Is it safe to tape mouth to prevent mouth leaks?

The tape doesn't set up like cement. With just a bit of minimum effort one can open one's mouth. I tried it.
First night I ever tried tape we lost power. I woke up. I wasn't choking. It was more of a "what's different" wake up.
One can breathe and have enough air moving through the vent holes of a nasal pillow mask to not suffocate. I tried this also.

Full face mask is not always the ideal solution for everyone so that we just slap one on and have it work. There may be reasons why full face mask won't work for someone just like there are reasons why nasal interface mask won't work for some people.

I've left instructions for my family to post it here if I die in my sleep from having my mouth taped.

I've only had the power go out once while sleeping with XPAP. That is when I discovered that my machine had an alarm. It scared the dickens out of me and by the time I was awake enough to realize what happened, the power was back on.

Since so many of us tape, it seems that the mask makers would put antiashyxiation valves on nasal masks, as well.

I'm just guessing...but if a single person had been killed (or even significantly harmed) by taping, it would be all over the CPAP-sphere. Anyone know of an incident, or even a close call?

OutaSync wrote:I've left instructions for my family to post it here if I die in my sleep from having my mouth taped.

Not to sound morbid, but I assume those instructions would be.. this is how not to tape you mouth.

John

> Pugsy on Mon May 23, 2011 9:20 am
>
>Full face mask is not always the ideal solution for everyone so that we just slap one on and have it work. There may be reasons why full face mask won't >work for someone just like there are reasons why nasal interface mask won't work for some people.

I have to agree with Pugsy. I tried to use the FFM Quattro for my first six months. Anytime I opened my mouth, the extreme dryness would wake me up. I tried painter's tape, but my drool loosened the tape.

I have finally hit upon a combination that works for me: Swift LT pillows, Papcap and Chin-Up white horseshoe strip across my mouth. I am finally able to get six to seven hours of therapy per night. Currently, with minimal frustration. I'm able to reuse the strips for four to five nights. I hope to eventually learn to keep my lips closed and eliminate the tape strip.

This treatment is a lot harder than I thought. Earl

have taped off and on for 2 years . Still here . I have asthma attacks occasionally and on these nights I'm able to quickly pull tape off and cough to clear lungs. When I have a lot of allergies and runny nose I will not tape. I find the best sleep I get is when I tape, and use a chin strap as if I tape only I will wake up in the night with a dry sealed mouth I don't like that feel. Everyone has choiches to make in life and this is mine.

M.D.Hosehead wrote:I may be wrong, but I think your mask has a safety valve that opens up if there is an obstruction to the flow of air. Of course, you can test this yourself by putting on the mask without the hose and covering the inlet with your thumb.

For my SOFTGEL nasal mask, the safety valve is not as good as full face mask. I'm not sure if those small holes can be called safety valve.
Since I have tried more than 5 full face masks, none of them fit me, I suppose that full face mask is not an option to me.

rosiefrosie wrote:I have been taping my mouth for the past 3 years. Even had the electricity go out and woke up immediately. I prefer to use nasal pillows and this help me prevent mouth leaks. Everyone has their own preferences and you will get lots of different advice, but it's worth a try to see if it works for you or not.

rosie

hi rosiefrosie. You are lucky that you were able to wake up when the electricity goes down. I'm not sure if I'm able to wake up in that case.
I have seen some posts say that their S9 stop working during the night. It is so dangerous that if I cannot wake up.

[/quote]
hi rosiefrosie. You are lucky that you were able to wake up when the electricity goes down. I'm not sure if I'm able to wake up in that case.
I have seen some posts say that their S9 stop working during the night. It is so dangerous that if I cannot wake up.[/quote]


Try this:

http://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Controls ... B000IF8QDK

There is no way a person who tapes their mouth shut can suffocate with a cpap during a power outage. All masks and nasal rigs have vents and reliefs. To get away from having to tape, I have tried chin straps, special hats, Cpap Cap, full face masks, hybrids. My problem is recirculation back out through the mouth, resulting in extreme painful dry mouth. No full face mask or chin strap has been able to solve my problem; granted, with a full mask or hybrid, you will receive cpap therapy, but my mouth dryness is the result of recirculation, which is still occuring with masks. I have resigned myself that I will probably tape the rest of my life if I don't want to wake up during the night with painful dry mouth. Also, I have tried all kinds of tape, including painter's, duct and paper surgical and have finally settled on Johnson & Johnson cloth tape. It sticks better than the rest and does not leave any residue at all, which was a MAJOR problem with most other kinds. Good luck!

Last summer while camping, the power went out, I hooked up to my battery so had no problem. My friend in the next motorhome doesn't use a battery backup. The power went out about 1:30am and he never noticed...slept right through till 7am. He was masked up all night, had a slight headache in the morning but that's all.
If that's not proof enough that you won't suffocate, I don't know what is.

beylow wrote: the safety valve is not as good as full face mask. I'm not sure if those small holes can be called safety valve.

They aren't. Those are vents to flush out CO2. Generally speaking, nasal masks don't have or need anti-asphyxiation valves as FF masks do. You will wake up and breathe thru your mouth if the machine stops. Do you have problems with unwanted mouth-breathing?

nanwilson wrote:Last summer while camping, the power went out, I was hooked up to my battery so had no problem. My friend in the next motorhome wasn't hooked up to a battery. The power went out about 1:30am and he never noticed...slept right through till 7am.
If that's not proof enough that you won't suffocate, I don't know what is.

Was he taping or wearing a FFM?

Was he taping or wearing a FFM?[/quote]

He uses a ffm, had the mask on all night with no fresh cpap air going through, just from the vent holes.

nanwilson wrote: with no fresh cpap air going through, just from the vent holes.

If he has a FF mask, it has a built-in anti-asphyxiation valve that opens when the hose pressure drops off. (At least, all of them made or sold in the US do.)