Just decided taping is unsafe

And then for some of us taping is not just unsafe ... it's unwise. Having my mustache pulled out one hair at a time is NOT a good way to awaken!

John; Sorry, that's an ouchie I can't kiss.
Darling Hubby would get jealous!

This is new to me....I did not know there was a "taping" option. I always assumed it was either chinstrap or FFM or some Hybrid mask. Interesting. Great thread.

teachcsg wrote:This is new to me....I did not know there was a "taping" option. I always assumed it was either chinstrap or FFM or some Hybrid mask. Interesting. Great thread.

Undoubtedly you are not acquainted with it as the sleep professionals are overwhelmingly, if not 100%, opposed to it. It's an option you would not have learned about in your training.

Some of us are willing to go outside of our comfort zone to get effective therapy.
--outside of some others' comfort zone as well. We are rebels--and proud of it!
There are varied opinions on the safety of taping.
I will not do it if my tummy is the least bit upset, and I always use tape that has fairly weak adhesive.
I will not cover my entire mouth, either--some do. It is an individual choice.

When the seal at the back of my throat is breeched - back there where the seal has to happen, and pressurised cpap air pours around my tongue and out of my open lips I wake up.

I wake up because of the noise.
I wake up because my dried up tongue has stuck to the top of my mouth, and moving it causes excruciating pain.

Anyone who says air leaks don't impact your therapy hasn't exprienced that type of air leak.

A chin strap is useless when your problem is a breeched seal between your nose and mouth. It only helps if the source of the leak is a dropped chin.

Edited for typos.

I tape, but still sometimes wake up with a dry mouth. The readout shows 0, 1.2, or maybe up to 6 lpm leak rate. So apparently I can have very little leakage past the tape (I use only one strip 1" wide, ~ 4" long), have the machine show a zero leak rate, and end up with a dry mouth.

I don't think I'll ever be able to get a good seal with my tongue because I wear a nightguard to protect my teeth when I grind them in my sleep, and that gets in the way of a seal. I think my only options are FFM or taping.

Last night was my third night of taping. I'm not having issues with the taping, per se. But somewhere, somehow, air is escaping, and it is not through my mouth. I am using an 8" piece of 2" blue painters' tape, plus a chin strap, then my Mirage FX. I look like something out of a freak show. I just pray that there isn't an earthquake in the middle of the night and I have to run outside. My neighbors would be more scared of me than of the falling debris around them. Back to the taping - the belly air has returned, which is why I initially gave up the nasal mask. But I could never get the Quattro to stay sealed w/o hissing at me throughout the night, especially as my pressure increased, so it's back to the nasal mask. Any ideas or suggestions? I don't think I will mention the taping idea to my dr. based on what others here have said

What pressures are you seeing on your AutoSet? What are your actual pressure settings?

You know that for some people it is the LES (Lower Esophageal Sphincter) that is the problem. It is a little too lax and air that makes its way into the esophagus isn't blocked well by the LES and thus enters the stomach and the rest is history. Sometimes it is a little too lax from prior GERD damage or inflammation.
Sometimes elevating the head of the bed will help but you may want to talk to your doctor about possible bilevel pressure machine use. There's no reason to be miserable and no reason not to use a mask that you are comfortable with and sleep well with otherwise when there are other alternatives that might help...like a bilevel machine.

If you can't reduce the pressure (like maybe limiting the maximum or using straight cpap) to a point where you don't have the aerophagia problem without having suboptimal therapy pressure...might want to discuss a different machine.

Now if you could reduce the pressure to a point that it isn't pushing past the LES and still have effective reduction in apneas......that might be an option.

My pressure is set at 4-15. I'll ask my dr. about the LES. Thx.

All in all, if taping helps so many people (and they can sleep well with it) it is a good idea, especially when we take into account that it is better to live well, feel well and take each day as it comes. We can die everyday, every single day here is a risk. Of course when someone has issues like those mentioned by archangle, like taking drugs, having impaired hand cooridination and many others, the risk associated with taping is bigger.

I am still struggling to sleep with BiPAP, I am young, not taking drugs, I don't drink alcohol (ever), I am eating mainly home-cooked meals so the risk associated with taping is relatively small (small risk of power outages in my area, the last time I vomited was 4 years ago). But my mind is keeping me from sleeping with tape and nasal mask anyway... and it is aHUGE problem (especially when FFM leaks, no matter what I do) for me because despite being sure that taping has very small chances of hurting (killing) me I am so stupid that I can't do this Without tape I have huge mouth-blows (I can't call them leaks), due to partial UPPP. And what should I do in my situation? Isn't that an impasse?

CatherineF - I totally understand the mental block. For me, it's swallowing gum. It's totally crazy but I can't swallow chewing gum!

Maybe put the tape on while you're doing stuff around the house or watch tv? Just to get used to the sensation...

Fear itself may contribute to danger; so just do what makes you feel safe.
--As long as you keep pappin'

Matty332 wrote:Hey Pugsy,

Where can you buy a power failure warning device? It sounds like a great idea!

Marry, I just bought one for about $14 at my local Ace Hardware store. Combo flashlight and alarm when power goes out.