of CPAP masks, silicone allergies, mold release, and noses

I was recently diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea. I got a CPAP (state of the art) and a Wisp mask (silicone, heated tube, nose only).

It literally changed my life. I have not yet started to drift off in traffic, despite being on the road in a massive way on little sleep, I am amazed how much of a difference it made.

So everything said to keep things super clean. I assumed that the masks were already clean from new, since they were super sealed, but I cannot verify that. I wore it the first night without washing it ahead of time.

After the second night, the bridge of my nose was red. During the day it began to blister with what looked like dozens of small pimples. When washed vigorously with a soapy washcloth, they clear away but the nose is still red.

I went without after night #3 and it did make things better, but I was sleepy again.

My wife made a few different variations of flannel mask gasket, and I have been switching between the large and XL sized simply to change the spot it hits the bridge of my nose with, but the original spot is still there, getting slightly better and slightly worse for not much reason that I can tell.

Am I allergic to silicone? It seems unreasonably rare. I also can't say that the rest of the mask made me any worse for wearing it.

Am I allergic to the mold release or other stuff on the mask from the first night? Have I just not recovered from the initial hit?

I have been trying A&D and hydro-cortisone with 2-3x per day frequency, the A&D seems to do a better job. Right now it looks like my nose has a sunburn, but earlier today I had a few more blisters.

I really really really really really really really really (REALLY) don't want to go without the CPAP machine while on this trip especially. I understand there are longer term options, but I am looking for a GRM approach for some members who might actually know some medical things.

Can I wear A&D at night under the mask? Is the flannel doing anything? What else?

Have you tried nasal pillows? .... less contact patch so to say.

I've been on CPAP well over 15 years and most of that time on nasal pillows after full face irritated my face. Only slight irritation w/ full face when new but worse trying to keep it clean. Had some pimples/ breakout but didn't relate it directly to allergies, more like my skin couldn't breathe under the contact area. Nasal pillows solved all that, never looked back.

Never had issues w/ new pillows, tubing or headgear. Always wash humidifier chamber first though. Change out all supplies on time.

Just by the looks of it I couldn't wear that wisp.

I have nothing helpful to add, other than this

Too much pressure can also cause irrritation.

I find that I get a blister on my forehead from mine if I roll over during the night and put a lot of pressure on the mask.

Pharmacy will have adhesive backed moleskin which can be cut to make a softer contact surface on the headgear.

I've been using mine for a couple of months now. I was concerned about how my skin would react, but no problems so far. It took me three tries to find the right facegear, though.

My supplier was really helpful with ensuring the fit was right. Have you gone back and spoken to them about it? I know latex allergies are pretty common, so it wouldn't shock me if silicone were the same. I bet there are alternate materials.

Off topic slightly, they really are magic, aren't they? It has fixed problems I never thought it would have any effect on.

I have a great CPAP machine...in a drawer somewhere. I wish I could use it, but it just plain keeps me up at night. I now wear a special dental appliance for Apnea. Sometimes. My advice is to try different mask types and materials, and talk to your supplier about options. There are many, many. many options out there and they should be able to get you something that works. If they don't really know their stuff, find a new supplier.

In reply to pinchvalve:

I was concerned with it bothering me, but it took me two weeks. I think I would really miss the ease of breathing and the white noise now. I sleep better than I have for years.

I tried a few different things last night. It turns out that the hoopy deal that takes the hose up over my head tends to pull the mask up and into my nose, so I ran it off to the side. I also pulled the mask way low so it wouldn't hit the sore spots, and left some A&D on there under the fabric gasket. I think it worked better - let's see in a few days.

I bought the stuff from a mail order place because the local supplier annoyed me and was charging double. I'd like to stick with what I have, it's not uncomfortable at all, just the red spots and pimples are annoying. It sort of felt like someone punched me in the nose while I was sleeping. It's possible that's what happened, though, because I slept so well that first night.

I have had mine about 10 years and love it. I use a piece over my nose only. I wipe it with an alcohol wipe every morning and in the summer when I'm a sweaty mess I usually put a washcloth on the back of my head to keep from making a mess of the straps. I find the mask is most comfortable with the straps just tight enough to keep the mask sealed.

Both my parents swore by breathe right strips with their machines. Increased airflow, and was a buffer where the mask sat.

I cannot sleep on my back at all, so the machine I got 10 years ago was torn apart and ignored. I'm sure it would really help me these days, but I just can't get used to sleeping with the thing.

Been using a Bi-Pap for 10 years now. When I was first tested they tried a full face mask. Couldn't get to sleep at all. so they came in in the middle of the test and changed it to a nose only mask.

Used the nose only for 5 years and then my supplier recommended the nasal pillows. Much more comfortable and easier to get positioned correctly.

It is important to keep all the parts clean. Like Wall-e I clean it every morning. It helps that under Medicare I get new pillows, filters, etc. every month.

RevRico wrote: Both my parents swore by breathe right strips with their machines. Increased airflow, and was a buffer where the mask sat.

I have the nose mask, and breathe-right strips are essential for me. The mask always wants to push one of my nostrils closed because I'm a side sleeper. I get generic no-brand ones from Amazon, like 400 at a time, they work great.

I tried the nasal pillows once, and I hated them. I'd rather have something over my nose than inside my nostrils.

In reply to RevRico:

It took me a solid six months to get used to it. I constantly felt like it was trying to drown me and that I wouldn't be able to exhale. Now I can't imagine sleeping without it. I should try those breath right strip I have some awful sinus problems where it feels like my nose is closing up. Right now I shoot a bunch of Flonase up there but would like to get away from that.

I use the pillows too. The very first night I had the machine I went from lots of tossing around and at least one late night pee break to literally waking up in the same position I fell asleep in.

I wear a full mask.  No issues with it, made a huge difference for me, as I had/have severe apnea

I have had a CPAP now for 1.5 years.  It took me a while to get over the redness on the bridge of my nose.  I ended up using a bandaid every night.  I have seen little benefit from using the machine.   I wake up 2-3 times every night and usually cannot go back to sleep after 5:00am.  I still get incredibly sleepy in the afternoon and mid morning.  

You guys got tricked by a canoe

I've since switched to a nasal pillow and it's fantastic. 

In reply to pinchvalve :

Amen to that, I couldn't stand the damn thing!  I sleep on my side and with the CPAP you pretty much have to sleep on your back.

What I use now is the oral appliance that moves the lower jaw forward and it's a game changer.  It's small, portable, never needs power.  I would never go back!

In reply to spitfirebill :

Have you seen the new Inspire system? It looks interesting, and might be a consideration if CPAP isn't an option. 

No Time said:

In reply to spitfirebill :

Have you seen the new Inspire system? It looks interesting, and might be a consideration if CPAP isn't an option. 

It could be an option, but the Inspire system is basically a pacemaker that zaps your airway muscles rather than your heart.  It's invasive surgery to install and maintain.  I would have to be pretty bad off to give up on CPAP and try that.

In reply to Duke :

While being free of the hoses and mask of the CPAP would be nice, I agree it is too invasive to consider as long as CPAP therapy is working.  

It seemed worth mentioning since there had been a post about not seeing improvement from CPAP.

CPAP therapy is amazing; everything that Tuna sid. But for me it only works in conjunction with sleeping pills and then I am up at 5 AM when the pills wear out. 5 GREAT hours of sleep.

Can't justify the addiction to the pills.

The wife keeps encouraging me to keep trying because she is a Nurse and tells me that it will extend my life. She should know because she is the one that is going to kill me in my sleep so that she can stop wearing earplugs.

I see some posts about people being side sleepers or not wanting to be forced to sleep on their back to use a CPAP. 
 

Maybe it's because I use a mask instead on nose pillows, but I have good results sleeping on my side. I'm now using an Airfit F20 and a buckwheat filled pillow from Amazon. The pillow is smaller that a standard pillow, but thicker and more supportive. This lets me put my head at the edge and keep pressure off the mask. 

At my last follow up the numbers for events and leak were all good so it seems like side sleeping isn't causing problems, other than occasionally waking up with the hose around my neck. 

No Time said:

I see some posts about people being side sleepers or not wanting to be forced to sleep on their back to use a CPAP. 
 

Maybe it's because I use a mask instead on nose pillows, but I have good results sleeping on my side. I'm now using an Airfit F20 and a buckwheat filled pillow from Amazon. The pillow is smaller that a standard pillow, but thicker and more supportive. This lets me put my head at the edge and keep pressure off the mask. 

At my last follow up the numbers for events and leak were all good so it seems like side sleeping isn't causing problems, other than occasionally waking up with the hose around my neck. 

I agree. I'm a back sleeper but I often roll onto a side about halfway through the night and it's always been totally fine.

Duke said:

No Time said:

In reply to spitfirebill :

Have you seen the new Inspire system? It looks interesting, and might be a consideration if CPAP isn't an option. 

It could be an option, but the Inspire system is basically a pacemaker that zaps your airway muscles rather than your heart.  It's invasive surgery to install and maintain.  I would have to be pretty bad off to give up on CPAP and try that.

same here.