How much leaking is bad?

Hi Everyone,

I have been on cpap for about a week now. Whilst I have no miracle stories to report, I have been feeling somewhat better.

I was wondering how big does a leak have to be before it is too bad and hence not working? I woke up last night and I had the smallest leak because I was scrunching my face into the pillow and it moved my mask a bit.

Thanks

welcome! i would'nt worry to much about a little leak like that. my technition told me that, even with quite a sizable leak, your cpap will still be functioning ok, it compansates for the leaked air. obviously if its a huge leak that should be checked out, so should a continuose leak, ie, night after night. but just a bit of air leaking when you screw up your face, is'nt something you should get to stressed out about what you need to do is, keep asking questions. the more we ask the more knoledge we'll have, and then more confidernce, we'll gain. wishing you luck with your cpap. jean

Dittto.

My DR said that the CPAP can compensate up to around 30%. I thought that was a litle excessive, but that's what he said.

Peter

I think the main thing to worry about with leaks is if they are annoying enough to wake you up; IMHO half the problem with OSA is the question of oxygen, the other half is the disturbed sleep. As has been said already, the machine can compensate to a degree, which should cover the oxygen problem.

But, don't forget, if you've only been on it a week, it's very early days yet. If you are already feeling a bit better, that is a sign that it is doing you good, so I wouldn't worry.