Why do I have welts around my nose?

inpjs66 · Post by **inpjs66** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 2:15 am

Last nigh was my second night with my Cpap. The first night I used a mask that only cover my nose which was very comfortable but I kept waking up due to my mouth opening. Last night I used the Mirage full face mask, slept better however when I woke up this morning I have to sore welts an each side of my nose and a rather rounded looking lump on the the bridge of my nose right between my eyes. They are slightly red and kind of burning. Would my mask being too tight cause this?

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 2:18 am

Yes, your mask is probably too tight.

You might also try the forehead adjustment to see if you can pull it off of the bridge of your nose without causing leaks.

inpjs66 · Post by **inpjs66** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 2:25 am

Thanks, I will give it a shot. I was so excited about starting my therapy to be able to start feeling better during the day and I am disappointed now.

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 2:48 am

Oh, there's no reason to be disappointed, it's just a complicated thing to get right. You might end up taping or using other means to control your mouth breathing so you don't have to use a full face mask. Or, you might have better luck with another full face mask. Lots of options here.

inpjs66 · Post by **inpjs66** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 2:54 am

I was just reading up on side affects at Cpap.com and I definately had my top strap too tight. It sounds like they are pressure bumps. I hope the swelling goes down somewhat before I have to go to work. I will try to loosen the straps as much as I can tonight with any leaks. If I have a problem with this one, I will try my other mask and give the chin strap a shot.

Thanks for the support.

Hurricane · Post by **Hurricane** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 7:24 am

Those bumps you mention will become very painful if you keep abusing your nose with a poor fitting mask, as others mentioned the mask has to fit so it is loose enough as to put ninamal pressure on your nose, the flesh on your nose is very non forgiving being its thin thickness, so the pressure of the mask is cutting off the circulation, causing the blistering effect, in the beginning of cpap treatment we are so concerned with air leakage we don't realize that we are tightening the mask to tight, until we see or feel the pain of the abuse to our unforgiving nose. Keep it loose until your nose heals, this is the time it pays to have a nasal pillow mask to use while your nose heals, after it heals you can also put Nexcare tape on the bridge of your nose, but not till it completely heals.
Ed

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:22 pm

As Hurricane said, use Nexcare tape over the red areas to prevent sores. Once you develop a sore - it's hard to heal and lasts forever.

You need two masks to alternate while the face/sores heal. It's better to have a few leaks due to loose straps than sores that prevents you from wearing a mask at all.

inpjs66 · Post by **inpjs66** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:16 am

I did wear the mask looser however when I end up on my back, my jaw tends to drop open and I do have leaks which causes me to wake up. I am currently using a full mask as I do open my mouth occasionally when I sleep. This is so dissapointing. I thought once I had the cpap, i would start sleeping throught the night but that hasn't happened yet.

Am I ever going to sleep through the night?

ExpatDave · Post by **ExpatDave** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:58 am

It took me weeks to get a decent nights sleep but like most I'd been fighting with different masks, messing with various humidity settings and probably most importantly for me, learning to sleep with a lump of plastic strapped to my face after sleeping for 40 years without. All I can tell you is keep at it, it WILL happen.

Humidifier

Additional Comments: 11cm / 17cm