sore nose

[Guest]

I have been using my new machine for 2 nights and my nose is SORE. I have searched, adjusted my mask and it is better. However, my nose is really sore on the sides of the bridge.
Here is the question,
What do you do to toughen up the skin around the nose? Is there something that I can put on to help toughen the skin?
I suspect you will say to suck it up, quit whining, and I will get used to it.
I have managed to keep it on for the whole night, 8 hours, both nights. I do think I have a little more energy and am commited to using the machine every night, but my nose hurts.
Please help

[hybridvigor]

This is my question. It posted as a guest for some reason. Anyway, here is my profile with equipment.
Thanks

[KatieW]

Welcome to cpap, and the forum.

I am not a big fan of "sucking it up and get used to it". If your mask is causing pain, that is a very real problem...learning to adjust the mask helps (looser is better), but it may be that it is the incorrect size for you. Sizes are not uniform between brands, or even within the same brand. If you bought it from a DME, ask for a re-fitting or a different mask. Resmed also makes the Activa LT and Mirage SoftGel, and I find that both are very comfortable.

For skin irritation, I use Neosporin, but I don't think it "toughens up" the skin. For soreness from pressure on your nose, I might use an ice pack.

[ZeeMan]

My Mirage Quattro mask would make the bridge of my nose bloody. I tried putting a bandaid between me and the mask. It reduced but did not eliminate the problem. Also, its a bit uncomfortable to have the ends of the bandaid right next to your tear ducts.

For a while, I used the Mirage Liberty which doesn't touch the bridge of my nose, but I had other issues with it.

I've now been using a Forma mask for about a week and a half. I had a slight hint of redness at first, but that seems to have cleared up. My DME supplier lady claimed that she doesn't normally get skin irritation complaints with forma. I'm hopeful that forma will solve this for me.

Sadly, every face is different. What works for me might not work for you. Finding the right mask can be difficult.

[hybridvigor]

I got my equipment from CPAP.COM. This was the mask that was suggested by the sleep tech who did my sleep study. It worked well for titration, but that was only about 4 hours. I will try some more adjustments, may be too tight.
Thanks for the help

[steelhead]

Try putting a piece of cloth 1 inch medical tape cut across the width of the tape not length wise over the bridge of your nose where the soreness is being caused. It worked for me, however if you have a sore there you may need to use nasal pillows or another type mask until the sore is healed.

[Maple Leaf]

Bye a box of mole skin from the drugstore or wherever, it's cheap and you can cut it to the shape required. I use 2 layers of it stuck together and it works great.

[hybridvigor]

Thanks for the suggestions.
I think I have some tape. I will give it a try and pick up some mole skin.
I am on my 4th night tonight.
Wish me luck

[Mary Z]

I bought a product called Tough Pads from Walmart. They are Hydrocolloid Adhesive Pads. Four 3"X 2.25" for $5.00. I cut them to size needed. They are helping me. A similar product is Duoderm. Duoderm is expensive- I bought one pad (4X4 I think) from Amazom.com for about $10 or $12 to try it out, but haven't received it yet.
The Tough Pads are from Johnson and Johnson. This is the best product I've found so far. Bandaids were helpful, but not great, the sleep comfort pad didn't work for me. I'm also using a lanolin product for nursing mothers designed to toughen up the skin during the day. My nose looks much better- the skin had broken down and was bleeding and the whole bridge of my nose was red.
Good Luck,
Mary Z.

[carbonman]

I suspect you will say to suck it up, quit whining, and I will get used to it.
Please help

OK....
suck it up, quit whinning.....you'll get used to it.

...ahhhhh......I love to talk dirty.

....BUT.. while you're sucking it up....and inbetween the whinning...
try the things that have been suggested here.....

and before you know it you'll be used to it.....
and you'll have a new life.

......and sooner than you think...you'll be able
to tell someone else to....

suck it up, quit whinning.....you'll get used to it.

It's not about luck.
It's about perseverance and education.
You supply the perseverance and we provide the education.

It's a journey.

It's your life.
It's my life.

On a side note, I'm on the east side of the Divide.
I try to get to your side as often as possible.
....you're definitely on the right side.

Welcome!.....now get to sucking it up and get over to
Carlson Winery on 35 Road up on Orchard Mesa, the Big J.....
they will have the best peach whine on the Western Slope.

Hope this helps.

[Tielman]

Thanks for the suggestions.I think I have some tape. I will give it a try and pick up some mole skin.
I am on my 4th night tonight. Wish me luck

I've had the same issues, and am starting my third week. If you've developed a blister, or the skin is too tender it'll take a while for it to get better. Use some neosporin on it if it has developed into a blister, or in my case a broken blister (ouch). If you have oily skin like me, try some facial cleanser (it helps!).

One thing I found was that I had my mask way too tight the first 2-3 nights. Loosen it up so that it is just past a minor leak, lay down on the bed, shift from side to side and see if it leaks. If it doesn't leave it there, if it does, slightly tighten it until it stops.

Wishing you all the best.

[hybridvigor]

The nose is MUCH better. I think that the mask was way too tight. I loosened it to a small leak, then tightened just enough to stop it. I am still getting red marks on the sides of my nose, but it is getting better. I think I will let it leak a little tonight and see how that works. Here is the theory; I am on a fairly low pressure (6 cm) and the machine starts at 4 on the ramp. I don't think that there is enough pressure to blow the mask out against the face.

This is my 6th night and I have not hit the snooze since I started. I used to hit the snooze at least half a dozen times then have to make myself get up.

Thanks for alll of the help!