Vaseline Yes/NO

lcook7281 · Post by **lcook7281** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:20 pm

Ok, after doing a search on vaseline, I have come to a conclusion that no one knows whether or not to use it. it wasa about a 50-50 split going each direction.

I have contacted both resmed and respironics about the matter and have not heard back from either one. Has anyone gotten a real answer from either company or seen an definitive answer in writing?

I don't want to be ruining my masks because of the stuff, I don't think my ENT was listening to me when I went in last time when I told him A-I had used the vaseline before and after 20 years the sore is still here....B-I was on cpap and that I thought I had read that vaseline was not good for the masks.

Anyway I have an appointment tomorrow and would love some concrete answers if anyone has any.

I use the optilife and the switft II as my masks.

Lisa

feeling_better · Post by **feeling_better** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:28 pm

Most mask makers specifically ask to avoid oil based compounds. Vaseline is petroleum based and damages most masks and seals. There is another reason, a health hazard. The evaporated mineral oils breathed into the lungs, especially over longer periods, can cause all kinds of problems, some of them for some people very dangerous.

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:30 pm

If I had a sore for 20 years that hadn't healed in all that time I would be finding another doctor that could tell me why it hadn't healed in all of that time.

Sores that do NOT heal is nor normal and should be investigated.

Bearded_One · Post by **Bearded_One** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:35 pm

Although some silicone rubbers have a bit better than average resistance to petroleum; silicone rubber in general, including medical grade silicone, does not have good resistance to petroleum products.

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:01 pm

Here's my favorite reference for vaseline if used to seal nasal pillows masks - not a good thing. Also, not supposed to use oil-based on silicone as noted above. There are alternatives depending on what your need is for this.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/petrol ... ly/AN00947

Mindy

Fredman · Post by **Fredman** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:10 pm

Sleepycarol is right about the sore. If it doesn't heal, it should be looked at.

If you can, a dermatologist maybe more understanding and may have a good idea of what may work with the mask being silicone. If you have an RT, ask him/her. Ok, I know, but there are some great ones out there and we have a bunch here that truly care about their patients and work hard on their knowledge and profession!

Do see a dermatologist, they will take the right course of action. I have an ENT and had at least three others, all of them were not Ben Casey! Bedside manners of a chair!

OldLincoln · Post by **OldLincoln** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:15 pm

There must be some non-petroleum based salves out there. I say that but haven't looked for any. Maybe something not intended for nasal pillows but would work just the same.

To think outside of the box, people have found the wonderful healing properties of Preparation H helpful for a lot of skin problems. Of course even if ok I'd toss my cookies after 5 minutes of smelling it. I also use silicone grease for lots of things. It has no odor and should be ok on the nasal pillows but I don't know about the nose. I get it at a retail pool supply store. What about the hair gel stuff used to spike up the hair?

What other wonderful creams, salves etc. have people used?

lcook7281 · Post by **lcook7281** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:22 pm

Ok, and somewhat on a rant.....

4 weeks ago was the first time I broke down and went to an ENT. It was only after we decided that something more than vaseline needed to be tried. I had also been using AYR gel fairly regularly.

However the doc apparently needs hearing aids. Because I mentioned that I was on cpap and that I had tried vaseline unsuccessfully in the past.

This sore is on the septum more than a cm in and is fairly large in size. I know 20 years is a long time, but 1- I hate people looking up my nose, and 2- most of the time I didn't have insurance to deal with it or 3-another major medical issue going on taking presidence.

There was some confusion on my appointment. I wrote down Monday, and on my way there I got a call reminding me of my appointment tomorrow. So I rescheduled my life to make it fit in.

However with the confusion the office called me back. I talked to the receptionist about my frustration and she was very understanding and told me she would have the nurse call me back. The nurse called me back quite a bit later but had not been filled in on the details. She basically treated me as if I was being uncompliant. I have put this nasty vaseline up my nose twice a day for a month. She told me if I kept it moist it would heal. This healing business is expensive for me. I have bought a full face mask (which I hate) so that the air doesn't blow directly on it...I have bought a Resmed Sullivan humidare because my s8 vantage doesn't provide enough humidity....What more can I do.

I realize that I blow the morining vaseline out my nose...can't stand anything in my nose. And I have learned that if anything is in there to blow it out. I put the nighttime dose in as I mask up for the evening so that one usually stays (and apparently gets inhaled). so much for the Xolair shots that we use to keep the asthma at bay.

The nurses solution the problem is to squirt nasel saline in my nose 15 times a day. (I teach school---this really isn't going to happen, nor is it really very practical). So tonight I will squirt to my hearts content and debate just how angry I am as to whether I will actually show up to my appointment in the morning.

Anyway, thanks for the quick responses. If anyone has any wise words of wisdom I will check again in the morning and again before my appointment if I decide to actually go.

stevoreno · Post by **stevoreno** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 2:24 am

[quote="lcook7281"]Ok, and somewhat on a rant.....

4 weeks ago was the first time I broke down and went to an ENT. It was only after we decided that something more than vaseline needed to be tried. I had also been using AYR gel fairly regularly.

However the doc apparently needs hearing aids. Because I mentioned that I was on cpap and that I had tried vaseline unsuccessfully in the past.

This sore is on the septum more than a cm in and is fairly large in size. I know 20 years is a long time, but 1- I hate people looking up my nose, and 2- most of the time I didn't have insurance to deal with it or 3-another major medical issue going on taking presidence.

There was some confusion on my appointment. I wrote down Monday, and on my way there I got a call reminding me of my appointment tomorrow. So I rescheduled my life to make it fit in.

However with the confusion the office called me back. I talked to the receptionist about my frustration and she was very understanding and told me she would have the nurse call me back. The nurse called me back quite a bit later but had not been filled in on the details. She basically treated me as if I was being uncompliant. I have put this nasty vaseline up my nose twice a day for a month. She told me if I kept it moist it would heal. This healing business is expensive for me. I have bought a full face mask (which I hate) so that the air doesn't blow directly on it...I have bought a Resmed Sullivan humidare because my s8 vantage doesn't provide enough humidity....What more can I do.

I realize that I blow the morining vaseline out my nose...can't stand anything in my nose. And I have learned that if anything is in there to blow it out. I put the nighttime dose in as I mask up for the evening so that one usually stays (and apparently gets inhaled). so much for the Xolair shots that we use to keep the asthma at bay.

The nurses solution the problem is to squirt nasel saline in my nose 15 times a day. (I teach school---this really isn't going to happen, nor is it really very practical). So tonight I will squirt to my hearts content and debate just how angry I am as to whether I will actually show up to my appointment in the morning.

Anyway, thanks for the quick responses. If anyone has any wise words of wisdom I will check again in the morning and again before my appointment if I decide to actually go.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 6:02 am

My ENT suggested antibiotic ointment, like Neosporin for the sore I had up my nose, due to trying the Swift pillows. The Neosporin worked for me......but mine was only a couple of days old, not 20 years! Used it about 3 times a day on a Q-tip. If no relief from that, don't put off getting it looked at ASAP, just my 2 cents!

I have had much better luck with the Comfortlite mask with nasal cushion.
It doesn't directly blow (shoot up) the nostril. Had my nose cauterized years ago for constant nose bleeds, so that made the membranes more sensitive, I believe..

Good Luck to you!

Mr_Ed · Post by **Mr_Ed** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 7:03 am

If you use oxygen with your xPAP, then vaseline should be out of the question. Vaseline (or any other petroleum product) reacts violently with oxygen. The chemical reaction can spontaneously combust and catch fire.

I worked in a hospital - trust me on this one. It's a big fire hazard.

http://www.fda.gov/FDAC/features/2000/400_gas.html

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 7:39 am

That Oxygen in the presence of vaseling could somehow combust is pure BS.

This shows the ectremes some can go to to CYA.

This is a lawyer thing.

OK, heat the vaseline to several hundred degrees and spray with O2 into a flame and something bad will happen.
Anything less is pure BS
Same for the NO flame sign in a room with O2 supplement.

Cause an explosion??
HOW?? unless an expl;osive heppens to be present, and then it would explode in ordinary air.

But his will never stop the chicken littles.....

Bearded_One · Post by **Bearded_One** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 4:46 pm

There seems to be quite a bit of controversy even among People Who Should Know Such Things about whether petroleum can spontaneously combust in the presence of pure oxygen.

This sounds like a job for Myth Busters.

I wouldn't take the chance myself.

Bearded_One · Post by **Bearded_One** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 4:52 pm

I do know what happens when a cigarette that has been saturated with oxygen is lit; it burns very quickly.

When I was in the Air Force people learned not to leave their shirt with their cigarettes in the pocket unattended when there was a LOX cart around. Just dribble some LOX into a partially full pack of cigarettes and after it evaporates the cigarettes will be saturated with O2.

feeling_better · Post by **feeling_better** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 5:26 pm

Part of the differences in views come from the use of the word petroleum. It has hundreds of components, including auto gasoline (very combustible) and the Vaseline (which I believe originally was a trademark of Chesbourough-Ponds), liquid parafine (baby oil) and solid parafine (white wax used in candles). The latter 3 are much less combustible for a given ambient temperature.

I very much doubt Vaseline will do spontaneous combustion in oxygen at room or body temperatures --- just my view. (Opinions are cheap.) But if you dip a smoldering cigarette (or most any such smoldering object) into a jar of oxygen, that will start burning with a full flame.

Vaseline Yes/NO

Vaseline Yes/NO

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