High leaks with nasal pillows, but low AHI. what's that about?

[Dormeo]

In passing you mentioned trying again to tape your mouth while using the P10. Have you actually done that? If you like the P10 but you're having mouth leaks, then I would encourage you to see whether you can take measures to keep your mouth closed.

In addition to tape, you could try a soft cervical collar or a "snore" collar to keep your lower jaw up, and you could start trying to enlist your tongue in your efforts. Put the tip of your tongue behind your upper front teeth, press the rest of your tongue up against the roof of your mouth, and do a little suck or swallow to create a bit of suction.

You can practice this during the day. You will know you're doing it right when you can open your mouth wide and still be breathing only through your nose.

[hegel]

Interesting, mesenteria.  I went in to see a DME at Kaiser because mouth breathing had become an issue and I was beginning to suspect that I wasn't getting an accurate ahi reading because of how lousy I was feeling in the morning. That DME agreed with you, implicitly--she said that if leaks weren't bothering me, not to worry. However I only had my old respironics machine and I'm unsure how thoroughly she read my reports--altho the machine certainly had the capacity to record the relevant info.


I did get a full face mask to try, and a new Airsense 10. I went back in after 2 months of using the full mask and the new sleep doc guy said, yeah, i  definitely need that.

So: with the P10 pillows,  either the ahi is being recorded as too low due to leaks; OR the leak rate is being compensated just fine by the nasal pillows and I'm good to go. In the end it's how I feel that will determine the issue, I suppose. It's still ongoing.

oh p.s. I think I'll try taping again...it felt a little claustrophobic but maybe I'll get used to it.