Night #4 & Mask is making me NUTS

[kirstenl]

I have a medium sized comfort gel and it's driving me nuts. Each night has gotten progressively worse. After night #1, I woke up with the flesh under my nose sore. The second night, I took the thing off in my sleep. Last night, it wasn't leaking into my eyes, but it was digging into them.

I meant to call the DME today and see if I could get a nasal pillow mask (tried that many years ago and liked it better), but spent the day sitting with my dad on hospice and had forgotten to take the number with me. Didn't get back home in time and they had closed at 4:30, so I'm stuck for the weekend.

Any tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated.

TIA,
Kirsten

[brendatv]

I am new at this too, and am not familiar with that mask, but it sounds like it is on too tight. Can you put a bandaid on your nose and still get a seal? I use the Quattro, and am finding it helpful to use the strap from padacheek to help hold the mask in place when I turn from side to side. Perhaps you can loosen your mask a bit and create a makeshift strap. Good luck. It can be really hard on a weekend when the same level of support isn't available. I also wonder if a piece of soft cloth, like flannel put on your nose would help.

[bayourest]

janknitz recently posted a link to a mask fitting blog. it is very helpful. It sounds like your mask is too tight.
you are fortunate id you feel you are getting some level of support from your dme. there is a gel nose pad available that helps, and a mask liner from pad a cheek that helps too. You can also make a liner from an old tee shirt. search for "homemade mask liners" The liners are a great help for comfort.
I have had my mask for 2 months. at first I thought I would go crazy but now it's not a big deal. Dont try to wear it all night right away.

[Janknitz]

My Quattro fitting techniue link is in my signature. Unfortunately, I don't think it will work for a Gel mask because they depend on differnt sealing mechanisms. The Quattro has a double layer of silicon to trap air and become an "air cushion". So less pressure means that the cushion is better inflated and seals better. A gel or foam cushion doesn't work the same way, so I'm not sure loosening it up and tipping it away from the bridge of your nose will work.

It's awful when you need something and there are NO DME's open on weekends. Another reason Walmart and Target should be allowed to sell CPAP machines and supplies!

[Lightningbug]

I had the same problem with mine until I went through the steps to mold it to my face. Be careful when you do it though - I burned the bridge of my nose. It did make a great deal of difference for me.

Sue

[kirstenl]

Sue-

Uhm, OUCH!

Thanks. I'll tinker with it some tonight.

Kirsten

[LSAT]

Doesn't the Comfort Gel mask come with instructions on how to use hot water to form fit the mask to your face. I haven't used that mask in over a year, but I recall that feature.