Pain in nose on first night.

eptreyg · Post by **eptreyg** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 7:52 pm

So, I'm uncertain as to if I need to switch mask types or if I'm just going through an adjustment period - but I woke up twice last night with a ton of pressure in my nose. The pressure caused enough pain that I ended up taking the mask off twice. The second time I just turned the machine off. Is this normal? Or do I need to try a full nasal mask? I'm using the Nuance Pro nasal pillows. My machine pressure low is 5 and high is 20.

lifeisbetterwithcats · Post by **lifeisbetterwithcats** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 7:55 pm

I'm new too and can not breathe with the nasal pillows. Plus every time I move they leak. Curious to see what others say.

Lori

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 7:59 pm

You may need to loosen your headgear. I wear my mask so it feels like it's almost too loose.
There is a "goldilocks" spot where it is just right. You will find it.
In the meanwhile, rub your nose gently, it will help restore the circulation, and the pain should subside.

lifeisbetterwithcats · Post by **lifeisbetterwithcats** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 8:05 pm

chunkyfrog wrote:You may need to loosen your headgear. I wear my mask so it feels like it's almost too loose.
There is a "goldilocks" spot where it is just right. You will find it.
In the meanwhile, rub your nose gently, it will help restore the circulation, and the pain should subside.

So how do you know when to the leak rate is too high? Mine was so tight it bruised my face the first night. Now I'm having leaks.

Average Leak Rate 11.75
90% Leak Rate 26.40

And what do those numbers mean? Are those percents or hours? I need to take a tutorial on SleepyHead.

-Lori

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 8:25 pm

lifeisbetterwithcats wrote:Average Leak Rate 11.75
90% Leak Rate 26.40

And what do those numbers mean? Are those percents or hours? I need to take a tutorial on SleepyHead.

Leak is reported as liter per min L/min
90% means for 90 percent of the night you were at OR below that number
The S9 reported leak is all excess leak.
Need to see your daily detailed report to get an idea if leaks are really all that bad. The average doesn't support it at this time.

There already is a little tutorial
understanding your data viewtopic/t88983/Pugsys-PointersSleepyH ... nding.html

lifeisbetterwithcats wrote:I'm new too and can not breathe with the nasal pillows.

Are you using the ramp or using a very low pressure to start out the night? 4 or 5 cm pressure is very low and most people will have trouble using that low of a pressure. It feels stifling or suffocating to a lot of people. Sometimes starting a little higher like with 6 cm helps and/or going up a size in the nasal pillow will help with air movement.
At 4 or 5 cm EPR doesn't really kick in to help either.

Nasal pillows don't have to be tight to seal. In fact if too tight they can't inflate properly which helps with the seal and makes any suffocation feeling worse also.
If you look in the mirror and the first thought that goes through your head is "piggy nose" then that top strap is too tight.
It's a common mistake that newbies make with nasal pillows. With the proper size of nasal pillow and proper fit the pillows will stay in place with minimal tension from the straps.

eptreyg wrote:he pressure caused enough pain that I ended up taking the mask off twice. The second time I just turned the machine off. Is this normal? Or do I need to try a full nasal mask? I'm using the Nuance Pro nasal pillows. My machine pressure low is 5 and high is 20.

Shouldn't be any pain. I would be curious what the software daily detailed reports show for actual pressure used right before you turned the machine off. So need to see your report too.

palerider · Post by **palerider** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 8:37 pm

lansinoh nipple cream on the nose, helps tremendously.

you leak rate isn't too bad... could be better, give it time.

lifeisbetterwithcats · Post by **lifeisbetterwithcats** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 8:51 pm

Pugsy I am using the ramp. When I do the leak test I really feel like I am suffocating but I feel ok during the ramp just in the middle of the night I can't breathe. Based on other posts I tried medium pillows and they don't fit so I was using small. It also whistled. I'm camping with my cub scouts this weekend and sleeping on an aircraft carrier and I've been warned by the other females to wear my cpap and not snore. So the pressure is on. I'll probably stick to the nose mask for the weekend since I know it works. It just hurts.

Next week I am going back for a full face mask. I need to have my mouth open to not clench my teeth.

Sorry eptreyg for hijacking your thread but was hoping my situation would help yours since it sounds similar.

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 8:59 pm

lifeisbetterwithcats wrote:I'll probably stick to the nose mask for the weekend since I know it works. It just hurts.

Have fun this weekend.
Go to WalMart and pick up some Lansinoh lanolin ointment/cream. It's found in the baby aisle where the nipples and bottles are.
Breastfeeding moms use it to help with the sore nipples.
Use a little on the nostrils at night and liberally during the day and it will help with the soreness.
Nasal pillows shouldn't hurt though...so watch the fitting videos. Usually it's the top strap that people tend to get a little too tight and that causes pain.

What pressure is being used during the leak test? Are you using EPR? If not, you might try it as if the leak test is being done at much higher pressures the exhale relief might help if you aren't using it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 9:33 pm

Oh I remember that cream well. So glad those days are over. Though now I feel like my body's falling apart.

eptreyg · Post by **eptreyg** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 12:41 am

Lori - I think we're all in this together, so glad you can get help. No skin off my nose (as it were) about your hijacking!

Pugsy - I will get a SD card reader this weekend and will let you know. I've loosened the headgear for tonight just to see how it goes. I"m currently using medium pillows, have thought about moving up to large, but thought that might make the problem worse?

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 5:56 am

eptreyg wrote:I"m currently using medium pillows, have thought about moving up to large, but thought that might make the problem worse?

It depends on what is causing the pain. Trying a different size (up or down) can sometimes eliminate movement and could help if movement is causing the pain.

Jeff241 · Post by **Jeff241** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 6:48 am

As was said you can make your mask too tight which can make it hurt and cause more leaks. Need it just tight enough without it leaking.

Seeing what your pressure data is when you feel the pain would be helpful. You might be moving into the higher ranges when you feel pain.

What did (both) of your sleep studies say about pressure?

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