After one month on Cpap

Went to my doctor yesterday for 30 day checkup on machine. Had an average AHI of 1.4 with 23 min of leak for an average 7 hrs. of sleep. I was concerned with the leakage, but he said that was not bad at all and not to worry about it since my AHI number was so good. Told him I had tried the full face mask (didn't work for me) and am now on a nasal mask. Was worried that the leakage was due to mouth breathing (told him I had tried chinstraps). He said it wasn't a problem and to keep doing what I have been doing. So now, I will not worry about the leaks anymore. Thank Goodness!

Paula J wrote:Went to my doctor yesterday for 30 day checkup on machine. Had an average AHI of 1.4 with 23 min of leak for an average 7 hrs. of sleep. I was concerned with the leakage, but he said that was not bad at all and not to worry about it since my AHI number was so good. Told him I had tried the full face mask (didn't work for me) and am now on a nasal mask. Was worried that the leakage was due to mouth breathing (told him I had tried chinstraps). He said it wasn't a problem and to keep doing what I have been doing. So now, I will not worry about the leaks anymore. Thank Goodness!

That's great news and an excellent AHI. The numbers are certainly very important to watch, but at the same time, as long as you're feeling good that is what matters the most. Keep up the good work!

Thanks Ameriken, I forgot to say that I have been feeling so much better since being on the machine and that's the important part, besides it's helping me with blood pressure & diebetes and who knows what else!

Paula,

You have to understand what the leak rate means, and it differs depending on WHERE you are reading it:

--If you are reading a leak rate of 23% off the PR S1 "large leak" screen, you are having HUGE leak problems and the AHI report is unreliable.
--If you are reading a leak rate of 23 LPM off Encore Viewer software, Encore Viewer reports total leak rate (both intentional and non-intentional). 23 LPM is most likely well within the intentional leak rate (that's the air coming out of the exhaust vent) for your mask, and means that there's NO appreciable leak.
--Some software (you can set it on Encore Pro, not sure about Onkor and SleepyHead) reports only unintentional leak rate--that's over and above the intentional leak rate. In that case, 23 might be cause for concern if you are not feeling that great or your AHI is out of whack (it's not).

Sometimes the doctors don't know this, so you have to educate yourself to understand about intentional vs. unintentional leak rates.

Hi Janknitz, thanks for replying. The 23 was not a percentage.....he said it was 23 min. out of 6-7 hours of sleep. My PR S1 screen shows '0' on large leaks. That's all I know, but he said not to worry about it since my other numbers were very good!

Paula J wrote:The 23 was not a percentage.....he said it was 23 min. out of 6-7 hours of sleep

Probably overall average showing in the software report as it is reported in L/min. In this case 23 L/min would be the way it is stated and quite acceptable.