Help my poor nose!

Longtime cpap user. Mirage Quattro FFM for 12+ years, Airsense 10, apap 16 to 18. Pad-a-cheek anti leak strap

I've tamed the quattro very well when I can sleep on a bed. On Oscar the AHI is 1.5 or less and large leak 2.5% or less. These days I need to sleep on a lift chair as I'm recovering from patellar tendon surgery and may have rotator cuff surgery in the near future.

With the lift chair, I have severe redness on the bridge of my nose each morning. I've replaced the quattro cushion, religiously wash the cushion daily with mild soap, wash face before bed, and carefully adjust the anti-leak strap each night. Tried multiple positions of the lift chair but have not been able to find a position that does not result in a red nose each morning. Plus, large air leaks are 20% higher on Oscar. The leaks are not audible to me or my spouse.

Any suggestions on what next to try? I've bought ahead on cushions so need to stay with the Quattro for at least another year...

MyIdaho wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 14, 2024 3:21 pm

(snip)
Any suggestions on what next to try? I've bought ahead on cushions so need to stay with the Quattro for at least another year...

Routing of the hose. Up, down, sideways, try 'em all. You can't use a different bed, you can't use a different mask. Move the hose around and find the position that causes least pressure at your injury point. Masks are meant to be loose, the cushion inflates like a balloon to seal best... that's why mask fitment is best done at full pressure.

This is one of many reasons to keep a different style of mask around just-in-case. Good luck.

What about some sort of barrier between mask and where your nose is getting red???
Mask liner maybe? Or maybe even a small strip of moleskin?
You can make your own mask liner out of an old T Shirt.
Might affect the leak numbers a bit but would be better than having a hamburger nose.

Vandownbyriver, you're my hero! Adjusting the hose up (air entry toward eyes) relieved pressure on the nose during a half hour nap! Slept like a baby. Having the hose enter from below was not a problem UNLESS there was a downward pull on the hose (could easily occur by changing position in the chair or resting my arm on the hose). Very happy, very simple fix! Thank you so very much! Looking forward to full test tonight!

Hi Pugsy! You've helped me many times in the past! I've tried using various tapes and bandaids. They help some but do not totally solve the problem. Some mornings I can see a line where the inner liner of the cushion was poking into my nose. Perhaps I was pulling down on the hose to create the issue. Adjusting the hose entry looks like it may solve the problem. I'll also try your tip with a piece of cloth from an old t-shirt tomorrow. One change at a time!

Hopefully a little change in routing of the hose will fix your problem.

I will be honest....I don't have much stuff available in my little bag of tricks when it comes to full face mask issues since I have never really used one and don't even own a FFM. 15 years of cpap use now and I still really haven't ever needed one which is a good thing since I never really found one I cared for and especially any FFM that touches the sides of my nose. That's a deal breaker for me.

I hope things work out for you.

When I had that problem, I used a small piece of moleskin on my nose every night. You can find it in the foot care section of Walmart or drug store. If you decide you need to use it for an extended period of time, you can buy rolls of it from Amazon.

MyIdaho wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 14, 2024 5:27 pm

Vandownbyriver, you're my hero! Adjusting the hose up (air entry toward eyes) relieved pressure on the nose during a half hour nap! Slept like a baby. Having the hose enter from below was not a problem UNLESS there was a downward pull on the hose (could easily occur by changing position in the chair or resting my arm on the hose). Very happy, very simple fix! Thank you so very much! Looking forward to full test tonight!
(snip)

Hooray! Made my day... glad to help. As a decade-and-a-half user, if I'm awake I'm constantly aware of the hose... if I don't know where it is, I find it. Often I can stop mask leaking by pulling/otherwise on the hose, I find it in my grip most of the night... for my (Vitera) FF mask the pressure on the nose is *lessened* by pulling the hose from below... as I'm discovering, the quick-release (click-release?) hose fitting is less tuggable than my other masks (Zest, Simplus). Sleep tight!

I have the same problem, right now I have a horrible bruise on the bridge of my nose. Previous answers don't tell what type of mask is being used. I'm using the full face mask, I also have a very large nose, hooked. I've tried every type of soft material over the sore. Especially purchased to protect the nose. I'm at a huge loss of attempts, the leaking has increased my events to 50 on most nights. Please any help with suggestions would be appreciated.

Dejeman wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 15, 2024 5:06 pm

I have the same problem, right now I have a horrible bruise on the bridge of my nose. Previous answers don't tell what type of mask is being used. I'm using the full face mask, I also have a very large nose, hooked. I've tried every type of soft material over the sore. Especially purchased to protect the nose. I'm at a huge loss of attempts, the leaking has increased my events to 50 on most nights. Please any help with suggestions would be appreciated.

Get a mask that doesn't touch the bridge of your nose area at all.

There are several available.

It would also be helpful if we knew exactly which mask you are currently trying to use.

Dejeman wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 15, 2024 5:06 pm

Previous answers don't tell what type of mask is being used.

if you look at the bottom of each of those posts, it says what mask they are using.

Dejeman wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 15, 2024 5:06 pm

I have the same problem, right now I have a horrible bruise on the bridge of my nose. Previous answers don't tell what type of mask is being used. I'm using the full face mask, I also have a very large nose, hooked. I've tried every type of soft material over the sore. Especially purchased to protect the nose. I'm at a huge loss of attempts, the leaking has increased my events to 50 on most nights. Please any help with suggestions would be appreciated.

I recommend the Evora full-face mask by F&P. There are many new masks doing the same thing, the new ResMed F40 has the same thing going on, but with magnets. Everyone should have at least two styles of mask available for just this kind of thing. Most of the masks on the market right now don't touch the bridge of the nose.