Leakage; ready to give tape a try tonight...

[Chuck Connors]

It seems that I was able to get my AHI down to a reasonable level, thanks to the good advise from people on this site, namely pugsy and RandyJ. Now I'm going to try to focus on the leakage, as it seems to be on the high side. The 2 things I've done differently to try to control the leakage, since finding this site just recently, is that I'm cleaning the nose pillows daily to get rid of any oiliness and I'm using a head and chin strap. I'm sure those 2 things help, but I need to do something more. I've learned about Hy-Tape® on this site. I want to give the tape a try, but don't want to wait the 2 or 4 days for delivery. I think I'll go to the pharmacy today and find out if there is an equivalent tape available. I understand that with Hy-Tape®, you still need to use a cloth tape to secure it firmly. Never did I think I'd be dressing myself up as a mummy at night, but if it makes the difference the quality of sleep, I'm all for it.

I would be interested in learning from others who have used tape to find out if it worked for you or not. Any suggestions are always taken with an open mind. Thanks. -Chuck-



ResMed
S9 Elite
Mode: CPAP 10cmH2O
Date Sleep Wake Hours
5/5/2012 22:20 06:37 08:13:02
AHI - Apnea / Hypopnea Index 2.31
Hypopnea 0.85
Apnea 0.00
Obstructive Apnea 0.24
Clear Airway 1.22

Statistics

Channel Min Med 95% Max
PressurePressure (cmH20)
W-Avg: 10.11 5.36 7.74 10.00 10.20
EPAPExpiratory Pressure (cmH20)
W-Avg: 9.11 4.36 6.75 9.00 9.20
Minute Vent.Minute Ventilation (L/min)
W-Avg: 6.05 2.50 5.88 9.12 12.50
Resp. RateRespiratory Rate (breaths/min)
W-Avg: 12.04 7.60 12.00 14.40 18.00
Flow LimitFlow Limit Graph (0-1)
W-Avg: 0.01 0.00 0.03 0.13 0.27
LeaksLeak Rate (L/min)
W-Avg: 3.13 0.00 9.60 31.20 32.40SnoreSnore (unknown)
W-Avg: 0.02 0.00 0.02 0.06 0.08
Insp TimeInspiratory Time (seconds)
W-Avg: 2.66 0.08 2.62 3.68 4.52
Exp TimeExpiratory Time (seconds)
W-Avg: 2.25 0.06 2.16 3.60 4.32
Tidal VolumeTidal Volume (ml)
W-Avg: 498.49 200.00 480.00 740.00 960.00

Machine Settings
Pr. ReliefPressure Relief EPR x1

Session Information
SessionID On Date Start End
CPAP Sessions
1336281628ResMed CPAP 6h, 8m, 1s 5/5/2012 22:20 04:28
1336303928ResMed CPAP 2h, 5m, 1s 5/6/2012 04:32 06:37

[jerainey]

I use 2 inch 3M Medipore. I think the "pore" may mean porous so I cover it with 2 inch blue painter's tape. Works for me and my leak rate is usually 0.

[Pugsy]

I am notorious tight wad..when I tried taping when I was new to cpap...I used blue painters tape left over from repainting the kitchen. Worked fine for me.

LeaksLeak Rate (L/min)
W-Avg: 3.13 0.00 9.60 31.20

that 31.20 leak maximum....probably from repositioning the mask.
the 9.60 95% number is quite acceptable and since the other numbers are very low this leak line should be pretty good for most of the night with maybe just a little spike.
Whatever you did...it worked.

[Chuck Connors]

Thank you for the responses. Pugsy, maybe I'm not reading the numbers correctly, since I'm still trying to understand and interpret the results, but it looks like the 95% number is 31.20. Med is 9.6%. Is this correct? Thanks. -Chuck-

ResMed
S9 Elite
Mode: CPAP 10cmH2O
Date Sleep Wake Hours
5/5/2012 22:20 06:37 08:13:02
AHIApnea / Hypopnea Index 2.31
HypopneaHypopnea 0.85
ApneaUnspecified Apnea 0.00
ObstructiveObstructive Apnea 0.24
Clear AirwayClear Airway Apnea 1.22


Statistics
Channel Min Med 95% Max
PressurePressure (cmH20)
W-Avg: 10.11 5.36 7.74 10.00 10.20
EPAPExpiratory Pressure (cmH20)
W-Avg: 9.11 4.36 6.75 9.00 9.20
Minute Vent.Minute Ventilation (L/min)
W-Avg: 6.05 2.50 5.88 9.12 12.50
Resp. RateRespiratory Rate (breaths/min)
W-Avg: 12.04 7.60 12.00 14.40 18.00
Flow LimitFlow Limit Graph (0-1)
W-Avg: 0.01 0.00 0.03 0.13 0.27
LeaksLeak Rate (L/min)
W-Avg: 3.13 0.00 9.60 31.20 32.40
SnoreSnore (unknown)
W-Avg: 0.02 0.00 0.02 0.06 0.08
Insp TimeInspiratory Time (seconds)
W-Avg: 2.66 0.08 2.62 3.68 4.52
Exp TimeExpiratory Time (seconds)
W-Avg: 2.25 0.06 2.16 3.60 4.32
Tidal VolumeTidal Volume (ml)
W-Avg: 498.49 200.00 480.00 740.00 960.00

Machine Settings
Pr. ReliefPressure Relief EPR x1

Session Information
SessionID On Date Start End
CPAP Sessions
1336281628ResMed CPAP 6h, 8m, 1s 5/5/2012 22:20 04:28
1336303928ResMed CPAP 2h, 5m, 1s 5/6/2012 04:32 06:37

[dtsm]

If you go with the 3M blue painter's tape, make sure to cut at least 10 inches long so that it wraps to your ears....this will insure better seal. Good luck!

[Pugsy]

it looks like the 95% number is 31.20. Med is 9.6%. Is this correct?

That's what it looks like to me... I don't know where the 32..number comes from we lose spacing when we copy some stuff and paste it hear on the forum so it makes the columns off.
Leak numbers from SleepyHead are from Left to right
Minimum
Median
95%
Maximum