Puffing cheeks tape blows off causing leaks

After 3 years of using CPAP I finally found a mask that didn't leak and that's the bleep. Two years I tried full face masks.

I use tape so that I don't breathe through my mouth, I find that no matter what tape no matter how much tape, the force from my cheeks puffing blows the tape off. Have tried chin straps I've tried a chin strap that also covered my mouth and went behind the head that worked but that caused problems with my jaw.

Does that mean I simply have to deal with a full face mask

. I also found that my teeth were moving with the full face mask.After doing some research I see that does happen with people. Something none of my doctors ever told me about.

As someone who suffers from mouth leaks, puffing cheeks and sometime trouble with full face masks, I can only say I can empathize.
I alternate. Rather randomly. Sometime I think I will end up with Sachme cheeks from all that cheek puffing

What are your pressure settings?
Which tape do you use?
Do you pull in your lips firmly when taping?

I also use tape, and I also had problems with "chipmunk cheeks." Here's what worked for me:

Try putting the tip of your tongue behind your upper front teeth. Then position the main part of your tongue up against your upper palate. Finally, give a little suck or swallow to create a bit of suction. You should now be able to open your mouth while breathing entirely through your nose. Practice this during the day, and see if you can get it grooved in deeply enough to help while you are asleep at night. For some people, this is really all it takes to avoid mouth leaks.

I have used following tapes

1.medipore 3m

2.cover-roll stretch.

3.kineslolgy

(Have used a mask tape called nozeseal. Can be used on P10. Using this tape you don't need head gear. )

I've used these in all times of combinations. I also pull my lips back and in.


I found that when I was using the medapore and my machine showed a lot of leaks the tape seem to be on.

Every night when I go to sleep I blow pretty hard out the tape and it seems to be no leaks. Up in the morning the tape seems sealed but if I blow even lightly I can feel the air around the edges . I think during the night I'm blowing so hard it's loosening the seal. Last night I took a break from the bleep used the P10 but I'm spoiled with the bleep. I had leaks last night I had to adjust it and I finally did something I don't normally do. I just took the tape and the mask off.
I have another study coming up in about 2 weeks last one was 3 years ago. I have tried my machine at the auto titration no changes in leak amounts I keep it now over the last two weeks at 11 PSI which was what was suggested 3 years ago and I tend to have a lot less flagging but still leaks same.

. I heard someone mention maybe a headband elastic around the back of my head over my mouth with the tape and it might stop some of the expansion of the tape so that the seal doesn't break. However this is pretty exhausting.

I even have a camera above my head that shows my cheeks puffing up every once in awhile it's pretty extreme.

Saliva may be loosening your tape as the night wears on.

I'm curious: why do you have another sleep study coming up so soon?

Also, it is sometimes recommended that people stop using their machines about a week in advance of a new sleep test, to avoid carry-over effects.

What works for me:
1. fold the 2 inch MediPore in half
2. wet my lips
3. pucker up
4. then attach the tape

This way the tape is not stretched tight against my mouth.
There is some natural give.

Bob313 wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 04, 2023 11:20 am

I heard someone mention maybe a headband elastic around the back of my head over my mouth with the tape and it might stop some of the expansion of the tape so that the seal doesn't break. However this is pretty exhausting.

Jay’s scunci method does help prevent chipmunk cheeks.

viewtopic.php?p=1089718&f=1&t=112758&p= ... s#p1086296



The Zonker variant

viewtopic/t184804/Full-face-mask-option ... i#p1417085

The reason for the new test is that I have lost about 25 lb since the first test. In addition I want to get a clean start as to where I'm headed.

I actually went to a specialist last month I was impressed by his credentials the equipment.his office his knowledge.
He scheduled a narcolepsy test along with the baseline test. It all went downhill after that. As it turns out my insurance approved all the tests however his office insisted it had to be done at a specific lab which was not in my insurance plan. The doctor's office then told me that they would do it at the other lab and yet I never would get the paperwork. Finally I called one last time and the office staff said "the doctor will not do the study or review your files anymore unless you do the study in the lab he wanted"

Unbelievable is all I can say. I went back to my primary and now I'm trying to get a reapproval for my primary to order the test and then I'll go through the process of finding hopefully a competent doctor to review what the heck is going on

The second reason for being retested 3 years ago when problem started I found myself in the afternoon not able to physically move. I don't know how to describe the exhaustion. That's when my primary ordered the test and it showed mild apnea he thought it wasn't a big deal but I looked at the reports and it just showed very little REM sleep very erratic sleeping . I got the CPAP machine and things improved although it's been a constant problem sleeping with the mask


You mentioned something about doctors wanting a person to not use CPAP before a test. Do you have any references to that subject?

something about doctors wanting a person to not use CPAP before a test.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25487311/

There is also this thread

viewtopic/t184245/Cease-CPAP-Use-Two-We ... 0#p1410493
with reference to this article
https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/ ... ogin=false

GrumpyHere wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 04, 2023 12:25 pm

The Zonker variant

1. where ya been, mate? hope you come back more often.

2. you really should post a warning before showing that pic. YIKES!

Bob313, what a saga with that doctor. Sheesh. But congratulations on the weight loss!

Just as a follow-up to my June issues with tape. I found total success by taking two pieces of tape across my lips at Angles and then the key was taking the straps from my old nasal mask putting the strap across my mouth lightly connect the velcro in the back and I no longer have a problem with leaks. My camera that I had on at night showed that when my cheeks puffed up the tape blew off . The elastic band stops the tape from coming off when. My cheeks start to puff up. Works perfectly. I'll probably try one piece of tape going horizontally along with the stap. I also use the bleep system which guarantees me absolutely no leaks.

Finally had the sleep study now I'm really confused because this sleep study pretty much says I don't have sleep apnea or apnea anymore
Yet I feel totally like crap without it.