Any suggestions about high leak

[tbowspen]

I've been on CPAP for 6 years with nasal pillows, and am having difficulty with reported leak rates lately. On Resmed A10. Reading the clinical sleep report on it, my leak was 28L last night. Since it's been going up over the past month, I've changed out everything (pillows, tubing), but still going up. My leak for the past year with the A10 has averaged 4L (Resmed readings, which I understand subtract expected leak).

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what is going on? I have had no changes in my physical condition (sinsuses, nose, face).

Thanks!

[ChicagoGranny]

Any suggestions about high leak

To reduce unintentional mask leak -

- Make sure the mask is fitted properly. (See mask manufacturer's video.)

- Make sure the headgear is adjusted properly (See mask manufacturer's video.)

- Make sure to use good hose management - the hose should not pull on the mask. Notice how your hose is positioned between machine and mask. It should be positioned to minimize any pull on the mask. Hose management is an individual practice. How it is done depends on the mask, the position of the machine, your sleeping position and other factors specific to the individual.

- If you still have problems, learn from the forum what mask liners are available.

- If your mask still has excessive leak, try other masks. Many people report trying several masks before they find one that works well for them.

Note: Links to just about all of the mask manufacturers' instructional videos can be found on the forum host's website - https://www.cpap.com/cpap-masks.php

- CG

[LSAT]

Mouth breathing?

[Midnight Strangler]

Mouth breathing?

That's the first question to ask given the information available from tbowspen.

[robysue]

I've been on CPAP for 6 years with nasal pillows, and am having difficulty with reported leak rates lately. On Resmed A10. Reading the clinical sleep report on it, my leak was 28L last night.

What do you mean by "reading the clinical sleep report on it, my leak was 28L last night"?

Was that number the 95% Leak Rate? Was it the median Leak Rate? Was it the maximum Leak Rate? Or was it the average Leak Rate?

Without knowing which Leak Rate number you are talking about, there's no good way of telling you about its meaning.

If your 95% Leak Rate is 28L/min, that means that for (at least) 5% of the night your leaks were AT or ABOVE 28 L/min and for (at least) 95% of the night your leaks were AT or BELOW 28 L/min. It's quite possible to have an average leak rate of 4L/min and a 95% Leak Rate of 28L/min. And it's quite possible that overall your leaks are well within a range that indicates little or no serious leaks for almost 95% of the night. If that's the case, it may not be worth it to try to eliminate the last bit of leaking, even if it is above the 24 L/min Red Line.

On the other hand, it's also possible that you're leaking pretty significantly for most of the night with a 95% leak rate equal to 28 L/min and that something needs to be done. (Although if your average leak rate for the night is 4 L/min, then there's a pretty low probability that you are leaking at a rate of 24 L/min for extensive periods of time.)