09-20-2020, 03:55 AM
Leak rate level and OA apneas between nasal and full face mask
Dear all,
after using for several years an OPUS 360 nasal mask, I started to observe that my sessions were not optimal due to mouth breathing (Chin straps do not really help since I feel that after testing 3 different shapes, I still get nexk pressure narrowing my airway). I switched into the full face dreamwear mask since my nose shape/size is not optimal for other types of full face masks. After a successful 6 month period and reduction of the AHI from the 3s region to 1-2s, I have not observed any substantial improvement. In fact I feel that air inserting from the nose requires now more effort, I get side leaks that wake me up (So, I added several types of mask liners to see if this can help with no apparent success). I purchased a hybrid mask from Respcare in an attempt to see if this will help me better...i.e., clear nasal pillows to have good air flow and a mouth piece that can compensate.
Looking at Oscar/Sleepyhead data I see that the leak rate for the nasal mask is way low and with the dreamwear is higher. So I have a few questions before I raise the issue where I will need your experience:
1) Do we focus only on the leak rate value or also the total leaks value? do you have any indication for a nasal, full face mask what leak rates will be considered not realistic indicating that I wear the mask not correct or mask silicone lost its flexibility?
2) Is it possible that the software reads " easier" OAs with a nasal mask than with a full face mask (air is distributed in a larger area?). Or am I really experiencing more events with the nasal that with the full face purely due to the mouth factor?
3) with nasal mask I sense I have plenty more events like VS2, CAs, Periodic breathing that I do not have with the full face. Any thoughts that I may be registering false info?
Background: 1 picture with nasal mask where also the questions arise, 1 representative picture of a full face mask session (higher leak but lower AHI), last night session with full face mask, new mask liner, tighter fitting and a collar instead of chin strap
after using for several years an OPUS 360 nasal mask, I started to observe that my sessions were not optimal due to mouth breathing (Chin straps do not really help since I feel that after testing 3 different shapes, I still get nexk pressure narrowing my airway). I switched into the full face dreamwear mask since my nose shape/size is not optimal for other types of full face masks. After a successful 6 month period and reduction of the AHI from the 3s region to 1-2s, I have not observed any substantial improvement. In fact I feel that air inserting from the nose requires now more effort, I get side leaks that wake me up (So, I added several types of mask liners to see if this can help with no apparent success). I purchased a hybrid mask from Respcare in an attempt to see if this will help me better...i.e., clear nasal pillows to have good air flow and a mouth piece that can compensate.
Looking at Oscar/Sleepyhead data I see that the leak rate for the nasal mask is way low and with the dreamwear is higher. So I have a few questions before I raise the issue where I will need your experience:
1) Do we focus only on the leak rate value or also the total leaks value? do you have any indication for a nasal, full face mask what leak rates will be considered not realistic indicating that I wear the mask not correct or mask silicone lost its flexibility?
2) Is it possible that the software reads " easier" OAs with a nasal mask than with a full face mask (air is distributed in a larger area?). Or am I really experiencing more events with the nasal that with the full face purely due to the mouth factor?
3) with nasal mask I sense I have plenty more events like VS2, CAs, Periodic breathing that I do not have with the full face. Any thoughts that I may be registering false info?
Background: 1 picture with nasal mask where also the questions arise, 1 representative picture of a full face mask session (higher leak but lower AHI), last night session with full face mask, new mask liner, tighter fitting and a collar instead of chin strap
