is the answer to this data mouth tape?

[p4ncaketim]

hey all - some context. i recently had surgery with Dr. Kasey Li to get his EASE expander, as well as a septoplasty and turbinate reduction. I've been encouraged by him to try using a nasal mask. Last night was my first complete night wearing it and I got some weird data. I certainly didn't have a leak around the nose, I think the leak is being measured from my mouth opening. I think the solution is mouth tape. Can anyone take a look at this data and confirm that's probably what I need? Going to go to the store later and get some. 

Outside of the wonky data, some of those stretches of sleep breathing is probably the cleanest looking data i've had my whole life.

   

[CPAPfriend]

Why did he encourage you to use a nasal mask?

Yeah, those are most likely mouth leaks. Tape and / or soft cervical collar and / or chinstrap is lowest hanging fruit.

[Deborah K.]

Many of us find that only good mouth tape will solve mouth leaks.  Cover Roll stretch tape and Hypafix tape are both very good.  I prefer Theraband Kinesiology tape as it contours better to my face and is more comfortable.  There are lots of choices.  I find that I need tape that is 2 inches wide, cut to about 5-1/2 inches or I still leak.

[eok361]

wow, that's a lot of leak for that low a pressure. it's definitely mouth leak.

can you not try a ffm? 

taping works for a lot of folks. it's too uncomfortable for me. i use a caldera releaf soft cervical collar with good results. 

there's a funky looking chin strap that a lot of CPAP users swear by. it's a knight's something or other. it looks like a lot of work to get on, but people do swear by it.

try the tape out first and see what happens. 

good luck.