Alternative to chin strap?

sleepydc wrote:I was actually worried about not being able to breath with the tape, too, if there was a shut-down. I've found that this set-up, however, offers very few worries:

For the silk tape, apply a 2inch wide strip vertically from your upper lip (the indentation just below your nose) down to just under your chin (with your lips closed and your jaw in a comfortable place). .

Thank you for this tip. I have tried many things, but have yet to find an alternative to a chinstrap that truly works for me, but I really would like to ditch the chinstrap. I am going to try this particular taping technique. The tape is already in my shopping cart on Amazon!

When I taped I used the 3M Micropore tape that you can buy at most drug stores. I don't remember if anyone said this but fold the ends over a little bit at the ends, this gives you something to grab hold of to pull it off. Also most people use chap stick on the lips to keep them from sticking to the tape.

chunkyfrog wrote:http://www.drugstore.com/templates/bran ... up%20strip
--I made my own from wide blue painters tape.

Oh, wow, I'd know such a thing existed. Thanks.

I've read its dangerous to tape your mouth shut. Did I read wrong?

Noctuary wrote:I've read its dangerous to tape your mouth shut. Did I read wrong?

Where did you read that?
People on this forum who have been using nasal masks have been taping their mouths for......years. (probably about 9 years)
Yeah, it kind of freaks out some of the medical professionals, but for those who can't keep their mouths shut, it works.


Den

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Wulfman... wrote:

Noctuary wrote:I've read its dangerous to tape your mouth shut. Did I read wrong?

Where did you read that?
People on this forum who have been using nasal masks have been taping their mouths for......years. (probably about 9 years)
Yeah, it kind of freaks out some of the medical professionals, but for those who can't keep their mouths shut, it works.


Den

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Are we talking about tape across the mouth or like a chin strap.

Noctuary wrote:

Wulfman... wrote:

Noctuary wrote:I've read its dangerous to tape your mouth shut. Did I read wrong?

Where did you read that?
People on this forum who have been using nasal masks have been taping their mouths for......years. (probably about 9 years)
Yeah, it kind of freaks out some of the medical professionals, but for those who can't keep their mouths shut, it works.


Den

.

Are we talking about tape across the mouth or like a chin strap.

Mouth taping. That's what you stated you'd read it's "dangerous".


Den

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Consider a soft neck collar. It's cheap, safe and works IF the mouth opening is a result of your jaw dropping open in deep sleep. For me, the tape and chin strap did not work. The last 3 years, I've eliminated leaks, using the soft neck collar to prop my jaw closed. I wear the collar just snug enough to rest my chin on. The only time I dislike the collar, is on a hot summer night.

I use 3M micropore surgical tape but before putting it on my skin I use a bit of BARRIERE silicone skin cream (Wellskin brand) all over the skin where I will put the tape.

In that way, the tape glues only enough to do it's job and it is super easy to take without ripping my skin. I had stop using tape because my skin became sensitive because of the daily ripping.

I fold the lips to the interior of the mouth not to have the tape over the lips, then I apply the tape long enough to cover all the mouth. I have never had any issue, asphyxia or the whatever because of the tape over my mouth; it is extremely easy to break the seal it make so there is no danger of suffocation at all.

Rosie

Too tall wrote:Thanks for the info. The tape worked awesome. I felt like I hardly had the thing on after getting ride of that damn chin strap.

Yay!

I also use the 3M Transpore Clear 1-Inch Wide First Aid Tape, 10-Yard Roll: http://smile.amazon.com/Transpore-Clear ... spore+tape. This tape is easily torn by hand so you can just leave the roll by your cpap machine. I tear off a piece about 5" long, fold over the ends about 1/8" for easy removal tabs, then fold it in half on the non-adhesive side (fold at about 2-1/2"). At the fold, I make a small tear lengthwise that will go over my closed mouth. (1" tear = 2" horizontal opening over the mouth.) When I use my TAPPAP nasal mask, the 2" opening is usually large enough to fit the mouthpiece in my mouth. When I use my ComfortGel nasal mask, I only make an opening ~1-1/2" wide.

The tape leaves a small amount of adhesive on my face although it's not readily visible upon tape removal. 3M Customer Service told me washing one's skin before applying the tape should help reduce the residue. I get adhesive residue whether I wash my face or not. By touch, you can feel a bit of stickiness.

Soap won't wash the adhesive off, but oils will help dissolve it. I put a little Burt's Bees Vitamin E Body and Bath Oil on my fingertip and rub it over the taped areas. (Baby oil and bath oil would also work. Some moisturizers I've tried help soften the adhesive but don't work as well as the oils.) I leave it for a few minutes then wash my face. If I forget to use the oil, adhesive marks show up on my face during the day (probably from dust and dirt sticking to it) that resemble drawn on cat whiskers. Unless you happen to look in the mirror, you don't know it's there. And, for some reason, people usually don't say anything about it.

I may try the soft cervical collar.

Last night, I ditched my chinstrap and just taped, and my leak rate was 66 - on a Resmed! My AHI was also 11. I know the mask fit may need to be adjusted more in the absence of the papcap/chinstrap, but I have tried just taping before and have always, reluctantly, returned to the chinstrap. Last night I kept waking up with a dry mouth, even though I was not aware of air escaping from my mouth. I know that the jaw drop while asleep is a bigger issue for me than just keeping my mouth closed. But I am determined to ditch that confounded chinstrap one way or another!!

Kitatonic wrote:Consider a soft neck collar. It's cheap, safe and works IF the mouth opening is a result of your jaw dropping open in deep sleep. For me, the tape and chin strap did not work. The last 3 years, I've eliminated leaks, using the soft neck collar to prop my jaw closed. I wear the collar just snug enough to rest my chin on. The only time I dislike the collar, is on a hot summer night.

Hi! Do you have any recommendations on shopping for/buying a collar? Tips, things to consider or avoid?

Thank you!