OUCH....Nasal Pillow Pain

kwa430 · Post by **kwa430** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 7:14 am

I just started CPAP. I began with a SWIFT pillow that hurt my upper lip. I got an OPUS mask that solved that problem. Now I am getting sore just under the tip of my nose between the nostrils. This pain starts after about an hour of wearing the mask. I can't pinpoint what it is that is causing this.

Has this happen to anybody else? What did you do to fix the problem?

Thanks

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 7:19 am

Hi,

Yes, nasal pillows have their drawbacks. Two things:

1. Make sure your headgear straps aren't too tight

2. Before putting on the mask, put some Ayr gel or KY liquid (just a drop or two) just inside the nares and on the outside where the mask will contact your nose. Let dry a few minutes so it is "sticky" and then put mask on.

This will not only help avoid the soreness, it will also help seal.

Good luck!

Mindy

krousseau · Post by **krousseau** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 12:18 pm

And time for that sensitive area to toughen up. Don't let it get too sore. I use a very thin coating of nonpetroleum based ointment like un-petroleum or Badger Balm. There are precautions-use only thin coating around the rim of your nares and on the upper lip, and don't use inside the nose. Also don't use so much that the interface slides around.

Tightness of the head gear can be tricky...too tight=soreness...too loose=leaks. You will get the experience to adjust it right for yourself.

Vadim · Post by **Vadim** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 12:24 pm

Also, if you have narrow nostrils, you might like comfort curve mask. I use it, and love it. Well, sometimes I have pain, too. But then I massage my nose a bit, and in about 3 minutes pain is gone...well worth good 7-8 hours of sleep!

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 2:12 pm

Happened to me when I started too.

Ky Jelly helped me a lot (I think I kept on using it for about 4 months), and in my case the RT suggested I take a 3 night break, 2 turned out to be enough. Ask your doc or RT if you can affort to take a break like that -- it helped my nose tremendously, and I never needed one again.

O.

Flying_Norseman · Post by **Flying_Norseman** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 2:42 pm

Same here. I used the KY Jelly trick (still do) and that helped alot. The other thing that helped was going to one size larger on the nasal pillow. The original size I was using was too small and was rubbing against my nares.

onecoknower · Post by **onecoknower** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 5:29 pm

I use a Swift II - the first couple of weeks my nares hurt somewhat. The Ayr gel really helped (lanolin does, too). I switched to a larger size pillow which also helped. Now I switch back and forth between the small and the medium.

Hoover · Post by **Hoover** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 6:48 pm

I had one really sore week - never got the gel and then the old nares toughened up and I don't need to use any "product." Hang in there, it will get better.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 7:17 pm

Ayr's w/ aloe got me through my initiation.

lvehko · Post by **lvehko** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 10:34 pm

kwa430 wrote:I just started CPAP. I began with a SWIFT pillow that hurt my upper lip. I got an OPUS mask that solved that problem. Now I am getting sore just under the tip of my nose between the nostrils. This pain starts after about an hour of wearing the mask. I can't pinpoint what it is that is causing this.

Has this happen to anybody else? What did you do to fix the problem?

Thanks

I used several nasal pillow masks and eventually gave up on them because they all hurt my nose. I'm now using an F&P HC 407 mask, which works good and doesn't hurt.

M9

jtm · Post by **jtm** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 11:58 pm

[quote="kwa430"]I just started CPAP. I began with a SWIFT pillow that hurt my upper lip. . . .

OUCH....Nasal Pillow Pain

OUCH....Nasal Pillow Pain

Re: OUCH....Nasal Pillow Pain

Re: OUCH....Nasal Pillow Pain

Mask

Additional Comments: Started CPAP June 14, 2006, pressure set at 8.0