interpreting leak data - help.

[ltd123]

Today I got a printout of the last 3 months on bipap. Considering the fact that for the last 2 weeks my sleep seems more restless and I have 3 or more awakenings each night, lots of the numbers look surprisingly good to me. Of course I know very little about any of this so maybe someone can help me spot the cause.

for last 3 months:
obstructive apnea index ave 1.2
ave AHI 2
ave vibratory snore 0.4
ave max leak 128
average 90% leak 53.3
ave leak 44.2
ave large leak 11 min
(this data did include a few of those early nights where I took the mask off in my sleep and it "leaked" all night - possibly skewing these numbers???)

separate date was listed for the past 5 days:
obstructive apnea = 1.4 0.5 0.7 1.0 2.0
ahi = 1.7 1.2 1.5 1.5 2.0
ave mask leak= 33 35 32 32 38
large leaks were 0 % for all 5 nights

my question is this : does the data above seem to indicate I am losing effectiveness of the machine due to mask leaks or do the 32 - 38 % leak numbers seem acceptable?

Just another piece of info: the last night's data (OA 2, AHI 2, Aveleak 38) was the "best" sleep night comfortwise for me of the 5. I took an Ambien CR and did not awaken all night which is a real plus in my opinion. I was taking the low dose ambien CR for about 60 days hoping to get used to the mask. I stopped taking it every night and now try to use it twice a week instead (to avoid getting dependent and to avoid it losing effectiveness which it began to do after 40 days).

My goal would be to go to sleep and not wake up til morning and get the most benefit possible from the machine.

I appreciate any help interpreting these numbers.
Thanks,
Laura

[Snoredog]

Your numbers look pretty good, but you have some Max leak data that is high at 128 for 11 minutes, for the mask you are using I would suspect that to be either a large leak or possibly even mouth breathing. If you have bouts of dry mouth, I would look at that data a bit closer but it was most likely just a large leak which can happen.

the leak data for past 5 days looks even better in the 30's which depending on your pressure is where you would expect to be with the ComfortClassic.

As a goal, I would keep mask leak below 40L/m with that interface. As for it impacting how the machine responds, that wouldn't happen until you got over 75L/m, the reports would indicate a solid black line above the leak data.

[ltd123]

Thanks for the reply! I had not realized the leak data would be judged by what mask was being used. I need to update my profile. The mask I was using during the posted data time was the comfortlite - sometimes with the nasal pillows and sometimes with the over-the-nose part.

Mouth leaks are a big problem for me. (at least they are comfort-wise ... I am trying to see if they are also effecting the benefit I get from the bipap machine.) I tape and/or use the DIY mouth piece - both of which are very frustrating. My tongue seems to work hard to come up with ways to bypass the effectiveness of whatever I use. When my cheeks puff up with the trapped air (tape) that seems to wake me up as does the pooiing of saliva involved with the DIY after a couple of hours. I would so much love to stay asleep longer without awakening to adjust everything.

I have ordered the hybrid full face mask - thinking that may solve the above problems. I have hopes but big doubts...
Laura