Nose bridge problems with Airfit N20, any helpful advice?

Recently acquired the Airfit 20, nice mask, but having problems with nose bridge irritation. Has anybody had the same problem and solved it ??? THANKS ! -Ric

I have been considering either the Boomerang Gel Pad or the Gecko Nasal Pad to alleviate the irritation. I am wondering if anyone else has tried these products and found them to be useful.

When I had that problem with masks, I would use a small piece of moleskin on my nose at night. You can find small sheets of it at Walmart or drug stores. It is in the foot products area. If you decide to continue using it, you can find it on the internet in large rolls that are two inches wide. The first RT I worked with recommended the moleskin to me. She said her husband used it every night to prevent his mask from making his nose sore.

I am really, really struggling with this too. I started in January with the F10 full face mask, new to CPAP, because it was the most comfortable to me and I took to it. However after time, embarrassingly, the full face mask started causing me excessive drooling at night, mostly when turning on my side. To keep a good mask fit, I had to keep it snug on my face, and with my active salivary glands (according to my dentist)(a boon for my good teeth, a bane for CPAP), I ended up waking several times a night in a pool of drool. And just in general, yuk.

So I set up an appointment with my health insurer's DME for options. He fit me for a N20 Resimed nasal mask. Not only did the drooling stop, but my AHI dropped from 4's to 1's and less. More comfort at bedtime. Also my mask fit readout went from 70s to 100% every night. Only thing was morning nose bridge irritation with redness and morning soreness on the bridge of my nose (My mask has been off since 6am, it's 8:30am and my nose bridge is still very sore - last night used the pad a cheek with a moleskin).

In the past month I've tried the following with my N20 nasal mask and so far without relief of nose bridge redness or soreness:

- various headgear adjustments including very loose with even some slight mask fit compromise
- bandaids over bridge of nose
- large size N20 nasal mask (I was fit for a medium)
- moleskin over bridge of nose
- pad a cheek (pad a cheek even has a nose pad which sits on bridge of nose)
- pad a cheek with moleskin for extra padding
- various combinations of the above

I'm really bummed about this because I'm getting an almost perfect mask fit, comfortable at bedtime, dramatically better AHI and yet, the nose bridge soreness and redness persists. My nose bridge has not developed into an open sore yet, but it seems headed that way. I've had to go back to the full face mask when the nose irritation gets to the intolerable point after several nights of continuous use of the nasal mask just to give my nose a break. (NPI)

Any other ideas would be appreciated before $hitcanning the N20 nasal mask.

I had that problem at first. Then I flipped the hose over the headboard and was good. It seemed that the weight of the hose was the problem. Also, I read somewhere that once mask is on and pressure set, lightly pull mask away from face (1/8") and let it resettle.

As mask is getting old, I noticed more leaks so I cut a small square of light cotton and a small circle in the middle. Like a mask liner. This has improved leaks somewhat and has the added advantage of protecting the face.

I tried moleskin but it stuck to my skin too aggressively.

Also, if you have another mask, switch back to that to give your nose a night or two to heal.

It's a nice mask.

This solved it for me. http://padacheek.com/PACAirFitSeries.html.

Bobby269 wrote:This solved it for me. http://padacheek.com/PACAirFitSeries.html.

In my post I state I tried that. And that with moleskin, too.

mrpackerguy wrote:

Bobby269 wrote:This solved it for me. http://padacheek.com/PACAirFitSeries.html.

In my post I state I tried that. And that with moleskin, too.

Have you tried this?.... https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Gecko-Nasal-Pad.html
Watch this..... https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/v ... ction=view

mrpackerguy wrote:

Bobby269 wrote:This solved it for me. http://padacheek.com/PACAirFitSeries.html.

In my post I state I tried that. And that with moleskin, too.

You hijacked a post. BOBBY269 Was Probably answering the OPs (Original poster's) question?

Bobby269 wrote:This solved it for me. http://padacheek.com/PACAirFitSeries.html.

I put the website there to make it easier to find. No offense was intended.

We cannot have too many links to Padacheek.
Too many DME's do not care enough to even KNOW about them.
Thank you.

mrpackerguy wrote:Any other ideas would be appreciated before $hitcanning the N20 nasal mask.

In all honesty it sounds like you have tried all the reasonable options.
Some people just have skin that is like paper that tears and bruises easily.
The only thing I didn't see you mention was a mask liner itself. Have you tried a mask liner?

Maybe time to look at a mask that doesn't dig into the nasal bridge area...
Something under the nostrils maybe...DreamWear cushion or gel pillows or one of the nasal pillow masks.
It's too bad that there isn't an AirTouch N20...the memory foam might be just what you might like.

Pugsy wrote:

mrpackerguy wrote:Any other ideas would be appreciated before $hitcanning the N20 nasal mask.

In all honesty it sounds like you have tried all the reasonable options.
Some people just have skin that is like paper that tears and bruises easily.
The only thing I didn't see you mention was a mask liner itself. Have you tried a mask liner?

Maybe time to look at a mask that doesn't dig into the nasal bridge area...
Something under the nostrils maybe...DreamWear cushion or gel pillows or one of the nasal pillow masks.
It's too bad that there isn't an AirTouch N20...the memory foam might be just what you might like.

Or, check my mask out. No nose issues inside or out... but my mask is usually a mask of last resort.

Sheriff

Sheriff Buford wrote:Or, check my mask out. No nose issues inside or out... but my mask is usually a mask of last resort.

We all tend to recommend masks that we have tried and have had success with.
It's human nature and all that.
We all do it....push what works for us and not mention other alternatives so much because they either didn't work for us or we haven't tried them.

Did you know that I actually tried the mask of last resort? Yep, I tried it and any of you guys that can actually use that damn thing I need to bow down and kiss your feet.
I never could get the damn thing to seal longer than 10 seconds and no way in hell would it ever let me get to sleep.

You sir, I bow down before you and salute you....you are a much better person than I will ever be with the mask of last resort. I won't ever let it darken my face again.

I found some bandaids at Walmart with extra thick padding on the bandage part. That, in combination with the padacheek allowed me to wake up this morning without any soreness, but with a little bit of redness which I can put up with. I did remove the N20 at about 2:30 from some nasal congestion and didn't put it back on, but I may be onto something. I'm hoping.