Should CPAP hurt?

[Becky]

New to CPAP therapy and unable to get past use of two hours to date.
Nose so sore to touch and to breathing yesterday that I did not use CPAP last night.
Began April 30th. Only one choice of nasal pillow mask at DME and went with nasal pillow mask from ENT Tech's suggestion. Side or stomach sleeper. Pressure is at 12cm which seems too high. Ramps up from 6 cm and first few nights I kept resetting the C-Flex to start over. Adjusted headgear straps and was able to get the pillows to not scrunch nose into accordion folds but the chin straps too big to velcro closed. I have baby-fine hair so mask slips.
Do have a CPAP class at sleep lab to attend on 05/21. Already complained to DME but was told to expect pain for a month.
Really?
I do want success but seems quite fleeting at the moment.
I have a small head/nose/chin. Can anyone relate? Any advice will be appreciated. Such as...wrong choice of mask?
Becky

[Claire]

Welcome to the forum and I think everyone here can relate to your problems...big time. You've joined the right crowd.

My story: My first mask with nasal pillows was a disaster. They leaked; they hurt my nose and the straps hurt my cheeks; I ended up breathing through my mouth, etc. I then got a nasal mask but that also turned out to have problems for me. So the irony is I'm back with the original mask and it's working really well.

What's the difference? I got used to the idea of CPAP and used to the feeling of having equipment on my face and air coming into my nose. I bought a PAPillow which allowed me to sleep on my side without scrunching my nose into a regular pillow. I learned ways not to tangle myself in the hose. I got Pad-A-Cheek strips for the side straps so they wouldn't mark my face and they also turned out to help with the pillow moving around so much.

Your mask may not be right for you at all. See if you can try another. But most of all...give yourself time to get used to this life change--a major one as far as I'm concerned.

[tony22]

Becky, along with those great bits of experience I found that a piece of moleskin on the bridge of the nose (right where the mask contacts at that point) can help relieve the pain at that spot.

[Needsdecaf]

Becky, along with those great bits of experience I found that a piece of moleskin on the bridge of the nose (right where the mask contacts at that point) can help relieve the pain at that spot.

Her mask does not contact her nose, it is a nasal pillow mask.

Becky...check out the FAQ and Collective wisdom above. Pay attention in the FAQ thread to the "Lab Rat" awards, and also look to see if there's an entry for your mask.

The tweaks I have received here have helped me tremendously.

Good luck, don't give up. It should be a bit uncomfortable and strange, but not too painful.

By the way, you will get used to the pressure. I used to barely tolerate my 8 CM. I am now at 9 and don't even use the ramp. It will become much more natural over time.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): nasal pillow

[bdp522]

Here are some RG links for your mask;

viewtopic.php?p=148694

Hope it helps

Brenda

[tony22]

Her mask does not contact her nose, it is a nasal pillow mask.

Missed that! Sorry.

[Becky]

THANKS everyone!
I have ordered a different mask to try after having used the CPAP.COM
mask measuring chart only to discover the DME's giving me the OptiLife mask was not the optimum mask choice for me.
DME has the Profile Lite in size Petite on order. Hopefully my very sore nose issue will disappear!
Becky
Type I Diabetic for 51 years on Insulin Pump dedicated to using CPAP therapy!

[tony22]

Type I Diabetic for 51 years on Insulin Pump dedicated to using CPAP therapy!

Becky! Fellow Type 1 for 47 years! How old were you when dx'd?

[TINA IN MS]

Hello I can related to what you are saying I've only been on my Cpap for a week and at the end of the that week my new mask came in and OMG I woke up and my nose was so sore to touch I was wondering was I the only one. But my cpap provider told me to add a little vaseline which only help with the dryness around the nose area. I hope this will pass soon its getting to point I really hate putting that mas.

New to CPAP therapy and unable to get past use of two hours to date.
Nose so sore to touch and to breathing yesterday that I did not use CPAP last night.
Began April 30th. Only one choice of nasal pillow mask at DME and went with nasal pillow mask from ENT Tech's suggestion. Side or stomach sleeper. Pressure is at 12cm which seems too high. Ramps up from 6 cm and first few nights I kept resetting the C-Flex to start over. Adjusted headgear straps and was able to get the pillows to not scrunch nose into accordion folds but the chin straps too big to velcro closed. I have baby-fine hair so mask slips.
Do have a CPAP class at sleep lab to attend on 05/21. Already complained to DME but was told to expect pain for a month.
Really?
I do want success but seems quite fleeting at the moment.
I have a small head/nose/chin. Can anyone relate? Any advice will be appreciated. Such as...wrong choice of mask?
Becky

[sleepymama]

i had sores inside my nose with my pillows but started using lanisoh cream, it's found in the baby section of the store. mothers use it for their dry cracked nipples while breastfeeding. it has helped the sores go away. i didn't think u could use vaseline because of the interaction with the pillow material?

[BlackSpinner]

But my cpap provider told me to add a little vaseline which only help with the dryness around the nose area.

NO Never vaseline! your provider is a total idiot! Any petroleum product will destroy the mask!

Use lanolin nipple cream used by breast feeding women.

[cobra4x4]

Most of the time a sore red nose will indicate a mask thats on way too tight.

I would suggest turning ramp 'OFF' as masks tend to leak more as the pressure adjusts upwards. Turn the machine on at your full pressure then put your mask on and adjust it to get a good seal.

[Janknitz]

Perhaps your DME provider is well-meaning, but doesn't really know what he or she is doing.

1. Nasal pillow masks should fit loosely, they should never scrunch up your nose like an accordian. The fat part of the base of the pillow cone should rest against your nostril just enough to make a seal. (BTW, I'm an experienced nasal pillow user, and I just could not get the Opti-life to seal for me). When your nose is less sore you may want to try nasal pillows again, because they really are the most comfotable for side lying and may work for tummy sleeping as well.

2. There are several types of nasal pillow masks available, and your DME provider should have had several different types to try--every face is different and what works for one person will not work for another. The DME should have offered you other choices like nasal masks and full face masks as well.

3. Petroleum based products like vaseline (also known as "petroleum jelly") should NEVER be used on or near silicone mask parts because they deteriorate the material. Acceptable and soothing creams you can use are the Lanisoh already mentioned (and probably the best thing), Ayr gel, and KY jelly.

It takes some time to get used to a pressure of 12. You may try gradually increasing the ramp starting pressure, from 6 to 8 to 10 and then turning it off altogether. You WILL get used to the pressure, honestly. It takes a week or so. Most of us feel like we are suffocating if the pressure is only 6 after we get used to our full pressures. But the suggestion to turn off your ramp in order to fit your mask at 12 is good so that if you do the ramp, the mask won't start leaking when it reaches full pressure.

[Jaylee]

My hair is also very fine. I used bobby pins to keep my chin strap in place when I used one. You could try that for your mask. Good luck.