Black under eyes.

I don't know if there is a connection to the machine or not. I do have allergies and always have slightly black circles under my eyes. However in the past few days it has gotten far worse. The other day my daughter asked me if I felt okay? I didn't really. Felt exhausted. Then she asked me if I had put my makeup on? I had. She then told me I looked really tired. I looked in the mirror and my eyes were totally black underneath.

Now today I took my usual nap with the machine. Woke up, looked in the mirror and my right eye was so back underneath it looked like I had been punched there! Left eye had just a slight amount of dark underneath.

What could be causing this? Do you think it could be pressure from the mask or something? It doesn't feel really tight and I don't think it was leaking.

Thanks!

I don't get dark circles, but when I use my Quattro or Ultra Mirage, I get big bags under my eyes. It doesn't happen at all when I use the Nasal Aire II, which doesn't rest on my face the same way.

That's interesting. I am using the Quattro for a 5 day APAP study, and noticed dark(er) circles under my eyes. I also noticed a red curved line at the side of my right eye.
I've only used it 2 days so far.

I also found at 3am both nights, when I 'think' I was on my side that the mask started vibrating roughly against my lower cheeks on both sides. I ended up tightening the lower straps so tight, that if they tell me this is what I have to do to make it work, I'm not sure I could take the tightness. Unfortunately, this is the week-end and I don't see the DME until Monday.
Rosemary

RMinOntario wrote:That's interesting. I am using the Quattro for a 5 day APAP study, and noticed dark(er) circles under my eyes. I also noticed a red curved line at the side of my right eye.
I've only used it 2 days so far.

Very interesting. Could this be caused by air leaks from the nose bridge of this mask? Or perhaps changes in blood circulation caused by the pressure of the mask against the nose.

RMinOntario wrote:I also found at 3am both nights, when I 'think' I was on my side that the mask started vibrating roughly against my lower cheeks on both sides. I ended up tightening the lower straps so tight, that if they tell me this is what I have to do to make it work, I'm not sure I could take the tightness. Unfortunately, this is the week-end and I don't see the DME until Monday.
Rosemary

Make sure both the mask and face are scrupulously free of oils. Use a mild dish detergent on the mask to remove oils. Dawn dish soap used once in a while will thoroughly degrease the mask seal. You may find you have to repeat the cleaning in the middle of the night. I had good luck with the Quattro mask, but only with this 2-a-night cleaning regimen.

timbalionguy,
I don't feel any leaks with my hands as I feel around the mask, nor do I feel air into my eyes suggesting a leak at the top.

Possibly skin oils are causing the 3 am 'shakes'. The noise of it actually wakes me up and it's both sides of the mask which I thought was strange.

I'll try to be free of skin oil, at least when I go to bed. I'll wipe the mask down too. Thanks.

I had dark circles under my eyes for years. they are now gone. Have been on apap for 8 months and have sinus surgery 10 months ago. Don't know if it was one or the other, or both.... but the circles are now gone. Have even had folks ask if I have taken to wearing make-up to hide them - anf if so, what kind so they could try it. lol

Here's a website that has some causes and cures. http://www.naturaleyecare.com/pub-darkeyes.asp

I'm noticing the same thing. My eyes have been bothering me since I started CPAP, and last night I refit my mask, because the top strap's been slipping down the back of my head. This morning, it hurts to move my eyeballs, and it looks like I've got bruises below my eyes. (The mask wasn't all that tight, and it was comfortable during the night.) So now I just loosened the top strap a bit and tightened the bottom one. I'm going to try the Swift LT for Her, too. This eye pain (and black eyes) is driving me nuts. Hopefully silicone up my nose will be better!

I have generally had dark circles worse *before* CPAP therapy.

I have less now (after 11 months of treatment...using Swift LT) --- both in color and size --- than I did prior to it.

I get more when my sleep goes through chaotic patches with insomnia and early wakenings. When I feel exhausted is when I seem to also have worse markings.....although never yet as dark/black as in the pre-CPAP past.


Perhaps getting the sleep pattern and sleep quality addressed somehow will help you get rid of the dark circles under your eyes.

Warm regards,
J

timbalionguy wrote:

RMinOntario wrote:That's interesting. I am using the Quattro for a 5 day APAP study, and noticed dark(er) circles under my eyes. I also noticed a red curved line at the side of my right eye.
I've only used it 2 days so far.

Very interesting. Could this be caused by air leaks from the nose bridge of this mask? Or perhaps changes in blood circulation caused by the pressure of the mask against the nose.

RMinOntario wrote:I also found at 3am both nights, when I 'think' I was on my side that the mask started vibrating roughly against my lower cheeks on both sides. I ended up tightening the lower straps so tight, that if they tell me this is what I have to do to make it work, I'm not sure I could take the tightness. Unfortunately, this is the week-end and I don't see the DME until Monday.
Rosemary

Make sure both the mask and face are scrupulously free of oils. Use a mild dish detergent on the mask to remove oils. Dawn dish soap used once in a while will thoroughly degrease the mask seal. You may find you have to repeat the cleaning in the middle of the night. I had good luck with the Quattro mask, but only with this 2-a-night cleaning regimen.

I have gotten a bit lax on the cleaning. Normally I use the dish soap weekly, but I forgot to last week. Oddly, I did remember to clean the hose though! I use the citrus wipes daily, normally but have gone down to every other night. Guess I should do it more.

Hi,
Maybe it's okay to have to thoroughly clean the mask twice a night. To me that sounds like more than I would have ever expected. I've heard once a day should do it.

I don't feel leaks when I run my fingers around the mask when I first get set up. Last night after cleaning & drying the mask & cleaning my face, I had to put it on from scratch 3 times during the night because of loud leaks near the bottom of my cheeks. Also tightening the mask much more the 2nd and 3rd time, I now have red raw skin with white spots on the bridge of my nose. It hurts like the blazes. But the DME says it's important I do it this one more night to see if a FFM has helped with the excessive leaks I had with the other 2 masks.

They 'say' the quattro is one of the best, but maybe the seals on this trial mask needed to be replaced because of the high pressure I need. It would have helped me, for them to have examined it first.