do all tapers wear a chin strap?

[mountainlvr]

I'm just wondering, does anyone tape their mouth and NOT use a chin strap? If the taping helps, can the chin strap be redundant? I use both when I use my nasal pillows or mask, just because the chin strap helps keep my cheeks closed and I don't get blowfish face so much.

Thanks!

[LinkC]

Nope! I don't. The reason I switched from a chinstrap is because it hurt my jaw.

I tried several tapes/techniques before settling on: a Polident strip between lips, then NexCare waterproof tape across my mouth (with a folded-over "emergency" pull tab on each end). While I *can* do the blowfish thing, it doesn't happen automatically.

[plr66]

Nope--I don't either. Have never seen a need for it. I do recall that early in starting cpap, I had blowfish cheeks every night at one time or another, but that stopped after a fairly short time...and I'm not sure why. It could be because I stopped using apap, and went to constant pressure cpap? But even with the blowfishing, I never needed a strap with the taping.

[ozij]

I don't use a chin strap.

[SharkBait]

I'm just wondering, does anyone tape their mouth and NOT use a chin strap? If the taping helps, can the chin strap be redundant? I use both when I use my nasal pillows or mask, just because the chin strap helps keep my cheeks closed and I don't get blowfish face so much.

Thanks!

Yes, I do.

The chin strap does a great job of keeping my Swift LT mask in place. I like to run the strap (I use a Respironics) down over the cheek part of the Swift LT with the very top part of the chin strap actually covering my mouth. Once I do that I'm usually "locked in" for the night and rarely have a problem with leaks as the mask is secured in place.

As I continue to sleep like this and have gotten very comfortable with it, I'm in hopes of eventually "training" my mouth to stay closed and my tongue to stay at the roof of my mouth and perhaps one day I can stop taping. That might be naive thinking, but it doesn't hurt to hope...

[OutaSync]

I've tried the tape without the chinstrap several times and each time I have blown out my tape when my jaw fell. Chinstraps are a PITA. I wish I could do without it.

BTW, I NEED the blowfish effect to fill out the gap between my face and the mask. You know, in between the places where it is clamped down so hard my teeth hurt. I was hoping that the 20 pounds I've gained since being on CPAP would fill out my face some, but it all went south

Bev

[tattooyu]

I use a chinstrap but no tape! I'm hoping to get a PapCAP soon to eliminate some pressure points the chinstrap is creating. Other than that, I sleep great, and my leak rate it usually pretty low.

[Guest]

No chinstrap, just 1" JNJ silk tape 4" long with end pull tabs. Have also used 2" x 3 foot self stick Ace bandage wrap around the head (not too tight) to prevent puff-out cheeks and seal the mouth lightly. Whatever works for ya.

[SaltLakeJan]

Do you mean there is a name for that crazy thing that has started happening to me? I put on my mask, tape my mouth, turn on the Wind Tunnel and bamb, my cheeks puff out and I do a number of interesting facial maneuvers trying to keep from blowing my cheeks right off my face?

I taped with the nasal pillows without that effect, but when I switched to Mirage Micro thats when the fat cheeks started bugging me.

Oh my gosh, just when I thought I was beginning to understand sleep apnea.

Lay that information on me - I need to know.

Jan

[kopoloff]

I've known a few tapirs. best I know, none of them used a chinstrap.

This is Freddy. Freddy uses an Opus 360. He finds that a FF mask really doesn't fit very well, and he hates the leaks.




And now I've learnt to place images, I'll be brave and post a picture of myself. And yes, I'm a tapir too!



K

[bdp522]

Tape with no chin strap here.

Brenda

[Gerald]

Mountainlvr.......

I use 2" Blue 3M Delicate Release painter's Tape from Lowe's Paint Dept.

I don't use a chin strap to keep my mouth closed.....BUT, I do use a "leg" of panty-hose tights....on TOP of the tape (to help prevent "blow-outs").

The gentle adhesive is very comfortable during removal...but, it needs a little help to stay in place. That's what the panty-hose tights are for. The tights add pressure on top of the tape....to assist the adhesive.

The band goes over the tape...back under the ears...to the back of my head. In addition, I've added a "stabilizer band" that attaches just ahead of an ear....goes over the top of the head....and attaches just ahead of the other ear.

My system works great.....and I can find no way to improve on it.

In addition to the tape + panty-hose tights, I use "pencil-eraser sized globs of Lansenoh Lanolin on each nare....arong with my headrest type Aura nasal mask.

My AHI consistently stays below an AHI of 1.0. Last night was a 0.4 and the night before that was a 0.7. It's not uncommon for me to achieve a 0.0 two days in a row.

Hope this helps.....

Gerald

[Uncle_Bob]

Yes, I do.

The chin strap does a great job of keeping my Swift LT mask in place. I like to run the strap (I use a Respironics) down over the cheek part of the Swift LT with the very top part of the chin strap actually covering my mouth. Once I do that I'm usually "locked in" for the night and rarely have a problem with leaks as the mask is secured in place.

As I continue to sleep like this and have gotten very comfortable with it, I'm in hopes of eventually "training" my mouth to stay closed and my tongue to stay at the roof of my mouth and perhaps one day I can stop taping. That might be naive thinking, but it doesn't hurt to hope...

I too use the Swift LT and have a Respironics Premium chin strap and am working to get my leak rate down.
I'm going to try and wear the chin strap over the mask as you suggested, i've been doing it the other way around and have has mask issues. If that fails i am going to consider taping.
Although having the strap over the mask means something else to take off for bathroom breaks though. I have no quick release with my setup, its frustrating to have to take the mask off. Most of my failed mask fittings are after bathroom breaks.

[Violet]

I'm a taper and I use a chin strap. However, my chin strap is used as my hose hanger.

I cut a teeny hole on the end of the chin strap and placed it on a nail on the wall where I used to hang a picture over my bed. The rest of the chin strap hangs down with the velcro at the bottom which then folds up and holds up the hose that has a pink Pad a Cheeks cover on it.