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+--- Thread: Help With Leaks After Having No Issues (/Thread-Help-With-Leaks-After-Having-No-Issues)
Help With Leaks After Having No Issues - gj1980uk - 07-19-2018
Hi All,
I have been on APAP therapy for about 5 months now and have been having great success, with my AHI averaging around 1-2. Recently however, over the past week or so, I have been having issues with excessive leaks. My AHI is now up to between 3 and 6 (which I am hoping is attributed to the leak rate). Sleepyhead screenshots attached (a few showing the issue and one right before the issues started.
What do you think is causing this? Time for a new mask pillow (currently using the Airfit F20)? If so, I may go for a larger size as the medium I originally ordered seems just a tad too small). I am tempted to try a nasal pillow mask, maybe the P10 or the Nuance Pro to see if that help?
Coincidentally, the leak issue started the same day that I started taking Lexapro, so maybe that is causing restlessness during the night making the mask shift? Anyone had any experience with apnea and Lexapro (or any other SSRI)?
I am ready to try anything because after a successful 5 months having something go wrong is frustrating.
Thanks for the help
GJ
[attachment=7409][attachment=7410][attachment=7411][attachment=7412][attachment=7413]
RE: Help With Leaks After Having No Issues - Walla Walla - 07-19-2018
A lot of times a persons jaw will go slack and the bottom of the mask will break seal. If the mask is a little small this may be whats happening. Besides a larger mask you can try a chin strap or soft cervical collar to keep the jaw closed.
RE: Help With Leaks After Having No Issues - Hydrangea - 07-20-2018
I've been having this problem over the last month or so, after 1.5 years of leak-free xPAPing. I'm ultra frustrated about it. For me, I believe I'm sleeping too deeply or relaxed and my mouth is opening slightly. (I use a pillow mask.)
I'm about ready to try a chinstrap.
RE: Help With Leaks After Having No Issues - Sleep2Snore - 07-20-2018
It can be a bit frustrating having leaks, especially after having none or very few before.
I had to send away for a chin strap, not one from the machine manufacturers, but one off eBay from a Chinese seller.
It had the chin strap part, but also a band that went round the back of the neck and had Velcro on top and the back of the neck.
It worked well, I had also ordered form other sellers, but this one was the best, I wish I had ordered more of these as they were only about $3 delivered.
However, as I had a few arrive at the same time I have no idea which seller it was, so I will have to try ordering one again, but this time from them one at a time. Only thing I should have done was to run round all the edges with the sowing machine as there was no stitching, this made its life shorter than it should have been. The chin strap went over the head, round the ears and round the back of the neck. Very good results I was getting when I got it right and tight enough. My biggest problem is leaking air through the mouth. Even when I had a full-faced mask this still happened and sometimes I would waken up with the mask in my mouth, even with a chin strap supplied by the sleep clinic!
I know how frustrating leaks can be and sometimes you just have to try your best and let the machine do the rest.
Some of the chin straps I was using come in at least three sizes, but they give you measurements to take.
There are also ones that are nearer to flesh color and are sold as beauty masks for women, they are just the same but have more sizes to measure, I was going to send away for one just t see, but I couldn't get someone to take the measurements.
I tried a collar, but it was not a success for me, when I put it on it felt to tight and by morning it was still letting air leak, so I gave up on it..