Mouth Taping Procedure 6/2/06

[buckeyered]

OwlCreekObserver: I was told most people recover within two months, it has been about three months for me and my DR. says it may never go away,
I used all the prescriptions and home remedies I could and all they can do for me is help but not cure. I stopped using the prescription except for really bad days due to the cost, I have been using bagbalm (this stuff is great for lip's and rashes) for all other times. Hopefully it will go way, I plan to try the hybrid next in hopes it helps cure my leak prone face.

[OwlCreekObserver]

OwlCreekObserver: I was told most people recover within two months, it has been about three months for me and my DR. says it may never go away,
I used all the prescriptions and home remedies I could and all they can do for me is help but not cure. I stopped using the prescription except for really bad days due to the cost, I have been using bagbalm (this stuff is great for lip's and rashes) for all other times. Hopefully it will go way, I plan to try the hybrid next in hopes it helps cure my leak prone face.

I do understand your frustration, Buckeyered. I've tried about everything that's been suggested on this forum to stop mouth leaks while wearing a nasal mask of any kind, but so far nothing but mouth taping has worked.

For the past couple of nights I've had to use my ConfortFull 2 mask again and it's been a disaster. Last night my AHI was 27.4 with an average leak of 49.84. I have a fairly long and thin face and the CF2 just simply doesn't work for me, so it's back to the tape routine for now. I'd love to try the hybrid, but I'm not willing to spend that kind of money on something that might work.

Hang in there, my friend. (Oh yes, and Go Bucks!)

OCO

[jjposey]

[quote="buckeyered"]OwlCreekObserver: I was told most people recover within two months, it has been about three months for me and my DR. says it may never go away,
I used all the prescriptions and home remedies I could and all they can do for me is help but not cure. I stopped using the prescription except for really bad days due to the cost, I have been using bagbalm (this stuff is great for lip's and rashes) for all other times. Hopefully it will go way, I plan to try the hybrid next in hopes it helps cure my leak prone face.

[OwlCreekObserver]

[quote="jjposey"][quote="buckeyered"]OwlCreekObserver: I was told most people recover within two months, it has been about three months for me and my DR. says it may never go away,
I used all the prescriptions and home remedies I could and all they can do for me is help but not cure. I stopped using the prescription except for really bad days due to the cost, I have been using bagbalm (this stuff is great for lip's and rashes) for all other times. Hopefully it will go way, I plan to try the hybrid next in hopes it helps cure my leak prone face.

[Ling]

First post, so guys be kind...I am a sleep technician..as some of you know from me migrating into cpaptalk's chatroom. From a medical standpoint, we are against mouth taping. Let that be known. It IS dangerous. I'm not here to harp or preach to you guys, because I realize that many of you have not had the best experiences with having sleep studies done, dealing with MD's, DME co..etc etc. What I wonder is this...when you guys first got your masks, did you have a proper mask fitting..I mean, did the person at the DME company take time to FIT you PROPERLY? Did they call you within a month to check and see how you were doing on your cpap and if you had any problems?! I ask this because at my lab, we also DME. I make sure I show all my patient's different types of masks before testing them for their CPAP study. Everyone's facial structure is different, and the most IMPORTANT thing is to get a mask that fits you PROPERLY. Try out different masks...play around with them. It takes time to adjust..and it's not going to happen overnite. How many of you have discussed with your doctor the fact that you're using tape? Do this..see what he/she says. ASK QUESTIONS. You are the patient..you DESERVE to know things!! I urge all of you who are taping your mouths to use extreme precautions when doing this. It is DANGEROUS. Please, Please, do not advocate mouth taping to new cpap users. What may *work* ( i use this term loosely) for some, does not work for others...especially depending on medical history and illnesses.

[bdp522]

Ling, I've gotten 2 masks from my DME. The hybrid and the optilife. I had to show them how to assemble and fit both masks. I did get a call to see how I was doing...almost 7 months into treatment. Of course by then I had already found this forum! I also mentioned to my MD that I was taping my mouth nightly. His comment was,"whatever works". When I mentioned it to the RT he said "I'm supposed to tell you not to do that but lots of people do".
Some posters here put disclaimers on posts, some just say YMMV. I think it's pretty clear that we are posting what has worked for us. If noone had told me about mouth taping, I'd still be having all my cpap advantages going out my mouth!

Brenda

[roster]

Ling,

Could you be kind enough to tell us what the dangers are? I have a very good sleep doctor who followed up frequently with me and had no objections to my taping (I don't do it since the Hybrid became available).

I am in very good shape and have no health problems (except for osa). Maybe someone who has other serious health problems would be at risk from mouth taping.

If you want to have credibility on the forum, then tell us the specific dangers and risks.

rooster

[dizzy]

when you guys first got your masks, did you have a proper mask fitting..I mean, did the person at the DME company take time to FIT you PROPERLY? Did they call you within a month to check and see how you were doing on your cpap and if you had any problems?!

My insurance specified the DME I had to go to, which was Apria (I think thats the name... its been a year). I asked to try on the mask I was interested in to make sure it fit and was told no. I could try it on, but only after I agreed to buy it. I said what if it doesn't fit well? They said, that I could get a new one after a certain amount of time, determined by my insurance (that time turned out to be 1 year). I told them this seemed silly, but they said they didn't have the proper equipment to clean them, and there was nothing they could do.

Well, the mask I chose didn't fit well and was very uncomfortable. I'm now on my 4th mask, all but the first paid in full out of my pocket. I tried 2 nasal pillows, a full face, and a nasal mask (activa) which I still use, but despite using a chin strap, I still open my mouth at night, so I tape... I hate doing it, but its the only thing that works for me. I'd MUCH rather use a full face mask, but the one I have leaks like mad, and it would be a complete gamble to try others, as I would have to purchase them just to see if they fit and don't leak.

If they made a full face mask the same style as the Activa, I would buy it in a second, as that would likely solve the leak/fit problems of the existing models. But the bottom line is that I can't afford to go through another round of buys and trys to find a full face mask that works.

-David

_________________

[jennmary]

I dent mouth tape. I have serious allergies and asthma. During a bad asthma attack I might not be able to take the tape off. I know everyone is all up about your natural "instinct" to rip something off your nose or mouth. I will tell you that when you are fighting to breath and you really feel like you are going to die your so called instincts dent mean crap. Asthma is terrifying to me. An attack for me is like a person who is scared of the dark and small spaces being burried alive. I dent even think about my meds. I dent think! I just struggle. I look for help. I blackout. I may not be normal.....but I know that if I put tape on my mouth there is a very real possibility that I wont take it off in an emergency. It wouldn't occur to me that I wasn't breathing because of the tape....I would just know that I couldn't breath. I have also woken up only to throw up less than a second later......and I wasn't drunk or on drugs. I can see how mouth taping could be dangerous. Maybe for some it works. But I think it is irresponsible to make claims about a persons natural instincts or to argue that taping is never dangerous to anyone. What about those who have epilepsy or other medical conditions? I can think of quite a few bad things that could happen to someone who had a known or unknown medical condition.
For some I am sure this is totally safe....but not for everyone. This is just my own opinion.

[Babette]

Since this topic has been resurrected, I thought I'd clue YOU MEN into something.

Oil dissolves adhesive. Try using COLD CREAM to get the adhesive off your face in the morning.

In a pinch, your wife's moisturizer will work too.

Or go buy some eye makeup remover. Don't buy the stuff labeled "oil free" though - that will defeat the purpose. You could also buy false eyelash adhesive remover.

Or just use plain old Vegetable Oil, then wash your face as you normally do.

I may try this again. I wasn't successful the first time I tried taping, but reading rooster's thorough instructions has inspired me to try again.

JennMary, I do understand. You gotta do what works for YOU. Taping is clearly not YOUR answer.

Cheers,
Barbara

[jennmary]

Yeah.....just realized I had brought up an old thread. Wasnt really paying attention when I did it. I will look out for that next time.

[Babette]

Hey, I'M GRATEFUL! I had my first successful taped night last night.

THANK JENNMARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, so I woke up, ripped that sucker off violently (I'm just that kinda gal...) and was intrigued to find my face under the tape a mass of bright red wrinkles.

I slathered on the oil at hand (some tea tree stuff), worked it in well, and hopped in the shower. Kept face out of the spray while washing other things, and let the oil do it's thing.

Washed face as normal - using a gentle wash cloth and my normal cleanser. Felt like there was "something" there, but it wasn't bad, so I just went on.

Wrinkles are gone, face feels fine. Think I got all the adhesive off. I'm gonna go buy a new bottle of Vitamin E Oil. Didn't realize the Tea Tree stuff I've had for 12 years was finally on its last drops.

BTW, I highly recommend you use a GENTLE washcloth - not the standard terrycloth. I use a Makeup Remover Cloth I got from Bed Bath and Beyond for $10. It's made out of some Japanese Grass, feels very silky when dry, and works really well to remove makeup and everything else, without abrading my skin.

Aveda also makes a very nice face chamois that works similarly.

I wonder if one of those microfiber cleaning towels I've got in the kitchen would work well? Might have to try that.

All, read the first message on this forum and follow Rooster's advice. It worked for me!

CAVEAT - If you are elderly, infirm, bedridden, under the age of 18, cannot hold a day job, do not mow your own lawn, have had your driver's license taken away, or have numerous DUI's on your record - DO NOT TAPE YOUR MOUTH SHUT. You're probably not a good candidate for saving yourself from asphyixiating on your own vomit.

Cheers,
B.

[ozij]

Babbette,
If you fold your lips in, but make sure you don't strech them at the same time (that is, do not fold them in like you do when you put on lipsitck) you might find no more wrinkles than usual (ahem...) when you wake up.

If you strech your lips, and then tape them, they relax when you sleep, the tape wrinkles with them and then you wake up with tape wrinkles all over the place.

O.

[jennmary]

I use a one of my daughters baby washcloths to wash my face. Much softer as they are made for babys skin. Plus you can buy a pack of 4 for about a buck at walmart.
Just a cheap option for anyone who might need it.

Glad you had suck a good night babett. That is great.

[Babette]

Thanks OZIJ! I'll have to experiment. Personally, I'll bet I just wake up all wrinkly everyday, but I rarely look in the mirror before shower and coffee.

Ah the joys of sleeping alone...
B.