Bad sore on nose bridge

Do you know if they make something to help prevent sores on the bridge of my poor husband"s nose from his make (see below for type). And if so, will they create air leaks ? He is convinced any such thing will create leaks.
Thanks!!

There are several ways to prevent or aid this condition. Padacheek liners will help. They also make some silicone nose pads that will cushion the area. I have a Quattro full face mask that I use as a back up mask and I use the silicone pads to prevent nose bridge sores. PM your address and I will drop a couple in the mail to you. Short term... I would use a bandaid and possibly place a small strip of duct tape over the bandaid. Your hubby's skin on his nose will eventually get used to the abuse, but it may take a few years.

Sheriff

Sheriff Buford wrote:They also make some silicone nose pads that will cushion the area. I have a Quattro full face mask that I use as a back up mask and I use the silicone pads to prevent nose bridge sores.

I think I've seen a couple different types of those with varying reviews. Which one do you use? I was considering buying one as I have had that problem with every full face mask I've used (though the Amara was almost okay), but I got distracted when I saw the hybrid masks. I've been thinking those might be better than a liner, but if there is a specific brand that works for you I might give them a try.

djhall wrote:

Sheriff Buford wrote:They also make some silicone nose pads that will cushion the area. I have a Quattro full face mask that I use as a back up mask and I use the silicone pads to prevent nose bridge sores.

I think I've seen a couple different types of those with varying reviews. Which one do you use? I was considering buying one as I have had that problem with every full face mask I've used (though the Amara was almost okay), but I got distracted when I saw the hybrid masks. I've been thinking those might be better than a liner, but if there is a specific brand that works for you I might give them a try.

I'll have to look to see the brand when I get home. I used it while adjusting to the Quattro. I was scared away from full face masks early on when they wore terrible blisters on my nose bridge. A couple of months ago I got the Quattro and was impressed by the fact that the mask cushion inflates... which probably attributed more to the mask pressure on the nose bridge... rather than the silicone nose pads. My guess is that the silicone nose pads are probably all the same. Went back to my Fitlife Total mask. It's a great mask for me and I am sorta of the "hard-headed type" Don't nobody say nuthin' .

Sheriff

Once the spot is mostly healed, I put a small piece of 3M NexCare transpore tape on the offending area. It's very thin plastic, super stretchable and sticks all night. It prevents rubbing and as a plus, it comes off easy in the morning.

http://www.nexcare.com/wps/portal/3M/en ... 562&rt=rud

The silicone gel pads (sold at CPAP.com) work pretty good for me but aren't perfect.

I currently utilize three masks as I pick the one that will cause the least pain until my skin toughens up as the Sheriff noted.

I wore the new Quattro Air last night with a gel pad and had an AHI of 1.9 and a leak rate of 2L/min. But, it's not always roses for me while I'm trying to get used to this therapy.

Take care,

Thewino

When I started this, my FFM caused nose bridge sores that made the area look like raw meat. My DME said they had never seen it so bad. Here's what worked for me.

I loosened the mask for a few nights so as not to irritate the area any further (leaks be damned for a night or two). I used bandaids (plastic) over the area. I had tried cotten pads and regular bandaids, but only the plastic worked for me. I guess being plastic, the mask could slide over it enough so as not to irritate the area further and leaks didn't get too bad. Once the area began to heal, I used an acne astringent over the area before bed. My DME recommended this and I still don't know why it helped, but it did. I continued using the bandaids for about two months, even though the area had healed completely. I decided to give it a try without a bandaid one night and was fine. I guess the area had "toughened" up enough that the mask no longer irritated it.

I still have a couple boxes of plastic bandaids in my cabinet since I figured I'd have to use them permanently.

It's too darned tight!

The old Quattro is a great mask for many people, and has a cut out at the nasal bridge area to prevent heavy pressure at that point and pressure sores. For me at least it has been one of the best cushion designs out there (The Amara lacks the cut out and caused severe pressure sores) -- but the special design can only go so far.

I bet your husband has the mask cranked down far too tightly, using the forehead dial. It does not need to be that tight to prevent leaks.

Treat the ulcers, use Neosporin, bandage it, let it heal, and use a dressing on it each night. And/or use a different mask until it heals.

But do re-read the instructions, re-watch the ResMed videos online, and daily clean the mask with soap and water. A squeaky clean mask and skin is a must to prevent leaks. You will better learn to fit the mask just tight enough -- but not overtighten.

That should help immensely.

hyperlexis wrote:It's too darned tight! ... I bet your husband has the mask cranked down far too tightly, using the forehead dial. It does not need to be that tight to prevent leaks.

That's what everyone says. My experience has been that when the dial is loose I have constant leaks on the sides around 3/4 of an inch below the bridge of the mask. The only way to stop them is to pinch the sides closer to the bridge of my nose, but I can't pinch my mask all night (though I suppose I could figure out a DIY modification). Dialing the forehead dial down tight stops the side leaks but it also ruins the bridge of my nose.

I'm starting to think mask manufacturers use a middle ground between people with wide and flat nasal bridges and people with tall narrow nasal bridges to avoid doubling the number of cushions they have to manufacture, and people who are toward the two extremes just don't fall inside the sweet spot.