To Slinky: Leak Rates

I think I made a mistake when quoting my leak rates in the other post. When I went back to my records to double check after reading your post it read: Leak: .08 (last night), .12 (Friday), .22 (THurs.), and .24(Wed.). Does that make any difference in your former response? Again-bear with me-"I'm still learning"!!!!!!

While awaiting Slinky's more expert advice, I would offer the following:

There's no way to meaningfully reduce a whole night to one number. The leak values provided by ResMed machines are 95th percentile values: 0.24 means that you were leaking at or below that value 95% of the minutes your machine was running, that night. It doesn't tell you anything as to how much below that you were, for how much of the time. Or how much above that you were leaking, for the remaining 5% of the time.

Might be that there is some level of leak almost all of the time, perhaps due to poor fit or a flaw in the equipment or connections. Might be some mouth-leak. Might be some positional changes that come and go as you move around overnight. Here is where access to full data display is useful.

ResMed's data management software provides median and maximum values, in addition to the 95%ile displayed on the machine's screen. If the median value is hopefully at or near zero, then you are not leaking at all, at least half of the time. If the maximum value isn't much above 0.24, and that high only briefly, then the leaks are not likely interfering significantly with the efficacy of the CPAP. The software will also provide a graph of the leak pattern through the night. Is leak present continually, or just a few transient peaks? If you don't have the software (but if you do have or can get the ResScan card), your doctor or supplier should be willing and able to give you the information and guidance you need to help figure out what's going on, and what (if anything) might be done to improve the therapy.

In any case, a 95%ile leak fluctuating between 0.08 and 0.24, while it could be better, isn't all that terribly bad. Wouldn't lose sleep (pardon me) worrying too much about it.

All subject to correction by Slinky!

Your input is greatly appreciated, Velbor. I'm sure you are aware of that by now. And I am NOT a "leak expert". I bow to others in the forum more knowledgeable than I on that subject. I have the software and I can see my data. I don't get in a twit about my leak rate as long as I feel decent and my AHI is <5.1 and I have the Nightly graphs.

One of these days I'll get my ResLink attached and maybe start playing w/my pressures to "tweak" things so I have a leak rate <=.10. For now, the COPD, etc. plus CPAP and the knowledge I still need to gain are keeping me busy enough. One issue at a time. I can no longer walk down the street and chew gum at the same time. I'm satisfied w/this plateau for now whilst I tend to the other matter.

Sorry, Grumpy, I've taken the leak advice as far as I can go. The others in the forum much more knowledgeable and experienced w/leak rates will be along to add further information. And your previous misstated 0.8 is what prompted me to even comment on the lear. Big difference between 0.8 (.80) and .08! Personally, at this stage, .24 (w/o PoliGrip) wouldn't bother me a bit for a leak rate. But that is me and my situation. Others feel differently.

Oh, and Velbor!!! You have a h*ll of a lot more faith in the knowledge of the DME RTs and sleep doctors than I do when it comes to their evaluating our data!!!! Or explaining it for that matter! There don't seem to be too many of the "good guys" available. Altho you are right, that would be the wise thing to do. If nothing else you find out just how good and how interested they are in your therapy and how much you can rely on their advice.