Getting Used to a FFM - Question

[BleepingBeauty]

I've been using the Respironics FullLife mask for a month now. I love this mask for the great therapy I'm getting with it (average AHI for the month is 2.7, with about a 50/50 split between AI and HI; average AHI for the past week is 1.8 ). This past month with the FullLife has resulted in the best therapy I've gotten in 21 months of CPAP use. I finally feel alert again.

But I'm still experiencing some difficulty with the bridge of my nose getting used to the pressure exerted on it by a FFM. I've been using moleskin on the mask, and it helps a lot. I still feel a bit of tenderness on the nose bridge, but it's far more tolerable now than it was in the beginning. I tried wearing the mask one night recently without the moleskin, and my nose was very red and very sore the next morning. My leak rate, AI, HI, AHI, etc., were all in line for that night; the only oddity in my data was my Average Apnea Duration, which was 46.5 seconds. (Ouch! My average for the past month is 11.4.) Needless to say, I went back to using moleskin every night.

FYI, this is how I apply it:


I'm wondering when (or if?) my nose will become accustomed enough to the pressure that I can stop using the moleskin altogether. I know we're all different, but is there any general consensus on a timeline for this? What have others experienced? TIA

[GumbyCT]

I'm wondering when (or if?) my nose will become accustomed enough to the pressure that I can stop using the moleskin altogether. I know we're all different, but is there any general consensus on a timeline for this? What have others experienced? TIA

I don't have a timeline for you but will say IMO things like this are caused by movement of something for some reason. I say something cuz it could be water vibrating on an area or the mask simply moving with each breath.

Do you by any chance have some exhale relief in use? I know when I used the Activa it acting like an accordion with my bipap and tried to wear a hole below my nose. If you do, try turning it down or off to see if that helps any. Or try using Lansinoh in that area to reduce the friction.

[BleepingBeauty]

I'm wondering when (or if?) my nose will become accustomed enough to the pressure that I can stop using the moleskin altogether. I know we're all different, but is there any general consensus on a timeline for this? What have others experienced? TIA

I don't have a timeline for you but will say IMO things like this are caused by movement of something for some reason. I say something cuz it could be water vibrating on an area or the mask simply moving with each breath.

Thanks, grump. I don't have any issues with water (rainout), as my HC150 is set on 1 and works just fine for me. I do, however, feel the mask "breathe" on occasion; what I mean by that is I sometimes feel the edges of the seal "sucking" against my face around the mouth. I don't notice that around or on my nose, perhaps because of the moleskin.

Do you by any chance have some exhale relief in use? I know when I used the Activa it acting like an accordion with my bipap and tried to wear a hole below my nose. If you do, try turning it down or off to see if that helps any. Or try using Lansinoh in that area to reduce the friction.

No, no exhale relief in use. Straight 12cm pressure. I assume you're suggesting Lansinoh on the bridge of my nose in lieu of the moleskin? I have a tube of Lansinoh, so I can try that.

[kreesti]

Thanks for the picture. I am going to need to use moleskin on my mask as well, for the same reason. I appreciate your picture for use as a reference.

My guess is that there is some kind of friction from the mask (as opposed to pressure), or friction exacerbated by pressure, but I don't know why... this seems to be one of the few consistent complaints about the mask. Hopefully there will be some sort of design change or solution.

[sleepngo]

Have you tried using 3M's Micropore paper surgical tape on the bridge of your nose. I have been using the 1 inch wide tape for about three weeks now, no sore nose and it seals good too.

Dan

[GumbyCT]

What size is your mask? Maybe you need a diff size? Has it been 30 days?

[SaltLakeJan]

Hey BB,
I joined the Cpap forum about mid-January. Right after that I started exploring the different threads. You had a "Big Thread "running at that time. Through no fault of yours, you weren't getting medical cooperation or your records. I recall thinking you must be frustrated beyond description. Then SWS linked us with Mar,and we struggled through all the triplets sagas.

Remembering all the frustrations & worries we experienced, I was really thrilled when I read your comments today.

I This past month with the FullLife has resulted in the best therapy I've gotten in 21 months of CPAP use. I finally feel alert again.

Congratulations R. You have worked harder than most could or would do. You kept going until you found success

Hugs from Jan

[BleepingBeauty]

Thanks for the picture. I am going to need to use moleskin on my mask as well, for the same reason. I appreciate your picture for use as a reference.

My guess is that there is some kind of friction from the mask (as opposed to pressure), or friction exacerbated by pressure, but I don't know why... this seems to be one of the few consistent complaints about the mask. Hopefully there will be some sort of design change or solution.

YW re: the picture. I have mixed feelings about a redesign of this mask (since it's working so well for me overall) - with the exception of an easy-release clip on at least the neck strap. THAT would be a good thing.

Have you tried using 3M's Micropore paper surgical tape on the bridge of your nose. I have been using the 1 inch wide tape for about three weeks now, no sore nose and it seals good too.

Dan

Hi, Dan. I used Nexcare Gentle Paper Tape early on (over a foam bandaid, before I was able to buy some moleskin). I think the thickness and cushioning of the moleskin is helpful in my situation, so I don't think a thin piece of tape would be beneficial. Plus, if my nose is somewhat tender, pulling tape off of it won't be pleasant (there was nothing "gentle" about that tape coming off my mouth in the morning when I was using the Swift LT). I have no problem with the mask sealing well, even over the moleskin, and my leak is averaging in the mid-upper 30s.

Does anyone else use tape in lieu of moleskin with success?

What size is your mask? Maybe you need a diff size? Has it been 30 days?

I thought that might be the case early on, grump. I was fitted with the Small cushion on 8/7. The Small cushion just clears the corners of my mouth, so I asked to try the Medium about a week later and got it on the 17th. I wore the Medium for a couple of nights, but the cushion went to the bottom of my chin, and the leaks were higher than with the Small. I suspect my "ideal" size would be somewhere between the two.

But I'm able to sleep comfortably with my mouth closed most of the time, so the Small is working out okay, size-wise. It's just the damned irritation on the nose bridge...

Hey BB,
I joined the Cpap forum about mid-January. Right after that I started exploring the different threads. You had a "Big Thread "running at that time. Through no fault of yours, you weren't getting medical cooperation or your records. I recall thinking you must be frustrated beyond description. Then SWS linked us with Mar,and we struggled through all the triplets sagas.

Remembering all the frustrations & worries we experienced, I was really thrilled when I read your comments today.

Thanks, Jan. It's been a long and winding road for me, but I'm really happy to finally be getting the kind of therapy and results that we all want, need and deserve.

I This past month with the FullLife has resulted in the best therapy I've gotten in 21 months of CPAP use. I finally feel alert again.

Congratulations R. You have worked harder than most could or would do. You kept going until you found success

Hugs from Jan

Thanks again. But I haven't done anything special. I just wanted to get good therapy, and I was willing to fight for it (which was a good thing, because I had to do just that!). I waited far too long to fire my ex-sleep doc and his Clinical Director, the charming Nurse Ratched because I trusted that these "professionals" knew their stuff. But thanks to the help, encouragement and wisdom to be found here, I became aware of how badly I'd been "treated" for all that time.

As you know, I wasn't able to "fire" that office because Nurse Ratched was reading my posts here and beat me to the punch. But she did me a big favor that day, even though I was denied the satisfaction of having my say in person. I said my piece here, and she definitely got the message.

So again, I can thank this forum for getting me to where I am today. If I hadn't found this place, I'd still be at the mercy of that incompetent doctor (who can't read plain English written on a titration report) and his ill-trained staff (who don't know how to set up an APAP for a trial).

I don't know that I'm "out of the woods" yet where my therapy is concerned. (So far, so good; but never say never.) As long as my therapy continues to be effective, I'm good to go. But if things go awry and I experience another AHI flare-up, I now have a good sleep doc who's willing to schedule an ASV titration for me.

Mar is finally making some progress with her health issues, and you will, too, Jan. We all know how much of a struggle it can be, but perseverance and a take-no-prisoners attitude helps. Hang in there, lady. I'm still pulling for you (and mar). The triplets will be victorious! All for one and one for all!

[twokatmew]

I've been using the Respironics FullLife mask for a month now. I love this mask for the great therapy I'm getting with it (average AHI for the month is 2.7, with about a 50/50 split between AI and HI; average AHI for the past week is 1.8 ). This past month with the FullLife has resulted in the best therapy I've gotten in 21 months of CPAP use. I finally feel alert again.

But I'm still experiencing some difficulty with the bridge of my nose getting used to the pressure exerted on it by a FFM. I've been using moleskin on the mask, and it helps a lot. I still feel a bit of tenderness on the nose bridge, but it's far more tolerable now than it was in the beginning. I tried wearing the mask one night recently without the moleskin, and my nose was very red and very sore the next morning. My leak rate, AI, HI, AHI, etc., were all in line for that night; the only oddity in my data was my Average Apnea Duration, which was 46.5 seconds. (Ouch! My average for the past month is 11.4.) Needless to say, I went back to using moleskin every night.

How often do you need to change/reapply the moleskin, BB? I'm thinking of trying it on my FFMs hoping it will help with the blow-outs that leak into my eyes. I think I'll pick some up at the store tomorrow.

Sorry I can't help with the nose bridge issue (yet). My poor forehead has dents in it like those behind my ears from my glasses. But -- if I happen to touch those spots during the day, they turn red!! The PadACheek forehead pads helps at night, but I'm hoping I can find a mask w/o the forehead brace to switch off with.

[Muse-Inc]

...hoping I can find a mask w/o the forehead brace to switch off with.

RespCare Hybrid...oral cushion and pillows

[BleepingBeauty]

How often do you need to change/reapply the moleskin, BB? I'm thinking of trying it on my FFMs hoping it will help with the blow-outs that leak into my eyes. I think I'll pick some up at the store tomorrow.

You'll find it near the Dr. Scholl's stuff, twokat. The package contains three "sheets" of moleskin; they're about 3x5" each. Time-wise re: usage, I'm making each piece stretch as much as I can. I use a cotton ball with Dr. Bronner's to "wash" the lower half of the mask (where the seal touches my face) most days; that way, I can leave the moleskin attached and not lose any of its stickiness. When I want to wash the entire cushion, I peel off the moleskin and stick a corner of it to the bathroom mirror for safekeeping. When the mask is dry, I just reapply the same piece of moleskin (as long as it's still sticky enough). I can remove and reapply it a few times before I have to use a new piece.

Sorry I can't help with the nose bridge issue (yet). My poor forehead has dents in it like those behind my ears from my glasses. But -- if I happen to touch those spots during the day, they turn red!! The PadACheek forehead pads helps at night, but I'm hoping I can find a mask w/o the forehead brace to switch off with.

The forehead brace on most FFMs was a total turn-off for me. Unfortunately, that left very few FFMs for me to choose from. I would've tried the Hybrid, but my DME required a new script from my sleep doc for it, so I went with the FullLife, which was readily available through the DME's Respironics rep. Not sorry I did, obviously, but I'd still like to try the Hybrid at some point. If I can get good FFM therapy without a typical FFM that covers the nose, that'd be okay with me.

[twokatmew]

Thanks, BB. Unfortunately the Hybrid was a total loss for me, Muse. The small mouth cushion seemed to be the perfect size, but it was a little tall, and neither the small or medium pillows worked whether in the tall or short position. (There was no way the large would fit in my nose!) Even the headgear was too big! My DME won't order it, so I got it online. Thank goodness I got the insurance, or I'd have a very nice turquoise bag with a mask I can't wear!! It's too bad, because I thought it was a really nice design.

[kreesti]

See my update here:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=44903&p=401410&hili ... ce#p401410

about the nose bridge issue. It involves where the mask sits on the lower part of the face.

Good luck and sweet dreams!

[BleepingBeauty]

See my update here:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=44903&p=401410&hili ... ce#p401410

about the nose bridge issue. It involves where the mask sits on the lower part of the face.

Good luck and sweet dreams!

Hi, kreesti. I use the Small cushion, and it sits just below my lower lip. I've tried the Medium cushion, but it leaks too much. It's too big for me, with the lower portion of the seal resting at the bottom of my chin.

RE: Bridge of nose problem - I used a couple of small squares of flannel fabric from my scrap bin last night and woke up this morning with less redness in the nose area (I think) than I went to bed with. I am going to try using this system (thanks to the pad-a-cheek site, I realized this might not cause leaking) instead of putting moleskin on the mask for the time being.

Hey, whatever works, right? But your solution simply substitutes flannel for moleskin. Aside from its cushioning effect, the thing I like about the moleskin is that it sticks to the mask and stays in place. If I used a piece of fabric instead and had to re-seat the mask with pressure flowing, what would keep the fabric in place?

I'll keep using the moleskin as long as I have to, as I'm getting the best therapy ever with this mask. I just wondered if there was a general consensus on how long it takes the nose to adjust to the kind of external pressure that a FFM exerts.

P.S. I hope your nose sore heals in time for your reunion.