Report: Trial of PADACHEEK's nose guard

[jasper]

I trialed the nose protector this week that PADACHEEK developed for the sore nose brigade. I used it with the F&P 432 ff mask. Here are my results.

The nose guard consists of a forehead pad that assembles to the forehead rest on the 432. Hanging down from that is a piece of fabric that goes over the nose and wraps up around the inside of the mask cushion. Assembly was quite easy, especially with the pictures provided.

Now for the "rubber meets the road" part. Putting the mask on while keeping the "nose flap" in place was not a problem.

Under pressure, I did get a couple of small streams of air blowing into my eyes. I think this is just going to be a problem with this type of system once you break the silicone to face seal. Let me hasten to say, this is only my opinion based on one mask and one face shape. Others may obtain different results. Based on this alone, I would not be able to use this type of pad.

On a positive note, I think there was at least a little less redness on the bridge of my nose than if I used the mask alone. The 432 does not have an adjustable forehead piece (big mistake), so there is no easy way of changing the angle of the mask to relieve the pressure. I have done this manually with padding, but that did not really help.

My best results with the 432 were to shave off the sharp edge inside the mask with a razor knife, then cover it with a small piece of moleskin... stuck to the mask. In addition, I've used bandaids, cotton balls and everything else I could find.

The 432 for me will remain a backup-up for congested times only. After 3 or 4 nights I have a terrible open sore that is not tolerable. Believe me, I did this only once.

I have the Optilife right now, which I bought to see if I could tolerate nasal pillows. I can, and it works great. Next step will be either the Hybrid or Liberty to take care of the mouth breathing. For me, I think that is the right direction to go.

I wish PADACHEEK nothing but the best. She has many, many products in her line-up that provide much needed padding and relief from sores and dimples. Keep on bringing out those new ideas Karen! We need all the help we can get.

[mommaw]

I have also been using the nose protector by Pad-A-Cheek for almost 2 weeks, but with some very good results. I have been using it on a F/P 407 nasal mask. The protector fits this mask the same way as on the ff mask.

Pros:

1.The protector is made of very soft flannel and feels very comfortable on the face. It is very easy to attach to the mask frame.

2.The ridge across the bridge of my nose has greatly reduced since I have been using the protector.

3. Irritation on my forehead from the mask support silicone is gone. The protector covers the support so only the soft flannel touches your skin.

4. The combination of the strap and nose protectors makes the mask much more comfortable to wear.

Cons:

1.There were a few times that I had a small air leak into the eyes where the seal was broken. But this was not very often and also happened before the addition of the Pad-A-Cheek system.

2. I also had 2 nights where the nose protector came out from under the mask, but, I had loosened the straps slightly to see if I could wear the mask looser. I could not.

In summary, I would buy this product just as I have bought strap protectors for some of my other masks. When they become available for purchase, I will buy one for my F/P ff mask.

I would recommend this to anyone having trouble with a sore nose bridge.

Gilda

[jum001]

I have been using this guard for almost two weeks now and am favorably impressed. My UMFF and bifocals combined to cause soreness and even an open pressure sore on my nose. Using a cut down bandage over the nose helped this but was a bedtime hassle. This new guard is easy to install and no problem to use other than one night I dislodged it while adjusting the mask in my sleep. I have no soreness but do get a red area over the nose the width of the mask cushion. Not a problem as I am retired and it fades in an hour or so. However, will go back to the bandage cushion if I ever have an early morning appointment. I will purchase a replacement if and when it becomes available.