Trying not to become Discouraged! Help GURUS

[cpappychulo]

Guys what gives?
This were my values with a comfort gel nasal mask:
Avg. Max Leak: 108 lpm
Avg. 90% Leak: 53.4 lpm
Avg. Leak 42 lpm
Avg time in large leak per night: 0 minutes

AHI: 2.5 - 5.5

Due to the high leaks and thanks to your advices I switch to a FFM , I even use tape around it to prevent leaks.

Avg. Max Leak: 110.8 lpm
Avg. 90% Leak: 50.1 lpm
Avg. Leak 45.8 lpm
Avg time in large leak per night: 0 minutes

AHI: 15.4 whats with this? Also my vibratory snore is by the roof? I dont get it. I read all this and I dont get it. My leaks are low but why the AHI is so high now with a FFM.
FFM have higher leak rates than Nose masks right?

Any input from you gurus will be appreciated.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): AHI

[Goofproof]

You were doing better on the ComfortGel, I would use it and tape my mouth. The F & P 431, caused my AHI to go up like yours did too. Jim

What setting are you using? 2 above and 2 below your 90% rate work best.

[oldgearhead]

I think its normal for a FF mask to score more snores than just a nasal
pillow mask. However, in my case My AHI seems to directly proportional
to my congestion, not my mask. I may score as high as 4.0 with a cold,
and as low as 0.0 when clear. My snores are mask dependant. I have
twice as many with my FF mask.

Without knowing your average pressure, I cannot coment on your leak rate.




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http://www.internetage.com/cpapinfo/leak-rates-1.html

[Wulfman]

How many nights are in each of those sets of averages?

Den

[cpappychulo]

These numbers are aonly from 1 night. I just took a "scientific nap" of 3 hrs and my numbers were:

AHI: 6.4

The pressures I usually spent a big chunk of my time is btw 15-17 cm h20
Avg. Max Leak: 91 lpm
Avg. 90% Leak:46 lpm
Avg. Leak 44 lpm
Avg time in large leak per night: 0 minutes
I think tonight Im going to tape my jaw so my mouth doesn't open so much and keep taping around the mask .
Jim thanks for the input, Ill switch to the nose mask if I dont improve, but why a FFM would increase your AHI?

Thanks guys for the wonderful input

[Wulfman]

One night isn't much to "average". If you're just starting on therapy, those might not be unreasonable numbers.
Remember, the report results are based on "air flow" sensors in the machines and (apparently) some masks can make a difference. On the other hand, if you're spending alot of time awake, while the machine is on (like watching TV), that can mess with the numbers, too. The truest results occur only when you're asleep.

Best wishes,

Den

[Mile High Sleeper]

It took me almost a year to get reasonable numbers with the UMFF. Now AHI is around 5 and leak rate and snore rate are down drastically. It helped a lot to get a new mask and new cushion. The first mask seemed fine, but I guess it wasn't. After 11 months, the UMFF effectiveness clicked in, don't really know why. I still get much better results with the Twilight NP, but stuffy nose prevents its use most of the time.

[Snoredog]

Avg. or 90% leak is what you want to look at, Max leak would indicate mouth breathing or a large leak, bound to happen at your pressure.

Based upon your pressure, your Avg. leak is really not all that bad. Leak would have to exceed 75L/m before the data becomes skewed or the machine fails to respond to events effectively.

Snore is more likely to happen with the FF mask than the nasal, so if you compare the two the FF mask should be the clear winner.

but what is causing the high AHI? You need to break down the events and see what is actually making up that score. A few beers can be responsible for a higher AHI of 15, had a few of those myself.

Is it a higher than normal OA or apnea or is it HI or Hypopnea? A higher number of HI would mean you could use the Min. pressure increased a bit higher or if those are mainly OA or apnea then is the Max. pressure doing its job?

[NightHawkeye]

Guys what gives? . . . thanks to your advices I switch to a FFM . . . AHI: 15.4 whats with this?

. . . I dont get it. My leaks are low but why the AHI is so high now with a FFM.

Any chance you have TMJ, or jaw issues?

The same thing happened to me with a FFM. The pressure of the mask against my lower jaw pushed the jaw back enough to increase my AHI. I found out that I can't use a FFM. Seems likely to be your problem also. If you've already been diagnosed with TMJ issues, it's a sure thing. If you suspect TMJ issues, you might consult with a doc to confirm it.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Bill

[cpappychulo]

Guys thank you for the input, this place ROCKS!!!!!