Bridge of Nose - Irritation from Mask - What Worked for You?

sleepyred wrote:PapCap II. It not only has a chin strap built in - but replaces the headgear of your mask. I have no more marks or sores on the bridge of my nose.
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So what specifically does the PapCap do that eliminates the nose bridge problem?

Arizona-Willie wrote:...........
The only other alternative to keep it from riding up is stapling it in place, unfortunately the staples cause apneas and leave holes in your cheeks the next day, and everybody goes " What happened to you man? ".

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As time goes on you have to use larger and larger staples.

rogelah wrote:Mask is a Quattro. Moleskin pad saves the nose, Pad-A-Cheeks on forehead support makes it OK.

Mask leaks (IPAP = 19) solved by wetting skin and mask seal just before donning; makes it seal better (Leak = 0).

That is so strange. I have the same mask and the same pressure, yet a drop of moisture at the seal starts a sputtering leak for me. If there is one thing this forum has taught me, it is how idiosyncratic mask fitting can be.

I'm quite interested in this issue. The bridge of my nose seems particularly sensitive to most things, but I really dislike the nasal pillows I tried, so I don't think they're much of an option for me.

rooster wrote:

sleepyred wrote:PapCap II. It not only has a chin strap built in - but replaces the headgear of your mask. I have no more marks or sores on the bridge of my nose.
...........

So what specifically does the PapCap do that eliminates the nose bridge problem?

For me - less is better.
Chin strap - on pap cap - I've tried 3 other chin straps, taping and poligrip strips to help with mouth breathing.
headgear adjustable - multiple ways to adjust to suit individual needs to take pressure off any part of your face by mask - which I could not accomplish with the regular headgear which came with the micro nasal mask.

For me - the pap cap II was the turning point with not only my sore nose - which has healed completely, but my has helped with my mask leaks as well.

Those of you who use moleskin or some such, do you put it on your nose or on your mask? I ask because I'm allergic to adhesives (all of them), so taping the bridge of my nose would not be a solution for me.

Thanks!!

I put the moleskin on my nose.

Not sure what type of adhesive it has.

Not very strong but it lasts a long time.
I can reuse it for many nights by sticking the paper backing back on when I take it off.

It stays put primarily because the mask is holding it place I belive because it peels off very easily.

Doesn't cost much ... you might give it a try .. or not

That's one of the big problems with sleep apnea ... everyone is so different and there are so many combinations of machines, masks, accessories, settings etc. etc.

Bump.

Bump.

Rooster, thanks for opening this thread. This topic is near and dear to me. And am still having difficulty.

Wulfman wrote:My standard answer to this situation is that the mask is either the wrong size, too tight or just a lousy mask.

Den, our esteemed provider of helpful information and holder of immense patience for newbies, I'm gonna have to disagree with you on this.

Nose bridge continues to be an issue for me.

Quattro, Comfort Gel FF, Activa LT, F&P FF 532 - all give me nose bridge probs, none are alleviated by moleskin, surgical tape, or pad-a-cheek. So I trully doubt with trying these 4 that all were the wrong size.

I've tried Liberty, but couldn't consistently get a good seal. My nares are different sizes, and I even tried with a small pillow in one and medium in the other, but couldn't get the seal in there.

So I tried alternating between the F&P FF 532 and the Fit Life FF, which gives me chin and mouth/teeth issues. (But now my FF 532 came apart and I can't get the inner seal to fit back in properly, so that mask is now useless for me.) And I plod along.

When my nose heals from my latest battle, I'm thinking of trying the comfort gel or quattro again.

But I just saw the suggestion of double moleskin, which I have NOT tried and will.

Great topic, Rooster!

My RT (who has used CPAP/BiPAP himself for 17 years) suggested moleskin. He said to put it on the mask itself, rather than directly on the nose bridge. But my mask has lots of thin silicone and it seemed that wouldn't work well, so I never did try that.

I used those small round bandages, and that seemed to help.

Then I got a Pad A Cheek Nose Bridge Protector: http://padacheek.com/PAC_Nosebridge.html. That seemed to do the trick, but it's possible that it really was just time that healed the problem.

I have a nasal pillows mask on the way now, so I'll alternate between that and my Mirage Activa LT. The Activa LT seals very well for me, so it's a "keeper" for that reason, but adjusting via the nose bridge dial never did help. It just put more pressure on my upper lip when I dialed it out.

~ DreamOn

DreamOn wrote:Great topic, Rooster!

My RT (who has used CPAP/BiPAP himself for 17 years) suggested moleskin. He said to put it on the mask itself, rather than directly on the nose bridge. But my mask has lots of thin silicone and it seemed that wouldn't work well, so I never did try that.

I've tried on both the nose and on the mask and neither did it for me. But I never tried both the nose AND mask at the same time (double moleskin), so I think that's worth a try.

This thread is a great idea. I can't think of anything that would help full face mask users more than a list of suggestions that would help solve the "Sore Nose Syndrome, leaks & other problems that many of us have with ff masks.

I have used the Respironics Full Face mask for a couple of months - I should say I have tried to use it. I am still struggling with welts and sores on the bridge of my nose, & raw spots on the sides of my nose. I am perservering this this ^&#$* thing because when I use it, I feel better than I have in the 10 months I have been using Cpap. I don't have on-going daytime
sleepiness & I have more energy.

I first tried moleskin on the mask, following B.B.'s suggestion. I developed a raw spot on the bridge of my nose that took days to heal. I have tried a strip of paper tape over the bridge & sides of my nose. Next I tried double moleskin on my nose. I have tried relocating the straps, trying to change the pressure. When I use the Full Face, I awaken from four to six hours later, being aware that I have pain in those tender places. It has been 2 months, the skin should have hardened, but it hasn't.

There are things I really like about the mask. I have few leaks, & when I put it on, it feels comfortable. I don't have the mask too tight . . . & I can't see anything wrong with the way it fits my face.

I don't have a lot of options, I've had several sinus surgeries & I started with pillows masks. The force of the air blowing in the nares was too much for them. I have a comfortable Zest mask, but when I use it, I am as tired when I awaken, as when I drop into bed. I have tried other ff masks, but the leaks made them impossible to consider. I am going to find some of the plastic decal or whatever, & try that tomorrow. We Cpap users have to be the most optomistic people in the world.

Jan



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On the hybrid, I would think now you twice as many areas for leaks? Both the nose and round the mouth??

I am the new guy who posted a similar thread. My problem is that the material itself causes pimples (yes, even after cleaning). Massive amounts on the contact point.

PapCap II

What is this exactly?

jucs wrote:On the hybrid, I would think now you twice as many areas for leaks? Both the nose and round the mouth??

Your logic is off. If a nasal interface works for you, and by works I mean you do not mouthbreathe or mouthleak, then by all means stick with a nasal interface.

A full face mask is for users who leak air out between their lips and/or users who mouthbreathe. If you require a full face mask, you will find that the Hybrid has the smallest footprint of full face masks.