Sinus Infection

[DeannaM]

Hello. I am a newbie. I have had my cpap for 6 days now. Currently, the mask I am using is the Eson nasal mask. During the night the mask shifts upward a bit and butts up right against my nose. Now I am developing a sore on one of my nostrils, there is a little bit of blood when I blow my nose and some icky discharge that could be a sinus infection.

My question is do I continue to use the machine if I have a sinus infection or sore on my nose where the mask rubs.

I get little or no help from the DME, I have not seen the sleep doc yet. My GP ordered the sleep tests. So I do not know who to ask for help. BTW, thank you for all of your helpful information. There are a lot of features of the machine that the DME never bothered to explain. Thank you!

[retired_guy]

Hi Deanna,

You want to treat that sore before it becomes a bigger issue for you. What you want to do is pick up a tube of HPA Lanolin from the baby isle department at your local pharmacy. Put a very small amount of it on your nose before you go to bed.

Are you using a humidifier? At what setting?

[DeannaM]

Hi Deanna,

You want to treat that sore before it becomes a bigger issue for you. What you want to do is pick up a tube of HPA Lanolin from the baby isle department at your local pharmacy. Put a very small amount of it on your nose before you go to bed.

Are you using a humidifier? At what setting?

I have the humidifier set at 3.5 and the heat set at 80 degrees. I just found out from this board how to go into clinician mode and change setting so I could adjust humidity. The DME had that feature "turned off".

[trish6hundred]

Hi DeannaM,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
The HPA Lanolin will help that soar spot on your nose.
It's great to hear that you are figuring out the settings and taking CPAP therapy into your own hands.
Hang in there for more responses to your post and best of luck to you.

[zonk]

My question is do I continue to use the machine if I have a sinus infection or sore on my nose where the mask rubs.

See your GP about any sinus infection. Mask liner helps with the rubbing on the nose but that also might mean the cushion is wrong size, mask not fitted correctly or even the mask is not the right choice. Trial a different mask until you find the right on, not unusual to trial different masks, have you tried nasal pillows masks? Wash the cushion every day does helps with the seal, I use chinstrap over the mask, helps keeps the mask in place during the night

Ask for the heated tube (ClimateLine), on auto mode, you can adjust temp to your preference and no rainout (water in tube)

[DeannaM]

Okay! I am getting some great advice. How do I get a different mask? When I met with the DME, I tried a nasal pillow, it did not fit right and she was not pleased that she would have to throw it away because it was in my nose. So we went with the one the sleep tech recommended? Do I ask her for a different one? She implied that I have to stick with the one that was given to me. It seems to be a good one, but I think it is too big for my nose.

[retired_guy]

It is normal for new CPAP clients (NOT PATIENTS -- you are the DME's CLIENT) to need to try a variety of masks to find the right and perfect one for them. So don't let her being "not pleased" that she was going to have to throw something away discourage you. She'll actually just return the mask for credit back to her supplier.

Now, about the pillows.... I don't know which pillows mask she tried on you but a crowd pleaser around here is the Resmed P10. There are a number of different pillow sizes and many of us have discovered it works wonderfully when we use one size larger than we really think we need. So there's that....

Also many around here like the full face masks such as the Resmed F10. Or the new nasal mask the Resmed N10.

So shop the masks and don't listen to anybody telling you that you have to "stay with," any particular mask... You do not...

[zonk]

How do I get a different mask?

As retired_guy said, your DME return the mask to the manufacturer
Most manufacturers allows the patient to return the mask within 30 days

Replacement schedule per insurance and Medicare
http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...6_Medicare

Edit: ResMed Gecko nasal pads can helps with the sore on the bridge of your nose
http://www.resmed.com/ap/products/gecko_...c=patients

[Terry]

Okay! I am getting some great advice. How do I get a different mask? When I met with the DME, I tried a nasal pillow, it did not fit right and she was not pleased that she would have to throw it away because it was in my nose. So we went with the one the sleep tech recommended? Do I ask her for a different one? She implied that I have to stick with the one that was given to me. It seems to be a good one, but I think it is too big for my nose.

The other option is that you can actually buy any mask that you think would work, over the internet. Many of the places allow xx day return policy, some for a small up-front fee.

There are tons more masks than your DME has to offer and I'm sure you'll find at least one that works for you, even if you have to pay for it. (they typically run $60-$120 online)

Terry

[Simon M]

The ResMed P10 is an excellent mask - and Retired Guy is right when he says not to be dissuaded by anyone; just choose what's comfortable for you (it's your nose, after all).