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Sleepyhead & Phillips Respironics Leak Data
#1
Sleepyhead & Phillips Respironics Leak Data
Hi,

Am not sure if this sits here or in the General forum so my apologies if I have it wrong.

I am on CPAP with a PSR System 1 running 7.5cm of pressure and using a Wisp mask which I have been using for around 12 months. Prior to this I had a Nuance for 12 months (Been on CPAP 2 years). AHI runs at around 1.6 on average.

I recently attended my sleep specialist for a data review (first one since being set up!) to be told that my leaks are way too excessive, starting out around 25-27 and varying up and down during the night. This surprised me a little although I know my mask cup is due for replacement I didnt think leaks were excessive. He showed me the graphs where they started around 25'ish each night. He said that normal for that mask is around 1-5.

I came home and checked Sleepyhead (hadnt looked at it for a long time) and reviewed my data. I am unsure that I actually have a leak problem? (My sleep specialist is a bit known for using these appointments to upgrade and replace gear as he is a PSR agent).

My understanding is that the PSR units report "Unintentional + Intentional" leaks as one total leaks figure. A lookup of the Wisp at my pressure indicates an intentional leak rate of around 24. If my specialist downloads my data and the machine reports a rate of 27'ish wouldn't this be about right?? (24'ish intentional and a couple on top for unintentional??)

So can I assume that any data being reported from my device to Sleepyhead is combined leak (intentional + unintentional)?.....and subtracting 24 (my intentional leak rate for my pressure) from this figure at any given time will give me any unintentional leak figure?

This being the case....Can anybody advise me as to what settings i need to put into the Leak Settings in Sleepyhead so that my graphs will reflect these readings?

I hope this all makes sense....my gut feeling is that my specialist is trying to convince me to buy new masks etc....when there is no real need to. Just trying to sort the chaff from the hay.....

Thanks,
Bart
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#2
RE: Sleepyhead & Phillips Respironics Leak Data
Hi Bart70,
Yes, the PR cpaps report both unintentional and intentional leaks. Your "specialist" may not understand this.

You can post a screenshot and we can take a look, but from what you are saying, your leak rate seems fine and not excessive at all.

In the meantime, this information from the Beginners Guide to SleepyHead (Leaks) explains it nicely.
http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...Head#Leaks

Note: You may very well experience many small leaks from your mask during the night which can distrub your sleep, but wouldn't be high enough to stop the Cpap from doing it's job.




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INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE.  ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA.  INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
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#3
RE: Sleepyhead & Phillips Respironics Leak Data
You said your mask was due for replacement. How long have you been wearing the Wisp? I can only get about 30 days out of one until SH shows my leaks have increased. I just started taking some advice I read here on the forum about using alcohol around my mask area and the pillows--and I have had several nights of zero leaks. Since I have old, dry skin I didn't think I needed to do this, but apparently just the method of cleaning my face is leaving some moisturizers behind. For younger folks with oily skin this may be a necessity.
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#4
RE: Sleepyhead & Phillips Respironics Leak Data
Thankyou,

I would expect the 'specialist' to know the Phillips product as he is actually employed by Phillips and works for one of the local Doctors. This is the bit that makes me wary as Phillips would be employing him to sell their product. In our country the rules around sleep specialists are a little grey - people who are not necessarily medically trained can be called a 'Sleep Specialist' and review your stats - To be honest the service is not much different to what we do here ourselves with SH and in some instances the SH data is better (for example he could not look at anything further back than last 30 days....I can look at entire history and 'see' when leak patters changed).

I can see that my mask had some excessive leakage at times, particularly in the last 90 days. I knew the cushion wasn't good and was just too lazy to change it over! I have been using a new cushion for the last 3 nights and if I have set up SH correctly (to extract the intentional leak factor) my leak stats are much more realistic. I spent over an hour looking through the SH help section but wasn't 100% sure how to set up some settings....like the 4cmH20 and 20cmH20 slide bars. I figure these are the intentional leak rates at 4cm and 20cm for the mask?...If so mine are both on the far left of the scale.

So far so good...I will keep playing!

Cheers and thanks,
Bart.
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#5
RE: Sleepyhead & Phillips Respironics Leak Data
(01-13-2017, 02:01 PM)SideSleeper Wrote: You said your mask was due for replacement. How long have you been wearing the Wisp? I can only get about 30 days out of one until SH shows my leaks have increased. I just started taking some advice I read here on the forum about using alcohol around my mask area and the pillows--and I have had several nights of zero leaks. Since I have old, dry skin I didn't think I needed to do this, but apparently just the method of cleaning my face is leaving some moisturizers behind. For younger folks with oily skin this may be a necessity.

Yes...The cushion or 'cup' is was due for replacement. Many months old and starting to show discoloration so well and truly outside its useable life. My 'goto' mask is the Nuance - I had as good as zero leak on it but the gel cushions are expensive and I found them to have a very limited life. Also the headband deteriorated very fast and went all 'sticky'. This annoyed me because these items are not the result of rocket science...An elastic headstrap is not new technology and I cannot for the life me of me understand why Phillips cannot manufacture one that lasts years as opposed to months. At over $60 each they are an expensive piece of elastic!....I have underwear with elastic that has lasted for years!!...and wetsuits are made of a similar material and last for years also...lol....Add on top of that the cushions at $80 and they start to become expensive to maintain. My Phillips rep wasn't too keen on my honest feedback..lol...I told him that its lucky it is a specialised market cos if it were underwear they would be broke!

My wife uses Wisp and I was also fitted for a Wisp when I got my machine. My wife uses a different cup size to me so when we buy a new mask we get 'spare' cups for each other. Works out a lot better but I don't get the best results from the Wisp...although when working the stats are well within limits...Just not as good as the Nuance.

I might try the alcohol trick....What do you use?...Alcohol swabs/wipes?



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#6
RE: Sleepyhead & Phillips Respironics Leak Data
I just use those alcohol wipes, individually packaged. Not expensive at all at discount stores.
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#7
RE: Sleepyhead & Phillips Respironics Leak Data
If the objective is to strip oils on silicone mask cushions, I recommend Dawn. Alcohol is very aggressive to the material itself.
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INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
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#8
RE: Sleepyhead & Phillips Respironics Leak Data

I interpreted it to mean wiping the nose and contact area with an alcohol wipe prior to fitting mask to remove excessive oils from the skin.....but probably should clarify that.

When you say 'Dawn'....Are you meaning Dawn dishwashing detergent?
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#9
RE: Sleepyhead & Phillips Respironics Leak Data
(01-14-2017, 03:42 AM)Bart70 Wrote: When you say 'Dawn'....Are you meaning Dawn dishwashing detergent?

That's correct. Just a drop in warm water. Wash the cushion and then rinse well. I do this every morning.

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