Of Mile High Members, Zero Leaks And Other Urban Legends

[JockLitt]

It’s almost two years since I started therapy. Since then I’ve managed to get my AHI down to <5 from 96 - most nights anyway, thanks to all the good advice from the kind folk of cpaptalk.com.

Just as the medical doctor’s mantra of first do no harm seems to elude sleep medicine in general, the cpap mantra of get your leaks down to 0 eludes me.

I got excited today though when I reviewed my leak data from last night – median 1.2, 95th percentile 3.6 and maximum 36. It’s the best it’s been since I started therapy but I just can’t get it down there.

It’s like the mile high club – everyone knows what it is but no one knows any members personally. At least I don’t – am I doing something wrong?

[-SWS]

It’s almost two years since I started therapy. Since then I’ve managed to get my AHI down to <5 from 96 - most nights anyway, thanks to all the good advice from the kind folk of cpaptalk.com.

Just as the medical doctor’s mantra of first do no harm seems to elude sleep medicine in general, the cpap mantra of get your leaks down to 0 eludes me.

I got excited today though when I reviewed my leak data from last night – median 1.2, 95th percentile 3.6 and maximum 36. It’s the best it’s been since I started therapy but I just can’t get it down there.

It’s like the mile high club – everyone knows what it is but no one knows any members personally. At least I don’t – am I doing something wrong?

My suggestion is to pay someone to provide visual misdirection in the FRONT of the plane... That way the staff and passengers won't have a clue about what's occurring in the BACK of the plane.

Helpful thoughts and suggestions from others?

Good luck on your next flight!

[Joe50]

My uncle the crop duster and his girlfriend once tried to do it in his crop dusting plane. They crashed. They were both nude. My uncles's wife found out that her husband had a girlfriend at the same time she found out he was dead. True story.

[unadog]

My uncles's wife found out that her husband had a girlfriend at the same time she found out he was dead. True story.

Did the girlfriend die too?

I got excited today though when I reviewed my leak data from last night – median 1.2, 95th percentile 3.6 and maximum 36. It’s the best it’s been since I started therapy but I just can’t get it down there.

Do you take your mask off while the machine is still running? Ever unstrap the mask to itch your cheek, etc.? That will give you a high maximum leak.

I would ignore the maximum. The 95th percentile number tells you almost everything you need to know. Those leaks are negligible.

Those sound like Respironics numbers. The "actual" leaks are probably something like 40, depending on your mask. The 1.2 and 3.6 are the "unintentional" leaks, over and above the constant base pressure. So if you turn over and the mask gaps for a second, you get a little more leak.

As a percentage, those numbers are so small as to be almost no impact on your sleep. I never really though about trying for 0 leaks.

Now a 0.0 AHI - **that** is a worthy goal! Or the 100 mile club. (Actually, I am too old to even care about that stuff. Kids ... just obsessed with their body parts ....)

Michael

[Joe50]

My uncles's wife found out that her husband had a girlfriend at the same time she found out he was dead. True story.

Did the girlfriend die too?

Yes she did, and there was lots of Marijuana in the plane. He was also making runs down to Mexico to make extra money.

[carbonman]

the cpap mantra of get your leaks down to 0 eludes me.

It happens.


I am a legend in my own mind .....but you already know that.

[LinkC]

Sorry you are having trouble getting your leak rate to zero. Mine isn't EVERY night, but more than half the time.

As to the other, I've been a pilot since my Army days. Autopilot is a wonderful thing, and I was more limber then. Now you know one.

[goose]

I promised her I'd never tell......So I won't, but with Link, now you know 2.......

Numbers appear pretty good!!! Keep in mind the expected leak rate for the mask!!!!
Take care
cheers
goose

[Laos Film Director]

I'm trying to adjust to a new Quattro and can't get it to stop leaking or making those noises sometime each night. I'm constantly trying to adjust the mask during the night to stop the noises or the leak. My median Leak is 18 and my 95% leak is 79. I don't have this problem with my nasal pillow mask. Are there any full face masks that are somewhat leak proof? Are my leak numbers horrible? My pressure is 9-14.

[Max250]

-

[chocl8guy]

maybe you're flying on the wrong airline.

[PST]

I got excited today though when I reviewed my leak data from last night – median 1.2, 95th percentile 3.6 and maximum 36. It’s the best it’s been since I started therapy but I just can’t get it down there.

I just want to reinforce what unadog said. Maximum doesn't really matter. A couple of adjustments, scratching your nose, taking the mask off before hitting the off button -- it's easy to get a short period of superleakage that does no harm. Anyone spending 95 percent of the night with leakage 3.6 L/min or less should be doing okay as far as therapy is concerned. The machine has plenty of ability to handle a little extra venting and keep a steady pressure at the therapeutic level. The only reason that kind of low level leakage can be a problem is if it is squirting air into your eyes, or making silly sounds, or otherwise causing some kind of trouble from the leak itself. It shouldn't compromise treatment.

It does happen, but not very often, at least for most of us, and it seems kind of random. After 11 months I have two nights of no leaks -- median, 95th percentile, or maximum -- both more than six months ago. Now I don't have to bowl 300, pitch a perfect game, or score a hole in one.

[dsm]

0 AHI as a goal - Hmmmm

One solution to that mythical (well, to most of us) 0 AHI, is to have a machine that doesn't provide it (like mine ) that makes it very easy not to chase it & just focus on the day to day ease of living

Sadly (or gladly depending on one's POV) the later Enhanced model Vpap Adapt SV, added AHI scoring

DSM

To be honest, self switchs to the Bipap Auto SV when wanting to see scores

[JockLitt]

You're my hero Carbonman. Bet you eat rock cakes and drink Irn Bru and leap tall buildings in a single bound.

[dsm]

You're my hero Carbonman. Bet you eat rock cakes and drink Irn Bru and leap tall buildings in a single bound.

(humour)

But our ole Carbonman has a cpap tube made of buckyballs & a mask made of carbonfibre ! ( http://www.goldennumber.net/buckyball.htm )

Sure he has no leaks

DSM