Mouth Taping w/Blue Painter's Tape

Just a little trick I've discovered. The 3M Gentle Release Blue Painters tape works really well for me - and it doesn't leave nasty residue behind like the medical tapes. And it comes off with very little to no pain.

Anyway, the one thing I don't like about it is it's sharp papery edges. The edge just below my nose sorta cuts at that skin between my nares (what is that called? The Septum?). I came up with a plan that seems to work better.

I do two strips, slightly crossed in an X.

I found that by putting the first strip at a slight angle, then crossing the second strip at the opposite angle, I can create a little V at the base of my nose, keeping the sharp edge away from the skin, where it can kind of dig in when I crinkle my face.

This has worked well for two nights now, and is more comfortable than just one strip straight across.

I do fold the ends over, to create a handle for tearing off. And I extend it past the edges of my mouth a good ways. I've never measured, but I extend it nearly to my ears.

Hope this helps someone else!
Babs

Glad you found a way to use that tape, B!! Good idea.

I'm not to 100% compliance yet, but I'm working on it. The easier it gets, the more I use it. Gee, doesn't THAT sound familiar?

Yeah, I didn't tape on Saturday night when Beau was sleeping over.... NEXT WEEK, I swear.... (whiney voice starts....) He has so much other horrible stuff to put up with from me....

LOL,
Babs

Babs......

Are you using 2" wide tape?

Gerald

Great idea! That's why I stopped using the Blue Tape, it was sharp. I'll have to give the crossover a try.

Bev

This is exactly what I did last night. I got so sick of the adheisive of the surgical tape that I wanted to try the blue tape again, but for me, a strip across my mouth wasn't quite enough to keep it on and my mouth sealed, so I went for a wide X.

You're a very clever girl, B!

Yup, I'm using the 2" wide.

How'd it work for you, Fortomorrow? I know you're still having mask issues.

I've been doing better with it the last few nights. Of course, bouncing between my house and Mom's house I managed to pack the blue tape somewhere I couldn't find it last night, so I just blew it off. Probably literally.

LOL,
Babs

The tape works great, but I've crowned myself queen of dry mouth. Even with Biotene. And it's a pain to take off the tape in the middle of the night to get a drink or mouth spray because it won't go back on and stay stuck, so I actually have to wake up all the way to reapply new tape. Most of the time I just take the damn mask and tape off and go back to sleep.

I experimented with the big strips of tape with a hole cut out for a straw and then a strip of tape over THAT, so that in the middle of the night all I had to do was remove the little piece, stick the straw in, have my drink, and then put the tape back, but the concept was better than the follow-through.

I won a Liberty on CPAPauction yesterday (because I'm *still waiting* on my Hybrid from the DME) which I hope might help the mouth leaks. I know the dry mouth won't get better though - but at least I'll be able to drink some water in the middle of the night.

I had serious rainout last night. The noise actually woke me up!

Hmmmmmmmmmm......................

You know, I've been a night drinker for a long time. I'm slowly getting to where I can live without my sips of water at night. I'm wondering if the same thing might happen for you. It might take time, however. Like months. But I can manage the dry mouth better, without Biotene, and without dying for sips of water. I know in the early months of therapy, I was still waking up and getting sips of water. BTW, bendy straws are a MUST.

It might just be a part of your learning curve. Keep doing what you're doing, and keep hoping it will get better.

Cheers,
Babs

you must be using a LOT of that blue tape, I noticed the price of a roll has gone thru the roof, something like $12 bucks for a 2" roll and that is at Home Depot.

Babs....

I tried the "X"....and it didn't work for me. It's possible that my "X" was too "shallow"....but, I don't know.

I've been using Rested Gal's Panty-Hose Tights as an "overlay" on top of the tape...to prevent blow-outs......so, I've gone back to (1) strip of 2" Blue tape with the tights....and I don't have problems.

Might be I can try again...with a more extreme "X"....a bigger angle between the legs of the "X"....and maybe that'll work for me.

Gerald

Gerald, the X isn't a guarantee against blow outs. It's a solution for the edge cutting the skin of my nose.

Cheers,
B.

I was hoping that the "X" would have enough additional adhesive strength....that the technique would allow me to stop using the RG Panty-Hose Tights as an overlay to prevent blow-outs. Simpler is always better (your way is simpler). I'll try again.

G

I've been bouncing back and forth between tegaderm and blue painter's tape, the 1 inch wide version. I tried the 2 inch wide painter's tape, ugh. Covers way too much. It took me a while, but now I've figured out how to apply the 1 inch tape so that it seals properly.

I had an interesting experience last night. I had on a piece of tegaderm, and woke up choking on saliva. I don't turn the ends under on the tegaderm, just on the blue painter's tape. I needed to get that tape off FAST, and there was no handle. But I had absolutely no problem ripping it right off.

That's the first time I've ever needed to rip the tape off. If I had been using the medical tape, it would have been bad. Painter's tape would have been easier than tegaderm, but I was relieved to see how quickly I was able to ditch the tegaderm. Peace of mind.

Last night around 4am I woke up briefly and took my mask off because the rainout noise was getting on my nerves (wah I can't afford a heated hose right now) but hilariously, I forgot to take the tape off. I woke up an hour later when my alarm went off and realised I had left it on.