Numbers ok - Should I be looking at leak rate???

goose · Post by **goose** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:49 pm

Hey All,
My overall numbers are looking ok -- average AHI 2.8 -- low was 0.9, High was 3.2, so I'm within the "good stuff range".....It's been since the middle of July since I put it at 10 so I think that's an adequate dataset.
I just changed it to 11 to see if I can get it down a bit lower (ya know -- that greed factor )....

But I also note that my leak rate is around 33.8 -- I'm not all that sure what those leak numbers really mean -- but the "blue line" sits at about 33.8.....
Is that something I should work on, or is that ok???

I'm using the EVO Headrest mask with the large interface (Love that mask!!! Thanks to RG for the suggestion/recommendation and to Gerald for the modifications!!). I don't detect leakage when I'm going to sleep and I don't notice any leakage when I wake up in the middle of the night on my side, so.......
Just curious if it's something I should be concerned with or just keep on keepin' on????

Thanks in advance!!!!!!
cheers
goose

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:00 pm

The leak rate for that mask at a pressure of 11 is 25. I think a leak rate of 33.8 is too high. I think if you can get the leak rate down some, the AHI will also go down. Is the leak line straight or is it all over the place?

Brenda

lindychris · Post by **lindychris** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:27 pm

You are probably leaking out your mouth. Try a chin strap or make one for a night (stockings or panty-hose will do just fine) and see what your numbers look like.

goose · Post by **goose** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:05 pm

the line is all over the place...
I just upped the pressure to 11 this afternoon, so all the graphs I have are at 10.....Numbers aren't bad, but could be better!!

Lindychris may be right -- I'm not generally a mouth breather and when I do have mouth leaks I'm pretty quick to wake up....BUT, that being said, it may be that it's happening and not waking me up.....
I'll have to try the chin strap -- time to raid the panty hose drawer (if I can find it )

thanks a million for the inputs!!!
cheers
goose

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 5:30 am

Chin straps will help keep the mouth from dropping open, but they still allow flutter-lip. You might want to try taping your mouth shut for a night and see what the data shows. I try to get my leak line straight, with no spikes.
Brenda

RosemaryB · Post by **RosemaryB** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 5:44 am

Hey, Goose. I just noticed this thread after reading your posts on my other thread. During my sleep study I was given a nasal mask and told that mouth leaks don't matter. They will wake you up and you will know and learn to stop them. My DME RT said the same thing when fitting me with the Swift. Wrong! They matter quite a lot. They don't wake me up, either.

In most people's experience, the chin strap doesn't work to stop leaks or causes pain in the tmj. I balked at the idea of mouth taping, but tried it over the idea of a full face mask. It worked really well some nights. Lately I've been using the poligrip strips which I may "stick to" since they are working well right now. Both will work for me. I resisted it, but it's not all that bad. The cpap is much harder to get used to.

Taping or poligrip strips may solve the problem, but there can be other causes of leaks. The problem I have beyond that is mouth puffing. Mouth puffing comes from what is called the "blowfish effect." I've tried various things but the best one so far is a "mouthstrap" approach. I'm going to do a post about this when I get some time.

All this assumes that you've taken care of any leaks at the mask it'self, of course. Not that that's always easy.

Good luck with your efforts.

RosemaryB · Post by **RosemaryB** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 5:47 am

bdp522 wrote:Chin straps will help keep the mouth from dropping open, but they still allow flutter-lip. You might want to try taping your mouth shut for a night and see what the data shows. I try to get my leak line straight, with no spikes.
Brenda

Yep! if not perfectly flat, then "straight-ish."

Brenda was posting at the same time as me, so I didn't see her post. Lip flutters are the same as what I mean by mouth puffing. But sometimes the puffing will break through the tape, that's why I use the mouth band over the tape. But most don't seem to need it.

goose · Post by **goose** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:19 am

Thanks for your inputs -- appreciate it....
Well for me tape is not an option -- I have mustache and beard -- don't relish the thought of trimming by root removal

The poligrip strips is a definite possibility. I may try the FF mask and see if that straightens the line any. I've only tried it a couple times as it tends to leak when I move around -- which is why I reallllllllly like the EVO Heardrest/Aura -- I can thrash and move, sleep on my side and I don't get a lot of interface leaks.....at least that I notice. I do notice some, but the noise wakes me up and by the time I try to adjust, the leak has cleared (no air flow, no noise).....

Looks like I need a trip to the store -- Onward and upward.
Thanks all!!!!!

cheers
goose

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:36 am

You could also stick a kazoo or tea pot whistle in your mouth before you go to sleep ... that way you can guarantee to be awakened when you start leaking.

But seriously though ... search posts on taping, polydent, and training to stop leaks ... else you should consider finding yourself a full face/hybrid mask.

goose · Post by **goose** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:22 pm

Hmmmm. I've got a kazoo around here somewhere..... Perhaps a harmonica???
Wonder how that would play with wife sleeping close by???

Now that I'm used to the nasal interface I'm seriously going to look at the hybrid for my next DME upgrade.....(December). I have a FF mask HC431 from Fisher and Paykel and it works ok until I roll over. I need to go back to the ComfortGel numbers to see what the leak rate was with that mask as it assumes few mouth leaks as well - I'm not really a mouth breather, but.....
I really do like the EVO Headrest/Aura.......

I may try the polident strips soon - tonight if I get to the store today....

cheers
goose

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