My CPAP mask keeps experiencing air leaks and I don't know what else to do.

[TinyTot87]

Hi everyone,

Recently, my mask has been experiencing air leaks according to the myAir app. The thing is, I don't know what else to do to fix the problem. I've replaced my mask because it looked worn last week, just bought new headgear and swapped it out last night, I even cleaned the mask and all the components of the machine itself. Yet the app keeps telling me to adjust the seal of the mask I don't know what else to do to fix the problem. I know I can take it in but the problem is that the location is an hour away from me and it's obviously not a machine problem.

The mask and headgear are new. Could it be the frame? But that doesn't make sense. I've also adjusted the head gear to make sure it's not too tight either. Is there any other solution that someone can suggest to try and resolving this problem? I even use a CPAP pillow and try and sleep on the cut outside for the mask. Is it possible that I'm moving too much or in a position where the mass just keeps getting pushed away from my face?

I wear the F20 mask. I find this mask works best for me as a nasal pills did not work out but I can't wear the other type of full face mask cuz my face is a little too small for it. Any helpful suggestions would be great, thanks!

***Note*** air leakage according to the app is 7/20 where as prior to replacing my head gear, it was 15/20. Now the air leakage is 7/20 so I think maybe I'm just moving the mask out of place in my sleep now?

[ChicagoGranny]

F20 mask

Watch some videos on YouTube about fitting and adjusting that model.

[TinyTot87]

F20 mask

Watch some videos on YouTube about fitting and adjusting that model.

I know how to adjust the mask, it's pretty basic. I think the problem is when I'm sleeping. But it's only been an issue this week.

[robysue1]

***Note*** air leakage according to the app is 7/20 where as prior to replacing my head gear, it was 15/20. Now the air leakage is 7/20 so I think maybe I'm just moving the mask out of place in my sleep now?

The leakage numbers in MyAir are basically meaningless in terms of helping fix a leak problem.

Have you looked at the data in the machine's Sleep Report? The leak number given on the machine is a 95% leak rate number. And Mr. Red Frowny Face shows up if the 75% leak rate is at or above 24 L/min. That's the criteria where Resmed believes the leaks are both large enough and long enough to have a potentially adverse affect on the efficacy of your therapy.

Even better, however, would be to stick an SD card in your machine's SD slot (if it does not have one) and then look at the overnight data in either OSCAR (a free download) or SleepHQ (a website with a "free account" level that allows you to look at your data and post links to it.).

Looking at the data in OSCAR or SleepHQ will let you know when the leaks are occurring, how long the leaks last, and how large the leaks are. All of that information will help us help you troubleshoot the issue that you are having with your mask.

Having said all that, I will also add this even though I have no data to base any of my ideas on:

1) If you are using a nasal mask or nasal pillows, it could be that you are opening your mouth in your sleep. Any symptoms of dry mouth when you wake up?

2) If you are using a full face mask, it could be that once you are deeply asleep, your facial muscles relax enough to break the seal on the mask and that could be triggering the leaks. Any symptoms of dry eyes when you wake up? Any symptoms of a dry mouth when you wake up?

3) Are you fitting the mask while lying down in your normal sleep position? If you are fitting the mask while sitting up, the transition to lying down may be enough to (eventually) cause a leak---particularly if you are using Auto mode: If you fit the mask at a relatively low pressure and then the pressure goes up substantially when you are asleep, that can cause a leak.

[TinyTot87]

***Note*** air leakage according to the app is 7/20 where as prior to replacing my head gear, it was 15/20. Now the air leakage is 7/20 so I think maybe I'm just moving the mask out of place in my sleep now?

The leakage numbers in MyAir are basically meaningless in terms of helping fix a leak problem.

Have you looked at the data in the machine's Sleep Report? The leak number given on the machine is a 95% leak rate number. And Mr. Red Frowny Face shows up if the 75% leak rate is at or above 24 L/min. That's the criteria where Resmed believes the leaks are both large enough and long enough to have a potentially adverse affect on the efficacy of your therapy.

Even better, however, would be to stick an SD card in your machine's SD slot (if it does not have one) and then look at the overnight data in either OSCAR (a free download) or SleepHQ (a website with a "free account" level that allows you to look at your data and post links to it.).

Looking at the data in OSCAR or SleepHQ will let you know when the leaks are occurring, how long the leaks last, and how large the leaks are. All of that information will help us help you troubleshoot the issue that you are having with your mask.

Having said all that, I will also add this even though I have no data to base any of my ideas on:

1) If you are using a nasal mask or nasal pillows, it could be that you are opening your mouth in your sleep. Any symptoms of dry mouth when you wake up?

2) If you are using a full face mask, it could be that once you are deeply asleep, your facial muscles relax enough to break the seal on the mask and that could be triggering the leaks. Any symptoms of dry eyes when you wake up? Any symptoms of a dry mouth when you wake up?

3) Are you fitting the mask while lying down in your normal sleep position? If you are fitting the mask while sitting up, the transition to lying down may be enough to (eventually) cause a leak---particularly if you are using Auto mode: If you fit the mask at a relatively low pressure and then the pressure goes up substantially when you are asleep, that can cause a leak.

I hadn't thought of the SD card, good idea! Had no idea I could download additional software! As for the leaks, I'm guessing that it's from my face relaxing. I do sometimes wake up with dry mouth but that's usually on my days off when I sleep for 7-8 hours and use most of the water. Sometimes it happens on my days on but not as often. I'm a shift worker and I work 12 hour days so when I'm on shift, I don't sleep nearly as much.

[TinyTot87]

Ok so I had to look at the stats on the machine and the machine says that I had a good mask seal. I did notice a few times I woke up during the night. Was that if my head began dropping down then I would experience an air leak.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to combat this? I can't really tighten it anymore without it being too tight or risk of being too tight.

[ChicagoGranny]

Ok so I had to look at the stats on the machine and the machine says that I had a good mask seal. I did notice a few times I woke up during the night. Was that if my head began dropping down then I would experience an air leak.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to combat this? I can't really tighten it anymore without it being too tight or risk of being too tight.

Please get a free account at SleepHQ.com, upload your SD card, and then post the link to the SleepHQ analysis in this thread.

[robysue1]

Ok so I had to look at the stats on the machine and the machine says that I had a good mask seal.

Do you mean Mr. Green Smiley Face showed up in the on-board sleep report? Mr. Green Smiley Face shows up if your leak rate is AT or BELOW 24 L/min for at least 75% of the night.

Doesn't say a thing about what's happening for the other 25% of the night.

I did notice a few times I woke up during the night. Was that if my head began dropping down then I would experience an air leak.

A dropping head can indeed trigger leaks. Either small pesky ones that wake you up if you're a light sleeper or large ones, including large ones that don't always wake the sleeper up if they're a really sound sleeper.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to combat this? I can't really tighten it anymore without it being too tight or risk of being too tight.

We still don't know what kind of mask you are using, and that makes a big difference in what kinds of things we might suggest trying.

But in any case, tightening the mask seldom is the solution to a leak problem. And over tightening the head gear can make it easier for the mask to spring leaks. If you know the head position that seems to trigger the leaks, you could try fitting the mask in that head position. Or at least moving around into that position while you are fitting the mask.

Show us the data please. Either post it on SleepHQ and share the link here. Or take an OSCAR screen shot of the daily data including both the flow rate curve and the leak rate curve.

In order to troubleshoot a leak problem, the folks who want to help you need to know when it is happening, how bad the leaks are, how long the leaks last, and how much they are subjectively affecting the quality of your sleep.

You've told us they're bothering your ability to get to sleep and stay asleep, but you haven't really shared enough of the other objective data for us to make quality suggestions on what to try to fix the leaks.