Hello: I am new to the CPAP. Just completed my sleep study last month. Diagnosed as "REM specific sleep apnea". They said I stopped breathing 55 times an hour during REM sleep, which was severe and 12 times an hour during other periods of sleep, which is moderate. I have been given a Respironics Remstar M Series with C-FLEX and humidifier. They sold me a small Comfort gel mask, but I didn't like the bar shaped thing at the forehead, so I bought a comfort-classic mask, which I like better.
I have a couple of questions: I have been using the equipment pretty much every night. Is there supposed to be leaking from the elbow shaped nozzle in the front of the mask? I noticed it leaked air from both types of masks I have used. Also, I haven't really been feeling alot better, like it is not working like it is supposed to. My second night at the sleep center, I used a CPAP for the first time and slept for 6 hours. When I awoke, I felt more energy than I have felt in years after waking, like I had actually gotten quality, rejuvenating sleep, LIKE WE ARE SUPPOSED TO. But since I have been home and using my own machine, I am not feeling that I am getting the rejuvenating sleep. I am still exhausted when I wake up. Any ideas? I will get back with my sleep doc at my HMO, but I can already hear him saying "give it some time". Thanks for any advice!
any and all suggestions appreciated!
4 posts
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welcome,
yes there is supposed to be a leak at the elbow, it is to washout the air you exhale which contains high amounts of CO2.
All masks have that exhaust port (may be a series of holes) or be a leak on the swivel. This leak is called the intentional leak rate.
If you check the paperwork that came with your mask, it will have a flow chart, you find your pressure then look at the flow, this tells you how much litres per minute that exhaust port will leak.
If your machine reports mask leak, you can do the math and determine how much leak is out the port and how much is leaking between the cushion and your skin.
too much leak can impact your therapy. Some masks have a noisy exhaust port, some are very quiet. When you hear us say it was noisy, that is what we mean, the exhaust port on the mask is noisy.
yes there is supposed to be a leak at the elbow, it is to washout the air you exhale which contains high amounts of CO2.
All masks have that exhaust port (may be a series of holes) or be a leak on the swivel. This leak is called the intentional leak rate.
If you check the paperwork that came with your mask, it will have a flow chart, you find your pressure then look at the flow, this tells you how much litres per minute that exhaust port will leak.
If your machine reports mask leak, you can do the math and determine how much leak is out the port and how much is leaking between the cushion and your skin.
too much leak can impact your therapy. Some masks have a noisy exhaust port, some are very quiet. When you hear us say it was noisy, that is what we mean, the exhaust port on the mask is noisy.
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Guest
If your machine has a Smart Card it will record that information. If you aren't sure or don't see it listed you can just call your equipment provider and they should be able to tell you.
If it doesn't, you could talk to them and see if maybe they will loan you one for a month or so to double check some of that information. Many (If not most) companies will loan that sort of stuff if you ask. It mostly depends on what sort of equipment they have around.
Good Luck!
If it doesn't, you could talk to them and see if maybe they will loan you one for a month or so to double check some of that information. Many (If not most) companies will loan that sort of stuff if you ask. It mostly depends on what sort of equipment they have around.
Good Luck!
4 posts
• Page 1 of 1