Leaking and narrow nose

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zimm4er
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Leaking and narrow nose

Post by zimm4er » Wed Apr 19, 2017 7:02 am

Been on CPAP for 6 months. On my third mask, started with a Quattro, then simplus and now a F20. I have central sleep apnea. My problem is leaking around my nose bridge. I have a liner on, but I have a narrow nose. I have to wear a FFM. Any suggestions? Does any one use Laniosh ? How do you use it. My AHI range from 3-5 mainly. right now I am between insurance, so I have no resp company.

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rohdej
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Re: Leaking and narrow nose

Post by rohdej » Wed Apr 19, 2017 7:59 am

I use the Lanolin. It is used to repair chapped skin. If your skin is dry from a mask leak use it there. My nose occasionally gets a little wind burn from micro leaks on my P10 nasal pillow mask. It is not so much used as caulking the mask to your face.

I have never worn a FFM, but i would try thicker more pliable mask liner? 2 stacked liners? Do you have one of those thick cotton shirts that you are willing to sacrifice and cut a new liner?

Their is also a product called "Gecko Nasal Pad" that bulks up the bridge of your nose.

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Jack Burton
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Re: Leaking and narrow nose

Post by Jack Burton » Wed Apr 19, 2017 8:33 am

If you don't mind me asking why do you have to wear a full face mask?

Maybe nasal pillows would be better for you?

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Pugsy
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Re: Leaking and narrow nose

Post by Pugsy » Wed Apr 19, 2017 8:47 am

Have you looked at this full face mask...it takes the nose bridge issue completely out of the equation.
Respironics Amara View
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... -mask.html

The Lansinoh lanolin trick is mainly more useful for nasal pillow users. I don't know if it would be tacky enough for you to help the seal up around the nose bridge area. There's a fine line between just enough to be a bit tacky and the amount that sort of emulsifies with body heat and might cause more sliding around of the mask. If you want to try it....teeny tiny bit would need to be used.
I once thought that if a little works good then a lot would work great...using nasal pillows...so I put gobs on and woke up with the nasal pillow in my ear. Talk about sliding around....

FWIW....I have never been able to use a FFM that had anything touching my nasal bridge area for my own personal reasons so that really limited my full face mask choices. I have successfully used the Amara View and keep it in my stash of supplies just in case I have a situation where I can't use my nasal pillows.
So you might take a look at it. It's not perfect for everyone but then no mask ever is.

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zimm4er
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Re: Leaking and narrow nose

Post by zimm4er » Wed Apr 19, 2017 8:56 am

Forgot to say I do use the gel nasal pad, I have to wear the FFM because I am a mouth breather AND my sinuses have issues. I will try to bulk up my nose part with some extra tshirt material. I have seen the amara view. Just kind of cash poor right now.

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CarpeNoctum
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Re: Leaking and narrow nose

Post by CarpeNoctum » Wed Apr 19, 2017 9:52 am

zimm4er,
Are you tightening up your straps too tight? With a leak, it seems to make sense to tighten...but with a mask that relies on an inflatable cuff, too tight defeats the purpose.

If you're already using a liner...I think adding the Lanolin stuff may complicate things. I believe in keeping things simple.

I also use liners, but make my own with Tee shirt material. While fine tuning my mask fit, I decided to double up the liner which helped. Fabric thickness varies of course.

It took me a year of changes before I finally found the right mask and the best way to adjust it for me. So be patient and make small changes.
Good luck,
CN

Janknitz
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Re: Leaking and narrow nose

Post by Janknitz » Wed Apr 19, 2017 3:04 pm

Take a look at my Taming the Mirage Quattro blog post. This will work for ANY air cushion mask. I have a very narrow nose bridge as well, and I learned over time that you really have to have the top of the mask loose so that the air cushion can completely inflate and hug your nose. On the Quattro, I also dial out the nose part as far as possible.

I tried a gel pad early on and found that it caused terrible leaking. It was no help at all.

A mask liner does help, I particularly like PadaCheek liners.
What you need to know before you meet your DME http://tinyurl.com/2arffqx
Taming the Mirage Quattro http://tinyurl.com/2ft3lh8
Swift FX Fitting Guide http://tinyurl.com/22ur9ts
Don't Pay that Upcharge! http://tinyurl.com/2ck48rm

zimm4er
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Re: Leaking and narrow nose

Post by zimm4er » Wed Apr 19, 2017 3:11 pm

Thanks for all your suggestions. More things to try on my cpap adventure. I didn't realize it was going to be so hard and problematic.
If I don't wear the nose pad then my nose bridge gets very red and irritated

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CarpeNoctum
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Re: Leaking and narrow nose

Post by CarpeNoctum » Wed Apr 19, 2017 3:26 pm

zimm4er wrote:Thanks for all your suggestions. More things to try on my cpap adventure. I didn't realize it was going to be so hard and problematic.
Cpap is an imperfect solution, and relatively new technology. It's generally accepted that about half the people that try cpap quit for various reasons. The trick is to recognize it's importance and persist. Seeking help like you're doing is a good path for success.
Good luck,
CN

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jsielke
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Re: Leaking and narrow nose

Post by jsielke » Thu Apr 20, 2017 9:40 am

How about a "Hybrid" mask. (Nasal pillows+mouth)? I, too hated the FFM because it irritated the bridge of my nose.

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zimm4er
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Re: Leaking and narrow nose

Post by zimm4er » Thu Apr 20, 2017 2:13 pm

Quiting is not an option, I have central sleep apnea and just don't breath

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Janknitz
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Re: Leaking and narrow nose

Post by Janknitz » Thu Apr 20, 2017 2:56 pm

zimm4er wrote:Thanks for all your suggestions. More things to try on my cpap adventure. I didn't realize it was going to be so hard and problematic.
If I don't wear the nose pad then my nose bridge gets very red and irritated
With my technique there is little or no pressure on the nose. A mask liner still helps to avoid the shearing that comes from the somewhat sticky surface of the silicone against the skin, but there should be very little pressure.

In my former life I was an occupational therapist and we custom made hand and arm splints for patients out of thermoplastic materials. One of the rules is "never pad pressure" because then you are just adding the pressure of the pad to the spot already under pressure. You can use a wide pad like the gel nose pad to distribute the pressure over a wider area, but my experience with the gel pad was that didn't work all that well and also caused terrible leaking. Loosening up the top to take the pressure off the nose and compensating down below by tightening at the chin which has more padding works better for me.

Give it a try--it may not work for you, but worth an attempt.
What you need to know before you meet your DME http://tinyurl.com/2arffqx
Taming the Mirage Quattro http://tinyurl.com/2ft3lh8
Swift FX Fitting Guide http://tinyurl.com/22ur9ts
Don't Pay that Upcharge! http://tinyurl.com/2ck48rm