Could I Get Some Input On This Data?

[VerySleepy]

I wonder if I could get some knowlegable input on this data from one night? I think I obviously have a big leak isssue, but any light shed on the whole thing would be appreciated.

My prescribed pressure is 11.

One specific question: I have the Leak Alert set on my machine, so should it be going off during the night?

Here is the link:
http://www.geomore.com/sleep/sleep.jpg

[roztom]

YOur data looks great except for that leak.

The leak makes we question the data, do you get the same kind of numbers on a night without the leak?

I see you have a UMFF mask.

I recently had a similar experience with mine.

One of the Luhr nuts on the front fell off and was a leak source. Make sure those 2 nuts are tight. IF you rub your mask on your pillow they can lossen and fall off.

Also check where the valve seat is where the hose attaches to the mask. That joint where it attaches to the mask on mine came partially loose and opened a huge air leak. It was right at the point the 90 degree angle piece attaches to the mask. I thought it was exhaust at first. Sounded like a wind tunnel.

I wish I had your numbers - maybe I ought to try a leak.

Best,

Tom

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[VerySleepy]

I have similar numbers every night, cannot say what they would be like without the leak because I have only 3 days of data and the average amount of Large Leakage is 300 minutes per night.

[roztom]

Make sure there is no leak where the humidifier seats in the machine.

Have you had this leak every night?

tom

[VerySleepy]

Tom,

Thank you for the help. This is the first time I have ever looked at this data, so I'm not sure what's normal and what's not.

I made a mistake in my second post. I said I was averaging 300 minutes of Large Leak per night. The actual average is 165 minutes.

I'm not using the humidifier right now. There don't seem to be any extra leaks anywhere. I do have a minimal amount of facial hair, so could that account for the baseline leak of about 70?

I feel like I have a pretty good seal when I go to bed. The mask stays on all night.

I have now posted the other three nights of data I have at:


http://www.geomore.com/sleep/

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier, seal

[Snoredog]

I can tell by your report you must be using a Resmed UMFF... dang near looks like mine with all those leaks and snore tics. I thought I was the only one that got those LL BLACK tics across the page.

As for the data? Looks like the machine found the same pressure as your titration. You would think that 12cm would be better since it results in 0.0, but its not, the next lowest pressure.

I agree those mask leaks are a huge problem for you, so much so, you cannot rely on the data in your reports being accurate. Don't worry, other FF masks seem to leak even more.

Suggest:

Cleaning the mask: Skin oils seem to make the mask leak more. Cleaning the mask more frequently really helps to remove any skin oils which are more a problem during the warmer days. I use Dawn liquid hand soap in hot water in the bathroom sink but you can use what you want. I don't take the cushion off, that is too hard to put back on, just push the forehead pivot button and pivot the top part of mask completely off leaving the headgear connected to the forehead part, then release the bottom clips and you are ready to clean the main mask. I clean it like I'm cleaning a beer glass and rinse.

Wash your face using soap and clean right before bed.

Crank up on the straps: Crank up on the headgear straps but not so much where it causes too much discomfort or puts a big wrinkle in the cushion, this will make it leak more.

I have a Select Comfort bed, don't toss and turn much so I can use that mask pretty easy, but some nights my reports can look just like yours. You can see if your mask is a problem by having a backup like an Activa. You can always use a little tape to stop any mouth leaks. But if you are like me, that UMFF is pretty darn comfortable to wear, that is until they double the price of it then it won't be so comfortable.

I try and hang on to the hose and sleep on my side letting the mask hang off the end of the pillow.

Lastly, does your UMFF sound like a bull-frog when you breathe in/out? Know mine does, my old one didn't do that, but the newest one sure does. I swear that sucker is what is triggering all those snores you see. Who knows...

Leak Alert: If you set the leak alert=1 it should be sounding the alarm when there is LL detected (anything over 75L/m should trigger it). The alarm will stop should you stop the leak (like roll over etc.). Test it, it should take like 1.5 minutes of leak before it sounds then another 1.5 min til it shuts off the machine.

If you look at your report you'll see a baseline leak rate (i.e. where your sinewave goes above/below the imaginary line), if you have your leaks under control, that imaginary line should move down about 25L/m.

[VerySleepy]

Lastly, does your UMFF sound like a bull-frog when you breathe in/out?

No everything is as quiet as a mouse.

Since my results seem to be dead on the titration pressure, is there any reason to continue in APAP mode? My "Vibratory Snores" are the lowest at that pressure in all the data.

[Snoredog]

Lastly, does your UMFF sound like a bull-frog when you breathe in/out?

No everything is as quiet as a mouse.

Since my results seem to be dead on the titration pressure, is there any reason to continue in APAP mode? My "Vibratory Snores" are the lowest at that pressure in all the data.

[VerySleepy]

I followed all instructions, and it worked! Hooked up the humidifier, detected a very small leak, but fixed it using the pull-seal-out-and-reseat method! Washed my face, and clamped down on the mask. I had no idea it had to be so tight! While I was at it, set machine to CPAP mode at 11 (with C-Flex on 2). Got in nearly 7 hours of time last night.

Vibratory Snoring Index dropped from an average of 100 to 28. Large Leak dropped from average of 165 minutes to 35 minutes (8% of night). Large Leaks were limited to two-15-minute periods during the night. The near-solid black from leaks was essentialy gone.

This made more events visible on the therapy flags; instead of them being hidden in the bad data! Hypopnea Index was 1.6 with about 7 events and Obstructive Apnea Index was .3 with one event. AHI was 1.8

With the help of you guys, I can now see what the data should look like. And you were right on in saying that the bad data was masking the true results. THANK YOU!

P.S. I think this illustrates how far in the dark one can be without this software.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier, C-FLEX, CPAP, AHI, Hypopnea