Sore nose, twice

[bjcyorkiemom]

I borrowed an S9 auto back in September 2012 and figured out that my thyroid problem was not the only reason I was tired. Did the Doctor x 2 / sleep study / insurance dance and took home my new cpap & supplies on 12/14/12. Setting were very similar to the one I had borrowed and used for 3+ months. On 12/22/12 the inside of my right nostril started swelling, and by 12/24/12 it was mostly (80-90%) occluded. Called the family Doc and got Augmentin/875 for 10 days. The sore /swollen spot stopped getting larger by day two on the meds, and was going down rapidly by day 4. It was totally gone by the end of the med cycle. I thought it could have been due to a lack of humidity in our house (24%) and I got a ClimateLine Max Hose which I set at 80% and started using the RoEzIt every night before I go to bed. Yes, I use distilled water and rinse the humidifier out every night. I hang the tubing and mask up all day (every day) to dry out, and I have two SleepWeaver masks that I rotate every two weeks.

Now, barely 30 days later, I've got another one in the other nostril. I think, based on internet research, that it may be a boil (again). Am I doing something wrong ? Do I need to change something ?

[cosmo]

Maybe get yourself a room humidifier. That way the humidity is not so low when you're not using the cpap also.

If you do, make sure you use boiled water that has been cooled down to room temp.

I paid the price for letting my room humidity get so low once, 22% humidity. Inside of my nose was hurting big time. But I figured out the problem quickly and hasn't happened since.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=85778&p=782574

[bjcyorkiemom]

Still haven't heard back from the cpap Doctor yet, to get his opinion. Ok, so off to Walmart or some such store I go tomorrow. Thanks.

[quietmorning]

We keep humidifiers in every room in the house and I run a hot tub in the downstairs bathroom and let the steam enter the air if the humidifiers can't seem to keep the humidity up to at least 50 - during the winter. If it gets too dry I can't breathe even in the day time. . .

But. . .you said this is a boil? Do you rinse your mask daily? What kind of soap do you use? You may well either are reacting to the oils from your face getting into the mask, or you are allergic to the soap you are cleaning your mask with.

I get a nodule - not quite big enough to be a boil right where my nasal pillow hits my lip every once in a while - generally when I didn't have a chance to remove the oils from my mask the night before. This also happens when I use any kind of soap with any kind of perfume in it. (On my face, not on the mask)

[bjcyorkiemom]

Based on my internet research, I "think" it's a boil, and it's on the inside of my nose, just barely. If I put my thumb over the nasal opening, I can feel it. I use a cloth mask / SleepWeaver, so it doesn't touch any area that is sore. The real irritating thing is I'm married to a Respiratory Therapist and I work at a DME / durable medical equipment company and have done cpap set-ups for about 18 years; so I thought I knew a lot about this stuff. Guess I'm learning new stuff, huh.........

[cflame1]

Ok... normally I wouldn't be this sassy...

What does the hubby say you should be doing... hehehehe

[cflame1]

Ok... in all seriousness... what I'd normally use with a sore nose, Burt's Bees lip balm (regular kind). I usually only use it when I'm getting sick.

Some folks use Lanisoh.

[bjcyorkiemom]

by cflame1 on Tue Jan 22, 2013 11:36 pm

Ok... normally I wouldn't be this sassy...

What does the hubby say you should be doing... hehehehe

He didn't say much, but he usually deals more with ventilators & bipaps than just cpaps. I did talk to the doctor's RT and she ticked off everything I've been doing and couldn't come up with anything different. Then I mentioned what you all have been suggesting i.e. that the house humidity is horrible and could be a basis for my sore nose problem. She thought that idea was very possible. I spent some time today pricing stand alone humidifiers and think we've decided to pay $300 for a unit to hook into the new heat & a/c unit we put in a couple years ago. Seems like the most expensive short term, but least hassle in the long run and more efficient as well. Was telling my husband what all the doctor's RT and I talked about and then he comes up with adding an aspirin to the distilled water jug, for what reason I've forgotten by now.

[cosmo]

I take back the comment about buying a humidifier. I don't want you spending $300 and coming back to blame me if it doesn't help

I get dry skin only in the winters so home humidity might have something to do with it also. I never paid much attention to humidity before being on cpap or problems with my nose. I just lived with the problems. I'll see about wearing lighter clothes so my skin can breath.

[quietmorning]

I'm jealous - I'd love to buy a stand alone humidifier for the house. Beats the heck out of filling four humidifiers twice a day every day.

I was wondering. . .if you might be allergic to your mask? I know it doesn't touch that part of your skin - but . . . might be worth looking at? When I wear earrings that have any nickle in them I end up with a huge nasty very deep boil that takes forever to heal up either lower on my neck or a few inches behind my ear. It only happens when I wear earrings with nickel in them. Might be worth looking into?