Mouth tape leak or mask leak?

Hello all: I'm using the Bleep and assume that it should have no leaks. I test it to be sure. But my Sleepyhead shows leaks. I have good numbers - AHI below 5. I have to tape my mouth - the bane of my existence as I talk in my sleep. Sometimes the tape is loose as I'm waking up in the morning, But when I have a "good" night's sleep sometimes I'm not aware of leaks during the night. Other times I know my tape is leaking because I keep waking up with chubby cheeks and noises and don't get good rest.

Is there a way on the Sleepyhead to discern the difference between tape leaking at the mouth from a leak from the Bleep? Seems like the gray bars might be the mask and the spikey green spikes in the "Leak Rate" graph would be leaking tape. Is this a good or a faulty assumption? Is there a way to know what is mouth tape leaking or mask leaking?

Thanks!

Not that I know of.

From what you are saying I would guess mouth leak.

The bleep mask has a good reputation for not leaking if applied properly.

Other opinions may vary.

Good luck,

JPB

I have and have had mouth leaks that make ugly fat gray bars on my chart.

If the Bleep is leaking because something isn't attached properly then most likely the leak would be consistent throughout the night.

Otherwise if you are seeing times in leak and other times no leak then mouth opening leak would be my first suspect.

There's no real way to tell the difference though because the machine just simply reports leaks one way no matter where they are from.
The software can only show you what the machine is reporting.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 18, 2019 10:18 pm

If the Bleep is leaking because something isn't attached properly then most likely the leak would be consistent throughout the night.

Otherwise if you are seeing times in leak and other times no leak then mouth opening leak would be my first suspect.

There's no real way to tell the difference though because the machine just simply reports leaks one way no matter where they are from.
The software can only show you what the machine is reporting.

Hi Pugsy: That's what I was beginning to suspect. I have tried a lot of tapes and haven't found one that will take me through the night. I'm thinking I will just need to take the leaky one off when it wakes me up and put on new one. Last night I tried two different kinds and put one on top of the other but still leaked halfway through so then I put regular adhesive tape on top of those where I felt air coming out. Eventually it started leaking too. I am so tempted to try your Blue Painter's tape, but I used regular masking tape once a long time ago. It worked great but caused a giant rash all over my face where it was so might break down and do that. just thinking there are chemicals in it that wouldn't be good for my skin. But maybe I can Google it and see. Thanks.

Hi bjhunt01, have you tried Somnifix? I rely on it, and it almost never lets me down. The adhesive is very easy on the skin. The drawback is cost, but you might give it a try and see if you think it's worth it.

bjhunt01 wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 20, 2019 1:17 am

I have tried a lot of tapes and haven't found one that will take me through the night.

Do you clean the areas of your face where the mouth tape touches your skin? I'd been using alcohol to clean where the dreamports stick. And one day it hit me that maybe I ought to do the same for the mouth tape. Quite the DUH! moment.

Made a huge difference for me. Don't need to put alcohol on the lips. They should be pursed anyways. No ouchies removing tape and for me the pursing also creates a seal that keeps the drool from reaching the tape.

These days, the only thing that causes me to leak is when I get lazy with keeping my beard trimmed.

Sorry you're still fighting with this. Wish you the best of luck!

Miss Emerita wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 20, 2019 9:23 am

Hi bjhunt01, have you tried Somnifix? I rely on it, and it almost never lets me down. The adhesive is very easy on the skin. The drawback is cost, but you might give it a try and see if you think it's worth it.

Hi Miss Emerita! Yes I have tried it and I blow it right off. I did like how it felt. I could finish the box but would need to put more of the other kinds of tape over that which isn't a bad idea. I talk in my sleep and apparently I have a lot to say and midway through the night, I've created a leak or two in the taping. Except last night. I tried some of the beige tape that looks like the Bleep tape. Did two rows of it and then put adhesive all around that to catch the leaks. The beige tape is pretty drool proof. It worked! I had really bad insomnia so my Centrals were high but the OS and Hypops were great! I record my nights with the SnoreLab and I've had some nightmares where I am using swear words, trying to yell, and also saying Help! So my mouth is pretty active. But I'm glad you reminded me of those. I can put them on first and pile the other tape on top since they are so gentle.

djams wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 20, 2019 9:49 am

bjhunt01 wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 20, 2019 1:17 am

I have tried a lot of tapes and haven't found one that will take me through the night.

Do you clean the areas of your face where the mouth tape touches your skin? I'd been using alcohol to clean where the dreamports stick. And one day it hit me that maybe I ought to do the same for the mouth tape. Quite the DUH! moment.

Made a huge difference for me. Don't need to put alcohol on the lips. They should be pursed anyways. No ouchies removing tape and for me the pursing also creates a seal that keeps the drool from reaching the tape.

These days, the only thing that causes me to leak is when I get lazy with keeping my beard trimmed.

Sorry you're still fighting with this. Wish you the best of luck!

Hi there djams!! Yes I am cleaning really well and keeping my beard trim. See my note to Miss Emerita. I found a good fix last night and I am hoping that will continue to work. Have tried so many tapes and get excited when they work for a night or two and then Blewie! I am off and speaking and leaking again! Have to laugh at you because I had the DUH moment also about 6 weeks ago. I was half baked cleaning off my face because I was tired and in a hurry to go to sleep.

Somniloquy! I learned a new word today.

I’m glad you’ve found a tape solution that works for you. My brief consultation with Dr. Google suggests that in time, your apnea treatment may also address your ... somniloquy.

bjhunt01 wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 20, 2019 1:17 am

I have tried a lot of tapes and haven't found one that will take me through the night.

Me too. That 3M tape wasn't sticky enough for my face, I finally arrived in "Fixomull stretch" made by BSN. Works like a charm for me. It is a bit more sticky an a lot more flexible.

Mike

multicast wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 21, 2019 3:01 am

bjhunt01 wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 20, 2019 1:17 am

I have tried a lot of tapes and haven't found one that will take me through the night.

Me too. That 3M tape wasn't sticky enough for my face, I finally arrived in "Fixomull stretch" made by BSN. Works like a charm for me. It is a bit more sticky an a lot more flexible.

Mike

Hi Mike: I am just now seeing this post. Now that you have been using it for awhile how do you like it? I have very sensitive skin and most of the tapes have damaged my skin including causing it to bleed - just ruining my face. Even the Bleep tape began damaging my nose. So curious to know what your experience has been with this? Many thanks!

Miss Emerita wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 20, 2019 7:28 pm

Somniloquy! I learned a new word today.

I’m glad you’ve found a tape solution that works for you. My brief consultation with Dr. Google suggests that in time, your apnea treatment may also address your ... somniloquy.

Unfortunately that stopped working too. Going to try Mike's suggestion next if he tells me it didn't rip his face off!!!

bjhunt01 wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 26, 2019 11:57 am

Hi Mike: I am just now seeing this post. Now that you have been using it for awhile how do you like it? I have very sensitive skin and most of the tapes have damaged my skin including causing it to bleed - just ruining my face. Even the Bleep tape began damaging my nose. So curious to know what your experience has been with this? Many thanks!

I can't complain. Just don't pull it off too fast. I suggest to give it a try.

Mike

I use the tape you will find in the link attached. We find it everywhere. This tape is elastic, sticks well, and removes very well without damaging the skin. I cut a band about 4 inches that I stretch to the maximum of the underside of the left ear below the right ear. If I do not stretch it, my lips will let out air during the night. I put a little Vaseline on my lip that I pinch when I apply the tape so that my lips are not disturbing and damaging by the tape. The skin should be well cleaned and ideally the beard shave regularly. The only flaw of this method is that the elastic band pulls on the skin slightly and I wonder if over the years it could amplify the wrinkles to come. But at 50 for the moment, it still seems ok. I would like to find a similar tape to dreamport to eliminate this potential problem.



https://www.amazon.com/Physix-Gear-Spor ... 125&sr=8-6