facial swelling

bsil · Post by **bsil** » Mon May 29, 2006 8:59 pm

Has anyone out there ever experienced facial puffiness in the morning after using the machine? I noticed mild swelling around my eyes and nose and also strap marks from my nasal pillow.
This is my 2nd week of using apap and last night I noticed that my face was puffy and I do not usually have strap marks with the nasal pillow mask. My diet that day did not include any alcohol or any more salt than usual. I usually follow a low salt diet. Could it be related to the humidification?

cflame1 · Post by **cflame1** » Tue May 30, 2006 6:02 am

A lot of the folks around here use pads on their masks, so yes have had strap marks for sure. A lady that comes here actually makes them. If you can get in touch with Padacheek she may be able to help you out.

bsil · Post by **bsil** » Tue May 30, 2006 8:18 am

cflame1- Thanks so much for your reply! Last night...no marks and less swelling! Not sure what to make of it. I'll keep tracking it. Thanks.

luvmykatz · Post by **luvmykatz** » Tue May 30, 2006 8:31 am

I often have puffiness around eyes and swollen face upon awakening, as well. Also strap marks. Don't know what causes it or what to do. Anyone?

chdurie2 · Post by **chdurie2** » Tue May 30, 2006 9:28 am

luvmykatz:

strap marks will occur if you're sleeping on your side and not using a strap cover. but puffiness seems to occur for me near where there are mask marks, either because my mask is too tight or it is digging into my skin because of the angle i sleep at while on my side. This seems to happen near my nose and eyes. I need the tightness up top to get a decent mouth seal on my UMFF, but I just switched to a shallow seal, so now I may be able to loosen everything. As far as the puffiness is concerned, I think it's the mask, but it may be that I'm just gaining weight. (ugh!)

Caroline

birdiebaby · Post by **birdiebaby** » Tue May 30, 2006 10:03 am

Yep!

My first two nights I woke up with red, painful itchy welts along the side of my nose and under my nose. I loosened my mask a little, and I used Micropore tape around my nose and mouth. The only place I had a red welt was where I didn't have tape covering my skin.

I think I might be allergic to the materials in the mask membrane. I put in a call to the Dr.s office this morning. We'll see what they say.

newbie06 · Post by **newbie06** » Tue May 30, 2006 11:52 am

birdiebaby wrote:My first two nights I woke up with red, painful itchy welts along the side of my nose and under my nose. I loosened my mask a little, and I used Micropore tape around my nose and mouth. The only place I had a red welt was where I didn't have tape covering my skin.

I think I might be allergic to the materials in the mask membrane. I put in a call to the Dr.s office this morning. We'll see what they say.

I had a similar thing--it felt and looked like a cold sore right under my nose where the bottom of the mask lies. This is actually the reason I found and joined this board--to see if anyone else has had the same kind of problem. I can't even put on my mask until this thing heals. Please let me know what your doctor says!

birdiebaby · Post by **birdiebaby** » Tue May 30, 2006 1:31 pm

Please let me know what your doctor says!

They said that it's unlikely to be an allergy. They said that it could be from having a lotion on that contributed to the irritation, or most likely that it's just that my face will take a little bit of time to toughen up and get used to the mask.

They encouraged me to keep taping for a week or two and then give it another try without the tape.

I'm going to buy a Swift on my own next week so that I have a 2nd mask, but I do get a good fit from the UMII. So, I will keep at it! Hope your face heals up quickly, Newbie.

Mask

Additional Comments: Large mask collection