darned leaks!!

Hello, once again! First, per suggestions here, I've tried to ignore the leaking, provided that I was feeling better in the morning. But, I've noticed quite a difference between the level of leaks from nasal pillows (not using them anymore) and my much more comfortable nasal mask. When I used the pillows, the leaks fanged from 0 to 19 - with most under 5. Since using the nasal mask (with a liner), the leaks range from 12-42 - with most in the 12 to 22 range. Yet, I feel more alert and better rested in the morning than with the pillows! Since I can't download SH on my Mac computer, I can only go by the detailed info on my ResMed 10. I'm struck by the leak increase since switching to the nasal mask and wonder if anyone else experienced the same change? And, as long as most of my leaks are under 24, am I ok? Geez, just when thought I had gotten the hang of this machine and my new life! Best.

laprof wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 25, 2018 12:33 pm

Since I can't download SH on my Mac computer,

See sleepyhead is written on a mac. Install it and get some worthwhile data.

If you have to change some security setting on the Mac, do so.

laprof wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 25, 2018 12:33 pm

And, as long as most of my leaks are under 24, am I ok?

Yes.

Do you understand the definition of 95% leak numbers (which is what you see on the machine LCD screen).

All it means is you were at OR BELOW for 95 % of the night. It is NOT an average where you spent 95% of the night.
Even if it was a little higher than 24 L/min you probably are just fine.

As long as you are sleeping good and feeling good and the 95% numbers within acceptable range and below 24 is definitely acceptable....quit worrying about the numbers.

Thanks! Palerider, because I am under contract at an academic institution that frowns on any sort of security changes, I really can't risk downloading SH - although I'd like to! (Just my luck to get some sort of malware in my computer!) Pugsy, thank you for reminding me about the 95%... that's reassuring. But, in the end, I still don't know why the leaks have increased noticeably since changing to a nasal mask. I did check my apnea results - and they don't seem to follow a pattern; that is, they aren't routinely lower with a higher leak, nor routinely higher with a lower leak. So, I can't find a correlation between leak rate and apneas. For example: last night's leak was 34 and the apneas were 1.3; a few night's ago, the leak was 22 and the apneas 1.3 - the same results. Yet, other night's results could be fewer apneas and higher leak or just the opposite. I guess that I just want to make sure that my machine is doing what it should for me. Am I overthinking all of this? Best.

laprof wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 25, 2018 2:32 pm

Am I overthinking all of this?

Yep...

Though I will add that adding a mask liner sometimes makes the leak numbers a bit higher but since it reduces any noise and/or awakenings that's why it helps.

Quit dwelling so much on the numbers because the best numbers in the world (be they leak or AHI or whatever) don't mean much if you sleep and feel like crap. I know people like to target numbers for validation but there's a reason why ResMed won't give Mr Frowny face until you spend over 30% of the night over 24 L/min. Minor leaks...large or small that don't disturb sleep and are short lived won't harm our therapy all that much. These machines can actually compensate for quite a bit of leak before they start running into trouble and having them negatively impact the therapy itself.

See this thread
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=108724&p=1036669&hi ... t#p1036669
Since you can't see this on your computer maybe seeing someone else's bad 95% numbers will help you picture how your leak graph (which I bet is hugely better than mine) can be impacted by that 95% number and the number might be alarming on the face of it but when you leak at the leak graph itself it's easy to see that leaks weren't really all that bad for very long

Heck...yours isn't even alarming. I am betting if you could see your leak graph that you spent minimal time up near 20 L/min. I am betting most of the time the leaks were minimal or non existent.

Pugsy, Once again, you've saved my sanity! I really appreciate your straightforward approach - and your wealth of knowledge. Maybe I'll try sleeping without a liner tomorrow night and see how it goes. (For vanity reasons, I won't risk any marks or dents tonight b/c I have my early AM exercise class tomorrow!) Best.

laprof wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 25, 2018 2:32 pm

Thanks! Palerider, because I am under contract at an academic institution that frowns on any sort of security changes, I really can't risk downloading SH - although I'd like to! (Just my luck to get some sort of malware in my computer!)

Then take it to the IT department and explain your needs, find a way. There's no malware in sleepyhead.