New TAP PAP mask review

Picked up my Tap Pap today. My first impressions are that I think I will like it. Fitting was straight forward and easy. I watched the video on it and everything went smooth. I remember from other posters that it might be a little snug. So I did wiggle it just a little during fitting. At first I was afraid I had made it to loose and might have to refit as when I first put it in the one side had a tiny bit of play. That went away after setting a while so I might still be in the same boat as everyone else. Don't see me having any problems sleeping with it and so far is everything I expected. So baring anything unforeseen should be a great mask. Really looks like the main thing I wanted( being able to sleep on my side with no fussing with my mask during the night) will be a plus with this mask. Looking to bring more good news after sleeping with it a few nights

Oh no - I can't try the Tap Pap tonight either. My nose (edge of one nostril) is still quite sore. So I have only been able to use/try the Tap Pap for the one night so far. In hindsight, when I was initially setting up the Tap Pap (all the adjustments and bedding in the mouthpiece etc), I think I was concentrating so much on getting the mouthpiece right, I didn't pay enough attention to the pillows - getting the correct size and position right. As a result I have irritated a small area of one nostril. So I daren't use any other pillow mask either and will have to fall back on to one of my nasal masks once again - which will probably mean a very broken sleep again. I wonder if any other Tap Pap users have had any problems with irritation from the pillows?

newsnore wrote:I wonder if any other Tap Pap users have had any problems with irritation from the pillows?

Zero for me but remember I have been using nasal pillows for nearly 4 years.

Do you have some sort of ointment like Lansinoh lanolin ointment that you can use? It will help heal things faster.
Nasal pillows shouldn't cause any abrasions when properly fitted. Abrasions are caused by movement of some sort.

newsnore wrote:Oh no - I can't try the Tap Pap tonight either. My nose (edge of one nostril) is still quite sore. So I have only been able to use/try the Tap Pap for the one night so far. In hindsight, when I was initially setting up the Tap Pap (all the adjustments and bedding in the mouthpiece etc), I think I was concentrating so much on getting the mouthpiece right, I didn't pay enough attention to the pillows - getting the correct size and position right. As a result I have irritated a small area of one nostril. So I daren't use any other pillow mask either and will have to fall back on to one of my nasal masks once again - which will probably mean a very broken sleep again. I wonder if any other Tap Pap users have had any problems with irritation from the pillows?

When I tried the Tap Pap the first night, I had an existing sore/tender spot from my FX, Woke the next mornng to no more sore nose! I think since it doesn't move at all, it gave the tender spot a break for healing. No nose issues now.

newsnore wrote:Oh no - I can't try the Tap Pap tonight either. My nose (edge of one nostril) is still quite sore. So I have only been able to use/try the Tap Pap for the one night so far. In hindsight, when I was initially setting up the Tap Pap (all the adjustments and bedding in the mouthpiece etc), I think I was concentrating so much on getting the mouthpiece right, I didn't pay enough attention to the pillows - getting the correct size and position right. As a result I have irritated a small area of one nostril. So I daren't use any other pillow mask either and will have to fall back on to one of my nasal masks once again - which will probably mean a very broken sleep again. I wonder if any other Tap Pap users have had any problems with irritation from the pillows?

Hi, like many masks there can be a tendency to set it up firmly against your nose, to prevent leak with movement during the night. This feels fine for a few minutes, but after a few hours it can create sore points. However as the TAP PAP doesn't move you will find that you can have a fit that it not as firm against your nose, without getting leaks.

When setting it up, connect the cpap and move mask away from your nose to find the point where it starts leaking, and then tighten it slightly from that point. It may also help to look at a mirror to check that the seal is not squashed too much at any point around its circumference.

You may also need to try a larger size pillow seal, that is not pushed so firmly against your nose.

And finally if you try that and still have a leak from one nostril, check again in the mirror to see if the mask and mouth piece are positioned centrally under your nose. If it is not you may need to refit the mouth piece, so it is centrally located.

Mask guy

Thanks Pugsy - I will try the Lansinoh - looks like we can get it over here.

Thanks Mask guy - I will check those points. I think it could be an inflamed hair follicle just inside the entrance of the nostril as it is still quite sore. It may be a coincidence that it happened on the first night of using the Tap Pap - or it may have just been irritated by the new pillows position.
I did sort of follow the set up you described but I will pay particular notice when I go to use it next time.

Mask guy wrote:There have been a few questions about getting the TAP PAP through a DME.

You can ask your DME, but if they don't have it or want to stock it you could try contacting Lincare. They have many locations all over the country and their head office has it, the branch may just need to request it.

What about Apria? I'm stuck with them....

What about Apria? I'm stuck with them....[/quote]

Apria are aware of the TAP PAP but they say they have not had enough requests for it yet, and do not want to stock it until they do. This is because it is so new, it has only been on sales for 4 weeks.

Please respond to this post if you are with Apria and want to try the TAP PAP. Just post "Apria". If we get enough people posting I ll pass the level of interest onto Apria.

If more people ask Apria for the mask it will help, but you will need to ask the branch to pass the message onto the Apria head office, unless they hear the request will not count.

As mentioned Lincare have the TAP PAP, as do a growing number of DMEs. However, if you can't change, but buy the mask on CPAPcom and like it you may want to stop the supplies of your old mask coming from Apria, and tell them why. That may provide further motivation for them to stock the TAP PAP. Stopping supply's of your old mask with them may have more impact than just asking for the mask and ultimately lead to them providing you with the option of the TAP PAP.

The TAP PAP meets normal Medicare guidelines for pillow masks and components so it will be covered by insurance companies, so that is not an issue.

Okay back again - after using the Tap Pap for 1 night then having a 2 night break due to a sore nose. I couldn't cope with another night using the stand in Eson nasal mask (only managed a max of 3 hours sleep). So inspite of the nose still being sore, I got out the Tap Pap and changed the pillows from medium to large and then backed them right off (no pressure on nostrils whatsoever) according to Mask-guys fitting advice. I had 7.6 hours (AHI 3.2) on the CPAP last night with one wake up due to a slight leak from one pillow and the headgear had come off again. I adjusted the pillows up a little tighter and back to sleep again. The good thing is the nose was, if anything, slightly better upon awaking this morning. I am going to take an even closer look at how I can get the head gear to work for tonight - I only need it to hold the hose in position (routed over my head) so I should be able to get something to work somehow. It is quite minimal (narrow straps and very little to it) which I love, but it just keeps slipping off.

I think Pugsys idea of brushing the mouth piece with toothbrush and toothpaste is a great idea - I think it helps make it more acceptable to put in your mouth somehow. I think I am getting used to the mouthpiece, and felt it was less noticeable and very little discomfort after taking it out. I do wonder about the long term effects of the pressure on the teeth - whether it will pull them all closer together in time?

Apria

Ok I waited until my 3rd night with tap pap to post my experience. I love it. I works just exactly as they say it days. No problems with the mouth piece. I have been running a little worm water over it at night to soften it up before putting it on. No issues with leaks what leaks. What leaks that are left are mouth breathing. No waking up fitting with the mask leaking. I haven't used the headgear at all. Like the previous poster I had planned to use it just for the hose. No need to for me I already had a system above my head for the hose and a stated before the mouthpiece is so sturdy I haven't even put the headgear on. The only issue I had at all is with dry mouth the first two nights. Last nigh no problems with dry mouth. That a don't consider to be an issue with the mask anyway. So no complaints what so ever. Unless something changes I plan on using it from now on.

Pugsy wrote:

newsnore wrote:I wonder if any other Tap Pap users have had any problems with irritation from the pillows?

Zero for me but remember I have been using nasal pillows for nearly 4 years.

Do you have some sort of ointment like Lansinoh lanolin ointment that you can use? It will help heal things faster.
Nasal pillows shouldn't cause any abrasions when properly fitted. Abrasions are caused by movement of some sort.

I've been using nasal pillows since I started in October. When I started with the Tap Pap, I had a sore on my nose from my Swift FX. It went away immediately, I think because it wasn't being irritated any longer with movement. I'm like Pugsy, zero issues with the new mask as it relates to nasal irritation.

newsnore wrote: I got out the Tap Pap and changed the pillows from medium to large

I bet the medium was too small.
I normally wear an XSmall or Small in the Swift FX or Swift LT or Aloha or Opus 360.
I had to move up to the Medium in the Tap Pap...the small was too small.

I am thinking that the Tap Pap pillows are running small...and I wouldn't be surprised if the Large isn't quite large enough for some people and it might be a good idea if the maker could come up with XLarge...little taller and a little larger.

So, after reading about how certain masks can eventually move your teeth and make them crooked...

I wonder if the TAP PAP will help prevent them from moving and becoming crooked?

Another three days six days total on tap pap. Love it. No complaints. Stable with no leaks. Have had no problems with the mouth piece. Unless something unforeseen happens, this is my new mask. I liked the swift fx, but It can't compare with the stability of the tap pap. Thanks for all the reviews without wich I probably wouldn't have tried it.