Painful nose bridge pressure point: HELP!!!!

dougmoran · Post by **dougmoran** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 3:23 pm

I hope somebody here can help me. I started treatment with a bipap machine about two months ago with high pressure settings (15/20). I have been through at least 7 different masks trying to find one that will seal up without damaging my nose bridge. For some reason I guess my nose bridge is just too high. In order to get a seal along the cheeks I need to tighted the mask so much that it pushes really hard on my nose bridge thus creating the problem.

So far, no mask has worked. Ultra Mirrage II seems to be the best: I can wear it about four nights in a row before the skin on my nose starts to inflame and swell up. Then I switch to the Hybrid mask and use that for a few days while my nose heals. Boy am I glad when my nose heals because that Hybrid mask is really hard to seal and the nasal pillows make my nostrils feel like, well, really painful.

I've tried using bandaids across by nose bridge but that doesn't help. I've tried moleskin (the sticky-backed pads used to treat hikers foot blisters), but that doesn't help. It seems to me that somebody should have a nose bridge protector that is rigid on the top and padded below to help distribute the pressure of the mask at that point.

I was also thinking of letting lose with my Dremel cutting tool and grinding back some of the hard plastic in the mask's frame, but neither the Ultra Mirage or the Mojo mask are amenable to it because of their construction. So I'm stuck.

Any advice would be much appreciated. Maybe I should get that nose job afterall?

Doug

Sleepy-eyes · Post by **Sleepy-eyes** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 3:36 pm

Doug,

I can certainly relate to your problem. My mask rubbed so much it finally tore the skin off the bridge of my nose. I tried all that you have.........plus, but to no avail. Had to refrain from using my machine for two weeks while the nose healed. What finally worked was to put a coat of Lantiseptic on the bridge of my nose before putting on the mask. Lantiseptic is a salve designed to heal bed sores. Available at the drug store without a prescription. It's also the greasiest stuff I've ever seen. But it provides both a friction-free connection between nose and mask, and keeps any abrasion sores from coming up. It also is a thin enough application that there is no air leak at the edge, like with moleskin or tapes. Works for me, and just might for you also. Good luck.

dougmoran · Post by **dougmoran** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:00 pm

Sleepy-eyes: Wow, I hope it's that simple for me too. Thanks very much for your reply!

woozle · Post by **woozle** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 9:19 pm

let me know what works - I have both the umff and the f & P full face masks and also have a few nasal masks and what I have to do at night when I use them, is actually put like one sock rolled up between my forehead and the mask so that the top of the mask isn't pressing too hard on the top bridge of my nose - I apparently have one of those noses as well - I guess the top bridge of my nose is extended or larger than most? I swear I don't look freakish
actually, I do that with putting either the sock or my hand between the mask and my forehead, except for the umff = that one you can adjust but it is still a little too tight - the scuba mask glue does work though - only way I can use any of these masks now is using the scuba mask glue and having the top part of hte bridge of mask pushed away so I don't get a bone bruise on the bridge of my nose - dr said it was turning into a bone bruise so had to figure something out - will go back to my beloved swift once my sinus surgery heals in a few weeks
good luck - great place to find help and stay compliant

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 9:41 pm

man I'm starting to sound like a broken record but you should check out the Somnotech Soyala, it can go to 30cm pressure and they even make one that goes to 40cm pressure.

The Soyala looks like any other mask but it is amazing, I have loosened up the straps, slept on my side, pushed the mask out of place and it still maintains the seal, I have no idea how it does it because the cushion looks no different than any other cushion you've seen. About the only thing unique I've seen is the part of the cushion that goes over the nosebridge is in more of a U shape so it hugs the side of the nose more than other masks.

Under the nares it looks like any other but it doesn't leak there either, I've even let some stubble grow and it seals pretty good. But around the nose bridge area is the least likely place I've noticed it doesn't leak. You can pull the mask away from your face (because the headgear is streatchy, tells you how tight I wear the straps) when you release it almost goes pop when it seals back.

Granted my pressure is only half of what yours is, but I also own and have tried nearly every interface out there, I also have several older UltraMirage and a newer MirageII, the Soyala is better than all of them combined in my opinion.

Pictures of the Soyala are really bad on cpap.com and elsewhere, doesn't do the mask any justice, but below is mine on what the cushion looks like where it goes over the nose, then the elbow system is probably the best and quietest I've ever used.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Soyala ... dgear.html