Piercings

Hi all,

I did a quick search on this and saw a little data from many years ago, but I wanted to add my experience here in case anyone else is in a similar boat.

I have three facial piercings: one nostril, and two microdermals (one at the corner of each eye). All were well healed prior to starting PAP therapy. Because of their placement, I was very worried about my piercings affecting therapy or my therapy affecting piercings.

Things I've noticed:

None of my piercings have any affect on therapy. Just to satisfy my curiosity, I've been sleeping with different nostril jewelry in each night, to see if it would affect my pressure range, or if it would increase leakage. So, here's what I wore, and the results (the jewelery vocab will make sense if you've got one -- at least, I hope).

My normal nostril jewelry, pre-PAP: Threadless 1/4 inch titanium flat backed post with 14K gold/diamond top. Because my piercing was so well-healed, I had a very short post, because it was all I needed. Result: PAP therapy causes the sides of my nostrils to swell, and the short post quickly became uncomfortable and red. Not good.

On the plus side, I was worried about wearing two-piece jewelry in my nose, frightened that the PAP pressure would pull off the under side and force it into my sinuses. I can say, looking at how much swelling there was and how little budging the jewelry did, I'm no longer worried about this.

I also tried a nostril screw with an opal top. In order to be comfortable at night, it had to be bent too loose for day wear. Annoying for me, as I'm used to having minimal jewelry in my nose. But if you're a regular screw wearer, this might not bother you. My suggestion: bend your screw looser than you normally would wear it, to leave room for swelling at night.

I was curious if I could get a leak if I wore NO jewelry in my pierced nostril for the night. (DO NOT TRY THIS UNLESS YOU HAVE HAD YOUR PIERCING FOR MANY YEARS!!!) The answer is: nope. My 16g hole is not big enough to leak, even with no jewelry in it.

The winner: I order a new 5/16 inch threadless flat-back titanium post, and I wear it with my gold/diamond tops. It's large enough to be comfortable at night, small enough not to annoy me during the day.

My microdermals presented a different challenge. Mine are at the very corners of my eyes, and some headgear straps get dangerously close to them. The solution: little spot band-aids over each one before bed every night (basically, exactly what you do when they're new). This keeps them from getting tugged/caught by straps. But the Bella loops might be even better for me, as they avoid the area all together.

One thing I noticed is that my chin strap causes a little pressure to be displaced to other areas of my face, making the areas around my eyes a little puffy. I don't mind this and it goes away quickly, but I was curious about how it affects my piercings. So I took digital pictures before and after sleeping each night and compared irritation and post exposure. Both were minimal. I think PAP therapy probably won't affect any of us with microdermals away from the immediate mask area.

Okaydoke, this is what happens when a pierced academic finds ways to experiment on herself instead of doing actual work. Over and out!

You were wise to take this into consideration, and resolve it to your own satisfaction.

As I'm sure you have already discovered, there is a sharp divide in the population between fascination and revulsion on the general subject. I don't know where the dividing line is, other than observing that it is with a few exceptions generational.

I wish you good health and a long healthy life. Undertaking cpap therapy strongly indicates a desire on your part to achieve and maintain these goals. May you continue to always put your health first.

Best wishes, Nate

I would remove any pierced item in my face b/c they could interfere with my mask. Ditto to those in the nose b/c they could cause extra flow limitation (like deviated septum) or in a worst case be swept by the air flow into my lungs.

I commend you for working with your therapy, and not letting your uncommon adornment interfere with it.
I am also proud that you have chosen to share your experiences with us;
since OSA can affect anyone--busting up the deadly stereotypes is a real service.
I am sure you are fully aware that many of the comments on this forum reflect the experience and values of the members;
and that advice given here may or may not be followed at your discretion.
Welcome.

I applaud you for your diligence in pursuing and sharing this important information with us. I would imagine there are many folks who may not be comfortable asking about how cpap treatment may impact their piercings, and you have done them a great service letting them know NOT to avoid some much needed breathing therapy.
I am so grateful there is a place where folks can come and share, what may be crucial to someones elses treatment.
Now, I only have pierced ears, but, if there was a way to secure a cpap mask with a pierced device, I may consider it. Someone here even suggested putting a nail in the back of his head to keep the strap from slipping he was of course kidding, but sometimes our frustration levels get soooooo high with this mask stuff we are willing to go the distance.
I look forward to reading more posts from you.
Don't let the TA's around here scare you away!

OK...I know how they clamp in the nose, but how do you fasten them next to your eyes like that ? don't you have to close the end that's inserted ? In your photo, it just looks like a mole. how do you fasten it,
if ya don't mine me asking, that is ?

I think there's a little ball on the end and it just pops in and out.
I had a chip off a wood-splitting wedge penetrate my calf,
and getting it out was a real bear,
because the hole in my skin was smaller than the chip
--but stretched enough to let it in.

Issac wrote:OK...I know how they clamp in the nose, but how do you fasten them next to your eyes like that ? don't you have to close the end that's inserted ? In your photo, it just looks like a mole. how do you fasten it,
if ya don't mine me asking, that is ?

I don't mind at all! Microdermals are attached to a flat plate (called an anchor) that sits under the skin. The anchor has a post that sticks up a tiny bit past the skin, and then you screw any jewelry tops you want into the anchor via that post. The anchor is there permanently (or at least, until you want the piercing gone for good) and you just switch out the tops, so it's not like earrings where the holes stay open even if you have nothing in them. I used to worry that having facial piercings might impact things like job interviews, so I made sure I could put tiny brown dots in them that look like freckles. Turns out... I've never needed the dots. Because they are so small and delicate, most people find them interesting, if not outright attractive. And I find them beautiful!

Because they are attached to a base in the skin, the main risk with microdermals is getting the tops snagged on something... like mask straps! That's why I find the little band-aids a great tool.

To everyone: thank you for the kind words. I believe in making decisions based on accurate assessments of risk. I wear two-piece nostril jewelry (a top and a flat bottom that screw together and sit against the inner and outer skin of my nostril) because I am now satisfied that the PAP pressure cannot force the bottom post into my sinuses and/or lungs. If one doesn't even want to take THAT risk and still wants a nostril piercing, s/he can wear a nostril screw -- which is a single piece of jewelry -- where there is 0% chance of the entire thing getting sucked through a tiny hole into your nose. And for those worried that jewelry would present a blockage in the nose, you have most likely never seen how nostril jewelry works. It's not like having an earring back in there. If air is getting blocked at all, it has not been fitted properly. And if you are thinking of getting a nostril piercing, please know there is no reason to let PAP therapy stop you (or no reason to delay PAP therapy if you're pierced).

I think Nate is right, there is probably a generational divide in regards to how people see piercings. But I also think OSA is under-diagnosed in younger people. I am 33, and I have probably had OSA for years. I never snored -- I just thought I was a light and crappy sleeper who needed a lot of caffeine, and while every doctor checked my thyroid a million times, no one ever suggested looking into OSA. The ONLY thing that drove me to a sleep study was a desire to be supportive of my fiance by going through the process of testing with him, because he was dreading it. You can imagine my surprise when I was diagnosed too. And the great relief. I was diagnosed before any serious problems presented themselves. I know how lucky that makes me, and it makes me even more committed to never sleeping a minute without my PAP. I am healthy, and I will do everything in my power to stay that way.

I'm sure there are other members of my generation -- and beyond! -- lurking or posting or maybe even thinking they are just crappy sleepers. Some of them might have the same worries about piercings I had. Hopefully this helps a little!

-- Tiffany

Okay why couldn't one of these be used for a nose piercing Microdermals? It seems then you wouldn't have anything in the nostril.

sleepycarol wrote:Okay why couldn't one of these be used for a nose piercing Microdermals? It seems then you wouldn't have anything in the nostril.

This a good question! The answer is no because the skin is too thin on the nose, and it moves too much. But, the flat base concept is exactly the kind of jewelry I wear. It just goes flat against the inside of the nostril instead of under the skin.

If anyone gets a piercing because of this thread, I'll be endlessly amused.

I'm sure you are correct about the generational thing, but for me I always felt like I would have done it if I'd have had a small attractive nose, and a more tolerant father. My nose is not big, but I do have a classic Israeli bump!
I find myself thinking about a tatoo lately, but at my age, well seems a bit silly. Who knows, maybe in my next life.

portiemom wrote:I'm sure you are correct about the generational thing, but for me I always felt like I would have done it if I'd have had a small attractive nose, and a more tolerant father. My nose is not big, but I do have a classic Israeli bump!
I find myself thinking about a tatoo lately, but at my age, well seems a bit silly. Who knows, maybe in my next life.

I think every nose looks even better with jewelry, but I admit to my biases.

As far as a tattoo: DO IT!!! It's like having art you can gaze at any time of any day, a little gift of beauty you give to yourself. I am a body mod enabler!

Well the_nap_ster, thanks for the boost, I may just do it....truthfully, I would love for that well know gal from CA to do a big one. Ha maybe I'm getting rebellious in my ole age!

I had zits until I was in my 40's.
A stud on/near my nose would just remind me . . .
I'll pass, but they can be so doggone cute.

portiemom wrote:I find myself thinking about a tatoo lately, but at my age, well seems a bit silly. Who knows, maybe in my next life

Ahhhh....I will be 60 next month and I have a tattoo on my shoulder...got it when I lived in Las Vegas about 6 years ago....My sister is a year younger than me. She got herself a tattoo last summer. It is beautiful.
Lately I have been thinking of getting another one but this time I want it so I can admire it without looking in the mirror...been thinking about wrist.

So....if you want to do it...then do it.

The mention of body piercings got me to remembering what happened when I was getting my tattoo.
A young man came in to have a body piercing done ....well let's say on the end of an appendage that most men wouldn't want to have anywhere near a piercing instrument. He was all smiles and laughing when he went into the room....loud mortifying scream was heard....and when he left he looked like death warmed over..