Questions about leaks impact on sleep

[TheClerk]

Hi everyone,

I have been using my CPAP for the last 22 days and, the results as far as AHI are awesome.

I am using the Resmed P10 and, things are great, apart from, I presume, some mouth leaks. I tried the ESon 2 for a few days but, fought a bit with the fitting and, simply went back to the P10, instead of losing time with the Eson.

Now, I know that, for mouth leaks, the solutions are chin straps (which I am not too fond of, seeing I already have issues with TMJ), mouth tape (not sure about that), cervical collar or, a full face mask.

Since I still have a few days before my 30th. day, I could contact my DME and probably try a full face mask.

Before I do, I would like your comments on my leaks. More specifically, as to whether you think that they are low enough and not impacting my sleep enough that the trade off with a full face mask might not be worth it.

You'll probably say that I should try one anyway, if I am able to do so for free but, I would still like to get your opinion, because you saw so many data from so many people. Maybe the leaks are not too bad that I could eventually be able to train myself to keep my tongue at the top of my mouth,

I am presuming that most leaks are due to my mouth because, the last 2 nights, I remembera few times being awaken while I had my mouth open.

I have not noticed any dry mouth in the morning.

You probably will ask how is my sleep? Well, the last 2 nights felt less refreshing than the prior 2 that had less leaks but, looking at the reports, It's not clear if it's because of the leaks... Although I have to admit that nothing is realy clear for me when looking at the reports...

Thank you all.

[Pugsy]

Are those leaks waking you up?
Some people can sleep through massive leaks (yours are far from massive) and some people find that the tiniest of leak will wake them up.

Don't assume all leaks are mouth breathing either...they can also simply mask movement.

If those leaks don't wake you up....I would shrug my shoulders and move on. They are well below any level that will actually impact therapy itself.

Now if they are waking you up we maybe look at figuring out if it is mouth breathing or mask movement and go from there on dealing with it.
Unless you just want a full face mask....which comes with its own challenges for leak control and comfort....I see no reason to go down that road.

[TheClerk]

Thanks for the feedback Pugsy,

Last morning I was sure that it was an issue because, like I said, I remember awakening and "feeling" like it was a reflex from my mouth opening. Looking at the report, it seems to looks like I sleep through most of the leaks.

Nonetheless, I did wake up a couple of times the last 2 nights. At the same time, I was waking up during the night before too. Also, since the beginning of the therapy, I seem to sleep more soundly as time goes by. I guess I have to remember I'm only 22 days in after all... Now, Am I waking up because of the leaks or because of sleep stage? That I don't know and I don't know how to judge it anyway. I go back to sleep right away.

Ok, I will continue to "monitor" the situation. I think the fact I technically still have a few days to test mask is making me feel like a "lost opportunity". Also, with winter time coming, I am wondering what will happen if I get a cold (although my girlfriend is always "complaining" I never catch anything, even when the other 3 members of the family are sneezing away at the same time in the house and she insist on kissing me secretly hoping I'll catch it and prove I'm human after all... ) In any case, I consider myself "lucky" enough that having to pay out of pocket for a new mask will not get me bankrupt so... (insurance only pay 1 mask per year)

With all I read and, with the challenge I had with the Eson, I know I might not want to go down the full face mask road but, even when you know better, you sometime need a little nudge to confirm things.

Thanks again.

[Pugsy]

I have been on cpap over 11 years now. I have never used anything but a nasal pillow mask (except for when I just tried a different masks just to be trying it) and I have had my share of colds and upper respiratory infections and never needed a full face mask.
I treat the congestion like I normally would treat it and I have always been able to get my nose clear enough to use the nasal pillow mask.
It might not be perfect but often when I wake up after a night with cpap and having a cold I find I actually have a clearer nose than when I went to bed. The extra humidity seems to help when I have a cold. Ever wonder why we used to use croup tents to help people breathe....they cranked out a lot of moisture into those croup tents.

When I first started cpap therapy everyone talked like I would die if I didn't have a full face mask I found out that I could use my nasal pillow mask and do about as well as I could. It's not great sleeping when you have a cold but it wouldn't be great sleep anyway even if I didn't use cpap. It's just crappy sleep when we are sick. I don't even own a full face mask now.

It is normal to wake after REM stage sleep and we might have 3 to 5 cycles of REM.
It is also normal to just wake up from the brain just wanting to tell us "hey dude, do you know there is an alien stuck to your face and blowing air up your nose".
It took me about 3 months for my brain to quit doing that.

[TheClerk]

It is also normal to just wake up from the brain just wanting to tell us "hey dude, do you know there is an alien stuck to your face and blowing air up your nose".

Priceless!!!

It might not be perfect but often when I wake up after a night with cpap and having a cold I find I actually have a clearer nose than when I went to bed

I hear you; I have an issue with one of my nostrils that prevents breathing from the nose feeling efficient enough (thus the habit of breathing through my mouth even during the day). Having the pillow feels like a drug I can't get enough of... When I wake up and feel the air coming in, I go back to sleep thinking it's almost heaven... Yeah, I'm weird...