HYPAFIX tape - has anybody tried it for mouth taping?

SelfSeeker · Post by **SelfSeeker** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 6:14 am

HYPAFIX tape - has anybody tried it?

A nurse at a Sleep Clinic mentioned this tape as hypoallergenic and it is what they use for mouth taping.

When I looked it up, I got the impression it is a bit flexible which may give a bit and cause leaks.

Just wondering about the tape.

Vader · Post by **Vader** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 3:59 pm

SelfSeeker wrote: A nurse at a Sleep Clinic mentioned this tape as hypoallergenic and it is what they use for mouth taping.
.

I'm sorry I don't have an answer for you, but I'm curious--Do sleep clinics actually condone mouth taping?
A while back, I mentioned something in passing, to my RT about mouth taping and she looked at me like I was crazy, and said "You're NOT really serious, are you?" She said that it was potentially a very dangerous thing to do, especially if you had to cough or vomit or whatever.
I've never felt the need to try mouth taping, myself- but I wasn't sure if it's ever really been professionally approved.

SelfSeeker · Post by **SelfSeeker** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 4:28 pm

Vader,

I do not know if it is medically approved or not. All I know is that she mentioned mouth taping and the name of the tape, which I asked her to spell out for me, incase I ever need it.

I never thought of the vomit part.

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 6:43 pm

I mentioned mouth taping to my doc, and he asked me how I was doing it. After explaining, he said to try making my own chin strap, but didn't say, "DON'T TAPE!!! YOU COULD PUT YOUR EYE OUT, OR CHOKE ON YOUR OWN VOMIT AND DIE!!!!" In fact, he said NOTHING negative about taping, unless I was supposed to take his re-direction as a "no".

This is one of those things that strikes me as being without documentation. If ANY of our professionals who monitor this forum can tell us of ANY documented case of death from mouth taping due to aspiration of vomit--I would love to hear it.

As far as coughing, I do so with tape on my mouth. Sometimes I manage to channel air through the sides of my mouth. I tape only the center, so there is a bit of space on the sides. Sometimes, I cough and open my lips, but the tape is still adhered to my skin and the air escapes through the sides.

Other times, I take off the tape for a good cough and stick it back on--or may have to replace it. If I have smeared the milk of magnesia on my skin (and allowed to dry before applying tape), there is a better chance of the tape re-sticking.

Concerning aspirating vomitus, I am physically unable to vomit after a Nissen fundiplication. I'd just LOVE for a medical professional to tell me about death by aspiration, cuz I have the perfect answer.

Should one be impaired enough to be unaware of vomiting, DON'T TAPE! If we tell folks to avoid driving when drinking, surely they can avoid taping. Besides, if one is that impaired, would one even THINK of using the xPAP OR taping one's mouth? Really, c'mon.

PLEASE, please medical professionals. Is there an instance of a sentient being choking from mouth taping? And please--don't put out an eye in order to answer.

NyNurse33 · Post by **NyNurse33** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 6:45 pm

I know we have addressed this issue before, but....

There is some concern mostly by heath professionals, that taping your mouth shut, can be risky. I am not saying I agree or disagree. The theory is that if you vomit, you could "aspirate" (inhale) the vomit into the lungs aka as aspiration pneumonia. The same risk, however applies, to people using full face masks, for the same reason it does to a patient in a hospital wearing an O2 mask. Now I don't know how secure the tape is, that it wouldn't allow forceful vomiting to be projected out of the persons mouth. And I'm sure most of us, would immediately wake up right before we actually had to vomit and furthermore how many of us who are not drunk have actually vomited in our sleep since childhood? I've never even vomited when I have a had few too many, back in my younger days, but that darn room would not stop spinning!!! I know that whenever I've had the flu as an adult, I would wake up first feeling nauseaus, then run to the bathroom. Never started vomiting during my sleep. So not sure about the taping thing, I still haven't done it, not quite sure if I'm mouthbreathing or not anyways.

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 6:59 pm

Thanks, NY Nurse. I just started another thread asking for DOCUMENTED cases of complications from mouth taping.

Once and for all, I would like to know if this is a real threat. We need this information. Let us find out the real story so that we may make informed decisions.

tohosa · Post by **tohosa** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 10:07 am

A while back, I mentioned something in passing, to my RT about mouth taping and she looked at me like I was crazy, and said "You're NOT really serious, are you?" She said that it was potentially a very dangerous thing to do, especially if you had to cough or vomit or whatever.
I've never felt the need to try mouth taping, myself- but I wasn't sure if it's ever really been professionally approved.

I started taping on my third night with CPAP after reading about it here. It was a Saturday and I was desperate after two nights of almost constant leaking from mouth and mask. I'm not ordinarily a mouth-breather; my CPAP pressure is 16 and my sleep latency is very low (3-4 min), so it seemed like I was waking up every other minute with air blowing out my mouth. It's possible to cough while taped, and it's also possible to remove the tape fast. I've never vomited in my bed, and I don't plan to start now!

I've told my PCP, RT, and ARNP that I tape my mouth. My PCP didn't comment at all. My RT wanted to try a different mask, so she tried five or six FF masks on me and all of them were too big for me and leaked like crazy. She did find get me a better fit in a nose mask. The nurse practitioner looked at me disapprovingly, so I told him about trying a bunch of FF masks that didn't fit, and he let it go. None of them said not to do it or to stop doing it. I wouldn't say they approved, only that they can't do better for me and they want me to continue CPAP therapy.

I just ordered a roll of Hypafix tape and I'll post my opinion after I've tried it.

supersleepy · Post by **supersleepy** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 9:16 pm

I mentioned earlier in another post that I have been using Johnson and Johnson bandage tape, that comes in a dispenser roll in the bandage section. This works great for me and is pretty cheap and easy to come by. Hope that helps you!

aussie_hosehead · Post by **aussie_hosehead** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 9:51 pm

Hi there, I am a new 'cpaper' (only 2 weeks) but I thought I would add to the debate on mouth-taping. The tech actually taped my mouth during my titration study and my sleep doctor had no comment when I told her about it so I assume that at least in some centres here in Aussie it's sort of condoned.

By the way - I am having quite a bit of trouble with sore mouth after removing tape. Any hints?

supersleepy · Post by **supersleepy** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 9:54 pm

the soft clothlike bandage tape I use doesn't hurt one bit when I remove it. Give it a try and see if you like it better! (Johnson and Johnson bandage tape)

tohosa · Post by **tohosa** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 11:50 pm

supersleepy wrote:I mentioned earlier in another post that I have been using Johnson and Johnson bandage tape, that comes in a dispenser roll in the bandage section. This works great for me and is pretty cheap and easy to come by. Hope that helps you!

I started with Johnson & Johnson micropore tape but found it too soft/flimsy and not sticky enough to stay put all night. I've been using the 3M Nexcare micropore successfully.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 6:31 am

When I went for my titration study.....some 5 months after starting APAP, I was asked to bring my own hose and my own mask for the study.

I also brought my tape. The tech had no problem with me using the tape. She had never seen a CL2 and asked all kinds of questions about it.

Of course the study showed just exactly what my software showed and proved that I was right to insist on the APAP (that is another story).

Bellcrest · Post by **Bellcrest** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 6:34 am

The above post was me....got booted somehow. .

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 8:01 am

aussie_hosehead wrote:
By the way - I am having quite a bit of trouble with sore mouth after removing tape. Any hints?

* Put chapstick of some kind on your lips. I use Blistex from a round box (its not a stick...)

* After you've done that, fold your lips in before you tape, just in, no streching.

* Try different varieties of tape - the reaction to tape, even the hypoallergenic kind, is very idividual.

O.

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 11:00 am

I use hot water to remove the 6 inch long strip of 2 inch Micropre tape every morning.
However, some who have tried the hot water complain of hard to remove residue. Because I shave, with a blade, right after, I don't have a problem with the residue.

HYPAFIX tape - has anybody tried it for mouth taping?

HYPAFIX tape - has anybody tried it for mouth taping?

Re: HYPAFIX tape - has anybody tried it for mouth taping?

Re: HYPAFIX tape - has anybody tried it for mouth taping?

mouth taping

Mouth taping

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taping

Sorry

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Mask