Respironics Wisp - First Impressions

Gearhead wrote:
For me the problem was that the mask gradually started causing redness and a "welt" on the bridge of my nose. Each successive night just caused the redness to get worse. I'm not certain why it was doing this, the mask was adjusted with the DME's help so that it was extremely loose and slightly leaking, then a final bare minimum adjustment to stop the leaks. The DME said the mask is just supposed to "hover" over your nose. In my case I think the air pressure was causing the seal flap to "wedge" into the bridge of my nose.

I tried both the fabric and silcone headgear; both were fine although the silicone seemed like it would be a lot more durable. The plastic clips were difficult to detach and looked fragile.

I even stopped using it for a week to allow my nose to heal, then tried again, same problem. It's too bad because it is a very small and comfortable mask, I was really hoping it would work for me.

Gearhead wrote:Hello Cobra,

Thanks for your suggestions. I'm pretty sure the DME adjusted it right since he stressed how important it was to have a loose fit. In fact when I was wearing the mask with the headgear and air pressure off, it was possible to grab the mask and pull it away from my face to the point that it became completely clear of my face, no part of the silicone touching at all. To me it seemed so loose that it would never seal, but once the air pressure inflated the mask, it still sealed very nicely. The upper seal was making contact with my nose approx 2/3 of the way up as you described.

The DME only provided me with 1 size, but they measured and sized per the wisp guide. The size seemed OK to me.

Maybe the skin on my nose was somehow reacting with the silicone? Is this possible??

Skin Irritation Advice

ResMed mask cushions are made from silicone which is a hypoallergenic material used in medical appliances and devices.
True allergic reactions to silicone are extremely rare. In fact, skin irritation, sores (pressure sores) and blisters are more commonly caused by other associated factors rather than the silicone material itself.

Possible causes of skin irritation
•Headgear strap adjustment too loose or too tight
•A poorly fitting mask (either unsuited style or incorrect mask size)
•Worn out mask
•Dirty mask - Silicone can absorb contaminants such as oils, sweat, dirt and creams from your skin. Extended contact with these contaminants during the night may irritate the skin.

If you are experiencing skin irritation, try one of the following suggested solutions
•Readjust your headgear straps. The mask should be as loose as possible while still creating a seal
•Consult your mask user guide or quick-fitting guide, alternatively consult your CPAP therapist for a mask fitting. A different style of mask may provide a better fit
•Inspect mask cushion and frame for wear, stiffness, cracks or breaks. Replace either the mask or parts that are worn out
•Wash mask daily according to user guide instructions, with a product that you would use to wash your face. Use mild soap and warm water (30°C/86°F)
•Wash face before bed (suggested - pH neutral) to remove excess facial oils
•Avoid using facial lotions and creams where your mask comes into contact with your face, as these products may interfere with mask seal and potentially degrade the quality of the cushion over time.
•Place some porous hypoallergenic skin tape (consult your local pharmacy) over sensitive or irritated areas to create a barrier between the skin and the mask

Silicone allergies are rare, but there is evidence that people do have them
A few CPAP sites make mention of a sensitivity to silicone, so you're not alone in your dilemma. There are CPAP masks out there that are made from different materials, including synthetic rubber, PVC and vinyl. Supposedly Mallinckrodt makes a vinyl mask, though I can't find the specifics on it. But take a look at this one:

Disp. Vinyl Nasal Masks, Medium, 5 Per Package
$111.49 by package of 5

You have selected Disp. Vinyl Nasal Masks, Medium, 5 Per Package from Nasal Cpap & Supplies. We hope that this Disp. Vinyl Nasal Masks, Medium, 5 Per Package made by Respironics is what you were looking for.

If you have any questions about this particular Disp. Vinyl Nasal Masks, Medium, 5 Per Package or any other products from Nasal Cpap & Supplies, please call us. We have an experienced staff that will gladly help pick out the correct Disp. Vinyl Nasal Masks, Medium, 5 Per Package for you, also.
If you are looking to make a purchase of Disp. Vinyl Nasal Masks, Medium, 5 Per Package in large quantity or you are a Hospital or Medical facility and need help on making a purchase of Disp. Vinyl Nasal Masks, Medium, 5 Per Package made by Respironics, please contact us.
http://www.greatmedicalsupplies.com/sup ... 312103.htm

Or you may want to talk to your doctor to see if he knows of another mask that isn't made of silicone. Or try one with a different shape that might not cause the irritation:

http://www.comfortcurve.respironics.com/

However, that said, what you're experiencing may not be allergic contact dermatitis at all, just something that resembles it. If your skin is extremely sensitive, anything pressing against may lead to problems. I would advise you to have a dermatologist take a look to confirm the diagnosis. Also, it's possible that the use of a simple antihistamine could reduce the effects. Or maybe even see an allergist to see if they can help. Bottom line, there are options out there and you should consult your doctor for further help.

Good luck!!
Sources: http://www.greatmedicalsupplies.com/sup ... 312103.htm
EddieNygma 70 months ago

Answer from darwin™ 1 people found this helpful Here is some information and my sympathy.
I have several sensitivities that my local doctors reject outright. But I know that whenever I am in contact with the substances I develop itching, then a rash, and then classical excema and eventually asthma.

There is a silicone information line at (800) 766-6646 and Nir Kossovsky, M.D., has put in 14 years of research on silicone surface reactions.

However, on the matter of silicone: doctors know that silicone from breast implants causes the creation of antibodies that can be picked up on a test called the Detecsil Silicone Sensitivity Test.

If you are sensitive to silicone then you should indeed stop using silicone utensils.

This site (http://www.cpapplus.com/Content_Pages/ChoosingAMask.htm) indicates an alternative for CPAP users that are allergic to the masks:

"Nasal pillows are another option. Instead of wearing a triangular mask, the user inserts into the nostrils two small flexible pieces (shaped somewhat like mushroom caps) that are attached to a plastic adapter that is in turn attached to the tubing. However, people with higher pressures sometimes experience discomfort with the pillows. The pillows can also be inserted into headgear made of pliable metal and plastic which curves over your head and can be adjusted at four points. The pillows do not rest on the nose, upper lip, or cheeks, may solve the problem of allergies to mask material as well as complaints of claustrophobia. Some people, especially people with a beard or moustache, simply prefer nasal pillows to a mask. (While some masks are made with moustaches and beards in mind, facial hair can compromise the effectiveness of CPAP masks.) This headgear can now be used with a triangular-shaped mask.

In addition, there is a new interface that is not a mask but has two tubes that fit snugly inside the nostrils. It looks like a large nasal cannula. While a nasal cannula has two smaller tubes that are used to deliver oxygen, the tubes with this interface must be big enough to prevent the pressurized air from escaping. No headgear is necessary-and hence this interface can also accommodate eyeglasses-as the tubing loops from the nose around the ears. The two tubes join together near the chest and then, as one tube, attach to the CPAP. There is also a strap that goes behind the head to keep the tubing around the ears in place."

The following are excerpts from a site that collects information on silicone, again mostly related to breast implants.

"When these antibodies were classified based on the specialty of the examining physician, the % of patients with silicone antibodies were varied; general practice 51.6, rheumatology 58.7, and plastic surgery 83.3, which may relate to the severeness of the disease. Being that a large % of patients demonstrated very high levels of myelin basic protein antibodies, possible cross reactive antibodies were sought. However, absorption of highly positive sera for silicone antibodies with MBP did not change the levels of silicone antibodies. On the other hand, silicone -HSA was able to reduce the antibody values significantly. This reduction in antibody levels by silicone is the best indication for the specificity of these antibodies. Moreover when data for silicone antibodies and MBP antibodies was analyzed in patients some with high and others with medium or low levels of silicone antibodies, MBP antibodies did not correspond to the silicone antibodylevels. Similarly human serum albumin antibodies which was significantly higher in patients with silicone implants did not correlate with levels of silicone antibodies.

These results indicate that immune reaction to silicone and different tissue antigens do occur and they are initiated through different mechanisms."
AND
"And since predominant antibody class against silicone, mbP and HSA was IgM, clonal activation of IgM is possible which certainly warrants further investigation."
AND
"silicone-gel had been found to be a strong irritant of the immune system.(26)Since approximately one million women in the United States have already received silicone breast implants,(27)the topic is of concern to the medical community as well as to the public."
AND
"Because silicone syndrome is a new disease, it requires a new test to make its proper diagnosis," said Nir Kossovsky, M.D., silicone researcher and developer of a new test, the Detecsil Silicone Sensitivity Test. SBI Laboratories is offering the Detecsil test to help detect immune reactions in breast implant patients that cannot be found through standard tests such as those cited in the Mayo Clinic study.

SBI Laboratories has teamed with rheumatologists and other researchers who are studying the effects of silicone on a wide variety of people exposed to silicone in its gel, oil and particle formulations. In a recent sampling of more than 160 women with silicone breast implants, this research confirmed a high correlation between exposure to silicone and the presence of increased antibodies to collagen I, a protein that comprises up to 90 percent of skin, bone and tendon. This increase in antibodies may indicate an autoimmune reaction.

The Detecsil Silicone Sensitivity Test is based on the fact that silicone behaves like a vaccine, preparing the body against a "silicone invasion." According to Kossovsky, silicone is a tacky substance that sticks to the body's own molecules and in the process deforms the molecules, causing them to look like foreigners to the body's own immune system. The body may then engage in biological "friendly fire" against its own tissues, sometimes with deadly effect.

This phenomenon is further described by Kossovsky in the July 1994 issue of the American Medical Association's Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.

Based on 14 years of research on silicone surface reactions, Kossovsky says the process that occurs when native body molecules are exposed to silicone may account for non-specific symptoms experienced by many women with breast implants and explain why standard rheumatologic tests cannot make a proper diagnosis.<P>The Detecsil Silicone Sensitivity Test provides medical researchers with a highly accurate analysis of whether an individual has an immune response to silicone, and the degree of the response, as well as whether antibodies have been stimulated against native body molecules, including collagen I and III (bone, skin and tendon), fibrinogen (blood clotting protein), fibronectin (connective tissue), myelin (nerves), insulin and silicone.

According to SBI Laboratories President Beth Brandegee, "Detecsil is a highly accurate and reliable test that will help characterize silicone immunities and will determine the presence of silicone immune responses and possibly silicone-induced disease."

Detecsil is available for research use at $350 for each six-assay battery. A comprehensive analysis is provided to the researcher within 10 days of sample receipt. SBI Laboratories are located at 1401 Forbes Avenue, Suite 237, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219. For more information, call the silicone information line at (800) 766-6646".

Sources: http://www.info-implants.com/Walt/170.html AND http://www.cpapplus.com/Content_Pages/ChoosingAMask.htm
darwin™ 70 months ago

Silicone allergies are rare, but there is evidence that people do have them
A few CPAP sites make mention of a sensitivity to silicone, so you're not alone in your dilemma. There are CPAP masks out there that are made from different materials, including synthetic rubber, PVC and vinyl. Supposedly Mallinckrodt makes a vinyl mask, though I can't find the specifics on it. But take a look at this one:

Disp. Vinyl Nasal Masks, Medium, 5 Per Package
$111.49 by package of 5

You have selected Disp. Vinyl Nasal Masks, Medium, 5 Per Package from Nasal Cpap & Supplies. We hope that this Disp. Vinyl Nasal Masks, Medium, 5 Per Package made by Respironics is what you were looking for.

If you have any questions about this particular Disp. Vinyl Nasal Masks, Medium, 5 Per Package or any other products from Nasal Cpap & Supplies, please call us. We have an experienced staff that will gladly help pick out the correct Disp. Vinyl Nasal Masks, Medium, 5 Per Package for you, also.
If you are looking to make a purchase of Disp. Vinyl Nasal Masks, Medium, 5 Per Package in large quantity or you are a Hospital or Medical facility and need help on making a purchase of Disp. Vinyl Nasal Masks, Medium, 5 Per Package made by Respironics, please contact us.
http://www.greatmedicalsupplies.com/sup ... 312103.htm

Or you may want to talk to your doctor to see if he knows of another mask that isn't made of silicone. Or try one with a different shape that might not cause the irritation:

http://www.comfortcurve.respironics.com/

However, that said, what you're experiencing may not be allergic contact dermatitis at all, just something that resembles it. If your skin is extremely sensitive, anything pressing against may lead to problems. I would advise you to have a dermatologist take a look to confirm the diagnosis. Also, it's possible that the use of a simple antihistamine could reduce the effects. Or maybe even see an allergist to see if they can help. Bottom line, there are options out there and you should consult your doctor for further help.

Good luck!!
Sources: http://www.greatmedicalsupplies.com/sup ... 312103.htm
EddieNygma 70 months ago

Answer from darwin™ 1 people found this helpful Here is some information and my sympathy.
I have several sensitivities that my local doctors reject outright. But I know that whenever I am in contact with the substances I develop itching, then a rash, and then classical excema and eventually asthma.

There is a silicone information line at (800) 766-6646 and Nir Kossovsky, M.D., has put in 14 years of research on silicone surface reactions.

However, on the matter of silicone: doctors know that silicone from breast implants causes the creation of antibodies that can be picked up on a test called the Detecsil Silicone Sensitivity Test.

If you are sensitive to silicone then you should indeed stop using silicone utensils.

This site (http://www.cpapplus.com/Content_Pages/ChoosingAMask.htm) indicates an alternative for CPAP users that are allergic to the masks:

"Nasal pillows are another option. Instead of wearing a triangular mask, the user inserts into the nostrils two small flexible pieces (shaped somewhat like mushroom caps) that are attached to a plastic adapter that is in turn attached to the tubing. However, people with higher pressures sometimes experience discomfort with the pillows. The pillows can also be inserted into headgear made of pliable metal and plastic which curves over your head and can be adjusted at four points. The pillows do not rest on the nose, upper lip, or cheeks, may solve the problem of allergies to mask material as well as complaints of claustrophobia. Some people, especially people with a beard or moustache, simply prefer nasal pillows to a mask. (While some masks are made with moustaches and beards in mind, facial hair can compromise the effectiveness of CPAP masks.) This headgear can now be used with a triangular-shaped mask.

In addition, there is a new interface that is not a mask but has two tubes that fit snugly inside the nostrils. It looks like a large nasal cannula. While a nasal cannula has two smaller tubes that are used to deliver oxygen, the tubes with this interface must be big enough to prevent the pressurized air from escaping. No headgear is necessary-and hence this interface can also accommodate eyeglasses-as the tubing loops from the nose around the ears. The two tubes join together near the chest and then, as one tube, attach to the CPAP. There is also a strap that goes behind the head to keep the tubing around the ears in place."

The following are excerpts from a site that collects information on silicone, again mostly related to breast implants.

"When these antibodies were classified based on the specialty of the examining physician, the % of patients with silicone antibodies were varied; general practice 51.6, rheumatology 58.7, and plastic surgery 83.3, which may relate to the severeness of the disease. Being that a large % of patients demonstrated very high levels of myelin basic protein antibodies, possible cross reactive antibodies were sought. However, absorption of highly positive sera for silicone antibodies with MBP did not change the levels of silicone antibodies. On the other hand, silicone -HSA was able to reduce the antibody values significantly. This reduction in antibody levels by silicone is the best indication for the specificity of these antibodies. Moreover when data for silicone antibodies and MBP antibodies was analyzed in patients some with high and others with medium or low levels of silicone antibodies, MBP antibodies did not correspond to the silicone antibodylevels. Similarly human serum albumin antibodies which was significantly higher in patients with silicone implants did not correlate with levels of silicone antibodies.

These results indicate that immune reaction to silicone and different tissue antigens do occur and they are initiated through different mechanisms."
AND
"And since predominant antibody class against silicone, mbP and HSA was IgM, clonal activation of IgM is possible which certainly warrants further investigation."
AND
"silicone-gel had been found to be a strong irritant of the immune system.(26)Since approximately one million women in the United States have already received silicone breast implants,(27)the topic is of concern to the medical community as well as to the public."
AND
"Because silicone syndrome is a new disease, it requires a new test to make its proper diagnosis," said Nir Kossovsky, M.D., silicone researcher and developer of a new test, the Detecsil Silicone Sensitivity Test. SBI Laboratories is offering the Detecsil test to help detect immune reactions in breast implant patients that cannot be found through standard tests such as those cited in the Mayo Clinic study.

SBI Laboratories has teamed with rheumatologists and other researchers who are studying the effects of silicone on a wide variety of people exposed to silicone in its gel, oil and particle formulations. In a recent sampling of more than 160 women with silicone breast implants, this research confirmed a high correlation between exposure to silicone and the presence of increased antibodies to collagen I, a protein that comprises up to 90 percent of skin, bone and tendon. This increase in antibodies may indicate an autoimmune reaction.

The Detecsil Silicone Sensitivity Test is based on the fact that silicone behaves like a vaccine, preparing the body against a "silicone invasion." According to Kossovsky, silicone is a tacky substance that sticks to the body's own molecules and in the process deforms the molecules, causing them to look like foreigners to the body's own immune system. The body may then engage in biological "friendly fire" against its own tissues, sometimes with deadly effect.

This phenomenon is further described by Kossovsky in the July 1994 issue of the American Medical Association's Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.

Based on 14 years of research on silicone surface reactions, Kossovsky says the process that occurs when native body molecules are exposed to silicone may account for non-specific symptoms experienced by many women with breast implants and explain why standard rheumatologic tests cannot make a proper diagnosis.<P>The Detecsil Silicone Sensitivity Test provides medical researchers with a highly accurate analysis of whether an individual has an immune response to silicone, and the degree of the response, as well as whether antibodies have been stimulated against native body molecules, including collagen I and III (bone, skin and tendon), fibrinogen (blood clotting protein), fibronectin (connective tissue), myelin (nerves), insulin and silicone.

According to SBI Laboratories President Beth Brandegee, "Detecsil is a highly accurate and reliable test that will help characterize silicone immunities and will determine the presence of silicone immune responses and possibly silicone-induced disease."

Detecsil is available for research use at $350 for each six-assay battery. A comprehensive analysis is provided to the researcher within 10 days of sample receipt. SBI Laboratories are located at 1401 Forbes Avenue, Suite 237, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219. For more information, call the silicone information line at (800) 766-6646".

Sources: http://www.info-implants.com/Walt/170.html AND http://www.cpapplus.com/Content_Pages/ChoosingAMask.htm
darwin™ 70 months ago


Comments on this question:
birdshell said: 1
Thank you. I need all of the help that I can get!

Please note that my dermatitis WAS diagnosed by a dermatologist. It is not a pressure reaction. I have had a problem with the ComfortLite 2 Direct Seal, and the Breeze Dreamseal. They contact very different portions of the face.

With any allergen, the preferred method of treatment is avoidance. Because it is hard to live in a bubble, I personally do not wish to become increasingly sensitive from continued contact that is present in a normal environment. Especially with so many latex allergies, silicone is becoming a very pervasive substance. That makes it hard to avoid casual contacts.

I will look up the resources that you have recommended to me; thank you!

70 months ago


EddieNygma said: 2
I'm glad you got the opinion of a dermatologist. Looking for a different kind of mask or an alternative treatment is going to be your best bet, but I'd still suggest seeing an allergist (if you haven't already) to see if you can get a few more suggestions and options to work with. You might also want to take a look at alternative treatments for allergies since you have so many sensitivities. I know it sounds nutty, but acupuncture did seem to help with cat allergies years ago. It didn't cure me, but my sensitivity decreased after trying it. I was very skeptical, but I can't deny what I experienced.

Good luck!

70 months ago


birdshell said: 3
The problem with the alternative masks (such as nasal pillows and other options) is that they are often also made of silicone. That, in fact, is the problem with the first mask I used.

Further, while my mother has had silicone implants for years, and had them replaced recently, she still can have a reaction to certain silicone or plastic substances (such as a bracelet or a keyring). Yet, there has been no problem with any sensitivity to the implants. It is very interesting and frustrating, isn't it?

So, I am wondering about the differences and how to predict which types can be judged to be safe. Thank you for your excellent contributions.

Please note that my dermatitis WAS diagnosed by a dermatologist. It is not a pressure reaction. I have had a problem with the ComfortLite 2 Direct Seal, and the Breeze Dreamseal. They contact very different portions of the face.

With any allergen, the preferred method of treatment is avoidance. Because it is hard to live in a bubble, I personally do not wish to become increasingly sensitive from continued contact that is present in a normal environment. Especially with so many latex allergies, silicone is becoming a very pervasive substance. That makes it hard to avoid casual contacts.

I will look up the resources that you have recommended to me; thank you!

70 months ago


EddieNygma said: 2
I'm glad you got the opinion of a dermatologist. Looking for a different kind of mask or an alternative treatment is going to be your best bet, but I'd still suggest seeing an allergist (if you haven't already) to see if you can get a few more suggestions and options to work with. You might also want to take a look at alternative treatments for allergies since you have so many sensitivities. I know it sounds nutty, but acupuncture did seem to help with cat allergies years ago. It didn't cure me, but my sensitivity decreased after trying it. I was very skeptical, but I can't deny what I experienced.

Good luck!

70 months ago


birdshell said: 3
The problem with the alternative masks (such as nasal pillows and other options) is that they are often also made of silicone. That, in fact, is the problem with the first mask I used.

Further, while my mother has had silicone implants for years, and had them replaced recently, she still can have a reaction to certain silicone or plastic substances (such as a bracelet or a keyring). Yet, there has been no problem with any sensitivity to the implants. It is very interesting and frustrating, isn't it?

So, I am wondering about the differences and how to predict which types can be judged to be safe. Thank you for your excellent contributions.

Gearhead wrote:Hello, I've been using the WISP for about 3 weeks now, but unfortunately I've had to give up on it.

This is a very nice small and lightweight mask. It has a very nice soft flexible seal. The flap of the seal points inward so that as the mask pressurizes the seal tries to expand outward and seals even better against your nose and face.

For me the problem was that the mask gradually started causing redness and a "welt" on the bridge of my nose. Each successive night just caused the redness to get worse. I'm not certain why it was doing this, the mask was adjusted with the DME's help so that it was extremely loose and slightly leaking, then a final bare minimum adjustment to stop the leaks. The DME said the mask is just supposed to "hover" over your nose. In my case I think the air pressure was causing the seal flap to "wedge" into the bridge of my nose.

I tried both the fabric and silcone headgear; both were fine although the silicone seemed like it would be a lot more durable. The plastic clips were difficult to detach and looked fragile.

I even stopped using it for a week to allow my nose to heal, then tried again, same problem. It's too bad because it is a very small and comfortable mask, I was really hoping it would work for me.

THE GOOD
- small, lightweight
- excellent seal (virtually no leaks)
- also seals well when side sleeping
- clips to "quick release" the hose from the mask

THE BAD
- plastic clips looked like they would eventually break
- the clear plastic "quick release" clips on the hose also looked very delicate and breakable
- left a nasty red mark on my nose

I hope others have better luck with it than I did...

jwerley wrote:

Gearhead wrote:Hello, I've been using the WISP for about 3 weeks now, but unfortunately I've had to give up on it.

This is a very nice small and lightweight mask. It has a very nice soft flexible seal. The flap of the seal points inward so that as the mask pressurizes the seal tries to expand outward and seals even better against your nose and face.

For me the problem was that the mask gradually started causing redness and a "welt" on the bridge of my nose. Each successive night just caused the redness to get worse.
the plastic clips were difficult to detach and looked fragile.

I hope others have better luck with it than I did...

My doctor wanted me to try the Wisp....So last night was my first night with it...and I too have a sore on my nose at the same spot you are describing yours. I know that as we get older our skin becomes thin and not as tolerable to pressure being put on it. I am going to try and put a bandage on it tonight and see if I can still maintain a seal. I have been using the Aloha, but find the Wisp to be a bit more comfortable. I am hoping I can solve the sore problem.

Hivoltfl wrote:so now some like it and some do not, I am going to try one I think, question to you users, I have to have lots of pressure, above 17 any body else used one with that much or close to that pressure and how does it handle it?

Thanks in advance, Guy