Please help me find a mask/solution that I can tolerate

[KeithF40]

I have very sensitive skin and very much dislike anything touching my face. I have tried many of the resmed mask options and have issues with all.

Nasal pillows = don't like them up my nose
Nasal pillows that are external = don't like anything touching my hose
Nasal mask = tip of nose touches and pressure in upper lip area
Bleep = hurts
Full mask that sits under the nose = haven't tried but think will have same problem as other masks that touch the nose

Full mask that is on bridge of nose = best so far. Major gripe is that the part around the mask is too narrow and touches the area just outside my mouth. If it was wider and sat more on my cheeks I would be more comfortable. Other gripe is that the mask moves a but and tends to creep up which moves the bottom part of the mask pretty close to my lips. I am wearing the large size.

[zonker]

I have very sensitive skin and very much dislike anything touching my face. I have tried many of the resmed mask options and have issues with all.

have you tried lanolin on those nasal pillows?

[Janknitz]

Glad you posted--it sounds like you are committed to finding the right mask. It's not easy. A lot of people have sensory issues and faced similar challenges at first. What helped me a lot in the beginning was using a mask liner from Padacheek.com. She uses a soft, smooth material that's like burrowing your face in a very soft blanket. Since you must have something touching your face, better a soft surface than bare silicone.

Can you post which FF mask you tried? That would help us see if there's another one of that type that might be wider around the mouth.

The key to masks is to keep trying until you find "The One".

[GrumpyHere]

You might want to test out the SleepWeaver cloth masks. They apply little pressure on the nose.

I have used both the Elan and the 3D. I initially preferred the 3D because it felt more comfortable and seemed to seal better. But it whistles loudly whenever there's a large leak. Now I mostly use the Elan.

They also have a full face mask named the Anew.

[chunkyfrog]

Look up Respironics Fitlife total face mask.
Nothing touches the nose at all.
Have you ever tried a CLOTH mask?
Circadiance makes several styles of Sleepweaver masks.
Soft fabric, so lightweight and cool.
Tricky to wear, but worth the effort.

[KeithF40]

I have very sensitive skin and very much dislike anything touching my face. I have tried many of the resmed mask options and have issues with all.

have you tried lanolin on those nasal pillows?

Just purchased some and will try tonight

[KeithF40]

Glad you posted--it sounds like you are committed to finding the right mask. It's not easy. A lot of people have sensory issues and faced similar challenges at first. What helped me a lot in the beginning was using a mask liner from Padacheek.com. She uses a soft, smooth material that's like burrowing your face in a very soft blanket. Since you must have something touching your face, better a soft surface than bare silicone.

Can you post which FF mask you tried? That would help us see if there's another one of that type that might be wider around the mouth.

The key to masks is to keep trying until you find "The One".

I have used liners and they are somewhat more comfortable but do tend to creep onto my mouth area a little bit too much.

The airtouch f20

[KeithF40]

Look up Respironics Fitlife total face mask.
Nothing touches the nose at all.
Have you ever tried a CLOTH mask?
Circadiance makes several styles of Sleepweaver masks.
Soft fabric, so lightweight and cool.
Tricky to wear, but worth the effort.

Ordered this one a few days ago. Waiting for it to come in the mail, probably another week.

[zonker]

I have very sensitive skin and very much dislike anything touching my face. I have tried many of the resmed mask options and have issues with all.

have you tried lanolin on those nasal pillows?

Just purchased some and will try tonight

hope it works for you!

keep us posted, won't you?

[KeithF40]

I have very sensitive skin and very much dislike anything touching my face. I have tried many of the resmed mask options and have issues with all.

have you tried lanolin on those nasal pillows?

Just purchased some and will try tonight

hope it works for you!

keep us posted, won't you?

Unfortunately the lanolin did not really help as I still had the sensory issues from before.

[zonker]

Unfortunately the lanolin did not really help as I still had the sensory issues from before.

bummer.

let's hope the cloth mask works.

[KeithF40]

Unfortunately the lanolin did not really help as I still had the sensory issues from before.

bummer.

let's hope the cloth mask works.

I'm going to try the full (covers entire face) mask when it comes in. If that doesn't work I will try a cloth mask. Any suggestions on which one given my issues? Thanks.

[chunkyfrog]

It all depends on where you can tolerate contact, and how much.
Sheriff Buford (a forum member) was able to use a mask liner with his fitlife.
I think Karen from Pad a Cheek made it custom for him.

[zonker]

I'm going to try the full (covers entire face) mask when it comes in. If that doesn't work I will try a cloth mask. Any suggestions on which one given my issues? Thanks.

unfortunately, no. finding a mask that suits is hard enough for most of us without adding in your issues.

i was lucky in that my fourth mask was the charm for me. but many people go through easily a dozen masks to get THE mask for them.

let's hope it doesn't take that many for you.

[Janknitz]

Your sensory issues are not as unusual as one might think, but I think people who experience this don't talk about it much because it seems "weird" and those people who don't have sensory issues have no idea. When I explain it to people who have not experienced it, I say it's a lot like being tickled. Certain touch is not painful, but it's unpleasant just the same.

There are some things that might help. One technique is "attenuation". Ever walk into a room with a smell you really notice? After you are in the room for a while you stop noticing the smell because your brain has reduced the response (sometimes people can't attenuate--this may be seen in an autistic person, for example). Or if you live on a busy street, you may stop noticing the sound of traffic. Going back to the tickling analogy, tickling is a form of "light touch", and it can elicit a "fight or flight response" from our sympathetic nervous system. That's why we recoil from tickling--or any unexpected light touch that serves as a primal warning that something bad might be about to happen. And part of the secret to dealing with this is to engage the parasympathetic nervous system instead, for example, by using deep touch instead of light touch to get a person's attention i.e. pressing a shoulder instead of lightly brushing it.

You can attenuate to sensory things by-- in a sense--overwhelming the system. For example, find a soft smooth cloth (i.e. a piece of satin) and rub it briskly on your face right where the mask will touch for a few minutes. This will help desensitize those nerves. You might try something with a little texture instead, like a washcloth. The pressure and rubbing should never be enough to irritate the skin. This will also help you "attenuate" to the airflow which some people notice a lot at first. I prefer no exhalation relief, and I think part of it is the steady flow is easier for me to tolerate than the on again off again when EPR is turned on. But when you're new to CPAP, EPR helps you feel more comfortable in the exhalation part of the cycle.

When you put the mask on, the steady pressure from the mask (not too tight!) is a form of deep touch that will help too, and you may find that you don't trigger the fight or flight when you've done the desensitization first and then the mask's steady pressure will keep you more comfortable.

Here's another tickle analogy trick that might help. Try to tickle yourself. It's not very easy to tickle yourself, because your brain knows where your hand is and it doesn't elicit that fight or flight response. You can use this with your mask. When you put your mask on, keep your hand on the mask for a few minutes. That may make it less likely you'll find the mask and air flow irritating.

Now if your mask is digging in, that's not a good thing. There's a difference between a sensory response and physical discomfort. Don't tolerate physical discomfort that causes pressure sores or actual pain.

If you have had lifelong sensory issues and want help managing them, occupational therapists are the professionals to contact (I'm a retired OT AND I have my own sensory issues). An OT skilled in dealing with sensory issues (not all OT's are) can help in many aspects of life, because sensory processing is not just limited to the sense of touch--it can be a problem anywhere and everywhere on your body, and it can be a barrier to many life activities.