Leaks, Leaks, Leaks!

[sister]

Sister,
You've tried a mouth guard and chin strap, but did you try both at the same time? And you may have to change your headgear.
I came home from the DME with a Swift FX in April and it wasn't until Sept. that I gave up tweaking and experimenting to stabilize the pillows. Could not keep leaky air out of my eyes no matter what i tried. My face shape and the FX were so not meant for each other It's unfortunate because the FX is so light I hated to give it up.
So tried my hubby's back-up Opus 360. The pillows are a little firmer and don't pop out of my nares as easily. After three nights of adjusting the straps I got a great fit and a L/min of 5 or less (some nights 0.0L/min).
I use the mouth guard and chin strap to keep my lips from going Bbbbbbzzzzzzzzs and loosing therapy air! Hubby is happy I don't wake him and I feel lots better.
Good luck finding your solution...hope it happens real soon!
cindy

Hi Cindy,
I use chinstrap, mouth guard,and tape all ta the same time.I feel that I really have no leaks because the pillows are sealed, and the mouth, when i wake up each morning. i really don't understand it!

[Janknitz]

Any chance there could be a leak in your hose or the connections between the hose and the machine or the hose and the mask?

[sister]

Any chance there could be a leak in your hose or the connections between the hose and the machine or the hose and the mask?

Hi, i don't think so,I checked all that out.
I change my hose and wash it every day. Checked them with water, no leaks.
THanks!

[sister]

Hi, well I had a talk with the therapist at the sleep center yesterday about my leaks and she said I don't need to worry about them!
she said as long as I have a good AHI and I feel good, leaks were not that important. I told her that I had been doing everything under the sun to try and get them down but she kept insisting that there was going to be some leaks and I was to keep working with it but not to worry if I had some leaks.
I told her I had read that if your leaks were high your data was inaccurate but she didn't seem concerned!
Lots of times I have an AI of 0.0 but my HI is higher so that makes my AHI higher.
Last night for example, my AHI was 3.5 AI 0.0 HI 3.5.
I'm usually within the normal range,<5 but have really high leaks.
Example- 0.80l/s - 0.78l/s 0.72l/s 0.68l/s 0.66l/s 0.62l/s 0.54l.s

Now, do I just ignore these leaks as she told me to?
I use a mouth guard,wide chin strap,tape,and sometimes polident. I am really having a hard time with these leaks.
Do you ever get to the point you just want to throw your hands up and say NO MORE !!!!!!!!
I will keep trying but sometimes it's hard.

GOD BLESS YOU!

[Gerald]

Sister.........

If you have conquered "mouth leaks", that means the pressure loss can come only from the mask......and its connection with your nose.

For over three years, I've used Lansenoh lanolin on my nares.....every night. This stuff is great......it adds comfort, but most importantly, it helps the seal between the mask and my nose.

You'll find the stuff in the "baby section" of the drugstore....it's for "nursing moms". I dispense a little blob that measures about 1/4" long....and slather it on my nares. I do this AFTER I've applied my 2" Blue 3M #2080 delicate release painter's tape.

[sister]

Hi Gerald,
Thanks so much for responding! I will get some of the cream and try it. I really want to use nasal pillows [Swift fx], it is so comfortable.
Have a wonderful day!

[brazospearl]

sister, I'd still try to get the leak rate down; those look far too high to me. No new suggestions about how to make that happen, there've been many good tips made already. Hope you find a solution.

[sister]

sister, I'd still try to get the leak rate down; those look far too high to me. No new suggestions about how to make that happen, there've been many good tips made already. Hope you find a solution.

Thanks so much! I am going to try the cream from the baby section as soon as I go to the store tomorrow. I just know this is going to be my answer.
GOD BLESS YOU!

[Gerald]

Sister.......

I'm going to attempt to explain how I adjusted my mask to prevent leaks between the nosepiece and my nares. I developed the technique long ago....in an industry that has nothing to do with CPAP therapy.

I grew up in the school bus sales and rebuilding industry.....and years ago, we had to mount new style mirrors that protected children as they walked in front of the bus. These mirrors had to be mounted on buses that had never been equipped with them. Following is the way I did it.

I'd sit in the driver seat.....ask one of my men to hold the new mirror in the approximate position....then I told him to move the mirror in various directions and positions......until it was in the BEST position for viewing the children as they crossed in front of the bumper. Once it was PERFECTLY positioned, I'd tell my man to "freeze"....to hold his position....and I'd then get out of the driver's seat.....walk to where the mirror was "frozen in space".....and I'd then figure out what sort of bracketry I'd need to mount it in that position on the bus.

Notice that I didn't mount the brackets first......I determined where the mirror should be BEFORE I mounted the brackets.

SO....how does all this apply to your leak problem? Well, the principles involved are all the same.

I suggest that you disconnect your nosepiece from the gear that mounts it to your head. Put on some Lansenoh, turn on your CPAP machine......and then start experimenting with nosepiece position....to see which position delivers the best seal.

Once you've determined the exact position the nosepiece shoulde be in, start tinkering with and adjusting your headrest gear......so that the nosepiece is in the exact position for best seal after you put it all back together.

I realize this was a sort of goofy explanation......but maybe it'll help you kill the leaks.

[ozij]

I'll repeat what I said a few pages back:
The S8's screen shows you maximum leak -- not how long it was.

That is not enough info - and may be misleading. You have to use the software to know when the leak/s happen/s and how long they last.

Get the software to understand when your leaks happen.

O.