Face mask vs pillow

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
avgeo
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun Mar 19, 2006 10:26 pm
Location: orange county, Ca.

Face mask vs pillow

Post by avgeo » Mon Apr 23, 2007 7:27 pm

Severe ulcer from the mask in spite of daily soap, alcohol and hydrogen peroxide cleaning. Had to have it burned off with LN2. Almost two years now and still not totally healed. Pillow is infinitely better so far.
Avgeo

zhotster
Posts: 23
Joined: Sat Mar 10, 2007 10:03 am
Location: Wisconsin

Post by zhotster » Mon Apr 23, 2007 7:47 pm

I didn't have the problems you have had, the I LOVE PILLOWS much better than masks! They leak less and don't take up a person's whole face!

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twillson
Posts: 66
Joined: Thu Mar 30, 2006 10:38 am
Location: Happy Valley, USA

Post by twillson » Tue Apr 24, 2007 6:35 am

Severe ulcer from the mask in spite of daily soap, alcohol and hydrogen peroxide cleaning.
I know this isn't helpful now, but if you cleaned your face the way you cleaned your mask, it may have actually added to your problem. Your face has lots of beneficial bacteria and natural oils that help prevent infection and irritation. Using antibacterial and oil stripping agents on your skin can actually damage it. (Some washing and oil removal is beneficial, but actually killing your natural flora and injuring your skin cells is not.)

I strongly believe that everyone should have a couple of different interfaces to use so that when they get irritation with one, they can switch to the other and let it heal. I have found that pillows always produce less distraction from leaks, but when your nose is sore, nothing is better than being able to pull out you mask for a night.

/TCW

Breathing is a very good thing!!!