Anyone had this problem?

I woke up last night taking rapid shallow breaths. I was using the Mirage Liberty mask that I'm having trouble adjusting to. So I changed to the Mirage Quatro I use as back up. The same thing happened. This happened before and I discussed it with the therapist at my DME and she said it was probably due to mask leaks. I checked my numbers this morning and they are:

Leakage: .36 LS

AHI: 6.0

AI: 1.9

Resp: 12-40

My pressure setting on my machine are 19/12. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Your leaks are right at the high limit, you really need to fix them. Your machine only shows true leak(intentional leak, or exhaust leak is already figured in) so any leak shown is over and above the exhaust leak rate. Any leak over .40 can skew your data.
Don't know enough about your machine to comment on pressure or other settings.

Brenda

So, leaks could cause me to be "panting"? I would take rapid shallow breaths. Sort of like a dog panting if that makes sense. I guess I'll work on the leaks. Thanks.

Ed.

coyote5314 wrote:So, leaks could cause me to be "panting"? I would take rapid shallow breaths. Sort of like a dog panting if that makes sense. I guess I'll work on the leaks. Thanks.

Ed.

A possible mechanism might be that the leaks you are experiencing are causing the mask to not 'wash out' the carbon dioxide like it is designed to do. Your body reacts by hyperventilating. I would work extra hard to deal with your leaks this evening. If this does not help immediately, there may be something more serious going on. Contact your doctor right away.

Also, make sure the vent holes on your mask are not blocked or obstructed by external objects (like your pillow).

How long have you been using xPap?
If there is nothing technically wrong, you also get that effect from anxiety attacks. Some people get those at first when they are adjusting to wearing a mask. Their sleeping brain doesn't like the thought of something on the face.
The way to deal with it is to take the mask of momentarily and take a deep breath, assure your self that everything is working well and tell yourself that breathing with a mask is easy. Put the mask back on and relax and try falling back asleep repeating the "mantra" "I breath easily with this mask. This mask is good for me" like counting sheep.

If there was a problem with the mask you wouldn't be able to fall asleep with it.

if your setting is fixed BiPAP 12/19 for EPAP/IPAP then:
I used 7 cm difference between IPAP and EPAP like you have, and I had breathing disturbance. later on I knew that difference between IPAP and EPAP shouldn't exceed 4-5 cm . the big difference between both of them sucks too much air out of the lung during exhale, by law of physics, and create a cycle of deep breath and bid of sense of suffocation

but if it was Auto BiPAP 12/19 then ignore my comment