issues with Resmed AirFit N20 leaking/noise

Hi All:
I had thought I was all set - the AirFit N20 worked very well for me for about 10 days. However, the last two nights, I have had major leaking and a loud rushing sort of sound that is waking me up. If I adjust the small hose that connects to the mask, it seems to go away, I roll over and go back to sleep. Then it happens again. I am usually semi-aware of the waking up - readjust and then back to sleep.
When I look at sleepyhead data, the leaking comes in bursts and I have had some long periods (1020 seconds or more) at times that correspond to when I am waking up - as much as I can tell.
I wash the mask and hose each morning with Dawn although I haven't always been brushing the vent as shown - rather visually inspecting. Brushed it this morning - so am hoping for better things tonight. Could there be some buildup of particles in that vent that is causing the noise/leaking issue?
Last night I was aware of air bubbling around my mouth/ cheek puffing etc. I do tape about 3/4 of my mouth and use a chin strap as I am a mouth breather at night.

I just ordered a ffm to trial (tried the Amara view - large leaking I couldn't control). Based on how I was fitted for N20 for her, I appear to have a medium size nose, but use a small headgear. The bridge of my nose is rather wide and the lower part of my face is narrow + I am a side sleeper to add to it all. The mask I am going to trial is the Quattro Fx for her. Trying to have another option to turn to if I should get a cold or if I get tired of all the taping/chinstrap contortions.

Any suggestions appreciated. Still waiting for the energy burst
xcountrygal

xcountrygal wrote:Could there be some buildup of particles in that vent that is causing the noise/leaking issue?

Unlikely. Blocked vent holes would be more apt to reduce the venting which would reduce the leak rate. Also blocked vent holes would be more likely to reduce mask vent noise..not make it worse.

xcountrygal wrote:If I adjust the small hose that connects to the mask, it seems to go away,

Sounds like the junction where the small hose connects to the mask is a bit too loose. Try wrapping a layer or two of tape around the mask part that fits into the long hose that seems to be a bit loose and see if it gets just a little more snug so it can't work loose so easy.

Thanks for your prompt responds, Pugsy!
Just so I understand, do you mean tape around the top end of that small hose that clips into the nasal cushion? I just tried a bit of the micropore tape (ripped lengthwise). Made it a bit harder to snap in, but was doable. Hose doesn't rotate as well, but that isn't a problem for me, would rather have it just stay put.
xcountrygal

xcountrygal wrote:Just so I understand, do you mean tape around the top end of that small hose that clips into the nasal cushion?

I am not familiar with your mask at all so I don't know exactly what you are talking about and instead just going on where you say it comes loose and when you re-adjust it and make it snugger the noise quits. I didn't know it affected the swivel ability since I am not familiar with the mask other than it has a part that seems to get loose and cause a problem so the solution is to make it not loosen so easily.
Alternate one could put something inside the long hose to make it tighter I suppose. I just hate messing with the long hose unless I have to.

At any rate it is an easy thing to try and see if it resolves the noise issue and its easy to remove if it doesn't.

Will give it a try tonight and report back.

Well - tried the tape on the short hose connection - that part worked well. However, discovered that the nasal cushion is leaking as well - tightened upper headgear straps which reduced it - but seem to be getting long periods of leaking - sometimes I am aware of it - other times not.
My pressure heads up to the upper limit of the machine setting (14) quickly and tends to stay there most of the night. I have an appointment back at the sleep Dr. office next month and the DME people don't want me messing with my settings (although I know how to get into the secret side of the machine ), but I am very tempted to try to increase both the lower setting (6) where the machine spends very little time and the upper limit (14) where the machine seems to want to spend long periods of time. My AHI scores have been under 2 using this mask and am afraid that I will have more leaking with increased pressure. Even with the leaking, last night was one of the first nights that I have felt like I actually slept very well since beginning this entire process about 1 month ago.

Any other suggestions regarding leaking with this nasal cushion appreciated (it is only <2 weeks old - so don't think it has gone bad yet, but that is always a possibility). VIsual inspection reveals no issues.

Thanks,
xcountrygal

Just how big or deep into large leak territory are you going? And just for how long???
Is the big leak happening only when at higher pressures or happening at lower pressures too?

Just how many wake ups from the cushion leaking do you think you are having?

Any leak that wakes us up is unwanted but is it once or maybe 10 times?

I am sorry...I don't use a nasal cushion mask so I am clueless as to anything in terms of cushion life itself that might help.
Never even tried one.
Do you happen to have a spare to try? Even the old one?

As for pressure experimentation....if you want to go down that road (and with an AHI of maybe 2.0 it doesn't sound like you urgently need to)...start with the minimum pressure first. It's actually more critical than the maximum pressure and sometimes when the minimum pressure is more optimally set the max doesn't go as high.
Maybe if the minimum is a bit higher the machine won't go so high and without it going so high it will be less likely to leak so much at the higher pressures...just a thought.

I find my N10 leaks less when looser as this allows the pillows to inflate to the shape of my face

Thanks for the input. I continue to play with the adjustment. The reason I was tightening a bit was that it had worked very well for the first 8 days and then all of a sudden noisy leaks. I thought that the headgear had stretched some so was tightening just a bit. I think it has helped, but my pressures want to stay near the 14 mark at night and that is when the leaking is occurring. No issues at the bottom of 6. Still trying to find the best fit.

If it's leaking around your cushion. This can help: http://www.padacheek.com/PACAirFitSeries.html