Are Leaks Really That Significant?

[Breathe Jimbo]

Obviously, if a leak is massive and prevents the machine from maintaining the correct pressure, that is a problem. Obviously, we want to avoid that. However, the machines do adapt and blow harder in order to maintain the correct pressure. If the machine is able to adapt and maintain the correct pressure, should we really be that concerned about minor leaks?

I have fairly loud leaks a few times a night. They always wake me up. I go back to sleep right away after making the necessary adjustment. Sure, it is better to stay asleep, but are these occasional leaks which are easily corrected and do no last long really something to worry about?

I'm wondering if there is a little too much obsession here with minor leaks for which our machines are able to compensate. Am I missing something?

[bdp522]

Minor leaks can be compensated for by the machine. Any leak will wake me. Disrupted sleep is not good for me so I try for and get 0 leaks. I feel that if you are sleeping thru minor leaks, they aren't too big a deal. Once leaks get too high the machine may/will not give accurate data. So large leaks need to be fixed. If someone has lots of minor leaks and is complaining of poor sleep and everything thing else seems ok (comfort, hrs of use, sleep hygiene) then I would look to those minor leaks disrupting sleep.

Brenda

[KatieW]

wiki/index.php/Mask_Leaks

[jabman]

I try to get as close to a 0 leak rate evry night as posable because I think the treatment will be better, if my leaks are high during the night I will notice it the next day (I feel a little more tired). Also IMO the machine will not work as hard with a low leak rate.

[jlk]

I blame my leaks on restlessness. Seem around 2/3 am are when my leaks occur. If I take 2 tylenol pm, Im out/ no leaks. I don't leak too much, I get a green "happy face" every morning, so I have not worried too much about them. I beleive mine to be caused by moving around pulling on hose/ mask....I only went above resscan red line of 24 lpm's a few times and it was due to nasal pillows dislodged, that is significant. I do need a visit from the "data police', I forget to put my sd card back yesterday morn......no detailed data this am. 1 central and 1 obstructive in stats...Im happy john

[Big Daddy RRT,RPSGT]

You feel/sleep good don't worry about minor leaks, feel/sleep poorly try to fix your leaks it might help.

[PST]

I agree about minor leaks as far as the machine's ability to maintain pressure. The mask's vent allows a planned, controlled leak, and a slightly larger vent wouldn't hurt. The most significant issue for me (and many others, I think) is that vents can squirt air in the direction of your eyes for hours on end. Despite the best efforts of my eyelids, my eyes end up dry and sore. I find a strong correlation between how my eyes feel and how much of the night I had leaks.