Mouth taping?

Espada · Post by **Espada** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 3:08 am

I have had issued with my CPAP machine and i went to get a sleep study with CPAP machine to tell the best settings for me and it was 8 as after 8 i would get central apnea so the dr recommended to set the minimum to 8 and maximum to 10 now here is the catch my stupid mouth is open and drowning everyday i used a chinstrap but didn't help much would only give me jaw pain and very uncomfortable so would mouth taping really help could it be used with facial hair and CPAP machine? I am a very bad mouth breather and will soon see a specialist ENT to continue seeking the main issue why my life quality suck because of my sleep

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 5:02 am

There are people with facial hair who do tape their lips shut. Facial hair does put some extra challenges to any mask wearing or what we do to keep things sealed. There are people who do have facial hair and do tape....it can be "interesting" depending on tape placement and the hairs involved.

How about trying a one of the cervical collars so many here use that end up supporting the chin and keep it from dropping and opening the mouth that way?

How about maybe trying Jay's Scunci way of holding his mouth shut?
viewtopic/p1089718/viewtopic.php?f=1&t= ... s#p1086296

I am sure that later some forum members who have facial hair and prefer nasal interface over a full face mask will stop by and tell you what works well for them. It can be done but there are some extra challenges.

Espada · Post by **Espada** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 5:09 am

Pugsy wrote: ↑
Tue Jul 21, 2020 5:02 am
There are people with facial hair who do tape their lips shut. Facial hair does put some extra challenges to any mask wearing or what we do to keep things sealed. There are people who do have facial hair and do tape....it can be "interesting" depending on tape placement and the hairs involved.

How about trying a one of the cervical collars so many here use that end up supporting the chin and keep it from dropping and opening the mouth that way?

How about maybe trying Jay's Scunci way of holding his mouth shut?
viewtopic/p1089718/viewtopic.php?f=1&t= ... s#p1086296

I am sure that later some forum members who have facial hair and prefer nasal interface over a full face mask will stop by and tell you what works well for them. It can be done but there are some extra challenges.

Cervical collar? Isn't that what is used around the neck after accidents? Wouldn't that be uncomfortable while sleeping would ot be better than taping?

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 5:26 am

Not necessarily the same kind of cervical collar as people wear after car accidents.
Usually a smaller softer version designed for gentle support. We have several members here who use them and they will be along later and tell you which ones they use.

Are they uncomfortable...well to me they would be a bit but to the people who use them and it keeps their mouth shut and they don't have to tape their mouths closed or use a full face mask...it ends up being an acceptable trade off.
But then I don't have facial hair nor have a problem keeping my mouth shut....if I did then it might not be so bad comfort wise considering my other options.

As for better than taping...dunno...depends on how annoying taping is I suppose.

With CPAP you get choices or options on how to fix problems. Sometimes none of the options are really what we want but that's the sum total of the options out there.

This sort of soft foam cervical collar.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/OTC-Cervical ... /185488705

not talking about those with hard braces or anything like that.

Espada · Post by **Espada** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 6:44 am

Pugsy wrote: ↑
Tue Jul 21, 2020 5:26 am
Not necessarily the same kind of cervical collar as people wear after car accidents.
Usually a smaller softer version designed for gentle support. We have several members here who use them and they will be along later and tell you which ones they use.

Are they uncomfortable...well to me they would be a bit but to the people who use them and it keeps their mouth shut and they don't have to tape their mouths closed or use a full face mask...it ends up being an acceptable trade off.
But then I don't have facial hair nor have a problem keeping my mouth shut....if I did then it might not be so bad comfort wise considering my other options.

As for better than taping...dunno...depends on how annoying taping is I suppose.

With CPAP you get choices or options on how to fix problems. Sometimes none of the options are really what we want but that's the sum total of the options out there.

This sort of soft foam cervical collar.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/OTC-Cervical ... /185488705

not talking about those with hard braces or anything like that.

I am using a full face mask but my mouth opens up even tho my nose isn't stuffed or blocked or whatever, my mouth opens and the air goes into my mouth instead of my nose i am thinking about changing to nasal pillow and shutting my mouth anyway possible during sleep, aha side note my sleep doctor is neurologist and he is going crazy on why do i keep getting apneas in the first place " 15.7/h " and i did an endoscopy while being drugged before and they found no extra tissue or any issues to deal with or operate on hoping the new ENT could do better

Miss Emerita · Post by **Miss Emerita** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 10:17 am

If you're using a full-face mask, it is OK if your mouth is opening, from the point of view of your apnea treatment. Is the problem that your mouth feels dry? Does the air going in and out of your mouth cause you to wake up? It'd help to know why opening your mouth seems bad.

If you want to try taping, buy a box of Somnifix strips. They are gentle on the skin. I've read posts from people with facial hair who use them, but a lot will depend on the pattern of your hair growth. I think there's no substitute for experimenting. You may need to trim the strips a little and then see whether they still hold.

It sounds as though central apnea is your main problem; do I have the right picture? What kind of machine are you using? Could you tell us what your AHI is, and how much of it is due to centrals?

zonker · Post by **zonker** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 10:45 am

Espada wrote: ↑
Tue Jul 21, 2020 5:09 am

Cervical collar? Isn't that what is used around the neck after accidents? Wouldn't that be uncomfortable while sleeping would ot be better than taping?

firm foam cervical collar, like this-

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=firm+foam+ce ... _sb_noss_1

i use that with the scunci method pugsy mentions. i'm a full bearded fellow and find it works a treat. using the two together is a major part of why my ahi is under 1.

i highly recommend it.

oh and also? when you get the chance, could you fill in your equipment profile? once you do that, it will show up in each of your psosts, as mine does below.

good luck!

ElusiveSleep · Post by **ElusiveSleep** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 3:38 pm

My success story for solving mouth breathing with a cervical collar is posted here:
http://cpaptalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t ... 8#p1359168

Espada · Post by **Espada** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 2:17 pm

: IMG_20200723_221844.jpg (861.95 KiB) Viewed 2474 times

Miss Emerita wrote: ↑
Tue Jul 21, 2020 10:17 am
If you're using a full-face mask, it is OK if your mouth is opening, from the point of view of your apnea treatment. Is the problem that your mouth feels dry? Does the air going in and out of your mouth cause you to wake up? It'd help to know why opening your mouth seems bad.

If you want to try taping, buy a box of Somnifix strips. They are gentle on the skin. I've read posts from people with facial hair who use them, but a lot will depend on the pattern of your hair growth. I think there's no substitute for experimenting. You may need to trim the strips a little and then see whether they still hold.

It sounds as though central apnea is your main problem; do I have the right picture? What kind of machine are you using? Could you tell us what your AHI is, and how much of it is due to centrals?

The issue with me opening my mouth that it wakes me up and it makes me feel like shit like if my CPAP ain't doing its work i have a full face mask and i started mouth taping 2 days in a row expremnting with it it kinda feel better, i have attached a picture of my sleep study report

jimbud · Post by **jimbud** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 2:46 pm

We know that:

Espada wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 23, 2020 2:17 pm
1. The issue with me opening my mouth that it wakes me up and it makes me feel like sh...
Espada wrote: ↑
Tue Jul 21, 2020 6:44 am
2. I am using a full face mask but my mouth opens up even tho my nose isn't stuffed or blocked or whatever, my mouth opens and the air goes into my mouth instead of my nose
Espada wrote: ↑
Tue Jul 21, 2020 3:08 am
3.my stupid mouth is open and drowning everyday i used a chinstrap but didn't help much would only give me jaw pain and very uncomfortable

It has been suggested that you try a cervical collar to keep your mouth shut.
It will do that, (if you get one) with the right fitment.

Try one.

JPB

Miss Emerita · Post by **Miss Emerita** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 10:03 am

Espada, thanks for posting the sleep report summary. I can see now that central apnea is not your problem; obstructive apnea is.

Your CPAP machine will still do its job if you open your mouth while using a full-face mask, but you've put your finger on your real problem, which is that mouth-breathing wakes you up. Anything that wakes you up is bad!

I'm glad to hear you're feeling a little better using tape. Just curious: what kind are you using?

Espada · Post by **Espada** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 10:50 am

Miss Emerita wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 24, 2020 10:03 am
Espada, thanks for posting the sleep report summary. I can see now that central apnea is not your problem; obstructive apnea is.

Your CPAP machine will still do its job if you open your mouth while using a full-face mask, but you've put your finger on your real problem, which is that mouth-breathing wakes you up. Anything that wakes you up is bad!

I'm glad to hear you're feeling a little better using tape. Just curious: what kind are you using?

Surgical tape normal one as in Egypt i can't find a brand made specifically to address this issue

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 11:19 am

Well, there's no tape, surgical or otherwise, that says it's specifically for Cpap, but many people have tried different ones here and found out what does work, and which ones don't.

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