Mask leaks when I toss and turn

popcorn520 · Post by **popcorn520** » Fri Oct 14, 2022 3:11 am

I just started using cpap, using a post-recall Dreamstation and a Airfit N30i nasal pillow. Everything is fine as long as I don't move too much. I fall asleep fine, but eventually (I think during REM sleep) I toss and turn alot. Inevitably, the mask will leak and I will get woken up.

I've tried tightening and loosening the mask but that doesn't help.

Any suggestions?

Pressure set to auto range 8-20.
My AHI ranges from 5 to 8.

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Fri Oct 14, 2022 6:48 am

popcorn520 wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 14, 2022 3:11 am
My AHI ranges from 5 to 8.

If this is a true AHI, it's too high. It could be causing the tossing and turning. Use OSCAR or sleepHQ to analyze and optimize your therapy.

In the meantime, find your mask on youtube and watch some videos on fitting and adjusting.

Post an update in this thread as you go forward.

Welcome to the forum!

robysue1 · Post by **robysue1** » Fri Oct 14, 2022 8:41 am

popcorn520 wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 14, 2022 3:11 am
I just started using cpap, using a post-recall Dreamstation and a Airfit N30i nasal pillow. Everything is fine as long as I don't move too much. I fall asleep fine, but eventually (I think during REM sleep) I toss and turn alot. Inevitably, the mask will leak and I will get woken up.

In normal sleep, movement is suppressed during REM cycles to keep us from acting out our vivid dreams.

You are most likely tossing and turning during light sleep, which makes up the largest part(s) of the standard sleep cycle.

Since the leaks are waking you up, figuring out a way to prevent them is useful.

You write:

I've tried tightening and loosening the mask but that doesn't help.

Any suggestions?

Pressure set to auto range 8-20.
My AHI ranges from 5 to 8.

Can you post some data from either OSCAR or SleepHQ? If your AHI usually ranges from 5-8, your PAP therapy itself is not yet optimized. It's important to tease out whether the leaks are so large and so long that your therapy is being compromised as well as triggering the wakes that you remember. And it's important to get your PAP therapy optimized even if it's not being compromised by the leaks.

Also, you're running a pretty wide pressure range. It is possible that you are fitting your Airfit N30i reasonably well at a low pressure, but when the machine ramps the pressure up, you may be losing the seal and then the leaks start and then you get restless and the leaks get worse until you finally actually wake up.

What's your median pressure run? What's your 90/95% pressure look like?

popcorn520 · Post by **popcorn520** » Sun Oct 16, 2022 4:35 pm

robysue1 wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 14, 2022 8:41 am

popcorn520 wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 14, 2022 3:11 am
I just started using cpap, using a post-recall Dreamstation and a Airfit N30i nasal pillow. Everything is fine as long as I don't move too much. I fall asleep fine, but eventually (I think during REM sleep) I toss and turn alot. Inevitably, the mask will leak and I will get woken up.
In normal sleep, movement is suppressed during REM cycles to keep us from acting out our vivid dreams.

You are most likely tossing and turning during light sleep, which makes up the largest part(s) of the standard sleep cycle.

Since the leaks are waking you up, figuring out a way to prevent them is useful.

You write:
I've tried tightening and loosening the mask but that doesn't help.

Any suggestions?

Pressure set to auto range 8-20.
My AHI ranges from 5 to 8.
Can you post some data from either OSCAR or SleepHQ? If your AHI usually ranges from 5-8, your PAP therapy itself is not yet optimized. It's important to tease out whether the leaks are so large and so long that your therapy is being compromised as well as triggering the wakes that you remember. And it's important to get your PAP therapy optimized even if it's not being compromised by the leaks.

Also, you're running a pretty wide pressure range. It is possible that you are fitting your Airfit N30i reasonably well at a low pressure, but when the machine ramps the pressure up, you may be losing the seal and then the leaks start and then you get restless and the leaks get worse until you finally actually wake up.

What's your median pressure run? What's your 90/95% pressure look like?

Average pressure is low 8's
90% pressure ranges from low 9's to high 10's

I always first fall asleep with cpap, then middle of the night I wake up from tossing and turning and incessant mask leaks. On some nights I give up and take the cpap off for the rest of the night. In those nights, my AHI ranges from 2-3. So I guess while I'm fast asleep, the AHI is low. It's when I persist with the cpap while I'm tossing and turning that causes my AHI to go up in the latter half of the night.

lynninnj · Post by **lynninnj** » Sun Oct 16, 2022 6:07 pm

popcorn520 wrote: ↑
Sun Oct 16, 2022 4:35 pm

robysue1 wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 14, 2022 8:41 am

popcorn520 wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 14, 2022 3:11 am
I just started using cpap, using a post-recall Dreamstation and a Airfit N30i nasal pillow. Everything is fine as long as I don't move too much. I fall asleep fine, but eventually (I think during REM sleep) I toss and turn alot. Inevitably, the mask will leak and I will get woken up.
In normal sleep, movement is suppressed during REM cycles to keep us from acting out our vivid dreams.

You are most likely tossing and turning during light sleep, which makes up the largest part(s) of the standard sleep cycle.

Since the leaks are waking you up, figuring out a way to prevent them is useful.

You write:
I've tried tightening and loosening the mask but that doesn't help.

Any suggestions?

Pressure set to auto range 8-20.
My AHI ranges from 5 to 8.
Can you post some data from either OSCAR or SleepHQ? If your AHI usually ranges from 5-8, your PAP therapy itself is not yet optimized. It's important to tease out whether the leaks are so large and so long that your therapy is being compromised as well as triggering the wakes that you remember. And it's important to get your PAP therapy optimized even if it's not being compromised by the leaks.

Also, you're running a pretty wide pressure range. It is possible that you are fitting your Airfit N30i reasonably well at a low pressure, but when the machine ramps the pressure up, you may be losing the seal and then the leaks start and then you get restless and the leaks get worse until you finally actually wake up.

What's your median pressure run? What's your 90/95% pressure look like?
Average pressure is low 8's
90% pressure ranges from low 9's to high 10's

I always first fall asleep with cpap, then middle of the night I wake up from tossing and turning and incessant mask leaks. On some nights I give up and take the cpap off for the rest of the night. In those nights, my AHI ranges from 2-3. So I guess while I'm fast asleep, the AHI is low. It's when I persist with the cpap while I'm tossing and turning that causes my AHI to go up in the latter half of the night.

I have the N30, very similar to yours and I can see how easily it can move around.

When I need to readjust while laying down I pinch the hose/cushion base slightly away from my head and let it fall back into place. Sometimes I tuck an edge down if I feel a leak.

Also I use lansinoh lanolin aka nipple cream found in breastfeeding section at walmart. I smear just a bit all across my nose where it might make contact. It creates a gummyness that helps hold it in place. A little goes a VERY long way.

Additionally, when I am heading to bed or after bathroom break, when machine is off and I haven’t plugged in yet, I cover the bottom of short hose and breathe out. It’s easy way to test the seal. Then retest when I lay down. THEN I plug in. Having air behind it helps inflate it and encourages the seal.

Hope that helps.

Edit: there are many nights where I have leaks but if you get to where you can sleep theu the occasional leak you’re in good shape.

zonker · Post by **zonker** » Sun Oct 16, 2022 7:09 pm

popcorn520 wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 14, 2022 3:11 am
I just started using cpap, using a post-recall Dreamstation and a Airfit N30i nasal pillow.

when you get the chance, could you fill out your equipment profile? that way it will show up at the bottom of each post as mine does below. thanks!

and good luck.

Mask leaks when I toss and turn

Mask leaks when I toss and turn

Re: Mask leaks when I toss and turn

Re: Mask leaks when I toss and turn

Re: Mask leaks when I toss and turn

Re: Mask leaks when I toss and turn

Re: Mask leaks when I toss and turn