vps wrote: ↑Sun Mar 19, 2023 4:27 am
Robysue1 thanks for your help.
let us know if you want our ideas on what to do about the leaks.
Yes, your ideas will be greatly appreciated!
1) Are you a mouth breather?
Mainly nose breather, but when nose is blocked (often!) I'm mouth breather.
If you are a mouth breather and you are using the P10 nasal pillows mask (as shown in your signature), that probably explains the long periods of excess leaking. You may want to consider getting a full face mask and see if that's more comfortable for you.
Since you are using a full face mask, are you fitting the mask correctly?
Using fit test on machine to check. It's difficult for me to achieve 100 percent green face - it feels like exhaled air stays in my mask and I inhale warm and humid exhaled air. So usually fit is a compromise between green and red, with green majority.
When I ask if you are fitting the mask correctly, what I mean is this: Are you correctly adjusting the head gear on the mask? And are you fitting the mask when you are lying down in your favorite sleeping position.
But if you are a mouth breather, then need to address the mouth breathing as well.
3) Are you assembling the equipment correctly?
yes, no leaks in joints
4) Does the mask cushion have a tear in it somewhere?
No, cushion is 3 month old
If the cushion is 3 months old, it's worth swapping it out. While most of us get more than 3 months of wear from one cushion, some don't. Also, how often do you wash the cushion and how do you wash the cushion?
5) Does your hose have one or more pin-hole sized leaks or is there a tear near one of the couplings?
No can't see any faults
You may need to do more than just
look. When I'm trying to determine if a hose has a leak, I often hook it onto my bathroom sink's faucet and turn the water on as high as possible. Then I partially block the other end of the hose. If there's a leak, I usually see a stream of water coming out of the hose.
You also write:
vps wrote: ↑Sun Mar 19, 2023 9:39 am
trying to undersand your "sometimes red sometimes green" statement. Are you intentionally letting your mask leak to "let out the hot humid air"?
Yes, letting some leak to allow CPAP use, otherwise it's very difficult to breath, would not be able to sleep with mask. I know CPAP efficacy is compromised, but still sleep better and feel better than without CPAP. Tried nasal pillows last year, leaks much lower, but sleep disruptions worsened. Will try nasal pillows again
As ozij said, we need to know exactly what you mean when you say it is difficult to breathe when the mask is not leaking.
Are you having trouble
exhaling fully and comfortably if the mask is not leaking?
Or are you having trouble
inhaling fully and comfortably if the mask is not leaking?
As for the "hot, humid air" you are trying to let escape from the mask: Since you aren't using a heated hose or the humidifier, that warm, moisture is from your own exhalations. The P10's mesh vents can aggravate the problem, particularly if they seem to get 'stopped up' with moisture. You might do better with a mask that does not have a built-in diffuser to its exhaust vents. Also, run the hose outside your bed covers.
As a last resort, you could also pack the humidifier tank with ice cubes while leaving the humidifier OFF.
Joined as robysue on 9/18/10. Forgot my password & the email I used was on a machine that has long since died & gone to computer heaven.
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