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+--- Thread: I can breathe much better with a little leak (/Thread-I-can-breathe-much-better-with-a-little-leak)
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I can breathe much better with a little leak - felipao11 - 02-09-2021
Anybody else feels like breathing through mask and air pressure is so much better when there is a little leak instead of no leak?
I have intentionally made my mask to be a little loose, you need to balance with air noise but I feel like I breathe much better when the leak is between 15 to 20L/m instead of <10L/m
RE: I can breathe much better with a little leak - SarcasticDave94 - 02-09-2021
It possibly is some lack somewhere causing this need to create leaks. Pressure settings not optimized as in not enough pressure to support your needs, clogged mask vent, something like that.
What's the OSCAR chart look like? And what exactly are you using machine and mask wise?
RE: I can breathe much better with a little leak - Gideon - 02-10-2021
What is your EPR set to.
Your range is set to 5-15, 5 is too low for most adults.
Turn your ramp off, you do not need it at these pressures
Set your
Min pressure =7
EPR=2 full-time
Ramp =off
And post a set of OSCAR charts
Those settings should reduce your need for a leak
Personally I cannot tolerate a pressure of 10 or less. But that's just me
RE: I can breathe much better with a little leak - OpalRose - 02-10-2021
I can't sleep well with even small leaks if I notice them. As far as breathing better... I'd say listen to the advice above. Somethings not quite right either with settings or your mask. Post a chart from OSCAR.
RE: I can breathe much better with a little leak - staceyburke - 02-10-2021
IF that is true, you need to raise the min number. Post OSCAR and let us take a look.
RE: I can breathe much better with a little leak - Sleeprider - 02-10-2021
Are you basing this on the median or 95% leak? I have never had a median leak show up. Also, Philips and Resmed machines quantify leaks differently. The mask intentionally vents more than 4 times the volume of your respiration minute vent, so there is always a leak, even if Resmed nets it out.
Oh, wait, I think we have met before. You're the one that sticks your head out the car window?
![[Image: dog-671x518.jpg]](http://barkpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/dog-671x518.jpg)
RE: I can breathe much better with a little leak - felipao11 - 02-10-2021
Thank you all,
I have been using n30i mask, and I just noticed that I roll my face towards the pillow during the night (as if sleeping face down but not completely) and block the airway from the front of the cushion mask, I think that is why I feel like I need air and have to loosen up the mask a little bit so it leaks from the sides.
I just got the N20 mask and will try with your recommended settings. My problem is that I tend to roll face down and nasal masks (with hose at the front) don't allow that.
I took my leak values from ResMed MyAir app average.
[attachment=29819]
RE: I can breathe much better with a little leak - felipao11 - 02-10-2021
(02-10-2021, 11:13 AM)Sleeprider Wrote: Are you basing this on the median or 95% leak? I have never had a median leak show up. Also, Philips and Resmed machines quantify leaks differently. The mask intentionally vents more than 4 times the volume of your respiration minute vent, so there is always a leak, even if Resmed nets it out.
Oh, wait, I think we have met before. You're the one that sticks your head out the car window?
Hahahahaha yeah that would be me
RE: I can breathe much better with a little leak - staceyburke - 02-10-2021
I think you would breath better and have better therapy with:
Min 7
Max 10
EPR 3
The EPR will bring down your exhale to 4 but the inhale will be at 7. If you still feel oxygen starved move the min to 8 - again that puts your exhale at 5 and your inhale 8.
RE: I can breathe much better with a little leak - Sleeprider - 02-10-2021
Interesting chart. Somehow you manage to keep a low leak going without hitting the large leak threshold. I think you should just set your machine to 7.0 pressure and EPR 3 and enjoy the steady pressure and consistent EPR at 3. It would not be a lot different but you don't need autoset pressure with these results, and with pressure below 7.0 you do not get the full benefit of the EPR you have set, which means less ventilation. I think a minimum pressure of 7.0 is a part of your solution.
The N30i vents at the swivel on top and from the front of the mask. If you're blocking your mask vents by your sleep position, that might explain why you prefer a low mask leak. Either way, it's not adversely affecting your therapy, however you have four sessions in this chart and that suggests some sleep disruption. To better assess this low pressure and the flow limits we see, it might be interesting to look at a zoom of the flow rate at a 3-minute resolution.
Thanks for seeing the humor intended in my previous post.
