Nasal Pillow soreness -- any suggestions?

[Dazzles]

I'm not having skin irritation or raw skin, etc or I would get some of the skin relief balms y'all have recommended to others.

What I am feeling is hard to describe. It is painful, but not in the same way a bruise/cut or ache would be.

For anyone who has worn a ponytail or a hat too long -- when you take it off there is always that sore spot where the hair was being pulled in a weird direction? And when you touch that spot you're like "Owwww".

I figured out what was making me take my mask off at night is that 3-4 hours in I wake up and my nose is just SO SORE. The constant pressure on my nostrils and stretching them out really bothers me and I just can't keep it on and sleep. I got out of bed like some posters suggested and cleared my head enough to realize that is what is going on -- it is hurting my face. Not at first, but a few hours in!

Will this sensation go away?

I do not have my mask on too tightly at all -- in fact it almost feels too loose (but I now know that you want it to feel that way).

Is this indicative that I need a new mask or just something to get used to?

[Pugsy]

That much pain is NOT normal. Minor tenderness but not pain. Stretching nose out...should NOT do that.
Consider changing size of nasal pillow.
Consider loosening that top strap a notch.
If it hurts horribly...it is way too tight.
Most discomfort a person might have is a minor tenderness to touch like a small bruise.

Lansinoh is the ointment we often suggested. Nipple ointment for breastfeeding moms...found in the nipple/bottle section of stores like WalMart.

[Dazzles]

I'm expecting a Swift FX in the mail shortly. I am hoping their nasal pillows are more rounded and less oblong. I can't go a size down atm as XS is the smallest they have.

It hurts whether I am touching my face or not.

[Kilgore Trout]

I know the feeling you're trying to describe well, from a past where I spent a lot of time with a Mohawk down and under a hat.

+1 to Pugsy's post. Loosen them as much as you can with them still staying put, and maybe try the smaller insert. My swift FX came with a few sizes I can swap out; hopefully you still have them laying around.

Good luck, hope your schnoz feels better!

[Emilia]

Remember that the pillows on the LT can be reversed and also pivot to get the right angle. You can put the pillows on the LT so the nasal openings are in either a \ / or / \ configuration. Regardless, using Lansinoh is a must.... I was lucky enough to read about that on the forum before I got my mask and have used it every single night...without any irritation at all.

[snoozysue]

I have been using a Liberty mask for about 2 weeks now. I had used it for a day or two at various times but always had one sore nare even after one night's use.
This time I have been determined to really make it work as I figured that so many people use nasal pillows that I must be able to make it work for me! But quickly one nare was sore.
It became more sore after a few more days. I started putting some antibiotic cream on it and it has taken almost a week but finally its almost better.
I was also experimenting with different sizes of pillows and found that although the small seemed OK I think they moved a bit at night and caused the irritation.
I have changed to medium and they fill up the nostril more and don't seem to move or cause any irritation. I have also found that barrier cream works better for me than the Lanolish cream.

[Gaga58]

Dazzle...I think you'll find the Swift much better. I tried the Lt to try and get more stability, but I just couldn't wear it...to look at them I can't see that much difference, but my nose just would not adjust to the feel of the Lt, whereas the Swift has never bothered me at all. Good luck to you and hope you get some relief soon!

[indyzoom]

I was getting a sore nose too, not sure if it's the same soreness though. What I realized was that my hose hanger above my bed was pulling the pillows up, which was causing me pain. I found I needed a lot of slack for it to be comfortable.

I use Ayr Gel on my nose, before sleep and when I wake up if I'm sore.

[eflayer]

i now apply Lansinoh each night before going snorkeling. i still have one tiny tender spot, but the Lansinoh seems to smooth things out and allow me to keep the Swift FX on for most nearly the entire night every night. it is spendy stuff and there may be something cheaper. but if it is good enuf for boobs, it is good enuf for the shcnoz.

http://www.lansinoh.com/

[Kairosgrammy]

Remember that the pillows on the LT can be reversed and also pivot to get the right angle. You can put the pillows on the LT so the nasal openings are in either a \ / or / \ configuration. Regardless, using Lansinoh is a must.... I was lucky enough to read about that on the forum before I got my mask and have used it every single night...without any irritation at all.

What is lansinoh?

[eflayer]

google lansinoh. pure lanolin in a tube. women use it on their tender parts to smooth out breast feeding.

http://www.lansinoh.com/products/hpa-lanolin

[JHZR2]

My pillows do not go in my nose, but the edges irritate the inside of my nose. It feels like a pimple inside the nose. Really annoying. Plus at the corners of the nose it hurts because my nostrils need to be pressed up a bit to seal (Im a side sleeper and I'll leak as I shift side to side otherwise).

Talk about a horrible feeling.

[Kairosgrammy]

google lansinoh. pure lanolin in a tube. women use it on their tender parts to smooth out breast feeding.

http://www.lansinoh.com/products/hpa-lanolin

I did. I saw the breastfeeding and thought I must not be on the right product.