CPAPtalk.com

marybarnes wrote: My Machine is PR System one and is showing leaks over 65%.

...

I slept 8.3 hours with leakage of 63%-I feel fantastic this am. The previous night was awful with 5 hours therapy and Mask Leakage 28%.I was exhausted. Obviously the leakage rate is better but imagine what I would feel like if I could limit it to 80% or better..Is that possible?

As pugsy and I have both pointed out: We NEED to know where those leak numbers are coming from.

The interpretation of the numbers depends on where they're coming from.

If they're Leak % numbers from the machine's LCD, then the numbers represent the time spent in LARGE LEAK territory, and even 28% is way too much. And the higher the number, the bigger the leaks are, and the less effective the therapy is.

If they're Mask Fit % numbers coming from SleepMapper, then the numbers represent how much time you DIDN'T have significant leaking going on. And the higher the number, the FEWER and SMALLER the leaks are and the better the effectiveness of the therapy is.

If they're Leak or Total Leak numbers from SleepyHead or Encore Basic/Pro, then they likely represent the average Leak or Total Leak rate for the night, and whether they're good, bad, or indifferent depends on the mask you are using.

So we really and truly need to know where you are getting those numbers from in order to help you make sense of them.

Thanks so much ...That's helpful.. I really don't understand the data as I see it .Im trying to figure out how to take a screenshot from Sleepyhead and post that but its beyond my computer skill set but will keep working it

marybarnes wrote:Thanks so much ...That's helpful.. I really don't understand the data as I see it.

For now, let's start by answering my question: When you write that the leak number is 68% one night and 28% on another nights, where are you getting the numbers from? The machine's LCD? The PR website tool called SleepMapper? Or SleepyHead?

I really don't understand the data as I see it.

For understanding how to read the data, start with Pugsy's Pointers in the sticky thread.

If you don't even really understand what's meant by apnea, hypopnea, AHI, etc and you want to get an idea of how these things are measured, you might want to start with my Understanding the data in your sleep test result

Im trying to figure out how to take a screenshot from Sleepyhead and post that but its beyond my computer skill set but will keep working it

For help making screenshots, we need to know what kind of a computer you are using. I've written some pretty detailed step-by-step instructions in the past. If you think that might help, let me know and I'll dig up the links.

This is a good help site to show you how to take and post screenshots. https://sleep.tnet.com/reference/tips/imgur

Update: I bought a Halo Chin strap and used the Pilairo Q Nasal pillows for the last 2 nights...Holy Moly ...what a difference..Sleepmapper says Therapy 8.2 hours and 7 hours last night with Mask fit of 100% both nights..I woke once each night and had to check that the pillows were still on me..The Halo chin strap is super comfortable and The Pilairo Q is unbelievable after the FFM. Thanks to you all for the advice and help.I will continue to use this combo from now on.

Glad to hear that you now have success.

For future understanding of your reports....Sleepyhead doesn't report the 90% leak rate as a percent...the unit it reports is L/min
So in your prior SH report where you said..

marybarnes wrote: 90% leak rate" is 38%. Definitely something wrong with my mask

Your understanding of the value was incorrect...it was saying for 90% of the time the leak was 38 L/min and that is actually quite good because that number includes the mask's expected vent rate.

SleepMapper reports the % of how much time was spent below large leak territory....so higher is better..100% means that for 100% of the night you were below large leak territory.

but Sleepyhead reports 90% leak numbers as L/min and lower is better and your large leak territory with your machine and your mask is going to be up around 80 to 90 L/min (it varies with pressure and mask used)

So just remember which value means what when it comes to leak numbers...they all vary and it's sometimes hard to keep them straight and to confuse us more the machine itself on the LCD screen reports only % of time spent in large leak...so lower is obviously better when looking on the machine.