pressure sores on nose and upper liip.....ouch!!!

peterl · Post by **peterl** » Thu May 01, 2008 3:50 pm

Hi I am new to CPAP therapy (since 22/4/08). I have a Resmed Mirage micro mask, and Resmed S8 Series II Autoscore/H3i Plus humidifier combo. My set pressure is (7). I have tried both the large and the medium sized mask inserts and think that probably the medium is the better fitting of the two.
I initially had the mask on two tight for the first 2 nights and ended up with sore red marks on my upper lip ,bridge of my nose. I tried sleeping on the lounge for 2 night swithout CPAP to let the sore areas settle.I then retried but with a looser fit of my mask but this has not fully resolved the problem. I do have quite a high bridged nose and am having orthodontic treatment i.e fixed braces both upper and lower.....not alot of fun at the moment. I am putting a good heavy moisturiser 2-3 times a day on the sore areas for relief with some effect. Do I need a different mask perhaps? Would a specially contoured pillow made for CPAP users help by decreasing the mask pressure and accomodate my face/head better. I need to get this sorted as I cannot use my CPAP whilst I am getting these sore areas on my face. HELP!!! Any advice would be gratefully received

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): resmed, humidifier, mirage, CPAP

Suz-E-Q · Post by **Suz-E-Q** » Thu May 01, 2008 5:23 pm

I have the Resmed Mirage Activa and the nice thing about that mask is that you actually do not need to have it tight to make a good seal. Without the pressure on I fit the mask very loosely on my face. If I lean forward it is actually loose enough to not touch my face. The thing is the way the mask is built it it is actually the pressure that keeps the mask on your face. You should really give it a try.

I love, love, love this mask.
Good luck with your sores...they sound very painful. I have been on cpap for almost 8 months and only had one issue with a bit of a skin reaction from not washing my mask everyday. Now my mask gets washed everyday when I get up!
Suz-E-Q

RipVW · Post by **RipVW** » Thu May 01, 2008 7:22 pm

Hello & Welcome, peterl! Glad you found this forum--SO much useful info and SO many helpful people here!

I've tried lots of masks, and I found that any mask that rests against my upper lip makes me sore and uncomfortable, so I found the mask for me is a full face mask. Maybe that's the solution for you, too.

"You are getting sleepy . . ."

alnhwrd · Post by **alnhwrd** » Fri May 02, 2008 2:58 am

The sores on your nose and your lip are from having your mask too tight, and/or having the wrong size mask. First you need to loosen your straps. The problem some people have with loosening your straps is that it can cause leaks. Something that I have used to allow me to keep my mask loose and control the leaks is to use Mack's Silicone earplugs to help with the seal. Here is a link that shows how it is done. The mask in the pictures is not a micro, but shows how it works.

viewtopic.php?p=228349&sid=5863e3677f73 ... 06ce9d9d8a

You could also try a product from a company called Padacheeks, called a nose bridge protector. Its a soft fleece cover that goes on your mask and protects the bridge of your nose. Go to http://www.padacheeks.com look at what they have, and email any questions you have to the operator of the site.

My first couple of months I also put a patch of moleskin over the bridge of my nose to protect it, and it helped a lot. Finally, you could also get a nasal pillows mask that does not rest on your nose at all, like the Swift II and switch off, giving your nose a chance to heal.

Hope this helps.

Alan

mazsdps · Post by **mazsdps** » Fri May 02, 2008 4:27 am

Hi Peterl,
Welcome! I was having the same problem your having. I was told about the Mack's Silicone earplugs. I know alnhwrd told you about them, but I just wanted to let you know that they are the best thing I've ever used! Matter of fact, I think it was alnhwrd that told me about the earplugs. The day alnhwrd told me about them I called my husband at work and had him stop by Walgreens and buy me some. Since then I've been able to sleep through the night without having to take my mask off. My nose is not sore anymore and it's not red. I hope they help you, good luck!

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Fri May 02, 2008 5:34 am

When I started cpap therapy I was given nasal masks that left burning welts on my face.

I then read a recommendation for people with sensitive skins to soak their masks in soapy water for 30-60 minutes. I did it, and it helped. I now do that for every soakable part of any new mask that I get.

You could be having a combination of pressure sores and contact dermatitis - a long soak to the mask may help.

I couldn't get used to nasal mask - I switched to nasal pillows. My first long term mask was the Breeze, my next a "Headrest" (aka Aura or Twilight NP) with the rubber band fix, and now the deconstructed Headrest - my favorite. Deconstruction is self made, the original, audacious inventor was Rested Gal of course, also well known as the pioneer user of RG straps to stabilize all kind of masks. RG straps (patent pending?) are made of the cut off legs of panty hose (RG has lived to rue the day she tried that material...sigh....) and the material can be renamed into "manty hose" for memebers of the male sex who are too shy to use them. (IIRC one forum member was so shy he eventually preferred surgery to the horror of panty hose.... which in my opinion just shows you how lack of sleep affects one's judgement.... )

The Breeze sits on you upper lip, its pillows touch your nostrils, the Headrest touches you nostrils only. Both don't even touch you cheeks.

O.

mazsdps · Post by **mazsdps** » Fri May 02, 2008 1:22 pm

ozij,
If there is a post that has a picture of Rested Gal's deconstructed Headrest can you put it in this post? I just ordered a Headrest and I would like to fix mine that way and if I can see a picture it makes it a lot easier for me. Thanks in advance!
Angie

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Fri May 02, 2008 11:04 pm

There you are -

viewtopic.php?t=2650

By the way, Catnapper discovered that the narrow hose can be disconnected from the hard palstic part of the nasal with a careful wiggle motion (not pull) and then you can just snip the two thin plasict leads where they connect to the headgear.

Post deconstruction, courtesy of Catnapper

[quote="Catnapper"]Here is a picture of mine without the unnecessary parts from the manufacturer.

I do add the stretchy pantyhose straps, but this is the way it looks without those. I also added a cover for the hose to help with the rainout issue. I even made a cover for the part that goes on the side of the nose.

I have tried lots of other masks and this one is the most comfortable for me. It it lightweight and although you can hear the inhale/exhale sound, the exhaust is very quiet and doesn't hit pillows or whatever. It weighs almost nothing.

mazsdps · Post by **mazsdps** » Fri May 02, 2008 11:47 pm

Thanks a bunch ozij!

peterl · Post by **peterl** » Sat May 03, 2008 5:25 am

Thankyou for all of the replies!! I have bought some silicone ear plug putty here in Australia basically the same as the one suggested to try that is available in the USA, I have bought some moleskin to try as well. I have also soaked my mask in some soapy water to break it in. And lastly I have E-mailed Karen @ padacheeks to see if she can send to me a buffer cloth device/protector to fit my mask (still awaiting a reply if this is available and can be shipped to me ) My sore areas should be healed/settled by tomorrow morning after 5 whole days without using my mask and CPAP machine. My back will greatly appreciate sleeping no longer on the lounge and instead in my own bed with my wife. I will see how all of these tweaks go and if it does not help I will try another mask and hopefully that will solve my problem(s). If anyone has any more advice I would love to hear it, I presume I am not the first person to have this or a similar situation. THANKS EVERYONE