New Mask

[snorer2021]

Hello everyone, I just got a new mask per doctor's order. It is a Resmed N20 and I am having issues with air leaks. I have had it about a two weeks now and I can't seem to stop the air leaks, some as hight as 80%. I have uploaded my data to OSCAR and it does not look good, yet my AHI has been in the .70 to 2.5 range. I know as long as the AHI is within limits I am good but I keep hearing air leaks during the night and I would like to bring them down if possible.

Any inputs or suggestions are welcome.

[robysue1]

Hello everyone, I just got a new mask per doctor's order. It is a Resmed N20 and I am having issues with air leaks. I have had it about a two weeks now and I can't seem to stop the air leaks, some as hight as 80%.

Don't know what you mean by some of the leaks are as high as 80%. Leak data is not reported that way. Leak data is reported in Liters/minute. There are median and 95% leak rates (reported in L/m) that tell you what your leak rate was at or below for 50% and 95% of the night respectively.

If your leak rate is sometimes reaching 80 L/min, then yeah, you most likely have a problem.

I have uploaded my data to OSCAR and it does not look good, yet my AHI has been in the .70 to 2.5 range.

Actually seeing the OSCAR data would help us help you figure out what's going on in terms of leaks and whether they are adversely affecting your therapy.

I know as long as the AHI is within limits I am good but I keep hearing air leaks during the night and I would like to bring them down if possible.

The fact that you keep hearing the leaks indicates they are waking you up, and that's reason enough to fix them.

But to help us help you, we need to know what machine you are using and what your pressure levels are.

The Resmed N20 is a nasal mask. Are you brand new to CPAP? Or did this mask replace a mask that you had been using that had fewer leaks?

Since the N20 is a nasal mask, it's important to ask: Are you a mouth breather? Is air escaping through your mouth? Or is the problem that the mask is leaking around the seal? If so, can you tell us where you notice the leaks? Top? Sides? Or bottom?

[clownbell]

Profile indicate user has been on PAP therapy almost two years, so this is presumably not the first mask.

@OP - have you considered a pillow mask? Smaller area to seal (the nostrils only) so fewer mask leaks. Even if you are not a mouth breather during the day, it is possible that your mouth opens during the night as muscles relax. Have you considered taping? Some thoughts to ponder.