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Hi Everyone
I have recently developed a rash on the inside and outside of my nose. (yes it looks as lovely as it sounds) I visited my GP who said it was bacterial and "probably from your mask, give it a good clean in antibacterial wash" I was surprised by this as I am very careful to wash my mask often with the mask wash given to me by my DME when I picked up my new machine. I use the Swift FX nano which does sit in the irritated area but I haven't experienced any problems before.
Has anyone else had this situation and was it from the mask?

Thanks

Yes, you can get nasties from your nose and thusly your CPAP. Everybody has different yuck-a-lucks living and breeding in their nose holes, some have staph up there and others have just as interesting little goobies.

I hope your doc gave you some instructions or antibiotics/medicines for your current condition? Depending on your immune system strength you may or may not get rid of this easily. Just cleaning the CPAP may not clear up your problem and only prevent further outbreaks once the current issue is cleared up.

Yep, he gave me an antibiotic cream to help clear it up. Does this mean I haven't been cleaning my equipment enough or was it just one of those things which may re-occur?

Blackcat99 wrote:Yep, he gave me an antibiotic cream to help clear it up. Does this mean I haven't been cleaning my equipment enough or was it just one of those things which may re-occur?

This doesn't necessarily mean you are dirty or unclean - you (and a lot of people) have these infections in waiting hiding in their noses that flare up when stress or illness weakens the immune system. To prevent occurrence (and since it has happened once, it is likely to happen again) use that cream as directed and don't stop just when you think it is all clear - go on applying as directed a few days after that. Keep cleaning your equipment and keep your immune system strong, get flu shots, pneumonia shots, eat healthy, limit sugar, develop healthy responses to stress, drink enough water and don't let yourself get worn down. Keep using that CPAP!

You will be fine.

Kind regards,
GB

GettingBetter wrote:

Blackcat99 wrote:Yep, he gave me an antibiotic cream to help clear it up. Does this mean I haven't been cleaning my equipment enough or was it just one of those things which may re-occur?

This doesn't necessarily mean you are dirty or unclean - you (and a lot of people) have these infections in waiting hiding in their noses that flare up when stress or illness weakens the immune system. To prevent occurrence (and since it has happened once, it is likely to happen again) use that cream as directed and don't stop just when you think it is all clear - go on applying as directed a few days after that. Keep cleaning your equipment and keep your immune system strong, get flu shots, pneumonia shots, eat healthy, limit sugar, develop healthy responses to stress, drink enough water and don't let yourself get worn down. Keep using that CPAP!

You will be fine.

Kind regards,
GB

I have been screened once in the past for the nasty nasal staph and found to be free of it. As with any antibiotic you must complete the full course of treatment to avoid causing more (and harder to treat) problems than you solve.

But I think it's important to remember that we are literally surrounded and filled up with these organisms at all times - more individual microbes living inside and on each of our bodies than we have cells that make up our own bodies. I think it's easy to over-do the cleanliness to the point where you strip away so much of the innocent bystander bacteria that you leave an opening for any bad guys that are lurking around. This is not to say that hygiene is a bad thing, but rather it can be overdone to the point where it helps the bad guys get a foot hold.

A lot of the "innocent bystander" bacteria are there to give your immune system practice.
Basically training equipment. Use it or lose it.

Thanks for the advice, I was concerned I had been doing something wrong. Even though I have had my machine for more than a year now, I still feel like (am) a newbie! It's a big adjustment to get used to.

Ugh.. I'm using a full face mask and have red dry bumps under and spreading around my nostrils. I've tried a few different ointments with little results.It's been about 2 months now I've had this issue. My gut feeling is it's yeast/candida?!

Allergies... try an antihistamine (non-drowsy) and see what happens.