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Sore nose
I have just started using a CPAP machine and Swift LT mask and my nose is very sore. I've tried to adjust the straps and position of the mask, but it still is sore and becoming raw.
Is there a type of cream I can put on my nose that won't harm the mask ?
Is there a type of cream I can put on my nose that won't harm the mask ?
Views: 4021
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Vicki E Jones on
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There is a new product for the bridge of the nose, and I just ordered one yesterday.
It is the SeQual Comfort Care Pad, a polymer gel cushion for bridge-of-nose to reduce
sores and give a better seal. Says it is made from mineral oil somehow.
No latex, no silicone. Was $14.95 plus $7 shipping. Worth a try. Comes in small and
large. Being female and having a narrow bridge of nose, I ordered the small.
I have tried everything else - Mac's Silicone Ear putty, rolled into a very thin rope to
cushion the mask, making cotton knit liners, fleece liners, etc., and trying smaller
headgear (Respironics RS or Reduced Size 4-point headgear). I still can't wear a nasal
mask or full face mask due to sensitive bridge of nose.
I will see if the SeQual Comfort Care Pad solves the problem. I ordered it from
www.sleeprestfully.com, but other medical supply places should have it, also.
-Vicki in Homewood, IL
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Permalink Reply by Melinda Hertel on
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It is recommended that you do NOT use any cream or lotion that is petroleum-based. There is a cream called Ro Ez It that is specially formulated for use with CPAP masks. If you would like some free samples, send me an email to mhertel@ezcpap.com with your address, and I would be more than happy to send them to you. If that doesn't work, you might have to go to an over-the-nose mask. I have tried every style of pillows mask you can find, and all of them irritate my nose so much that I just can't use them.
Sorry for your pain!
Melinda
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Permalink Reply by Bruce Allan on
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Ilossened the straps last night and it was a bit better, but because of the rawness still there it was still a bit sore.I'm using ZamBuk during the day, and if it works as well on other cuts etc., it should fix this quick.
Thanks to all for you input
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Permalink Reply by Daniel Quarberg on
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It has been my experience that if the mask is tightened so much to keep a seal, that it hurts anywhere, it is time to get a new seal and possibly even head strap system. It is critical to have a very clean surface for the mask to seal properly which would be with the seal laying gently against your skin and once the pressure raises, the seal should act like a pillow and contour to your face. I have dealt with the sore spots as you have all reported here and found that as long as I shave each day, clean the seal every day with soap and water as per the instructions, change the seal every six months, and have the straps adjusted properly, that it does not hurt.
The previous is my opinion and may not work for everyone. But, isn't that what this board is for? To gather opinions and sort them out for yourself to see just what best suits you is my idea of what this forum is all about.
My main point is that the seal should be an air pillow against your face and not smashed against the face. Having a smashed seal is defeating the purpose of the seal.
I would not mind responses to my comments. I am curious as to what other opinions are compared to mine.
Dan
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Permalink Reply by Andy on
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Hi Bruce,
Sorry to hear of the problems.
It seems that a few of the replies you've gotten don't apply to you, since you're using a nasal pillows mask, and not a nasal mask. If you ever switch to a nasal mask, the suggestions about gel pads and so forth will be a help.
In my case, I started with a nasal mask, and then got a Swift LT. I prefer the nasal mask, but it causes a welt on the bridge of my nose, which the pads suggested by others are designed to eliminate.
So far I don't have irritation problems with the nasal pillows, though my nose is a bit tender, just not so much to be a problem.
You might consider checking back with your equipment provider (DME). the manufacturers have a warranty on the mask and the DME should be happy to work with you. In my case, the DME told me to just "throw out" the first mask I had (as if I would throw out a $130+ mask!) and just sent me a new, different one. So, I ended up with both, and I just alternate them when my skin gets irritated.
There's a tricky balance to be acheived, between comfort fit and efficiency (i.e., little or no leaks) when adjusting the mask. Some nights I adjust for comfort, and others I adjust for no leaks. And other nights I switch masks, to give the affected skin/nose areas a break!
Good luck, and keep in touch!
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Permalink Reply by birdshell on
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Why not just try lanolin? It is found in the section of stores where the nursing mothers' supplies are sold. It is not a petroleum based product. It has many of the properties of Vaseline (petroleum jelly).
One brand is called Lansinoh, but it also comes in a generic form. One good thing about this is that it is fragrance free. The Ayr gel and some other products do not work for me, as I am allergic to fragrances. (Lansinoh [and other pure lanolins] contain no additives at all, actually.)
I have tried the Swift LT for women, and I did not find it easy to get a seal with my nares,. I had to tighten the mask too much to avoid those 'micro-leaks' than annoy me and make my nose cold. Then, I would have that ache on the septum part of my nose, including the tip. This may be the fault of my anatomy, but I cannot stand any leaks, as they seem to make my nose cold.
I went back to my trusty Headrest (formerly called the Aura and Twilight NP). It may be a bit noisier for me but it does seal and I then get some sleep! (I have removed the headgear, though...that mask has a great design except for the headgear that resembles a rubber mat for a garage floor.) I also do prefer the exhaust from the top of the mask. The Swift LT exhaust kept hitting my hands and I had to adjust my sleeping position.
I was lucky that my first mask did not work for me, and then I had to wait for a few weeks for a new mask to come in. My DME provider and the sleep lab worked with my doctor and loaned me several different kinds during this period. I was able to make some pretty good assessments of the types of masks that worked best for me. It may be a good idea for you to try some different masks. There is a 30-day trial period provided by all major mask producers for new users, and i know that I certainly took advantage of that. It allows for a trial of home usage, without costing us WAY too much.
Best wishes...it isn't easy for any of us to start out on this journey, but having some good-quality sleep is MORE than worth it all. It is really a question of working to find an answer.
Karen
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Permalink Reply by Michael Steinmetz on
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Hi Bruce and members of the forum. Yesterday I was introduced to a product that has been designed specifically for this issue. I have not tried it yet but the product is called "Sleep Comfort Care Pad". I am not a representative of this product but think it might help with soar and leak issues. You can check it out here www.sleepcomfortcaresystem.com. Again I do not know much about the product as I was introduced to it only yesterday.
Hope this helps...
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yes, I have been using LANSINOH. This is available in pharmacies and is very useful -- reducing the leaks and at the same time prevent sore nose.
I tried Ayr Gel - but for me this lotion is too weak to help
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Hi Bruce, I use the Swift LT (for her) and have also had the sore nose..both under my nose --which I finally figured out was from having the top straps too tight..and inside my nostrils, which was from having it too tight on one of the side straps, and probably too tight as well.
I kept thinking the only way to keep the mechanism in place and from leaking was to keep tightening--not the case! I move around a lot less (which causes the leaks) when it it looser and more comfortable.
Since I sleep on my side, if I scrunch it, that little inner lip on the pillow can still irritate me, but I have found that if I just get it all situated on the pillow, I can go to sleep and do fine all night, it is like the chicken and the egg, do I move because it is hurting or does it hurt because I am moving...:-)
When I switched to the LT for her, it came with cheek pads, which I did not have with the Swift LT; they have helped, as the regular Swift was too wide for my face, when I would lie on my side it was kinda collapsing and making it hard to keep it from moving around. i would actually stick my hand inside the cheek piece to take up the slack, which made it fit better and kept the pressure off my nose, as the pillow part was straighter.
Please work thru the frustration..it is so important for us to keep breathing and oxygenated! I have skipped nights (and still do) but even a bad night of CPAP feels so much better than a night without it..
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I changed to the smaller hose piece and this stopped.
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Permalink Reply by Michael F. O'Brien on
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Put on a band aid before putting on the CPAP. I am on my fourth one (every six month) and I had a problem adjusting to each of them. Yesterday morning when I took it off I was bleeding from the raw area. Right now I have on a band aid ad will be going to bed soon.
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Permalink Reply by seamless on
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I bet the ZamBuk will work for you (though I'm not familiar with it). Most of the time I don't have a problem with my mask, but the one time I did someone recommended Neosporin with pain reliever during the day (it must be washed off before using the nasal pillow). That did help, so you are probably well on the way to getting better, too.
Bruce Allan said:Ilossened the straps last night and it was a bit better, but because of the rawness still there it was still a bit sore.I'm using ZamBuk during the day, and if it works as well on other cuts etc., it should fix this quick.
Thanks to all for you input
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