Leak numbers always ZERO

[NevadaFox]

I just started APAP the first of March and started with a nasal mask. My median leak number averaged below 10, but the mask hure my nose so I contacted my DME and got them to switch me to the Swift FX pillows six days ago.

Now, my median leak number is always ZERO, but I still have about the same 95th percentile and max numbers (maybe a tad less, but not much).

Anyway, my question is why would my median leak number always be zero? It doesn't make sense to me... once I woke up with a dry mouth so I must of been leaking some.

Have ResMed 3.13 software.

BTW, I love the Swift FX!

[robysue]

Your leak rate was AT or BELOW the median leak rate for 50% of the night. And AT or ABOVE the median leak rate for 50% of the night. So the drop in median leak rate when you started using the Swift FX is most likely due to you having fewer problems with establishing a really good seal in the first place. Hence no detectable leaking for about half the night.

But the other half of the night, you could still have some problems with leaks. The dry mouth indicates that you might be opening your mouth or lips for part of the night. It doesn't actually need to be that long of a period either---which would easily allow the median leak rate to remain 0.0, but still be long enough to trigger waking up with the dry mouth. It could even be that the mouth leaks are "minor" in the sense of how much air is leaking---if what is happening is your lips opening slightly rather than you opening your mouth wide open.

As to why the 95% and max leak rates remain about the same: These are probably being driven by how long you are experiencing mouth leaks, lip flutters, or (for max leaks) taking the mask off (to go the bathroom? to scratch the nose? to rearrange the mask completely) So if the time spent in mouth leaks and lip flutters (both pre and post the mask change) are between 5% and 45% of the total night, that 95% leak rate number would likely remain about the same. If max leaks are triggered by (normal) behavior patterns involving either taking the mask off entirely or seriously adjusting it while the mask is on your face and the machine is on, then changing mask is not likely to change the maximum unintentional leak rate---which is what the ResScan software shows.

[NevadaFox]

Many thanks for a GREAT explanation!

[Pugsy]

Robysue did her usual great job of explaining the numbers.

You have the software. Look at your report and the graphs. You will likely times when the leak line is very minimal and times where it jumps up a bit. First culprit is indeed probably mouth opening. Maybe not a huge amount of time and maybe not a huge amount of leak sneaking through. If not huge and the AHI numbers seem to be well controlled and you are feeling okay, then don't worry about it. If the time in leak or if it is large or if AHI isn't so good and most importantly, if you aren't feeling so great, then you might want to investigate in something that will keep the mouth closed better. Chin strap, tape or whatever peaks your interest.

We all have little blips with our leak line from time to time. If the leak line stays well under that red line on your reports for the majority of the time then the machine can probably compensate well enough. If it doesn't, then further work may be needed to reduce leak.