CPAP failing? - fixed leak of 7

Hello all,

First post in this valuable forum. Been on CPAP for about 2 years now and quite happy for most of it. Weight = very good; as in doctor says I'm within healthy BMI range. Weight hardly changed in years.

Hopefully my equipment is in the .sig. I believe my pressure is set b/w 5 and 10 (cmH2O). Over the last month or so I believe something is going wrong. I am still using the device for ~6 hours per night. BUT within a few hours of waking up, I feel light-headed and a bit tired.

The local CPAP support technican has been trying to help. I understand the machine is reporting a constant/fixed pressure leak of 7 (L/min). They showed me a chart with this fairly horizontal line at about the 7 mark. I got the impression the tech had never seen this before. We checked for hose leaks etc, but nothing. They called the manufacturer support line, who said it was due to the "3rd party mask"...but the machine should compensate.

In the first 18 months of usage I am sure this 'leak' wasn't there or wasn't raised. I was NOT getting these current symptoms during this time. Clearly I'm trying to work out what is going on as the CPAP does not now seem to be working as well as it did back then. It seems I don't get these symptoms if I STOP CPAP...but get a bit tired in the afternoon after a day or 2 (just like pre-CPAP!)

One suggestion is to get the maker to do a check under warranty. This would seem to make sense as it could be a fault or bug. Anyone else seen this or got any thoughts? Thanks.

question:

are you possibly leaking from your mouth/lips? After all you do have a nasal mask listed... plus your pressure was changed upward which could lend itself to lip flutters/mouth leaks.

How long have you been using your present mask? Could you be due for a replacement?

what mask is your machine set to?

based on your presssure -------

what is the intentional leak rate of that mask?

what is the intentional leak rate of your current mask?

Thank you all for your quick replies and assorted questions. Some I can answer:

The technician is quite sure I am NOT leaking thru the mouth/lips but have just started with a chin-strap last night, which stayed on all night. They also checked machine, mask, cushions etc and gave all the okay.

Machine reports "Mask = Ultra" (set by tech, apparently based on advice from Resmed help desk). I scrolled thru menus and apparently can change this value.

I could not find any menu items for "based on your presssure ------- what is the intentional leak rate of that mask? what is the intentional leak rate of your current mask?" Indeed these are new terms for me. Will read manual to see if I can at least view these values; the tech said only they can set some.

As I said it has been about a month or two since this apparent issue appeared. I wish I could be more precise as that would enable me to see if it coincided with something specific - like a trip to the CPAP tech, who may have changed a setting. Looking back, they did change the Mask to Ultra in an attempt to solve the 'constant' 7 L/min leak.

Hello again. Is there a resource to suggest what Mask value I should be configuring the Resmed S8 Autoset Platinum for when using my Flexifit 407 nasal mask? Currently it's set to Ultra as mentioned earlier. Thanks again.

there is for resmed masks - this os for US models but doubt there would be a difference

check the charts on this page against what your mask materials indicate the intentional flow should be (some pamphlet or paperwork that came with your mask)

http://www.resmed.com/us/assets/documen ... sa_eng.pdf

jules wrote:there is for resmed masks - this os for US models but doubt there would be a difference

check the charts on this page against what your mask materials indicate the intentional flow should be (some pamphlet or paperwork that came with your mask)

http://www.resmed.com/us/assets/documen ... sa_eng.pdf

Thanks. Working my way through it seems that Ultra is the closest value for this mask.