Cannula Irritation of My Nostril

[JeffNC]

I am truly grateful for my Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset, but I am having a problem with the soft insert in the cannula irritating my left nostril as I sleep. The irritation is so sever that I have to discontinue use after 3 - 5 hours.

I use the smallest cannula insert available as my nostrils are not equal in size --- the left one is much smaller than the right --- but it still irritates that smaller nostril. Within a few minutes of removing the removing the mask, my irritation disappears.

I don't have "good insurance" so I can't afford plastic surgery to make the nostrils equal in size.

Suggestions . . ?

Jeff

[ChicagoGranny]

cannula

It's assumed you are referring to nasal pillows. Cannulas are rare in CPAP masks. Supplemental oxygen commonly uses cannulas.

1. Find the exact model of your mask on youtube and carefully watch three or four videos on fitting and adjusting.

2. In the meantime, apply a small amount of Lansinoh lanolin (https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Lanolin ... B005MI648C) to the nostril that is irritated. Do this just before you put the mask on. The next morning, you may want to clean the mask with an alcohol swab (https://www.amazon.com/Care-Touch-Steri ... 23&sr=8-1-).

[JeffNC]

Thanks, ChicagoGranny; I will try it.

I had an idea . . . and I wonder if it was a flash of genius or insanity. It was inspired by those kids who have a hole punched into their earlobe and then insert a spool (or some object) to distort it. Why couldn't I accomplish the same thing with a marble inserted into my undersized left nostril since I "do most of my breathing" via the right nostril anyway? I spend almost all of my time in my home and my workshop, so I wouldn't need to remove it often to "go out in public". Result: nasal pillow irritation gone, and better air flow through the left nostril 100% of the time.

[ChicagoGranny]

insanity

You nailed it.

[readingteacher]

First of all, I believe it takes quite a bit of time to stretch out an ear lobe. Nor do I know if the cartilage/tissue of the nose would stretch the way an ear lobe does. And if it does, how would it look and function after that?

Secondly, shoving a marble into your nose is easy. Have you considered how you would get it back out? It's round, smooth, and slippery. Many ER docs can tell you stories about parents who have to take their kid to the ER to have a doctor remove whatever the kid shoved in their nose.

So yes, I have to agree with ChicagoGranny that this idea would be "insanity".

There are so many brands and types of CPAP masks available. Many of them do not involve anything "in" or against the nostrils at all. There is no need to shove marbles into your nose or get plastic surgery on your nose to get a comfortable CPAP mask that functions well for you. You would be much better served by telling the experts here on the forum what brand and model of mask you are using, and let them make suggestions for a mask that might work better for you.

[SJ-Paddler]

I think the OP was expressing some Dry Humor.

[Pugsy]

I think the OP was expressing some Dry Humor.

Ordinarily I would tend to agree with you but past experience here has taught me if someone will think it....someone else will do it. It's like they leave common sense at the door when they go into their house.

Noses and ears....two things we should never, ever shove anything in.
Reminds me of a kid I saw....something was in his ear canal and it was hard as a rock and white and totally smooth.
"No, ma'am" "I NEVER put anything in my ear"....took a lot of work to get it out but it came out....a tooth that he recently lost. His dad wasn't a happy camper about that "little" bill. It was smooth because he had shove the tooth in root side in first. We didn't have anything to grab hold of to pull it out easily.

[SleepGeek]

I use the smallest cannula insert available as my nostrils are not equal in size --- the left one is much smaller than the right --- but it still irritates that smaller nostril.

If you are meaning nasal pillows - first the nasal pillows are meant to seal on the nares of the nose and should not go inside the nostrils.

I always advise people to start with the largest size pillow first - so they won't go inside the nostrils and the larger pillow allows more airflow thru to the nose.

You may find that when using nasal pillows the air pressure may open up the deviated side enuff to allow some air thru. I have a deviation on one side and this works for me.

[chunkyfrog]

Gauges (stretchy ear holes) are done in earlobes--ONLY.
Earlobes do not have cartilage, like the upper shell parts.
Earlobes are flexible--nostrils are not.
They are SURROUNDED by cartilage.
Once damaged, cartilage can literally FALL APART.
Any nose so damaged would be a WRECK.
If one nostril is too small to breathe through, a plastic surgeon
may attempt to correct it--MAKE SURE HE IS A GOOD ONE.

[chunkyfrog]

. . .
past experience here has taught me if someone will think it....someone else will do it.
. . .

Bad frog story here: Observing how well Vicks Vapo Rub works for toenail fungus,
I wondered out loud whether it would work on jock itch.
I was almost as sorry as the bullfrog, who heard me, and thought I was serious.
Needless to say; DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME
or anywhere else!

[SJ-Paddler]

Bad frog story here: Observing how well Vicks Vapo Rub works for toenail fungus,
I wondered out loud whether it would work on jock itch.
I was almost as sorry as the bullfrog, who heard me, and thought I was serious.
Needless to say; DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME
or anywhere else!

It is like you are "Daring Us" to do it now It's like saying "Don't look over there." What do you do, you look over there!

[chunkyfrog]

Vapo Rub really stings when applied to raw skin.
It is also very hard to clean off once applied.
No need to confirm this for yourself.
(Its only purpose: A proposal for Jackass, the home game)

[JeffNC]

Okay. Does anyone have a better non-surgical technique to expand a nostril opening?

By the way, I had no expectation that that technique I suggested would produce "quick" results, nor did I have any intention of inserting an object so small that could become stuck "up there".

Jeff

[SleepGeek]

Does anyone have a better non-surgical technique to expand a nostril opening?

Some complain that using nasal pillows will cause their nostrils to flair.

I met a guy who uses a short piece of O2 tubing inserted is his nostril to open up his deviation.
The Apria RT that came to my house in the early days mentioned this guy before I met him at a seminar.
For me the air pressure works just fine.

[kteague]

Nasal pillows are not all created equal as to length and angle. Just because one mask isn't working doesn't mean all will be problematic. I have slotted nares. Always was envious when I read a romance novel where the tempestuous beauty would flare her nostrils. After using mostly nasal pillows masks for 15 years, my nares are finally slightly 00 shaped. Just checked in the mirror and I can proudly accomplish a near flare. But I digress. On some masks the pillows can rotate. After getting the size right, getting the angle right can help when the mask allows. I can't use pillows in a fixed position because they're always too slanted for my straight-up nose holes and either rub or leak. There are masks like the Bleep where nothing enters the nose and it is secured with adhesive. Good luck figuring out what will work for you.