Taping no longer works and mouth breathing worse...help!

I know I am not alone with this problem. I have been using paper tape with good results for a few years and now to no avail. I keep 'breaking through' on exhaling and obviously causes a miserable night. How I wish there was a FF mask that would work. Has anyone had this issue and how did you resolve it? Been the route with chin straps which to me are a waste of money. The nasal pillows I use are comfortable enough and as a back sleeper taping was the solution but not any more. ANY suggestions would be much appreciated.

beneyw wrote:I know I am not alone with this problem. I have been using paper tape with good results for a few years and now to no avail. I keep 'breaking through' on exhaling and obviously causes a miserable night. How I wish there was a FF mask that would work. Has anyone had this issue and how did you resolve it? Been the route with chin straps which to me are a waste of money. The nasal pillows I use are comfortable enough and as a back sleeper taping was the solution but not any more. ANY suggestions would be much appreciated.

Have you tried those denture strips?

How many FF masks have you tested? Or do you have tons of facial hair (assumption male here...) that makes them out of the question?

I'm off and on with the mouth breathing. I have a respironics chin strap and if it's tight enough and right under my lower lip, it pretty much does the trick...

try johnson +johnson cloth tape. I have good luck with it once in awhile have a blowout. wash with soap water just before bed.

2 inch 3M micropore tape does it for me. Covers the whole mouth and enough around to make a good seal.

I have no facial hair; tried the Hybrid mask, Fisher-Pykel, etc. FF masks and due to thin face nothing but air leaks. I use the 2 " paper tape and maybe I will try a larger piece. I have not yet tried the cloth tape or dental strips. I guess I keep hoping for a 'miracle mask' and none yet available. I am planning to see another doc but if he prescribes another sleep study will not bother. I know I have sleep apnea so no need to have ir re-confirmed. I have yet to see any sleep doc who does not want to impose another study. The problem is there is no mask that works and that is such a frustration yet they scold me for using tape. Go figure..

I totally agree with thin faces not fitting ff masks. I've gained nearly pounds since being on CPAP and they still don't fit. Of course, most of that 20 pounds went to the other cheeks.

When I was in my somewhat OSA denial stage (in other words, pre sleep study), I played around with breathe right strips because I always figured my snoring problem was due to restricted nasal airflow from allergies. I found the adhesive on those things to be downright brutal. I'd wear them into the shower in hopes that steaming hot water would help them get off a little easier, but I still felt like a layer or two of epidermis was being taken with each removal.

Do you folks have any trouble with your tape? Does the tape removal leave soreness after a few nights in a row?

The Breathe Right Strips ripped my skin off, too. And most adhesives leave welts. The blue painters tape was too sharp on the edges. But the white 3M micropore tape does not bother my skin and comes off without taking my skin with it. I have used it daily for many months with no damage. I protect my lips with a thick layer of 100% lanolin and cover that with lip shaped tissue paper. The tape goes over that. THe chistrap helps hold the edges down, I usually have a pretty straight leak line. The blips are caused by my having to lift the mask off to let the blood circulate to my nose bridge and upper lip.

OutaSync wrote:The Breathe Right Strips ripped my skin off, too. And most adhesives leave welts. The blue painters tape was too sharp on the edges. But the white 3M micropore tape does not bother my skin and comes off without taking my skin with it. I have used it daily for many months with no damage. I protect my lips with a thick layer of 100% lanolin and cover that with lip shaped tissue paper. The tape goes over that. THe chistrap helps hold the edges down, I usually have a pretty straight leak line. The blips are caused by my having to lift the mask off to let the blood circulate to my nose bridge and upper lip.

Thanks. That makes sense to cover the lips and that might not have dawned on me. So you do the chinstrap in addition to the tape?

OutaSync wrote:The Breathe Right Strips ripped my skin off, too. And most adhesives leave welts. The blue painters tape was too sharp on the edges. But the white 3M micropore tape does not bother my skin and comes off without taking my skin with it. I have used it daily for many months with no damage. I protect my lips with a thick layer of 100% lanolin and cover that with lip shaped tissue paper. The tape goes over that. THe chistrap helps hold the edges down, I usually have a pretty straight leak line. The blips are caused by my having to lift the mask off to let the blood circulate to my nose bridge and upper lip.

I would like to try the 3M micropore tape, do you know what stores sell it?

Johnson & Johnson First Aid "1-inch" HEAVY DUTY Waterproof Tape is much stronger than the 3M tape that you are using. It holds very tightly, yet is removable without trauma I found it in WalMart and Kroger Supermarket. It's not in a box . . . it comes in a hard-plastic roll with a snap-on cover.

I'd suggest that before using it, you don't have any cream or moisturizer on your face in that area (it's okay to use chapstick on your lips because you are pulling in your lips anyway). Then PULL-IN your lips so that you are placing the tape on the skin around your lips (which now come together). Afix two strips of tape, overlapping each other, with 1/4 - 1/2 inch beyond each side of the edge of your mouth. Fold down a narrow edge on one side for easy removal.

I think there's a good chance this could work for you It's certainly worth a try!

Good luck, Joy

beneyw Have you tried Mack's Silcon ear plugs to help seal the FFM?

Uncle_Bob
Here are Rooster detailed taping instructions -- he seems to have found the 3M micropore at Walgreens.
viewtopic.php?p=82672#p82672

It also as "surgical" in the name, and most imoprtant - it's hypoallergenic.

O.

I bought a box of 6 rolls from amazon.com. I get my lanolin from amazon, too. I do NOT like the instructions of pulling in the lips to apply the tape. I had many nights of bloody lips from doing that. I keep my lips out and cover them with tissue paper cut to the shape of my lips. No trauma. I use the CPAPcap for it's chinstrap.

Hope this helps someone.

Bev

Tissue paper is a great idea, Bev!
I pull my lips in after I put Blistex on them the release them out after I've taped -- and use 1'' tape. I might try you way when I've finished my roll(s).

O.