Got this sore spot under my lip and over my chin

[GaryG]

I've been crusing along in with a median and even 95 percentile 0.00 leakage rate with the Fit Life, but my wife pointed out to me, that I have this sore spot under my lip and over my chin. My numbers could be improved a bit by tweaking pressures, but right now most nights have been pretty good, so right now its this irritation that's my #1 concern.

I tried to put moleskin on the mask at the bottom, but still was irritated this morning. Tonight, I'm going to use some soft cotton (from one of the pad a cheeks I have) on the spot somehow (between mask and face) and see what happens.

My guess is this could be from drooling, (I know, yccch, disgusting, but we're all friends here, right?). If anyone has any other suggestions, please pass along.

[carbonman]

Gary, I have no experience w/that mask.
I think it is amazing that you can use that mask......
but whatever gets you therapy.....go for it.

Judging by your avatar, I would suggest that the
fragile condition of your skin is probably the problem.
At your advanced age and seeing as how you have actually
been dead for many years, could also be a contributing factor.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

....also, if you have time, could you give
us a report on what it is like on the other side.

[Muse-Inc]

....also, if you have time, could you give us a report on what it is like on the other side.

[KatieW]

Judging by your avatar, I would suggest that the
fragile condition of your skin is probably the problem.
At your advanced age and seeing as how you have actually
been dead for many years, could also be a contributing factor.

Thank you for the good laugh, carbonman.

Katie

[PST]

You don't hear much about sores on the spot below the lip and above the chin (which needs a name). I've always thought the bridge of the nose was susceptible because there's hardly any meat between the skin and the bone. Just a mild pressure is enough to block circulation and cause skin breakdown. The lip-chin spot is different though, with more padding. That leads me to wonder, could it be abrasion rather than pressure that is causing the problem? Could your mask get pushed back and forth when you move during the night, so that the mask is causing a sore by rubbing more than by pressing? I don't know. But if so, maybe a little Vaseline or other lubricant might help. On the other hand, it might just produce a big leak. I offer this as a long shot.

For what it's worth, I'm a big drooler myself, and I never had a problem like that. The Quattro also rests on this nameless spot.

[GaryG]

Gary, I have no experience w/that mask.
I think it is amazing that you can use that mask......
but whatever gets you therapy.....go for it.

Judging by your avatar, I would suggest that the
fragile condition of your skin is probably the problem.
At your advanced age and seeing as how you have actually
been dead for many years, could also be a contributing factor.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

....also, if you have time, could you give
us a report on what it is like on the other side.

C-man, I hope you never lose your sense of humor. I'll update my avatar, and let me include a pic below, showing the abrasion. Seems like its very dry skin there. Tried a moisterizer, but didn't do much. Darn, just when get a mask with 0.00 leakage....

[GaryG]

You don't hear much about sores on the spot below the lip and above the chin (which needs a name). I've always thought the bridge of the nose was susceptible because there's hardly any meat between the skin and the bone. Just a mild pressure is enough to block circulation and cause skin breakdown. The lip-chin spot is different though, with more padding. That leads me to wonder, could it be abrasion rather than pressure that is causing the problem? Could your mask get pushed back and forth when you move during the night, so that the mask is causing a sore by rubbing more than by pressing? I don't know. But if so, maybe a little Vaseline or other lubricant might help. On the other hand, it might just produce a big leak. I offer this as a long shot.

For what it's worth, I'm a big drooler myself, and I never had a problem like that. The Quattro also rests on this nameless spot.

Hmm, vaseline or cloth, vaseline or cloth, I got it, put on vaseline, and cover with cloth under mask

[Pugsy]

Gary, that looks like what I would call a friction abrasion. Doesn't take much sometimes to rough up the skin on the face. You need a good barrier till that heals up and figure out what is causing it. Drool might make it worse if it acts like chapped lips, you know when you keep licking and it keep being irritated.
Just my opinion for what its worth.

[GaryG]

Thanks Pugsy. Its really frustrating for me now. I finally found a mask for which I am getting no leakage, and starting to get some real therapeutic results from. I just gotta get past this minor setback. Helps to know folks like you are out there with advice.

[carbonman]

C-man, I hope you never lose your sense of humor.

It's the O2 from the cpap therapy talking.....I can't help it.....

[DreamDiver]

Gary, that looks like what I would call a friction abrasion. Doesn't take much sometimes to rough up the skin on the face. You need a good barrier till that heals up and figure out what is causing it. Drool might make it worse if it acts like chapped lips, you know when you keep licking and it keep being irritated.

I agree with Pugsy. Have you considered growing a goatee or a Van Dyke? A lot of us have facial hair with little or no leakage problems. A short beard could give your skin the respite you need.

[GaryG]

Gary, that looks like what I would call a friction abrasion. Doesn't take much sometimes to rough up the skin on the face. You need a good barrier till that heals up and figure out what is causing it. Drool might make it worse if it acts like chapped lips, you know when you keep licking and it keep being irritated.

I agree with Pugsy. Have you considered growing a goatee or a Van Dyke? A lot of us have facial hair with little or no leakage problems. A short beard could give your skin the respite you need.

DD, if you look closely you'll see the effected area would line up with a 'bald' spot for a vandyke/goatee. Also, other problem is last time I grew a beard, it was salt and pepper, mostly salt, and wasn't, shall I say, flattering? But thanks for the thought.

Tried Karen's thickest padacheek over the chin area, over a lubricated chin, and still soreness. Plus, with all this extra stuff there, I did jump up to 95 percentile leakage of 30L/min, which didn't look too bad actually, since leakages were rather spiked (and at biggest leakage moment I actually woke up and readjusted it). But unfortunately, the irritation continued. Plan to call my expert contact at my sleep center this morning for a consult.

[rant on]Why don't these companies make masks that fit people? I mean, the dummys they test on don't move in the night, so that's why they don't leak or cause abrasions. Case in point the latest challenge between Quattro and Full Life. Resmed and Resperionics have a captive audience right here in this form and (in case any of you guys who work for those companies lurk here) folks right here could help make your products better and make you guys more money if use came to us.[/rant off]

Whew. Feel better after the rant. Thanks for listening.

[DoriC]

Gary, I don't know much about this mask either but have you tried making strap adjustments, maybe straps too tight? You might have to sacrifice those .0 leaks a bit but it might be worth it.

[GaryG]

Dori, that's a thought and will keep it in mind. I only wish this mask had a lining similar to the Mirage Activa, which kind of seals but also kind of moves with you, when I turn over. That would be perfect for me.

However, when I saw my "expert" at the sleep center, she told me to stay away from this mask until my sore heals or else the mark could be permanent. She also thinks the rubbing may be caused by my "beard stubble" and recommended I shave before going to bed when I try it again. She also gave me a surgical type of mask to wear underneath the mask (which I will try in addition to the moleskin).

But also, I will keep Dori's suggestion in mind and try to loosen the straps just a bit on the bottom.

This is also a bummer, in that I'm really up to increasing my minimal pressure from 10 to 11, but since I will be going back to my Activa nasal for at least the weekend, I think I will refrain from changing pressure while I change masks. Not optimal for a mouth breather, but will "try" to see what I can do while this sore heals.

Thanks again to everyone for suggestions. I may have had a minor setback with this mask, but I'll be hanging in there.

And thanks again to Rested Gal. I sounded like a true expert when I was at the sleep lab talking about how the ResMed machine worked with pressures over 10, and now have my expert there on board with letting me change the settings by myself. I mean, of course I can do this on my own, but I had it as a minor goal of convincing her I knew what I was doing. And she's cool with it, as long as I tell her, so she can update my profile, which I think is fair. I mean if she is that interesting in keeping my profile accurate, that is only in my best interest as well.

[DoriC]

Gary, my husband definitely has to be clean shaven but one good suggestion we found here was to shave about an hour before bed to give your skin time to "calm down".