[Product Review] The Respironics Wisp Nasal Mask

[trish6hundred]

Hi timmo_1949,
WELCOME! to Apnea board.!
Masks are such an individual thing. If you have tried all the different cushions to get a proper fit and it didn't wor,, you will probably need to try a different mask.
Don't be shy about asking to try different ones 'til you find the right mask for you.
Best of luck.

[me50]

I don't much care for my Wisp. They gave it to me a titration sleep study. It is light and small and all, but I wake up with the tip of my nose being sore. Sometimes it moves such that inhalation is blocked, too. Seems like there should be a gel pad just inside the clear seal.

Your results may vary.

Timmo

try a different cushion size and also don't put the cushion up on the bridge of your nose. it isn't designed to go way up there. hope this helps.

[Eleong2]

Anyone having problems with the wisp mask causing pressure soars on the bridge of their nose? I had this problem big time with the wisp. The mask was as loose as it gets and still it almost created an open wound on the bridge of my nose? Even after tightening it to the max it mangled up my nose.

I wonder why I am the only one experiencing this with the wisp? My nose is thin up top and wide at the bottom, maybe my facial features just don't work with this mask?

I also get the pressure sores on the bridge of my nose using the Wisp. I have both the fabric and the silicone frames and I get the sores when I use the fabric. The fabric frame seems to twist some on my face when I roll around while sleeping. It doesn't happen with the hard frame though. I am currently using the Resmed Activa LT, I found that the Wisp leaked more than I liked. The Activa LT tend to glue to my face resulting in a very low leak rate and without getting my nose bridge sore. The Wisp is great, but I found something that works better. My Wisp is now my backup.
Ed

[trish6hundred]

Hi Eleong2,
It's good that you found a solution that works well for you. I don't have that problem, but masks are an individual thing, what works for me just might not work for you and that's okay.

[Blaifarm]

This mask is really good for me. I put it on and no leaks and I like the fact that it has three sizes of mask. The only thing I don't like about it is the harness, that it goes under my ears.

[critterdoc]

Anyone having problems with the wisp mask causing pressure soars on the bridge of their nose? I had this problem big time with the wisp. The mask was as loose as it gets and still it almost created an open wound on the bridge of my nose? Even after tightening it to the max it mangled up my nose.

I wonder why I am the only one experiencing this with the wisp? My nose is thin up top and wide at the bottom, maybe my facial features just don't work with this mask?

Anyone having problems with the wisp mask causing pressure soars on the bridge of their nose? I had this problem big time with the wisp. The mask was as loose as it gets and still it almost created an open wound on the bridge of my nose? Even after tightening it to the max it mangled up my nose.

I wonder why I am the only one experiencing this with the wisp? My nose is thin up top and wide at the bottom, maybe my facial features just don't work with this mask?

I also get the pressure sores on the bridge of my nose using the Wisp. I have both the fabric and the silicone frames and I get the sores when I use the fabric. The fabric frame seems to twist some on my face when I roll around while sleeping. It doesn't happen with the hard frame though. I am currently using the Resmed Activa LT, I found that the Wisp leaked more than I liked. The Activa LT tend to glue to my face resulting in a very low leak rate and without getting my nose bridge sore. The Wisp is great, but I found something that works better. My Wisp is now my backup.
Ed

Folks, i'm a little late to this party but would submit that significant pressure induced ulceration(s) on the bridge of the nose or on the immediately surrounding skin can be exceedingly dangerous and difficult to resolve. Any level of damage wherein the integrity of the skin is broken with non-blanchable redness of a localized area (i.e. Category/Stage 1 pressure ulceration) that even slightly approximates an open wound should immediately increase one's level of concern if not indicate the need for timely medical attention. Non-blanchable injury is where the degree of redness of the skin is more intensely red, does not change in color intensity when pressed with a finger, and can be an early sign of tissue destruction. In contrast, a blanchable insult pales when pressed with a fingertip, and then quickly turns red again when pressure is removed.

Visually judging the extent of an ulcer can be difficult and any chronic ulcerative process on the bridge of the nose warrants examination. IMO, no barrier, chemical or otherwise, should be depended upon to resolve an ongoing ulceration of the bridge of the nose unless recommended by a medical profession who is well versed in wound care.

That said, 3M manufactures a readily available barrier product named Cavilon No Sting Barrier Film which could be helpful in the case of minor localized pressure or friction induced irritation which is being caused by a mask or mask cushion.

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[critterdoc]

Oops, sorry for the breach boss!

For more details, sources of supply, and a how-to application video on Cavilon, search Google for "Cavilon No Sting Barrier Film"

[truetopath]

I know the last post on this was from July but I just started using this mask 3 nights ago. I am very impressed and have no leaking with it. I put the felt strap cozy things over the clips and have no lines on my face in the morning. The reason I docked the mask one star is the sizing of the cushion. The template said I'm a s/m but that pinched my nostrils closed. So I went with the large cushion and it fits beautifully. I highly reccomend getting the fit pack if you get this mask so you can try the different cushion sizes.

[PaulaO2]

Thanks for the review!

And unlike the rest of the forum, there's no such thing as "raising the dead" here in terms of when a thread was last used.

[parkerdt]

I got this mask from my DME when I picked up my machine. I have the fabric frame installed. When I first used it with a size large cushion, it made my whole nose red - like a nasty windburn/sunburn. Once that resolved, I tried again with the XL size. Works well, doesn't leak much as I toss and turn, and most importantly, doesn't hurt my nose. I like this mask a good deal, and it is my first alternate at this time.

Dave