mouth breathing?

Bamafanatic56 · Post by **Bamafanatic56** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 12:31 pm

trying to figure out if I'm mouth breathing. I'm not sure how to read the encore leak data or if it will indicate this. Can someone help?

Thanks

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 4:47 pm

If in your dailies, (Pages 4 to 2 before the report end) you see rises in your leak rate above your baseline for the mask, they are either mouthleaks or mask leaks. If they are fixed without your knowledge, they are probably mouthleaks and are worse in REM. (Deep Sleep)

One way to see it tape securely, and check the results, or use a good working FF mask. Jim

Bamafanatic56 · Post by **Bamafanatic56** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 6:53 pm

Thanks for the reply, Can you explain the "baseline". What does large leak and average leak mean?

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:14 pm

When you first put your mask on if you don't waste your time with a ramp, that leake rate is the basic mask leak at your pressure, leaks over that are in excess. you shouldn't have a large leak unless the mask comes off. I shut the machine off before I remove the mask, so no large leaks are recorded. Jim

As long as your AHI is under 2, your don't have a problem that needs addressed.

Bamafanatic56 · Post by **Bamafanatic56** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:26 pm

It's not under 2 yet...I'm on my 4th night so I'm still tweaking. I've got it down from 10.5 to 8. Thats why I'm wondering about the mask leak. I'll try to tape my mouth and see if that changes my readings. My Dr prescribed a pressure of 6 but I 'm getting best results around 10,11.

glfredrick · Post by **glfredrick** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 10:56 pm

I wear the full-face Resmed Quatro mask, and it has a "built in" leak of 3.0. As I read it, that would mean (for my mask) that any actual mask leaking would have to be above teh 3.0 number. My M-series apap says that my mask leak is 3.4. That seems acceptable -- to me at least.

Some of that is accounted for by my drying the hose sans mask every morning, and some by actual leaks from rolling over, etc.

Just thought that I'd throw this into the mix to see if I'm looking at it the right way.

My other numbers:

AHI 2.7 over 30 days
Ave. Hours 6.9, up from 5.2.
90% 8.2 down from 9.6 (this number gets higher if I sleep on my back -- I am about a 9.5 side and 16.0 back sleeper)

(apap set to 7.0 min - 16.0 max. C-flex 3.0)

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 11:21 pm

glfredrick wrote:I wear the full-face Resmed Quatro mask, and it has a "built in" leak of 3.0. As I read it, that would mean (for my mask) that any actual mask leaking would have to be above teh 3.0 number. My M-series apap says that my mask leak is 3.4. That seems acceptable -- to me at least.

Some of that is accounted for by my drying the hose sans mask every morning, and some by actual leaks from rolling over, etc.

Just thought that I'd throw this into the mix to see if I'm looking at it the right way.

My other numbers:

AHI 2.7 over 30 days
Ave. Hours 6.9, up from 5.2.
90% 8.2 down from 9.6 (this number gets higher if I sleep on my back -- I am about a 9.5 side and 16.0 back sleeper)

(apap set to 7.0 min - 16.0 max. C-flex 3.0)

Leaks are measured in LPM. At 3.0 LPM you would be dead or dying from rebreathing your air, most masks have a built-in leak rate of 25 LPM or more, nepanding on the mask and the users pressure. Jim

glfredrick · Post by **glfredrick** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 5:48 am

Goofproof wrote:Leaks are measured in LPM. At 3.0 LPM you would be dead or dying from rebreathing your air, most masks have a built-in leak rate of 25 LPM or more, nepanding on the mask and the users pressure. Jim

Ah... I'll have to re-check my numbers.

Bamafanatic56 · Post by **Bamafanatic56** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 4:50 pm

OK, that makes sense. My baseline is around 25 according to software and it appears I'm doing some mouth breathing at various times however one variable I haven't mentioned is I got a cold at the same time I started treatmenty so I'm reluctant to change anything until my congestion clears.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 5:23 pm

You are lucky if it clears, I face it every night and have to deal with it with med's. Jim

glfredrick · Post by **glfredrick** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:33 pm

Rechecked my numbers...

I'm actually at 33.4, not 3.4. That makes more sense.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:50 pm

glfredrick wrote:Rechecked my numbers...

I'm actually at 33.4, not 3.4. That makes more sense.

He's Alive

You had me worried for a little. Jim

Humidifier

Additional Comments: Also using Aussie heated hose, pressure is 11 using CPAP mode, AHI is 2.6

Mask

Additional Comments: Pressure = 16!!!

Mask

Additional Comments: Pressure = 16!!!

Mask

Additional Comments: Pressure = 16!!!