After the first useage of Cpap at home

[Richmond Ron]

Hey there, first time posting as well as first time home user.

I went as of 10am this morning and aquired my Cpap. Arrived back home and set it up and went to sleep (night shifter). Took a bit of shuffling to get to where the masks pillow parts werent depressed flat and pushing to the corner of my eyes.

((I use the easy life mask))

When I woke up I noticed some reddening at the ends of my eyebrows and along the bridge of my nose. I thought nothing of it as this is a new thing having strapped something to my face to sleep in.

Here I am about 8 hours later and on my right eyebrow at the end closest to my nose there is a pliable "mass" about the size of a lima bean. Its read and isnt PAINFUL to touch but its not pleasant either.

I read it should go away after a few hours but this one took a few hours to develope and as stated 8 hours later it is still very prominant and showing no signs of dissipating.

Worried since its on the eyebrow line its self that its formed a boil.

Bottom line, how do I prevent this and is it SAFE to wear the mask again tomorrow to sleep in for fear of causing cellulitis on my face.

[slojuggler]

Hey Ron,

Right there with you. I'm also new to having a Cpap machine and mask.

Your first few days will be testing. The key, from what friends are telling me, is to find mask(s) and setups that provide a good fit.

Talk with your DME (the durable medical equipment supplier) to find out what suggestions they may have for you.
They may offer suggestions and can assist you with determining if its safe to continue with the same mask or possibly get a different or different size mask.

For my first mask, the DME recommended a Resmed Swift FX. The mask doesn't cover up the eyes. After about 3 days experimentation, I discovered that of all the three different size nasal pillows available, the L size was the best fit. I will also try a chin strap to see if that can help with a mouth leakage issue.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[Richmond Ron]

seems the issue is the tightness along the browline

the RRT that fitted me for it sized it to where the "baloon pillows" that meet my face to form the seal flatted out a great deal AND while sitting and not laying... so when I got home and put the mask on using the clips that maintain a fit rather than having to adjust velcro every time it was already too tight.

given the ...effectiveness... expressed by my RRT I think I will use the Icons leak meter and my own learned knowledge from researching and reading up to adjust my own fit

besides... the DME facility I am supposed to use is just shy of an hours drive from home. Not exactly convenient to trapse back and forth

[Slinky]

Sounds like you are on the right track, Ron.

Just FYI - the term for what you call "balloon pillows" is the mask "cushion" which is somewhat triangular in shape and fits from bridge of nose to bottom of nose/upper lip. This type may or may not have a forehead brace as well and is called a "nasal cushion" mask.

"Pillows" is used to indicate the two smaller "cushions" that fit JUST at the bottom of the nostrils, this type of mask is referred to as a "nasal pillows" mask.

A third type of mask, called a full face mask, is also somewhat triangular in shape but the cushion fits from bridge of nose to the chin below the lower lip of the mouth. They may or may not have a forehead brace as well.

The fourth type of mask is called an "oro-nasal" mask or "hybrid" mask and works as a full face in that there is a set of "nasal pillows" at the bottom of the nose and then a mouth "cushion" as well.

[pickuptruck]

Had the same issue. Every mask I tried bruised the bridge of my nose. I have had lots of work done on my nose and sinuses. Went to the swift FX. Problem solved for me.

[slojuggler]

besides... the DME facility I am supposed to use is just shy of an hours drive from home. Not exactly convenient to trapse back and forth

Hi Ron, does the DME facility provide shipments of equipment to you at low or no cost? That might help you during the testing/fine-tuning phase.

[Richmond Ron]

Ok so I placed a piece of tegaderm over the affected areas during sleep today (remember night shifter) hoping to minimize "friction" encured by the mask rubbing while i sleep. No bueno!

I awoke today and the sore on the right is open, weeping, and upon curious poking and proding in my bathroom mirror apparently full of pus.


through the night the two sores on the browline and the on on my nose have ALL formed prominant red raised lima bean sized sores that are are quite weepy (clear fluid) and covered in pustules that when gently pressed produce a suprisingly generous amount of off-white pus - no blood...

I have work again today so no time to spend half the day waiting for a delivery man and no time to make the hike to the DME supplier its self. I have some aquacel and tenoplast that I will use to pad the areas today for sleeps sake n not waking up looking MORE like im toting some infectious disease...it should adequetly pad the areas disallowing directed tissue pressure without disrupting the air seal

being more specific, these odd lessions are right over each supraorbital foramen and right at the end of the nasal bone.

My mask is the Respironics Easy Life

[BlackSpinner]

Time to find a different mask. They have a 30 day exchange policy. Yes they do. The manufacturer offers it not them. Try something that like a hybrid or get liners.

[TalonNYC]

I'd have to agree that a different mask is in order, and also a call to your doc ASAP to get advice on that sore!