Soon to be CPAP user worried about face marks

[craftyncrazy]

Hello all. I recently did my sleep study with the CPAP and I am waiting on the DME company to tell me how much money I have to pay to get my machine, but I am concerned with the mask leaving red marks on my face every day like it did during my study.

This is the mask they had on me during the study:



This is how I looked when I got in the car to head home that morning.



and about an hour after that


at around the 3 hour mark


And this one was taken around lunch time, about 6 hours after the mask was removed from my face


I generally dont wear makeup because it irritates my skin. I'd hate to have to start wearing it to hide the red marks.

[nanwilson]

I'm not a makeup wearer either and like you I'm crafty. Just go buy some fleece facric and make your own strap covers or see padacheeks.com. As to the nose blister.......that does not have to be...you can change masks to one that does not go as far up your nose or you can put a piece of bandaid on it before you go to sleep. If you use a full face mask you will have to try something to cover that spot, either a bandaid, a special silicone cover thing OR a mask liner. See also padacheeks.com for that. Welcome to the hosehead club you will find all kinds of suggestions here if you read, read and read somemore. When you get your gear, please note that you are permitted to change masks as many times as you need within the first 30 days. The mask manufacturers will supply these masks to the DME free of charge. While you are looking up stuff go to cpap.com and look at all the mask types and choose a couple that look promising, then when you go to the DME, you can ask to try those masks. PLEASE ensure that you get a completely data capable machine so that you can keep track of your therapy. Don't let the DME bully you in any way....they are very good at that. You will see what I mean if you do your reading, the little guy and the light bulb up top of the page are good places to start. Good luck
Nan

[xenablue]

It often takes a few tweaks and/or different masks until we find one (or two) that work for us. When you go to your DME, take those photos with you, and make sure you use the opportunity to swap your masks as many times as necessary during the first 30-days if you don't find one that's comfy for you.

There are many, many masks on the market and that particular one was either not adjusted correctly for the shape of your facial features, or it was totally the wrong mask altogether.

If you're not a mouth-breather, you might consider nasal pillows - these work for many people and there are no restrictions across the nose or cheeks.

Hang in there, and get lots of good advice from here before your first DME visit - most don't tell you anything useful and sometimes they outright lie.

Cheers,
xena

[Slinky]

Good Lord!!! Your sleep tech had your mask strapped MUCH TOO TIGHT! A Resmed Rep told me we should be able to get TWO fingers between straps and face easily. I don't know about TWO fingers .... but newbies do tend to fit their masks too tight. They need to be loose enough for the mask cushion to fill w/air. It is the air in the cushion that encourages the seal.

And it might not even be THE mask for you. Heaven knows there are GOBS of them out there to try. If you start your mask a little too high on the nose it tends to slide down the nose after wearing a while and in so doing the edges of the cushion tend to dig in to your skin. If we place the mask a bit low on the nose and then push it up that little bit it turns the edges of the cushion under and they don't cut into the snozz.

Hanging the hose above our heads reduces the tug of the hose on our mask. The PAP should be turned on as we fit our mask so that the cushion can fill w/air and form the seal.

You might want to try an entirely different nasal cushion mask when you get your equipment. Maybe one w/a strap that goes over the top of the head, and/or one w/o a forehead brace. Something light weight.

Keep this in mind, you MIGHT have to refresh a relucatant local DME provider that Resmed, PR (Philips Respironics) and F&P (Fisher & Paykel) all will replace FREE to the DME provider most any of their masks that a patient has tried and been unsuccessful with as long as the DME provider fills out a form and returns mask and form to the manufacturer W/IN 30 DAYS so there is no excuse for them to refuse to allow you to exchange masks until you find on that works for YOU. I must have gone thru a dozen masks before I found the first one that worked relatively well for me.

There are basically 4 different styles of masks: full face, nasal cushion (such as you used during your PSG), nasal pillows and oro-nasal (a combination of nasal pillows and mouth cushion).

Since you tend to have sensitive skin you might want to consider buying some RemZzzs. They are a cotton liner that fits between mask and face. Some people make their own out of old cotton T-shirts. Others use coffee filters.

[craftyncrazy]

The tech didnt give me any options she brought in a mask put it on me turned it on asked about leaks and I felt some air on one side of my nose and she adjusted the strap and then did the pre-test baseline and I fell asleep shortly thereafter and I remember nothing else until she woke me up.

I hope I get a good DME. Are there any good ones? I really only seem to be reading about bad ones.

[Pugsy]

I hope I get a good DME. Are there any good ones? I really only seem to be reading about bad ones.

Yes there are a few. Just scarce.

Can you normally breathe through your nose during the day or do you have physical problems that make it imperative to breathe through your mask? If you can.. you might like something like I use.. click on the link to my mask in my profile.

Welcome to the forum. No mask should do what that one did to you. The tech had it way too tight. That said, there are other mask types available with less of a presence on your face. So you for sure aren't doomed to have to deal with those marks. Your face would be chopped meat in about 3 days with that much tension.

[BlackSpinner]

The tech didnt give me any options she brought in a mask put it on me turned it on asked about leaks and I felt some air on one side of my nose and she adjusted the strap and then did the pre-test baseline and I fell asleep shortly thereafter and I remember nothing else until she woke me up.

I hope I get a good DME. Are there any good ones? I really only seem to be reading about bad ones.

No at a sleep test you don't get much choice. But the good part was that you fell asleep with it. You now know that you can sleep with a mask on, even with a badly fitted too tight mask you can sleep. Remember this.

Don't hope for a good DME. Do your home work, and print out and take with you the list of names of the data capable machines. Make a check list for yourself as to what to ask and what to know. If they are a great DME they will be impressed and friendly if they are not they will not be able to snowball you with lies and ignorance.

I had the same nose burning problem with that mask and I solved it with mask liners made from old 100% cotton knit panties. I also use a mask called a HYBRID (not the liberty one) that doesn't touch my nose there. I still use the other one when I have a cold or flu since then I hate anything touching my nostrils.

Masks should be tried on while laying down with the machine pushing at full pressure. Like when fitting shoes, you need to walk in them, or like fitting a bra you have to put it on a bounce a bit and see how it looks under a t-shirt. Take as much effort in fitting your mask as you would a pair of Gucci heels or running shoes for a marathon.

[mayondair]

That mask does not fit or is not adjusted properly, it should not leave those kinds of marks. Before you meet your DME do your homework. check out Janknitzs excellent blog for advice on DMEshttp://tinyurl.com/2arffqx, crunch some numbers on copays and deductibles, you may be better off buying that fully data capable machine on line, , read the WIKI and ask questions, you'll get lots of help here. welcome! Kathy

[craftyncrazy]

I hope I get a good DME. Are there any good ones? I really only seem to be reading about bad ones.

Yes there are a few. Just scarce.

Can you normally breathe through your nose during the day or do you have physical problems that make it imperative to breathe through your mask? If you can.. you might like something like I use.. click on the link to my mask in my profile.

Welcome to the forum. No mask should do what that one did to you. The tech had it way too tight. That said, there are other mask types available with less of a presence on your face. So you for sure aren't doomed to have to deal with those marks. Your face would be chopped meat in about 3 days with that much tension.

I do breathe thru my nose during the day with no problem. At night my sinuses clog up like crazy. But within 30-45 minutes of being up they are all clear.

[chunkyfrog]

Sleep lab personnel do not always know (or care, it seems) about getting you a comfortably fitting mask.
Remember, that the DME's should allow you up to 30 days to trade masks if your first candidate(s) does (do) not fit well.
The manufacturers are generous with them with free trial masks for this very reason.
You need to ask about return policies BEFORE you think of getting a mask from them.
Some do not want your business badly enough to let you trial masks.
If that is the case, hopefully, there are other in-network suppliers in your area.
If you have no insurance, consider buying on-line.
Return insurance is available on many masks bought from our host site. (cpap.com)
Cost varies--big bucks usually means many returns; low bucks usually means few returns (better fit?)
One mask has zero return insurance. Sleepweaver.-but this is the manufacturer's generosity to us.

[Pugsy]

I do breathe thru my nose during the day with no problem. At night my sinuses clog up like crazy. But within 30-45 minutes of being up they are all clear

Hmm. This seems to happen to a few folks. Something about reclining and possibly some sort of allergy may be the cause. Some people have found that the nasal pillows method of delivering air right through the swollen mucosa actually lets the breathe at night better. Sometimes the extra hydration helps. Worth a shot. If you can use a mask like mine you probably will love it.

There is a mask trial being offered by the host (he is a member of this forum)of a sleep apnea website. $14 covers shipping both ways and you can try a mask for 7 days to see if it might suit you and no risk of spending a boat load of $ and have it not work.

http://www.cpaplibrary.com/mask-trials.html

The nasal pillow masks are the easiest to seal and cause less discomfort simply because less surface area to have to mess with. Air going up your nose is a bit weird at first but a person easily gets used to it even at high pressures.
I used them the first time at my titration study. Something to think about while you are thinking...and learning and reading....

[craftyncrazy]

I do breathe thru my nose during the day with no problem. At night my sinuses clog up like crazy. But within 30-45 minutes of being up they are all clear

Hmm. This seems to happen to a few folks. Something about reclining and possibly some sort of allergy may be the cause. Some people have found that the nasal pillows method of delivering air right through the swollen mucosa actually lets the breathe at night better. Sometimes the extra hydration helps. Worth a shot. If you can use a mask like mine you probably will love it.

There is a mask trial being offered by the host (he is a member of this forum)of a sleep apnea website. $14 covers shipping both ways and you can try a mask for 7 days to see if it might suit you and no risk of spending a boat load of $ and have it not work.

http://www.cpaplibrary.com/mask-trials.html

The nasal pillow masks are the easiest to seal and cause less discomfort simply because less surface area to have to mess with. Air going up your nose is a bit weird at first but a person easily gets used to it even at high pressures.
I used them the first time at my titration study. Something to think about while you are thinking...and learning and reading....

How do the nasal pillows handle when you actually have a cold?

[Bobby269]

This place will let you borrow mask's one at a time. They only charge for the shipping.. It's $7.00 each way .
http://www.cpaplibrary.com/mask-trials.html

[Pugsy]

How do the nasal pillows handle when you actually have a cold?

Good question. I found that they worked just fine when I had a cold. I took an oral decongestant and cranked up the humidity and used lots of simple saline nasal spray during the day. I found that the extra humidity seemed to help the congestion. Sort of like how a hot steamy shower opens things up for a little while.. I slept about as well as can be expected when a person has a cold. Wasn't great but wouldn't have been with a full face mask and coughing into it all night either. In a pinch.. a tiny bit of Afrin nasal spray.

I can't use a full face mask. Contrary to what I had been led to believe "that I would die a horrible death if I didn't use a full face mask if I caught a cold".. It wasn't any more miserable than having a cold without having to use cpap would have been. It wasn't pleasant but no cold ever is.

[Guest]

craftyncrazy, you have beautiful eyes.