Can't get polident strips to work - help?

echo · Post by **echo** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 5:32 am

I guess I have "lip flutter" in the early morning hours so I've tried to go the polident strip route, but for some reason it would not stick to my lips at all. It says to soak the strip in water for 10 seconds and then to stick it on, but that didn't work - there was hardly any stickiness. Any advice?

I don't normally mouth breath, and as I fall asleep my tongue maintains a good seal on the back of my throat, but my sleeping partner says that in the early morning hours he can hear the air escaping from my lips (but he said he could barely see my lips open).

The last three nights I've been using a pressure of 10 and waking up with horrible dry throat and parched mouth, slight headache.. almost like it's not working at all (prior to that it was 7 and after I started using the HH the dryness went away, until I went to 10 cm). Funny though it seemed like last night the humidifier hardly used any water at all. I would expect more water usage at higher pressures?
(Edit: I have been using a setting of 1 on the HH at both pressures)

Thanks for any advice!!!! I feel like I've been backsliding! (I know I need a data capable machine but that won't happen for a few weeks at least.. though I should get my O2 meter soon).

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier, seal

tuna · Post by **tuna** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 6:30 am

Try using Super Glue! (Bad humor!) I tried to use them, but it din't work for me either..

SisterShotgun · Post by **SisterShotgun** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 8:19 am

I have not been able to get anything to work, no tape, not the poligrip...

But I have found something that does work. I noticed that when I wake up with air coming out of my mouth it is doing so on the sides of my lips not in the center. My son used to be on an insulin pump, but switched to Lantus for better control over his diabetes. He had a lot of left over supplies, and I found 6 boxes of the IV3000 Peripheral High MVP transparent dressing..What this stuff is, similar to what nurses use to keep an IV in place, the clear flexible tape, that stays on real well, but comes off easily too. I take one of them and cut it into strips and place a strip of it on the sides of my mouth. I can still cough if I have to but no air escapes, and I no longer have to use a chin strap.

The best part of it is once it is on, you forget it is there, it is not uncomfortable at all.

In fact one morning I 'forgot' I had them on and was making coffee and my son was looking at me funny, and he told me that I still had my lips taped up..whoops

bsil · Post by **bsil** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 9:27 am

Echo-
I have had good results using Polident strips. For our purposes, first, I wet my lips, then I just run the strip once thru running water and then immediately place between my lips and close tightly for about 15 seconds.

I hope this works for you.
Good Luck,
Barb

sleepyred · Post by **sleepyred** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:01 am

I cut the strip in half and just barely wet it with my tongue. put it on my upper lip in the center, lick the bottom of it and press my lips together. I've heard that it will not work well if you get too much water on it.

Hope this helps. I've used one every night for a month with much success - except if I've forgotten to tell by hubby something - out with the pen and paper, and/or sign language!

[quote="echo"]I guess I have "lip flutter" in the early morning hours so I've tried to go the polident strip route, but for some reason it would not stick to my lips at all. It says to soak the strip in water for 10 seconds and then to stick it on, but that didn't work - there was hardly any stickiness. Any advice?

I don't normally mouth breath, and as I fall asleep my tongue maintains a good seal on the back of my throat, but my sleeping partner says that in the early morning hours he can hear the air escaping from my lips (but he said he could barely see my lips open).

The last three nights I've been using a pressure of 10 and waking up with horrible dry throat and parched mouth, slight headache.. almost like it's not working at all (prior to that it was 7 and after I started using the HH the dryness went away, until I went to 10 cm). Funny though it seemed like last night the humidifier hardly used any water at all. I would expect more water usage at higher pressures?
(Edit: I have been using a setting of 1 on the HH at both pressures)

Thanks for any advice!!!! I feel like I've been backsliding! (I know I need a data capable machine but that won't happen for a few weeks at least.. though I should get my O2 meter soon).

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:37 am

It says to soak the strip in water for 10 seconds and then to stick it on, but that didn't work - there was hardly any stickiness. Any advice?

even 10 seconds seems too long to me...i turn the water on so it's barely trickling out and run the strip under there really quickly...too wet and it's not sticky any more, just barely dampen it and it should stick

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:42 pm

In the begining I frequently forgot to click the GoodKnight humidifier on - there were so many new things to get used to in my bedtime routine.

I also think you would probably need more humidity (more than 1 on that humidifier) with a pressure of 10.

O.

linda b · Post by **linda b** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 9:36 pm

I realize this topic is a few days old, but I've been really busy lately and am catching up on the board.

I've been using poligrip strips for over a year. All I do is cut the strip in half, very thoroughly lick my lips, place the two pieces on bottom lip and tightly close lips for a few seconds.

I can count on one hand the number of times this has been insufficient to keep my mouth closed.

And I do agree that 10 seconds in water is too much.

jpd23 · Post by **jpd23** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 12:04 am

I have had mixed results with them but what I do is cut a small notch like this

====V====
=========

and then bend it into a gentle V (boomerang) shape. I lick my bottom lip really well and position the strip. Then I lick my top lip and push my lips together for 5-10 seconds and it is stuck pretty good. I still can get a little air in/out of the corners of my mouth - which makes me feel less claustrophobic. In the morning, I work my tongue back and forth to force saliva betwen my lips and it releases, then lick my lips several times and wipe goo off with paper towel.

I don't use them that much because I don't like the feeling and most of the time I have a decent leak rate. But if I am going through a period of nasal congestion and mouth breathing I use them and also tape sometimes with Micropore but that is kinda a drag because of my mustache and beard.

echo · Post by **echo** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 6:00 am

Wow thanks for the excellent tips!!!!!!!!

I will try getting it less wet - It does feel like the stickiness is being washed off.

And ozij i think you are right - I will slowly increase the setting to see if it helps (I slept with it on 1.5 last night and it *was* slightly better). (And on the getting ready for bed routine - I think the other morning I forgot to turn it OFF after waking up, but when I went to bed that night I turned it "ON" when in fact I was turning it OFF. Slept HORRIBLY that night! Drrrrrrr!)

I also notice that the longer I'm using the cpap, the more I'm getting used to it and the more tolerable some of these things - even if i wake up with a really dry throat I still sleep much better than before and that helps keep me from committing murder

thanks again for the tips, I will try it again tonight

Mask

Additional Comments: Aussie Heated hose for rain out/PapCap Headgear and chin strap

Can't get polident strips to work - help?

Can't get polident strips to work - help?

Re: Can't get polident strips to work - help?