New member and question: Does a leaky mask cause a false periodic breathing reading?

[Ander35]

New Member here, hello.

I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea in a sleep study with a 23 ahi. I am 49 5'5 160 pounds other wise good health. I use a dreamstation apap machine set to 5-20. I am finally able to sleep through the night and get an improved ahi of 5-8 but I get indication of a leak in the VA revamp sleep app. I think this is because when I put my head to the right at night it opens the seal on the side of the mask. This I can fix by (painfully) tightening the mask I guess.

Other question:

Does a leak mask cause a false alert or reading for periodic breathing?

I have periodic breathing and just want to establish that. I did not show cheney stokes in my sleep lab.

I would upload my oscar cpap data but I dont know how to upload it it here.

[Julie]

You can do Oscar from the stickies at the top of the page. I also suggest you do a forum search (or Google) for Cpap bed pillows as there are various ones (with cutouts) to accommodate side sleepers so you don't get those leaks. I wouldn't worry about Cheyne Stokes yet until further notice as they're unlikely to be 'real' but what we call sleep-wake junk when you're falling asleep or just waking.

[Ander35]

Okay testing pic post here, thank you.

[Ander35]

[ChicagoGranny]

Here is the easy link to Ander's charts - https://imgur.com/a/eFVtpfL

For future reference, when posting images, click on the Attachments tab at the bottom of the page, select Attach File and upload it from your device, click on Place Inline, then Preview, and then Submit. Your image will be hosted on the cpaptalk servers.

[tbeb]

New Member here, hello.

I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea in a sleep study with a 23 ahi. I am 49 5'5 160 pounds other wise good health. I use a dreamstation apap machine set to 5-20. I am finally able to sleep through the night and get an improved ahi of 5-8 but I get indication of a leak in the VA revamp sleep app. I think this is because when I put my head to the right at night it opens the seal on the side of the mask. This I can fix by (painfully) tightening the mask I guess....

I'm new too. I've used cpap equipment 26 nights. My sleep study AHI was 28. I can't answer your periodic breathing question, but I'll tell you my experience pertaining to mask leaks. My machine is a Dreamstation cpap auto with humidifier. I use a full face mask. I'm a side sleeper. I'm now on my third mask. I used the first one for 16 nights. To limit leaks I had to tighten it so much that my neck would hurt in the morning. The second one leaked because the largest cushion was too small. I've used the third one 3 nights. So far, I'm happy with it. Last nights numbers from Dreamstation's "My Info" were: AHI-3.3; 90% Pressure-13.5; Periodic Breathing-0%; Mask Fit-94%. 94% is the lowest to date. Average has been 98%. I'm not too concerned with the 94% because respiratory tech at my home medical supply store said 90% to 100% is good.

(I read reviews on many cpap pillows. FWIW, I purchased the buckwheat hull and foam pillow from pur-sleep.com. Only used it the last 2 nights. Pretty sure the owner is a member of this forum.)

[Ander35]

Here is the easy link to Ander's charts - https://imgur.com/a/eFVtpfL

For future reference, when posting images, click on the Attachments tab at the bottom of the page, select Attach File and upload it from your device, click on Place Inline, then Preview, and then Submit. Your image will be hosted on the cpaptalk servers.

Thank you, ChicagoGranny.

[Ander35]

New Member here, hello.

I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea in a sleep study with a 23 ahi. I am 49 5'5 160 pounds other wise good health. I use a dreamstation apap machine set to 5-20. I am finally able to sleep through the night and get an improved ahi of 5-8 but I get indication of a leak in the VA revamp sleep app. I think this is because when I put my head to the right at night it opens the seal on the side of the mask. This I can fix by (painfully) tightening the mask I guess....

I'm new too. I've used cpap equipment 26 nights. My sleep study AHI was 28. I can't answer your periodic breathing question, but I'll tell you my experience pertaining to mask leaks. My machine is a Dreamstation cpap auto with humidifier. I use a full face mask. I'm a side sleeper. I'm now on my third mask. I used the first one for 16 nights. To limit leaks I had to tighten it so much that my neck would hurt in the morning. The second one leaked because the largest cushion was too small. I've used the third one 3 nights. So far, I'm happy with it. Last nights numbers from Dreamstation's "My Info" were: AHI-3.3; 90% Pressure-13.5; Periodic Breathing-0%; Mask Fit-94%. 94% is the lowest to date. Average has been 98%. I'm not too concerned with the 94% because respiratory tech at my home medical supply store said 90% to 100% is good.

(I read reviews on many cpap pillows. FWIW, I purchased the buckwheat hull and foam pillow from pur-sleep.com. Only used it the last 2 nights. Pretty sure the owner is a member of this forum.)

Yes, the minute one problem is solved another pops up!

[ChicagoGranny]

To limit leaks I had to tighten it so much that my neck would hurt in the morning.

No mask is designed to be tightened like the first one described above. For any mask, it's a good idea to find the exact model on youtube and watch three or four videos on fitting and adjusting.

I'm glad your third mask seems acceptable.