Blue Tape

Jay Aitchsee wrote:

Pugsy wrote:I am concerned about using it with a FFM and what you are hoping to accomplish. The reason we wear a FFM is so we don't have to tape.

Excessive mouth breathing may occur, resulting in dry mouth and disturbed sleep, even with a FFM. Though, theoretically, therapy should not be affected.

Yeah, I understand that part. What I am concerned about is taping and full face mask and power outage and that valve on the FFM so we don't suffocate...would nasal breathing be sufficient to trigger the valve?
I know its a remote possibility...but if I wanted to tape due to mouth breathing dry mouth...why use a FFM in the first place?
I could see a chin strap and FFM going together...just never thought of tape and FFM.

Pugsy wrote:..but if I wanted to tape due to mouth breathing dry mouth...why use a FFM in the first place?

Maybe the OP doesn't have a nasal mask. For me, a throat leaker, only a FFM will eliminate the discomfort of chipmunk cheeks and lord knows I've tried to make nasal masks, tape and chin straps work. I'm not really a mouth breather, but occasionally I do become one and develop dry mouth. In these instances, I've found a little tape useful in reminding my brain to keep my mouth shut. Usually, it only takes a couple of nights and I can stop using it. I've also found I don't need to completely seal my lips. One piece, an inch wide, from under my nose to my lower lip will do the trick.
The valve will work OK with a power outage breathing through the nostrils only. Now, if the nostrils becomes completely blocked and the mouth is taped with duct tape, then....Archangle!

Jay Aitchsee wrote:Now, if the nostrils becomes completely blocked and the mouth is taped with duct tape, then....Archangle!

Yeah, I am surprised he hasn't hopped on this idea already.
Course everyone knows I would use the real 100MPH duct tape before I would ever use a FFM anyway.
I was just wondering mainly what the goals were...just in case maybe he/she was thinking the tape would do something it wouldn't do.

Sheffey wrote:Hello. Newly registered member but a longtime CPAP user and longtime familiar with this forum to some degree.

What has worked well for years is suddenly not working well. My AHI has gone from 2 or 3 to 8 most nights. At 8 I don't feel well -sleepiness, fatigue, irritability.

I noticed concurrent with my AHI going up I am mouthbreathing more. Taping sounds horrible but I am going to try it due to being desperate. Will use it underneath my FFM.

Two questions on the tape. I just picked up a roll (3M brand blue painters) this afternoon and I chose the size .94 inches. What size do you use?

Second question, when I opened the package the tape smells very bad. Is this noticeable when you put it on with the mask?

Thanks for any kind responses,

T. Sheffey

In all the answers to this I didn't see anyone suggest that the problem may be that your pressure needs have changed. Your mouth might be popping open when it used to stay closed because you're not getting the air you need, so brain says "Hey mouth, lend a hand here!"

So my suggestion is that we try to get some data using SleepyHead, etc (though I forgot to see if your machine is compatible)...

khauser wrote:In all the answers to this I didn't see anyone suggest that the problem may be that your pressure needs have changed. Your mouth might be popping open when it used to stay closed because you're not getting the air you need, so brain says "Hey mouth, lend a hand here!"So my suggestion is that we try to get some data using SleepyHead, etc (though I forgot to see if your machine is compatible)...

Good point. OP does state in follow-up post that pressure requirement has increased.

Sir NoddinOff wrote:My only problem with blue tape, duct tape etc. is that is is not produced in a medical specific environment. not much care is taken with cross-contamination, What's that mean? Put simply, I don't trust blue tape et al to to be free of contaminates, therefore I don't want them anywhere near my mouth or stuck to my face. I could tell you industrial process horror stories from my bygone days in the industry, however most people in my profession believe in the code of "Don't kiss and tell". Nuff said.

First, let me say that I am overwhelmed by all the attention you guys have given me. I get NONE at home , so this is very nice for a change! Thank you! I now understand why many of you have been here for years and post daily. Everyone deserves some recognition and respect and sometimes this is the only place to get it!

But back to that blue tape. Sir Noddin, I know what you are saying. But last night it was the only tape I had and I figured a one-inch strip on my lips for one night probably would not kill me (the dose is what determines the poison ).

So I put a piece on my lips, put on the mask and got in bed. The tape seemed like it would hold well all night long. But it seemed uncomfortable under the mask and after about 20 minutes of not going to sleep, I pulled the tape off and then fell asleep quickly.

This morning when I woke up I pulled my mask off and wanted to lie in the bed for a few minutes, stretching and listening to the news. When that mask came off I immediately smelled a very unpleasant industrial-like smell. It was the roll of 3M blue painter's tape that I left lying on the chest across the room. The smell was filling up the bedroom and was very unpleasant to me. So I got up and put the tape in the utility room off the garage.

That experiment ended, if I ever try tape again I will go with one of the medical brands several people recommended.

I will post more later and maybe a screen shot of my data.

Thanks again to everyone!

The smell of the 3M blue tape doesn't bother me, the smell of J&J cloth tape is nearly undetectable;
but the store brand (either Target or Walgreens, I forget which) smells so bad, it's for use as far from the face as you can get it.

Jay Aitchsee wrote:

Pugsy wrote:I am concerned about using it with a FFM and what you are hoping to accomplish. The reason we wear a FFM is so we don't have to tape.

Excessive mouth breathing may occur, resulting in dry mouth and disturbed sleep, even with a FFM. Though, theoretically, therapy should not be affected.

Yes! With FFMs you still want to avoid mouthbreathing. Nasal breathing is the best for good health and, by logical extension, good sleep!

Pugsy wrote:..would nasal breathing be sufficient to trigger the valve?

It stays open when the machine is not running. Doesn't need triggering.

Jay Aitchsee wrote:

Pugsy wrote:..but if I wanted to tape due to mouth breathing dry mouth...why use a FFM in the first place?

Maybe the OP doesn't have a nasal mask. For me, a throat leaker, only a FFM will eliminate the discomfort of chipmunk cheeks and lord knows I've tried to make nasal masks, tape and chin straps work. I'm not really a mouth breather, but occasionally I do become one and develop dry mouth. In these instances, I've found a little tape useful in reminding my brain to keep my mouth shut. Usually, it only takes a couple of nights and I can stop using it. I've also found I don't need to completely seal my lips. One piece, an inch wide, from under my nose to my lower lip will do the trick.

Yes! Exactly - You are my twin!

Chipmunk cheeks you call them. Yes!

khauser wrote:
In all the answers to this I didn't see anyone suggest that the problem may be that your pressure needs have changed. Your mouth might be popping open when it used to stay closed because you're not getting the air you need, so brain says "Hey mouth, lend a hand here!"

Yes! I think more pressure is called for. Why it just changed from one night to the next and has prevailed for a few weeks I don't understand!!!! I have not gained weight and my nasal passages are reasonably wide and not congested.

I have a very old copy of Encore Pro that still works well. Don't want to take the time to change to SleepyHead.

chunkyfrog wrote: smells so bad, it's for use as far from the face as you can get it.

Why would you ever need to use it there? Aerophagia?

Thanks again. Will post some more. Probably will experiment with pressure range increases!

khauser wrote:In all the answers to this I didn't see anyone suggest that the problem may be that your pressure needs have changed. Your mouth might be popping open when it used to stay closed because you're not getting the air you need, so brain says "Hey mouth, lend a hand here!"

Jay Aitchsee wrote: OP does state in follow-up post that pressure requirement has increased.

Thanks. I have turned the pressure up again and probably will turn it up a third time. Maybe in a few days I can post a graph with very low AHI to show how your advice is good.