New TAP PAP mask review

[Debijo]

Please, please, please! You are killing me...every day I say, I will wait until the closing date on my credit card, then I will order this. Then, I have a night I think should be better, then the internal battle starts all over again! But then again, what is $129 after $800 a the dentist the last 2 days....this getting old stuff is expensive

[rosacer]

Pugsy wrote
I can talk with it in place ...

I would pay to see that I see all the thing moving when you talk

The aliens visited me too because 5 months ago I was able to keep the mouth closed and now it opens when I'm on my back and even on the side my tongue fall down from the roof of the mouth and my cheeks become full if air, what a nightmare each night.

Last night I tried a mouth guard no taping. Taping is making kind if lines where it glues I don't need other lines on my face that is coming already without any help I think I slept a bit better but still leaks arrived and I caught myself biting on the guard . I think my tongue has become skinny You see everything in life has a good and a bad side.

Rosie

[Pugsy]

I think my tongue has become skinny You see everything in life has a good and a bad side.

Yeah....like how come when we gain wait it goes to our middle and butt first but when we lose it it comes off the boobs first...and that's the last place added weight goes to. Just not fair.

[Catnap]

All right, I'm in! Just placed my order. I sure love mask insurance -- especially when it's included at no additional charge.

[Pugsy]

All right, I'm in! Just placed my order. I sure love mask insurance -- especially when it's included at no additional charge.

Yeah, it's kind of a no brainer with free return insurance. I knew after the first night mine wouldn't be going back.
You've been around long enough and tried enough stuff you are like me...you have a pretty good idea if something might work and that's about the best we can do until we get our hands on it.

Though you know I got a chance to try the Aeiomed Headrest a couple of months ago...can't believe I didn't try it when I was first starting therapy and tried just about every nasal pillow mask available...I imagine the headgear turned me off.
Anyway..I tried it for a couple of weeks last Jan and I was surprised that it wasn't nearly as offensive as I thought it would be.
I can see where some people swear by it. I used it for a couple of weeks...rather pleasant considering I felt like a fish on a hook. Too bad they have discontinued it. For people that hate the forward venting nasal pillows...it is a godsend.

I hope you like the Tap Pap. I am excited about it but I know that it is going to be just like any other mask out....not everyone is going to love it like I do. This way at least no one has to eat $129.
Unfortunately this also means there won't be many people who didn't like it offering it up at a discount.

[Sir NoddinOff]

I hope you like the Tap Pap. I am excited about it but I know that it is going to be just like any other mask out....not everyone is going to love it like I do. This way at least no one has to eat $129.
Unfortunately this also means there won't be many people who didn't like it offering it up at a discount.

That's a good point. I'm not 100% enamored with my Swift FX system, however the pillows are readily available new and on sale just about anywhere on the internet for $12-$24. That's pretty affordable gear, IMO.

[Pugsy]

That's a good point. I'm not 100% enamored with my Swift FX system, however the pillows are readily available new and on sale just about anywhere on the internet for $12-$24. That's pretty affordable gear, IMO.

Yeah, I doubt we will see any killer deals on EBay on the replacement parts. Cpap.com already has the nasal pillow (1 pair) for $22 and the mouth piece for $35. Unless someone steps on the plastic thingy where the vent is it should last forever along with the short hose with just common sense care (don't step on it and don't let Lizzie the dog from Hell get a hold of it).
I can get months and months of use out of nasal pillow set..so unless these fall apart that won't be that big of a deal for me.

Of course now I have a truckload of Swift FX parts. Along with mask #2 and 3.

[Janknitz]

Pugsy,

Thanks for experimenting on the condensation issue. We don't heat our house at night, so the nasal pillows always had some condensation for me. I don't like getting sprayed with condensation in the puffy part of the pillows, but even worse for me was the feeling of dampness AROUND the nasal pillow cones where they contacted my nostrils. That drove me up the wall, for some reason, even though there's hardly any contact there.

One more question--since you can't completely close your lips, does it make you slobber (sorry, but inquiring minds want to know).

I'm thinking about it--the FF mask is putting pressure on my lower jaw and teeth which is really not good.

[Pugsy]

since you can't completely close your lips, does it make you slobber (sorry, but inquiring minds want to know).

Actually the little piece that goes from the mouth guard part to the plastic thingy where the vent holes are (I don't know what to call it) had a very small presence. I measured it...1/8 of an inch "tall" and 3/4 of an inch "long...linear" if you ca picture that. I pretty much close my mouth just like normal. It's a skinny little piece to wrap my lips around.
Lips go around it real easy and close just fine.
I did wonder about possible slobber issues....there haven't been any at all. ....None.

[lopies]

I am seriously considering giving this one a try. Can you still use a chin strap with this mask?

[Pugsy]

Can you still use a chin strap with this mask?

Yes, a chin strap can easily be worn with this mask.

The only one that would be a problem would be the Hannibal Lector looking chin strap. the one that wraps around the lips and makes a person look like a mummy.

[Kenwood]

So I would insist on being able to clean this guard.

Oh, it's easily cleaned.
I am just lazy. Trying to figure out a easy way to clean it with the least amount of work.

Use those "denture" cleaning tablets that u drop in a cup of water. Works and super easy.

[quietmorning]

Thank you, Pugsy for your review!

[Debijo]

Pugsy, did you love it again last night?

[parsnip]

Just following up on my previous posts. I posted after night #1 with no issues other than the mouthpiece being too tight.

Night #2 was a complete failure. I was late to bed and for some reason could not get the pillows to seal. I think when I formed the mouthpiece that it was slightly off center causing the left pillow to leak. Gave up (too quickly probably) and slept with my Swift FX instead.

Night #3 (last night) - during the day reformed the guard in front of a mirror (like the directions say) taking pains to try to keep it centered. Was able to get a seal, although the left pillow was still always the one to leak when I was resetting it. Once this mask has a seal it pretty much works as long as you don't take it out. I haven't had it leak due to movement in bed yet.

Remaining issues:
- Still a little too tight. My front teeth were sore again this morning. Will try hot water before bed tonight.
- Seems that I have to loosen the screw and readjust the pillow positioning every time I put it on. For me, it doesn't seem to be a "set it and forget it" device. I am a little concerned about the robustness of the plastic nut but, I suppose I could replace it with a metal wingnut if I had a problem.
- Considering trying to add a loop to the top of my chinstrap to keep the hose off my face. At times rolling over I had to move the hose with my hand.

Still pretty optimistic about this mask. This is the first one that I have tried (out of at least 5) that I think might work better for me after a couple nights use. Still some tweaking to do though.

By the way, my real driving force for trying this mask was to be able to sleep on both sides. With my swift mask it seems to always leak when I lie on my left side, and sometimes leaks when I lie on the right. This mask has yet to leak (once I get a good seal) regardless of position.