Bad mask fit

I use my CPAP every night. I look at the stats every morning. So far this month I have had 14 days of "not OK" for a mask fit. My last new mask was attached on 6/24/22. I think the mask is not fitting properly. I am a side sleeper. Physically, I cannot sleep on my bask or stomach. I keep pulling the straps. I get a new mask every 3 months. I change the nose pillows every 2 to 3 weeks. Even with, the AHI is usually below 1.0

Any suggestions.

Thanks

Find your mask on youtube and carefully watch three or four videos on fitting and adjusting.

Are the leaks waking you up?

What is the 95% leak number itself?

I leaks are not waking me up. I cannot read the leak number. This machine gives "OK" or "NOK" for results. Well, actually is gives a smiley face or a sad face.

Exactly which model ResMed S9 machine are you using?
Look on the face of the machine and up by the big round button you push to start/stop things...what does it say?

In most models there is a way to see the 95% number either on the LCD screen or by using free available software.

Or are you using a totally different machine now? Your profile mentions a S9 but not the model name.

In general as long as the 95% number is 30 L/min or below I don't really worry so much as long as the leaks aren't waking a person up.
ResMed uses the 24 L/min leak number as the line in the sand for large leaks but it's a very conservative number.
The machine will actually compensate for more than 24 L/min leak.

All this assuming you are still using a ResMed machine.

Also...is it possible that you are maybe mouth breathing more now???
And with a nasal mask the lips aren't sealed shut and mouth breathing can happen and mouth breathing can show up as excess leak. The machine can't tell the difference either. Leak is leak no matter where it is from according to the machine.
How important it might be will depend on just how much mouth breathing you do and how long you might be doing it.

Are you still using the mask shown in your profile?

Do you do anything to keep the mouth shut??? Tape? Chin strap? Whatever???

The only other words near the on/off button is EPR. I don't know what that means.
I use a chin strap. I have been on a CPAP for over 25 years. I have used nasal pillow for oat least 24 years. I have very high cheek bones. A full face mask leaks heavily above my cheeks. Also I have compromised salivary ducts. the glands work, but I can't the saliva easily into my mouth. A full face mask would make my mouth even more dry.

Hmmmm....I am wondering if you have the basic bare bones model and it doesn't report 95% numbers.
I thought the S9 models had model name on the front of the machine...maybe it's not close to the round on/off button.
Do you see one of these terms anywhere on the machine?
1...CPAP
2...AutoSet
3...Elite
4...Escape Auto
5...Escape

Look on the bottom of the blower number for the model/reference number and report what it is and lets see exactly which model you have.

AutoSet

You should have detailed data about the 95% numbers available both using software and on the LCD screen.

To see it on the LCD screen you just have to make a little change in the clinical setup menu
Give me a bit to find the manual that explains how and what you need to change. My old link is broken and it's been so long since I have used the S9 model I have forgotten what it is called you need to change.

Or you can just use available software IF you have a SD card in your machine.

OSCAR https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/
http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.ph ... stallation
http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.ph ... rpretation
http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.ph ... ganization organize and how to do screen shots.
wiki/index.php/Oscar:organize Wiki

http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic/t1585 ... eview.html

Go here and you can find the instructions to get to the clinical menu setup area.
https://www.apneaboard.com/resmed-s9-cpap-setup
Once you are there scroll through the menu options and look for "Sleep Quality" choice...select it and toggle the off choice to "ON" and you will get more information on the machine's LCD screen besides "OK".

I will check that out soon. The only data I can get now, on a daily basis, is Therapy hours, AHI, and the mask fit icon.

It's been a long time since I used the S9 model so I can't swear that it will show you a 95% number...I thought it did but if you are seeing AHI number and no leak number then maybe I am wrong.
I always just used the software because it gives more detailed data and I usually want the details.

The 95% leak number is just a number that tells us what the leak was AT OR BELOW that number for 95% of the time.
If it is 30 L/min or below then I am comfortable telling you to ignore the machine telling you that your leak rate is bad without seeing the detailed data since you say leaks aren't waking you up.

Now if the 95% leak number was 35 L/min or higher then I am not so comfortable telling you to ignore the machine's little leak warning because I can't know how high it was at prolonged duration and there is a potential for the data it reports in terms of AHI being inaccurate when the leak is really bad for a prolonged period of time. We just don't know if a nice low AHI is low because nothing happened or if the machine was clueless in the face of a really big prolonged leak and we need to look at the actual software data in detail to know for sure.

Pugsy, I followed the directions you suggested. The option for 'Sleep Quality" was already turned on. All you can see for "Last Night" is Therapy Hours, AHI and the icon for mask fit.

However, I have a thought. I get up several times a night (0 to 4), for my walk to the Throne room. During that time I place the mask under my pillow to soften any noise. I don't want to wake anybody else up. When I return (3-5 minutes), the feel a very low level air flow from the nasal pillow. Could this be what is causing the poor mask fit reading?

AccessShell wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 25, 2022 4:49 pm

During that time I place the mask under my pillow to soften any noise. I don't want to wake anybody else up. When I return (3-5 minutes), the feel a very low level air flow from the nasal pillow. Could this be what is causing the poor mask fit reading?

Yep. The machine will think that there is a big leak when you aren't attached to the mask or hose.
It will definitely affect the leak numbers and results.

Just turn the machine off or use the SmartStart option turned on and the machine will shut itself off after about 10 seconds and you won't have prolonged air blowing under the pillow and the machine thinking you are still attached and it's a really big leak.