Almost every night I have to rip the mask off of my head at least once or twice to get at an itch or tickle around my nose that DRIVES me down right bananas!!!   I wash, clean, and dry my mask religiously everyday.  I replace and clean my air filters regularly...  but something is still causing it.  Has anyone else had this problem?   I shaved off all of my facial hair...   This is really gross, but I trimmed my nose hairs too (not that they were a problem, per se -- HAHA).  

I used to rip the mask off and leave it off...  now I put it right back on after I "get the itch" satisfied...  I usually sleep the rest of the night just fine.

Any ideas from some of you xPAP Pros out there????

Paul in SC


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mesocosm

OSA / PLMD / Atrial Fibrillation

This same topic came up on the other board. I get the tickles every once in a while but what will get me scrambling to take off my mask is to feel a sneeze coming on. It's like a race between the sneeze and my head gear to see which one comes off or out first.

Rick

It's hard to cough, yawn or sneeze with these things....


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*** Linda ***

Might try a nasal pillow type, nothing covers your nose, so the itch can be scratched.  I did have this problem with a full face mask, but since switching to pillow type, haven't had the problem...

I have had an epiphany with this itching and tickling under my FF mask...   I guess I have dry skin.  I put a little Lubriderm lotion on my nose and around it ...  BINGO ... problem solved.   I have had four nights in a row without taking the mask off!   I am finally starting to feel better after two months of this cpap.  The aerophagia has subsided and now the tickle is gone!


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mesocosm

OSA / PLMD / Atrial Fibrillation

Mesocosm, I knew that you were brilliant from the moment that I read your first post!  I can't believe that I never thought of that!  This was so interesting because when you first posted this thread, I had around 5 or 6 patients call me that week complaining of the same problem.  I waited...and I waited...and nothing came up that we hadn't already tried.  

The answer seems so easy, but I guess I didn't even think that a person might have dry skin on their face even though I couldn't see any cracks or flakes when I fitted them!  I'll tell you what....I'm in shock right now!

Brilliant,  I mean Brilliant!

CPAPsetupRT,

Thanks for the kind words...  I just keep trying different things...  lack of sleep will drive you to try all kinds of stuff in order to get better sleep.   Although, I am still not brave enough to tape my mouth shut yet (as some do)!  HAHA!


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mesocosm

OSA / PLMD / Atrial Fibrillation

I wish I had found this forum a long time ago. I also have a tickle around my nose. I do have dry skin, too. I'll try a little lotion after washing my face. I just began using my CPap machine again after a few years. I had a retritration study and my settings are much lower. It seems much easier to tolerate, too. I keep the mask on most of the time, but last night I found it laying on the floor with my machine running. I have no memory of doing that. Usually I remember.


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diagnoses with osa in 1997.