Nasal pillows are hurting me bigtime

This is not a knock on the NP, the design is actually pretty clever and I'm sure many find this the way to go.

But I think I need a recommendation for what to try next, as I seem to have a unique issue. On just one side, there is constant irritation on the bottom edge of my nostril. It does not seem to be a flaw in the NP design; even on the first two days when I (ahem!) was wearing the mask upside down (!) it still hurt on that side. And just in that one spot.

So every sleep session starts with me constantly readjusting the mask on that side to get the irritation to a minimum. The other side is perfect, as if I don't feel anything. But the problem side, well, its like trying to sleep with someone jamming a pencil up my nose. I end up with a red mark and irritation that stays with me for an hour after I get up. But just in that one spot.

So while I admit that the CPAP therapy is helping my sleep, the mask choice is actually hurting my sleep, at the same time.

So, I would most appreciate all you gurus out there recommending what I should be using instead of the NP.

TIA.

Which nasal pillow mask are you using now?

Until you figure out and get a different mask....go to Walmart (or similar) and in the baby aisle is a product that nursing moms use for cracked, sore and tender nipples called Lansinoh lanolin ointment/cream. Get a small tube of it and use it liberally during the day on the tender sore area of the nostril and sparingly at night. It will help that area heal quickly and reduce the tendency for that area to get rubbed raw ....though it sounds like you may have the straps too tight or positioned not optimally....or wrong size of nasal pillow. Nasal pillows when fitted and sized properly don't/shouldn't cause any sore spots or pain or anything beyond very minor tenderness. Did your equipment supplier give you the other sizes that should have come with your mask? Try a different size if you can.

I can't help with recommending a different mask...like a full face mask because I have never used any myself. I have always stuck to a nasal pillow mask of some sort.

The softest nasal pillow is the Nuance by Philips-Respironics. It has a gel cushion in the pillow.
But before you spend money on yet another mask, make sure the one you have is the right size and is not adjusted too tightly.

Have you tried just the nasal mask?

This is magnitudes more comfy than any of the full face devices they strapped me into during evaluation.

My first question to you is this, are you a side sleeper or back sleeper? If a side sleeper it the sore nostril on the side you sleep on? Here is the reason of my questions to you. I am a right side sleeper. My right nostril the first couple weeks would be sore in the morning. I would rub some vitamin e cream on that spot after my shower in the morning. The soreness has gone away. Now the reason, in my opinion, sleeping on my right side the nose pillows on the right nostril get pushed against the nose harder than the left side. If a back sleeper I cannot help you that much other than if you move your head from side to side it might shift your pillows and cause that soreness.

I had a little trouble with this for the first week or so too. In the morning I applied a little antibiotic ointment with pain reliever for a few days. Either I got used to it, or the mask softened up or loosened a little in time, but it was very painful for a while.
Jim

I too experienced the same thing. Left nostril really tender and crusty at one point. Not a scab but just a hard crust of some kind. The nasal pillow apparently rubbed a raw spot on the septum side of my left nostril.

I found loosening the headgear a little helped tremendously with the overall nose soreness. I also found you have got to make small adjustments or risk creating aggravating leaks that were't a problem previously. I applied a small amount of neosporin ointment with a Q-Tip to the affected area (because that is what I had within arms reach) for three consecutive days and that did the trick. The wound healed and has not reappeared.

My Dr. said stay away from products containing petroleum by-products, especially at night for fear this would degrade the mask pillow prematurely. Said to use moisturizing creams or ointment in the morning after removing CPAP for the day only.

So far, from what I have seen on this forum, try doing what Pugsy says first.

I have both a Pilairo and a Nuance. The Pilairo is much softer but a little larger. It comes in a universal size. Most problems occur when people tighten the nose pillow when it leaks rather than loosening the straps so the pillows can make their seal.

I used to use an over the nose nasal mask. When I went to the Swift FX pillows, they chewed on my nose pretty badly. I would use the pillows some nights, then switch back to a nasal mask, then maybe wear the Swift for a few hours a night.

Once I got used to it, the nasal pillows are like part of me. I could wear them all day long.

Nasal pillows are like new shoes. (for me any way)
You need to break them (or you) in.

I have 2 pairs of Nasal pillows, P10 and Pilairo Q plus I have a Nasal mask a N10.
The N10 is to rest my nose from the pillows, I have use it to harden my nose plus its a good safe backup if need be.
I use Lansinoh for quicker recovery of the nose during the break in period.
When I first got the p10 I would wear them for 4 hours then switch to the N10 for a couple of nights.
When my nose got better, day about. Better 2 days P10, 1 day N10 and so on.

I recently switched to the Pilairo Q even though its softer than the P10 I had to go through the whole process again.

I guess I have a sensitive nose purhaps yours is the same.
Hope this helps.

Here's a quick update:

I arranged for a swap to a nasal mask.

While packing up the NP I noticed that there were other sizes there, so I tried the small and it worked much better. Not perfect, but better. At least it did not dig into my nostril.

So I cancelled the swap, and will try this for a while.

tyroneshoes2 wrote:Here's a quick update:

I arranged for a swap to a nasal mask.

While packing up the NP I noticed that there were other sizes there, so I tried the small and it worked much better. Not perfect, but better. At least it did not dig into my nostril.

So I cancelled the swap, and will try this for a while.

Good call!!

(I thought I'd replied to this thread already, brain fog must be back)

For what it's worth, by day three with my AirFit P10 my nose was a wreck. Painful whiteheads on both nostrils, I felt like I was in junior high again! Thanks to recommendations from folks here, I got some Lansinoh, babied my nose for a couple days but stuck with my therapy. Also on advice of the folks here, I contacted my DME and asked for a different size pillow; I was given a P10 for her and started with the M pillows, but several people said to try the Large, which wasn't included in my mask kit. EUREKA!!! Once my breakout cleared I swapped to the Large pillows, and what I thought was a pretty darn quiet mask got even quieter, I had fewer leaks and better sleep! Don't give up