Any Danger to using Nasal Dilators under CPAP?

Hi All,

Deviated septum here, trying to maximize my chances of not switching to mouth breathing in the middle of the night while asleep.

I have a pack of these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075K ... UTF8&psc=1

Basically it's a piece of plastic with wings that hold your nostrils open. Any issue with wearing one of those in my nose and then putting the mask on over it? I wouldn't imagine so since the connected part straddles your septum, but just want to be sure. I tried the breathe right strips, and they are great without a mask, but under the mask the humidity peels them off in no time flat.

Hello RomanDelta:
I used these same dilators in conjunction with the N20 when I first started cpap. I now use a nasal pillow mask which I find solved the problem of airflow caused by the deviated septum. The only issue I found was that the bottom of the cushion pushed up on the plastic bit that connects the two sides and I would get a sore nose to the point of slight bleeding on the inside surface of my nose.
I do think the dilators are very helpful at maintaining an open nasal passage on the side of your nose affected by the deviated septum. I didn't try other nasal cushion style masks, so can't give advice as to if there is a particular cushion that might work better with the dilator.
Good luck in the hunt.
Lovetoski

Breathe right strips adhere much better than the knock-offs.
Skin oil needs to be cleaned off for best adhesion.
Using an alcohol swab to clean the skin before application makes it stick very well.

Thanks lovetoski. Yeah I have a full nose mask as opposed to the nasal pillows, so I am hoping that it won't be an issue with rubbing up. I will try them tonight.

Chunky Frog,

Yeah I use and have sworn by the breathe right strips for years, but I use the skin sensitive ones. I guess I can try the regular strength ones again but good god they hurt when you peel them off, lol.

Yes, I am Italian, so oily nose gets rubbed vigorously each night

A baby wipe might be a better idea than alcohol.
The trick is to get it sticky enough for all night, but not enough to remove hide.

RomanDelta wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 04, 2019 11:02 am

Yeah I have a full nose mask as opposed to the nasal pillows

I find that nasal pillows inflate my nostrils - no dilator needed.

What are your pressure settings?

Thanks chunkyfrog, I will try a baby wipe and see how it goes. God knows I have plenty of them laying around with a 20 month old!

ChicagoGrandma,

Setting is currently at 7. Fortunately I only apnea 8 times per hour without the CPAP so they set me pretty low. However, I have no cartilage in my nose, so I can't use the pillow style. I have to use either FFM or the nose mask that goes over the whole nose.