CPAP says high leaks but mask feels fine

Hi,
I hope someone can give me some ideas on this problem. For the past couple weeks, my Airsense 10 shows the red frowny face in the morning indicating a poor mask fit/high leak rate. But I feel like my mask is fitting better than it ever has. I don't feel or hear any leaks. In the past, I've hardly ever gotten the red frowny face, even when I heard the mask leaking all night. I've tried changing out the hose and the water chamber. I think there is something wrong because I am feeling pretty tired and awful during the day, but I can't figure out what to fix. Could it be something wrong with the machine itself?

Thank you so much for any help -- I just don't know what to do. I'm starting to feel the way I did before I was diagnosed with apnea.

Apart from the incomplete name of your machine, you've given absolutely zero info on anything. How can we help without knowing more, like the full name of your mask, what software (with a frowny face) you're using, and why you expect you'd 'hear' leaks when asleep? What are your pressure settings and what might have changed in the recent past - I assume you do clean your mask, but how often and with what? And... have you gained or lost any weight (even 5-10 lbs can make quite a difference to how things fit)?

Mr Red Frowny face on the machine means a ResMed machine. It takes a LOT of large leaks to earn someone a Frowny face on a ResMed machine.
The mask may feel fine while awake and maybe it is fine while awake but that doesn't mean it is fine when you are asleep.

Just because the large leaks aren't waking you up doesn't mean they aren't happening. We can sleep through some pretty bad leaks and never know it until we see the software reports.

Exactly which model ResMed machine are you using?

There is easy to obtain and use software if you are lucky enough to have a machine that records full data.

https://sleep.tnet.com/equipment

It's an AirSense™ 10 AutoSet CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier by ResMed. The reason I didn't provide more information about the mask is because the mask is not the problem. The mask is not leaking. I have used this same mask for several years and I do wake up if there is a big mask leak. Any time that the mask is leaking enough to make noise, either I wake up or my husband wakes me up. The last several weeks when the high leak icon has been on every morning neither of us have been woken up by leaks. It is the best mask fit/quietest mask fit in a long time. Last night I woke up about 5 times during the night to check the CPAP machine. Each time, the mask was not leaking, but the machine was showing the high leak icon. There have not been any changes recently, that is why I am at a loss with what is going on.

Only other possible cause for a leak might be a hole in the circuit...like a small hole in the hose.

If you are unwilling to look at the software to see exactly when the leak is showing up....like all night long which might point to a hole in the hose or happening part of the night which would mean something else....there's not much we can offer.

If you think the machine is malfunctioning...take it back to where you got it and have them check it out.

rainsari wrote:It's an AirSense™ 10 AutoSet CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier by ResMed. The reason I didn't provide more information about the mask is because the mask is not the problem. The mask is not leaking. I have used this same mask for several years and I do wake up if there is a big mask leak. Any time that the mask is leaking enough to make noise, either I wake up or my husband wakes me up. The last several weeks when the high leak icon has been on every morning neither of us have been woken up by leaks. It is the best mask fit/quietest mask fit in a long time. Last night I woke up about 5 times during the night to check the CPAP machine. Each time, the mask was not leaking, but the machine was showing the high leak icon. There have not been any changes recently, that is why I am at a loss with what is going on.

Mouth breathing! The mask may be fine, but if you open your mouth Sleepyhead will show LEAKS.

LSAT wrote: Mouth breathing!

Maybe...but no where do I see a mention of which mask is being used. Wouldn't tell us which mask because she is adamant that it's not related to the mask. We don't know if it is a nasal mask or a full face mask so it may or may not be mouth breathing leak going on.

As already pointed out, there's a lot of information missing. For instance we don't know which mask you're using, or even which kind of mask. We also don't know the precise machine that you are using.

If you're using a nasal mask, an open mouth (as already suggested) is a possibility. If that's the case, you probably would notice an awfully dry mouth. Also suggested was a hole in the hose. This could be noisy and annoying, but most modern CPAPs will compensate for this. Also, possible is a crack in your water tank, and improper hose connection (either end), etc.

D.H. wrote:Also suggested was a hole in the hose. This could be noisy and annoying, but most modern CPAPs will compensate for this.

Depends on the size and/or number of holes in the hose. If it was a hole and the machine could compensate...it wouldn't be showing Mr Frowny Face.
The fact that Mr Frowny is showing up means the machine isn't compensating well.
And you don't always hear a hole in the hose anyway. I saw a report once where the hose had multiple cat claw holes and the leak report was ugly yet the owner heard nothing and it wasn't until the water test that the multiple tiny holes from cat claws were found.

. wrote:Also suggested was a hole in the hose. This could be noisy and annoying, but most modern CPAPs will compensate for this.

it's hard for me to comprehend how stupid this statement is.

complaint: leaks are high.

stupid response: Also suggested was a hole in the hose. This could be noisy and annoying, but most modern CPAPs will compensate for this.

Check the silicone seals between the PAP and humidifier chamber, they can get hard after a while. (specially if not using distilled water)

I have had a ResMed Airsense 10 for a couple of years. I've been using a full face mask, but I've decided to switch to a nasal mask, I changed the setting on the machine to nasal mask. When I run the mask fit test it says ok, but in use, it always gives the red face for bad mask fit. This is true even when I have it on while for only a few minutes while making sure it is not leaking. I'm not terribly concerned about it, but I'm wondering if there is some other setting I may not have entered correctly. Does it require a reset or something to get rid of the red face indicator?

The head gear and mask I'm using are all ResMed equipment.

Atom wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 19, 2022 11:25 am

I have had a ResMed Airsense 10 for a couple of years. I've been using a full face mask, but I've decided to switch to a nasal mask, I changed the setting on the machine to nasal mask. When I run the mask fit test it says ok, but in use, it always gives the red face for bad mask fit. This is true even when I have it on while for only a few minutes while making sure it is not leaking. I'm not terribly concerned about it, but I'm wondering if there is some other setting I may not have entered correctly. Does it require a reset or something to get rid of the red face indicator?

The head gear and mask I'm using are all ResMed equipment.

You have resurrected a 5 year old thread and created a zombie. I don’t think the OP’s account is even active any longer.

Hope you have an elven sword, flamethrower, or bulldozer.

You seemed to have no trouble finding it. I figure why clutter up the forum with a duplicate thread, and if they don't want people to use old threads, they should not allow posting to them. And as to my question???

Atom wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 19, 2022 11:50 am

You seemed to have no trouble finding it. I figure why clutter up the forum with a duplicate thread, and if they don't want people to use old threads, they should not allow posting to them. And as to my question???

There is no easy way for Pugsy (moderator extraordinaire) to go through every single thread and lock them based on whether a user is active or not.

Start your own therapy thread. Glomming onto someone else's makes it hard for those who can help to find things.