Well, I finally did it.
Taped my mouth for the last two nights. And I didn't pull it off during the night. However, I still have large leaks. So it must be my Swift? Hunh?
I kinda felt like i had stopped mouth breathing so much as my throat had not been as dry lately. What next? The Aura sounds like a good bet to me. I don't think I can tolerate a mask over the bridge of my nose. So that eliminates many masks.
BTW, does anyone have an Aura around that they want to sell?
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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): swift, Aura
MOUTH TAPING
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Barb (Seattle)
- Posts: 663
- Joined: Wed Aug 03, 2005 6:41 pm
Re: MOUTH TAPING
hmmm..large leaks? Air still came through the tape, you mean? Or the number reading showed leaks? uhmm...a question. Or, should I say a comment. I tried tape once...did you get saliva coming out from under the tape? Making the glue kind of taste funny? I'm gagging just typing this
*faint*
I've been curious to ask this for a long time
*faint*
I've been curious to ask this for a long time
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rested gal
- Posts: 12881
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:14 pm
- Location: Tennessee
Large leaks on the software data could be from the mask getting dislodged or from the tape not securely keeping the air in. When you wake up in the morning, if you will do a test puff or two with your mouth while the tape is still on you'll know pretty quickly if the tape itself had sprung a leak during the night. If you can't blow out, the tape held.
The type of tape you use, the amount of margin you cover beyond both corners of the mouth and well above and below the lips, how clean and dry your face is so the tape will adhere well....all those things are factors in whether tape can dam the air back all night or not.
For example, putting just one strip of one inch wide tape across the center of the lips is rarely good enough to hold. It usually takes two slightly overlapping 5 or 6 inch long strips of one inch wide tape to make a big enough "patch" to not spring leaks around the tape. The strips are placed horizontally across the mouth.
Even with their turned down ends (the grab-tabs) the strips I use stick an inch or more beyond the corners of my mouth. The upper part of the tape "patch" is about halfway up to my nostrils and is all the way down into the indentation of my chin. A BIG PATCH over the mouth.
If you're absolutely sure the tape patch held well, then the mask is the culprit.
The type of tape you use, the amount of margin you cover beyond both corners of the mouth and well above and below the lips, how clean and dry your face is so the tape will adhere well....all those things are factors in whether tape can dam the air back all night or not.
For example, putting just one strip of one inch wide tape across the center of the lips is rarely good enough to hold. It usually takes two slightly overlapping 5 or 6 inch long strips of one inch wide tape to make a big enough "patch" to not spring leaks around the tape. The strips are placed horizontally across the mouth.
Even with their turned down ends (the grab-tabs) the strips I use stick an inch or more beyond the corners of my mouth. The upper part of the tape "patch" is about halfway up to my nostrils and is all the way down into the indentation of my chin. A BIG PATCH over the mouth.
If you're absolutely sure the tape patch held well, then the mask is the culprit.
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Sleepless on LI
- Posts: 3997
- Joined: Mon May 30, 2005 6:46 pm
- Location: Long Island, New York
mouth taping
I have been thru two types of chin straps...and plain white first aid tape too.
Still have dry mouth and dry throat...I am now using CHIN-UP strips...they are on the net...cost 15 bucks for a 30 day packet..they work good and do not cover lips....That will stop mouth open problem..maybe uoi are in need of a warmer humidification.... Barnaby
Still have dry mouth and dry throat...I am now using CHIN-UP strips...they are on the net...cost 15 bucks for a 30 day packet..they work good and do not cover lips....That will stop mouth open problem..maybe uoi are in need of a warmer humidification.... Barnaby
"He's not heavy..he is my brother" - Shriners Creed
mouth taping
read about chin up strips at http://www.chinupstrip.com
"He's not heavy..he is my brother" - Shriners Creed
I occasionally get large leaks with my Swift. On very rare occasion (twice in 2 months that I know of) I've let my mouth fall wide open in my sleep.
More commonly I roll over in my sleep while sort of rubbing my face against the pillow. If I roll far enough -- almost onto my stomach -- I'll push the Swift pillows off to one side.
I've also had a leak at the humidifier when I didn't couple it to the APAP properly, one at the Swift barrel when I didn't push the hose elbow in all the way, another at the barrel when I didn't push the stopper in all the way, etc.
OK, I've had my share of leaks. But most nights are wonderful!
More commonly I roll over in my sleep while sort of rubbing my face against the pillow. If I roll far enough -- almost onto my stomach -- I'll push the Swift pillows off to one side.
I've also had a leak at the humidifier when I didn't couple it to the APAP properly, one at the Swift barrel when I didn't push the hose elbow in all the way, another at the barrel when I didn't push the stopper in all the way, etc.
OK, I've had my share of leaks. But most nights are wonderful!
The CPAPer formerly known as WAFlowers
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snoozeandlose
- Posts: 107
- Joined: Sun Jun 19, 2005 4:52 pm
- Location: The Vast cornfields of northwest Ohio
Don't give up on the tape yet. I used masking tape for a while and it didnt hold and then I tried paper medical tape and it was a little better. However lately I am using clear two inch wide packing tape. The kind that you use on packages in a strip that runs from infront of one ear to infront of the other. Actually my Mirage stays in place and leaks less. Good luck.
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| Mask: FlexiFit HC432 Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear |
| Additional Comments: Pressure 14.5, compliant since 2004 |
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wading thru the muck!
- Posts: 2799
- Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 11:42 am
I do tape my mouth for leaks. Here's my question/problem: when air puffs into mouth suddenly, how does one get it out without removing a corner of the tape to exhale>? It has to go somewhere!
I usually use Swift (sometimes Activa). I do not want to use full-face mask - can't seem to get it to seal (Ultra Mirage).
lynn
I usually use Swift (sometimes Activa). I do not want to use full-face mask - can't seem to get it to seal (Ultra Mirage).
lynn
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| Additional Comments: i love resmed stuff! | ||||
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rested gal
- Posts: 12881
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:14 pm
- Location: Tennessee
Lynn, with taped mouth when air suddenly enters the mouth (from the back) and balloons the cheeks out, there's a way to get it eased back down.
I can do it; I've never tried to describe it, but...oh well. LOL!! You can practice right there at the computer.
With cheeks ballooned, try flattening them just by using their own muscles. You'll notice that your pushing the trapped air around in your mouth ...try to work it toward the back while you're breathing in through your nose. You have to keep the throat as relaxed as possible during that maneuver. Think of saying "AHHHH" without being able to open your mouth. Gotta get the throat that open.
Once you've gotten the cheeks flat, imagine trying to drink a milkshake that's so thick you can't get it up through the straw. Tongue working against roof of the mouth. That's more or less the way you can keep working the trapped air back farther. Keep breathing slowly through your nose. The incoming air will "catch" the air that you're moving backwards and finally whisk it on down....but only if you keep your throat relaxed.
Don't let your throat tighten up as if you were going to swallow. Don't hold your breath. You've got to be breathing at the same time you're kind of rolling the trapped air more and more backward toward the entrance to the throat.
It takes just a split second to do all that after you get the hang of it.
LOL...good luck!
I can do it; I've never tried to describe it, but...oh well. LOL!! You can practice right there at the computer.
With cheeks ballooned, try flattening them just by using their own muscles. You'll notice that your pushing the trapped air around in your mouth ...try to work it toward the back while you're breathing in through your nose. You have to keep the throat as relaxed as possible during that maneuver. Think of saying "AHHHH" without being able to open your mouth. Gotta get the throat that open.
Once you've gotten the cheeks flat, imagine trying to drink a milkshake that's so thick you can't get it up through the straw. Tongue working against roof of the mouth. That's more or less the way you can keep working the trapped air back farther. Keep breathing slowly through your nose. The incoming air will "catch" the air that you're moving backwards and finally whisk it on down....but only if you keep your throat relaxed.
Don't let your throat tighten up as if you were going to swallow. Don't hold your breath. You've got to be breathing at the same time you're kind of rolling the trapped air more and more backward toward the entrance to the throat.
It takes just a split second to do all that after you get the hang of it.
LOL...good luck!
RG, once again, you are the miracle worker. I think I get the idea, and I think i did it here at the laptop. Picture the puffy cheeks. Picture the disappeared puffy cheeks. Picture the milkshake. Darn, now I am craving a chocolate milkshake LOL. Thanks so much again for coming to the rescue. This may take some practice, but at least I now know it's possible!
lynn
lynn
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| Mask | Humidifier | |||
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| Additional Comments: i love resmed stuff! | ||||
Hmmmm, 50 cent a day for the chin-up strips? That's kind of pricey for me. I've just started using the J&J waterproof tape recommended here. I use the 1" tape since I can't find the wider stuff. I cut 2 approx. 5-6" pieces and overlap them. Then I do the RG recommended "fold over pull tabs" and seal it up.
So far (4 days) it has worked great for me. No leaks and comes off with little difficulty. The only issue is I've got to wash off the "sticky goo" residue in the mornings.
Well the other issue this morning was aerophagia. I let out quite a few good burps this morning. I'm pretty sure it occured because air was coming into my mouth, which was securely sealed by tape. So I wound up swallowing it down. Yeesh! I finally get the mouth leak under control and now move on to air swallowing? Oh well, so far the issue is minor. So "venting" of air in the morning and I'm good to go.
So far (4 days) it has worked great for me. No leaks and comes off with little difficulty. The only issue is I've got to wash off the "sticky goo" residue in the mornings.
Well the other issue this morning was aerophagia. I let out quite a few good burps this morning. I'm pretty sure it occured because air was coming into my mouth, which was securely sealed by tape. So I wound up swallowing it down. Yeesh! I finally get the mouth leak under control and now move on to air swallowing? Oh well, so far the issue is minor. So "venting" of air in the morning and I'm good to go.