My nose is killing me!

I have been using a Breeze with medium nose pillows for about 3 months. I have a ResMed Ultra Mirage Full Face as a back up as well as a Swift I have only used once. My machine is a C-Flex AutoPap.

I use KY to help soothe my nose while using the Breeze, but the soreness has been getting progressively worse. At one time I had sores, but now it is generally inflamed.

My wife has noticed that I have developed a habit of CONSTANTLY rubbing and tweaking my nose, which I am sure only makes the irritation worse.

Many of you switch masks from time to time, but the only mask that works for me is the Breeze. Full face masks work for 3-4 hours until I sweat too much and the seal starts leaking. I could get up & wash my face & the mask again, but . . .

I was disappointed to find that the nasal mask so many of you like, the Activa, was not recommended for my face dimensions from the cpap.com fitting guide.

Here is my plan:

I need to rest my nose and hope it will heal. To do this I am:

1) going to revisit the directions for fitting the Ultra Full Face to be sure it is right.

2) I am going to flip the hose around on the Swift to see if that will work better.

3) I am going to try the larger nasal pillows for my Breeze.

If that fails, I am wondering if you think it is worth a try to see if the Activa will work, despite cpap.com recommendation against it?

What about a prong system?

What about some kind of pain deadening cream (prescription?) until my nose gets tougher?

Any thoughts that nasal hair might be contributing to the irritation?

SM

stoveman wrote: I was disappointed to find that the nasal mask so many of you like, the Activa, was not recommended for my face dimensions from the cpap.com fitting guide.

Email the folks at cpap.com with your dimensions. I typed mine in on their fitting page, and it told me the Activa wasn't recommended for my face. I emailed them the dimensions and they said their tool is incorrect and in the process of being fixed, and that I needed a Large size. It may be that you can use the Activa.

Stoveman,

I may be way off base here, but it sounds like the Breeze has to be adjusted so that it's really pushing up against your nares to get it to work for you. And if after three months of use it's still irritating your nares to the point and severity that it is, you sound like you may need to try something else. Either you haven't found that magic adjustment yet (I never did and had bleeding nares, too) or it may not be the right nasal pillow interface for you.

Instead of giving up on the nasal pillows, perhaps you can try a different one and get that to work? After I gave up on the Breeze, and believe me when I say it wasn't after three months, for which I give you a lot of credit for your perserverence, I went to the Swift and then the Aura, both of which I love. Why have you only tried the Swift one time? If you can tolerate nasal pillow interfaces without mouth breathing, or have found a way to stop it if you were, the Swift AND the Aura are great, IMHO. People also like the Nasalaire II and the Comfort Lite. It seems to me, though, that the Breeze and your poor, poor nose are not very compatible. And with all the other choices there are out there, why are you trying to force that round peg into the square hole? I don't think it's a case of not trying long enough. Three months is just not worth the pain. At least, I don't think it is. No one could blame you for throwing in the towel on this one.

I know a lot people like the Breeze and that is great, but if it doesn't work............. try something different. I have one, use it very seldom because it hurts my nose. After trying three sizes of pillows, (going smaller) I can now tolerate it.

Pain medication may be available but a simple solution is "Oral Gel". No doctor visit, no wait, just go to the drugstore, if you don't already have it sitting in your medicine cabinet.

Although the previou suggested Nasal Aire II is my favorite mask, it does take some getting used to, and can also irritate your nose. My newest mask is the Full Face mask that I have had for just a week. After 7 nights on it, it is quickly becoming my new favorite mask. I have not used my NAII in a week.

A recommendation would be to try Neosporin Pain Relief - it has a numbing agent in it and got me through the first couple of days on my Swift until I adjusted. I don't think any system will be perfect - I am just trying to adjust as comfortably as possibe.

The measuring guide for CPap.com also said that the Activa was not for me. Unfortunately, when I e-mailed and gave them my measurements, they kind of ignored them and simply said that the mask runs a little smaller than some. That was the only answer that I got. I have a small face, so I feel as if they didn't read the whole e-mail. Maybe you will have better luck e-mailing them. I am going to try again before I order.

What about some kind of pain deadening cream (prescription?) until my nose gets tougher?

NO WAY!!! If you're nose is still troubling you like that after three months, then either the Breeze is not the right mask for you, or you're not fitting it properly. This pain is the doing what pain is meant to do - warning you that something is wrong.

The Breeze should never be pushed forcefully against your nose to keep form leaking - though it's easy to fall into that. When the hard shell presses against your nose and hurts, you know you've done it wrong.
Try to follow WillSucceed's instructions for fitting and adjusting the Breeze.

And something I found out: At a certain point my Breeze started leaking from one nostril and annoying me and I couldn't fit it on properly. Then I took it apart to clean it in soapy warm water... I had become slack and used only wipes. When I took the nasal pillow off there was a very thin oily layer between it and the shell. And after the cleaning the mask was as nice and friendly as it was in the beginning.

You "letting you nose heal" plan is a good idea - and if you can't get the Breeze to work for you, try another mask. You wouldn't try using shoes for three months, if they kept on hurting, would you?

O.

One word Aura, or HeadRest, or Everest, or whatever the hell they call it now. It's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!! No nose pain, at all, and no leaking. But, you might have to tweak it. Your choice.

-BP