

Possibly a coroners report will be needed to see if there has been taped mouth deaths.

Maybe there is hospital reports of serious injuries related to the taping of the lips.

I forgot to mention when I wrote earlier today, using a chin strap.

An elasticized chin strap, made from under pants elastic or similar attached to a head strapping arrangement.

Soft and definitely flexible if there is an emergency need to open the mouth.

Another thought for today.

Vern from Vancouver

[2flamingos]

I have been mouth taping off and on since I began XPAP in 2008. I have had to take the tape off a few times during the night to cough; because of nasal congestion; and because I was nauseated (did not actually throw up but felt like I would at any second). I had no problems recognizing what I needed to do and actually doing it.

I have used a chin strap - in fact was given one when I started XPAP - but my results were not a good as with taping. I have tried a couple of FFM and the hybrid - none of which provide the resultsI get from my Swift FX and taping.

[archangle]

That's one of the reason medical professionals are horrified at the thought of mouth taping. Google "aspiration pneumonia" if you want to get even more scared.

I'm sure aspiration pneumonia is not fun.

But you imply it is somehow related to taping. Do you know of any incidence where mouth taping lead to that? Or that AP is actually "one of the reasons" professionals discourage discourage taping?

The last time we went around this mulberry bush, you couldn't produce evidence of mouth taping harming a single CPAP patient. Only supposition.

You are the one who is claiming it's safe. I'm simply pointing out the known risks. The burden of proof is on the person who claims something is safe, not on the one who points out the possible danger.

Why do you oppose letting people make informed decisions about the potential risks? Even if you do tape, aren't you better off knowing about the risk of suffocation or aspiration pneumonia so you can take steps to avoid them?

Do you seriously believe that it's not unhealthy to vomit with your mouth taped if you have trouble removing the tape? Do you oppose warning people about the danger if they vomit and don't wake up and get the tape off in time? At the very least, isn't this another reason to warn people to be sure that they can rip the tape off quickly or force their mouth open without removing the tape?

Go do a large study of a typical patients who mouth tape and cut their power off at various times in the night. Then tape their mouths shut, give them something to induce vomiting and make them fumble around for a few seconds after vomiting like they're trying to wake up before can get the tape off. Then come back and tell us that taping is safe.

Then explain why mouth, oral, and hybrid masks are all required to have anti-asphyxiation valves, but taping while wearing a nasal mask without an anti-asphyxiation valve is safe.

[Knabino]

Taping mouth shut sounds like a REALLY BAD idea. Rule #1 of survival is you don't want to mess around with your airway or block things.

[kempo]

People who tape, like myself, has tried everything else. Do you think we haven't thought of the " what if this happens or that happens". We tape because we have to. It comes down to taping or not getting the therapy we need. Understand?

Besides we love living dangerously.

(sarcasm off)

[LinkC]

I'm simply pointing out the known risks.

Yeah, with NO evidence it even IS a risk. Let alone a "known" risk. How do you substantiate that AP is "one of the reasons medical professionals are horrified..."?

NOTHING in life is completely safe. I've never claimed taping was without risk. Heck, CPAP isn't without risk. Or sleeping.

[archangle]

People who tape, like myself, has tried everything else. Do you think we haven't thought of the " what if this happens or that happens". We tape because we have to. It comes down to taping or not getting the therapy we need. Understand?

Besides we love living dangerously.

(sarcasm off)

Why do you object to me telling the newbies about what the risks are?

[archangle]

I'm simply pointing out the known risks.

Yeah, with NO evidence it even IS a risk. Let alone a "known" risk. How do you substantiate that AP is "one of the reasons medical professionals are horrified..."?

NOTHING in life is completely safe. I've never claimed taping was without risk. Heck, CPAP isn't without risk. Or sleeping.

If you're wrong, you're endangering people's lives. The burden of proof is on you.

Show me somewhere it's recommended in the medical literature. If it's such a great idea, why isn't it recommended by the medical experts or manufacturers? Surely they are aware of the possibility and would like to have a way to stop mouth leaks.

Doing something dangerous and getting away with it yourself doesn't prove it's safe for everyone. It doesn't even prove it won't hurt you some night.

[ozij]

I have used tape and full face masks. Tearing of the tape in an emergency is no fun - but it's faster than pulling off a FFM.

As for the Oracle:
The anti-asphyxia valve in the Oracle will not help you if you're throwing up.

The Oracle users have A plastic mouthpiece between their teeth, and the mask is tied to your face.

Look at picture no. 2 in this pdf to see the mouthpiece, and imagine throwing up with that in blowing air into your mouth.
http://www.fphcare.com/userfiles/file/O ... 0Guide.pdf

I never taped when I felt even slightly nauseated.... and this from a person who threw up all of 2 times in the last 30 years - - when wide awake.

Some medical professionals are horrified by the idea of taping. Some are. Some medical professionals are also ignorant, while others are knowledgeable.

Archangle, are you saying it is safe not to receive good therapy? Or are you just taking that wonderfully easy role of the person who has to prove nothing and simply issues warnings instead of solutions? I think you are endangering people's lives by trying to frighten them out of what may be their only alternative to treating their sleep apnea.

Taping is not necessarily "safe". Nothing in life is "safe". A life of untreated sleep apnea is very very unsafe. You maintain a taper kill him or herself. Asleep at the wheel, a person who would have done well with tape may kill himself or herself, and a few innocent by standers along the way. And when that happens, no coroner's report will show that the unfortunate driver may be one of those who avoided taping because he read Archangle's "warnings".

[Knabino]

Have you tried getting a mask that covers both nose and mouth?

[ozze_dollar]

Use a chin strap.There are plenty of different ones around.

Dont tape your mouth.

I know i have only been around for a couple of months so I dont want to sound like a "know it all" but i have found a neat spot for myself.

VPAP
Chinstrap
Nasal mask
Nasonex spray.

Nothing is perfect,but i am doing ok.