TAP-PAP mask

[jsielke]

I recently purchased the TAP-PAP nasal pillow mask from #26 on your supplier list. It came WITHOUT the moldable mouthpiece, just a hard plastic plate which I assume would hold the moldable plastic. Unusable, and it appears they sell the mouthpiece separately for an additional $30. Just a Caveat Emptor if you are looking for one of these.

[OpalRose]

Indeed, it is your responsibility to be sure what you are buying.

If you had purchased the "TapPap Nasal Pillow Cpap Mask Fit Pack", then you would have received a complete mask, including the mouth piece as shown on their site.

As with most masks, you can purchase parts separately to make a complete mask.

[trish6hundred]

I jsielke,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Hopefully, you will be able to get the other part that goes to that mask.
Good luck to you with your CPAP therapy.

[jsielke]

I replied earlier but don't see it. In brief I DID buy the "FitPack." Got everything except the mouthpiece. The company (#26) has chosen not to reply to me.

[OpalRose]

That's unfortunate. I've purchased a few things from them, and never had any problems.
I would call their 800 # and ask to talk to a manager.

[AdirondackNative]

I also purchased the Tap-Pap from a different supplier in December and the hard plastic piece is what you bit down on to mold the mouthpiece. There is a bit of a process to get it warmed and fitted, and it was very comfortable, but unfortunately I'm a mouth breather and I had to return it. You can go online to the manufacturer for molding instructions if your tap-pap didn't come with them.

Hope this helps a bit.

[Sleeprider]

This video explains the molding process. It sounds like you may have what you need. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP5fmKpDAxI

[amarnina]

I have been using tap pap for possibly a year or longer and am on my 2nd mouthpiece, which has just gotten loose on one side and doesn't hold up the pillows very well anymore, so in ordering a new mouthguard, [DME Link Removed] Supplier #1 
offers a reduced price for a subscription service stating the recommended replacement is every 6 months (saw where people were wondering what advised replacement was.  This is from [DME Link Removed]Supplier #1  
and don't really know how THEY arrived with that advice but it sounds reasonable to me.)

Others have spoken about it getting too tight, I too have been there, and after it is first fitted it seems great but within a day or two it seems too tight and can hurt a bit.  So this newest one I probably reheated and refitted it 5 or 6 times to try to get it right and I wonder if this is why it is failing now, because one half of the guard is loose and is movable - not what it should be and probably the reason I am getting a red sad face for the seal as it allows the pillow to drop down.  When heating and fitting I have to concentrate on remembering to center it,  don't suck it to my teeth too strongly or it fits too tight, and if that is a concern agree with someone else who states they wiggle it a bit to let it loosen up.  My first one I got just right on my first try, it would actually "snap" over my teeth on each side and hold superbly!  That the 2nd one wore out and failed in structural integrity and sagged was probably my fault from heating and fitting so many times.  The person that wrote how hardy the guard was that she didn't think they would EVER fail rather astounded me.  But the 2nd one was the IMPROVED version that was supposed to be thinner and lighter material so maybe that meant not as sturdy either.

I agree it is amazingly quiet, I wake up and panic that I have taken it off but when I reach up I AM wearing it!  Sleep is better than without Cpap but not as good as it should be because I am fighting leaks as I have been a lifelong mouth breather and it has been quite the learning curve to overcome that, but I refuse to wear a full face mask - pressure had to be 18+- and on Tap Pap 9.8!.  Early on I started wearing a foam velcro tightening surgical collar and I've improvised to pull that up in front over my chin to keep my lower lip pushed up and closed...Because I had heard someone say it's not your mouth so much that has to close, just your lower lip - and they were right.  Then I have to concentrate on keeping my tongue pushed up into the cavity that makes the roof of my mouth (NOT pushed to the back of the teeth as many think.)   And there are nights that has produced a perfect 100 My Air score - it is working for me.

No headgear to tangle my hair or make me feel like I am in bondage, LOVE, the tap pap!

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Moderator Action: DME Link Removed

To maintain our status as an educational organization, links to DME-owned or DME-operated websites and links to pages that sell prescription-required items are prohibited in forum posts. This is stated in the Apnea Board Rules.

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[amarnina]

Just realized in my former contribution I mentioned soft foam velcro-close surgical collar and of course I meant cervical collar, and so I came back to edit and correct but can't figure out how to do an edit on an existing post?  Couldn't find an Edit button around my original post.  So this will have to do.  Also see where a DME i had unfortunately mentioned had to be removed, my apologies for that oversight.  I've read more now and see more of how this properly works.