Let's talk about CPAP noise.

I am currently using a ResMed to Mirage Quattro Full Face mask and the CPAP machine of ResMed Escape I not the quieter Escape II. I sometimes have found it easier to fall asleep when borrowing a ResMed auto set II which is quieter. Even the Escape I is a machine from my health plan which I eventually will have to replace with a purchased CPAP machine. My questions are these are there any users out there who have experienced using the ResMed I series as well as the II series or S9 series ResMed CPAP machine and relate to me how vital the difference in noise seems to them compared to using the older noisier I series. Also can anybody relate to me their experiences of noise with a quieter ResMed CPAP machine and the noisier Respironics CPAP machine? I am thinking my full face mask helps to funnel the noise of the CPAP machine to my ears and my perceiving that correctly? According to cpap.com the new ResMed machines have a noise figure of 24 DB while Respironics machine have a noise figure 29 dB on some models and 31 dB on others.

I am a new user to CPAP machines and before I started with them I was an insomniac and still am. I certainly cannot fall asleep now with out aerobic exercising on my elliptical exercise machine for more than an hour. Although that was the case in large part before starting CPAP therapy it is always the case now. My pulmonologist has agreed to give me sleeping pills should I request it. Also my purchase of a CPAP machine will be completely out of pocket and I noticed Respironics machine are easier obtain on the used market then are ResMed machines. Consequently I am thinking of purchasing a Respironics machines even though they are noisier but would appreciate your testimony as to how much harder this would make it for me to fall asleep? Please relate your noise and sleep experiences to me.

If you are a person that needs a very quiet room to fall asleep then I would say get the quietest machine you can find. I am a new user as well and find that once I get that mask on and start the machine I seem to fixate on the noise and it lulls me to sleep. I find it a lot easier to drop off to sleep now than I used to. Prior to CPAP therapy I would wake myself up with snoring or I would stop breathing just as I dropped off to sleep.

Good topic, because I really don't understand what the noise fuss is about. Can someone please explain exactly what type of noise is causing the problem? Why do people talk about Respironics machines being noisy?

Although my PR System One RemStar Auto is the only machine I've used, there really is no noise issue. Believe me, my hearing is fine. So is the hearing of each of my 21 and 24 year old daughters, who both have made it a point to stand over my machine and "inspect" exactly what goes on when I'm masked up and the machine is blowing. Both commented (separately, and without me asking) on how quiet everything was.

The only time I notice noise is from my mask...either the vent air hitting something or a leak. My husband, who is on the opposite side of the bed, doesn't hear anything. He's just happy I'm not rattling the windows anymore.

If someone can enlighten me, I sure would appreciate it.
Linda

Tired Linda wrote: Although my PR System One RemStar Auto is the only machine I've used, there really is no noise issue.

Years ago, machine and masks made a lot of noise - I have an old machine somewhere around her and it makes tons of noise (as did the old Resmed masks) - well not anymore as its all stored somewhere. Quite frankly I now have a System One and cannot hear it much at all. In fact, I sometimes am not sure if the thing is even on - it pulls so little and is quiet. Even more, I wish the machine were a little louder - as little humming "white noises" make me go to sleep easier. But my System One isn't going to do that.

Frankly most people with sleep apnea can (and often do) fall asleep in the middle of a rock concert. If the OP has problems with insomnia on top of OSA - then there are other issues to be addressed. A manufacturers specification as to how many db of noise produced is terribly arbitrary - as most of us hear different frequencies at different intensities. But frankly I am more easily woken my one of my dogs farting than I am by a CPAP machine that is currently in production. In short: No, there is no noise issue.

My issue with the noise from my AutoSet II is that the noise changes as I inhale/exhale. If the noise generated from the machine was constant, I wouldn't find it so troubling.
I have a little fan that I use to drown out the CPAP machine.

I assume the difference in how the machine sounds during inhalation and exhalation is due to EPR, but I love EPR so I work around it

I was sold thru ins. a Resmed Escape (early version/1) in 2006. Recently I was about to change to very high deductable. I purchased out of pocket online and submitted bill to ins. to beat deductible. (with pre-auth,it worked) I have an S-9 Auto and the 3.11 software and love it. If you pay out of pocket, start with S-9 AUTO, then as you can afford if needed, get humidifier later. Go to this forum and download the free 3.11 software. I loaned my new S-9 out for 3 nights, against my wife's wishes. (she spent 2 of the 3 nights on couch so she could sleep) I was surprised at the noise traveling up the hose on the Escape vs the S-9. I lost sleep from a machine I had previously used for over 4 years, it was noisy! I know nothing about Escape II. The S-9 not just quiet, but it is basically silent. Good Luck! jlk

I have an S9 Elite. It is silent. The only noise is from my breathing through the nose pillows, and from leaks. When a leak wakes me up and I readjust the nose pillows, the lower noise from the nose pillows sounds like nothing by comparison. The wall AC unit is much, much noisier than my breathing through the nose pillows.

4 Decibels is really nothing. The PR S1 is VERY quiet. With the humidifier, I cannot hear the machine if I try (it is a little bit noisier without the humidifier).

However, there is still noise in the mask. ResMed refers to this as "conducted noise" and claims that the S9's dampen the conducted noise too, but I'm skeptical because I've seen S9 users complain about it as much as Resperonics users when using a noiser mask. Ear plugs MAGNIFY this sound, because the noise is conducted in your head. Tubing against the pillow also magnifies the sound. This sound can be masked with white noise--my bedroom fan on low completely masks it, as does my MP3 player and a sound machine.

Some masks are much quieter than others. I couldn't tell the machine was even on with a Mirage Micro, but it tore up my nose. I prefer nasal pillows that all come with their own short hoses, and the short hoses seem to be conducted noise magnifiers. A hose cover works and I've been experimenting with Padacheeks nasal pillow covers which also help dampen the noise.

Oddly, however noisy the mask seems when I'm trying to go to sleep at night, it's usually much quieter in the morning. I have no idea why.

Janknitz wrote: Oddly, however noisy the mask seems when I'm trying to go to sleep at night, it's usually much quieter in the morning. I have no idea why.

I don't think that the mask is actually quieter in the morning. It seems quieter because your brain tends to filter out continous background noise after a while. In evolutionary terms (excuse me, Christine O'Donnell), new sounds, which are most likely due to changes in the environment (like a lion creeping through the grass behind you), are the most likely to represent a threat. So your brain is wired to filter out long-term low-level background noise and bring new sounds to the forefront.

bbmiller wrote:I am currently using a ResMed to Mirage Quattro Full Face mask and the CPAP machine of ResMed Escape I not the quieter Escape II. I sometimes have found it easier to fall asleep when borrowing a ResMed auto set II which is quieter. Even the Escape I is a machine from my health plan which I eventually will have to replace with a purchased CPAP machine. My questions are these are there any users out there who have experienced using the ResMed I series as well as the II series or S9 series ResMed CPAP machine and relate to me how vital the difference in noise seems to them compared to using the older noisier I series. Also can anybody relate to me their experiences of noise with a quieter ResMed CPAP machine and the noisier Respironics CPAP machine? I am thinking my full face mask helps to funnel the noise of the CPAP machine to my ears and my perceiving that correctly? According to cpap.com the new ResMed machines have a noise figure of 24 DB while Respironics machine have a noise figure 29 dB on some models and 31 dB on others.

I am a new user to CPAP machines and before I started with them I was an insomniac and still am. I certainly cannot fall asleep now with out aerobic exercising on my elliptical exercise machine for more than an hour. Although that was the case in large part before starting CPAP therapy it is always the case now. My pulmonologist has agreed to give me sleeping pills should I request it. Also my purchase of a CPAP machine will be completely out of pocket and I noticed Respironics machine are easier obtain on the used market then are ResMed machines. Consequently I am thinking of purchasing a Respironics machines even though they are noisier but would appreciate your testimony as to how much harder this would make it for me to fall asleep? Please relate your noise and sleep experiences to me.

I have experience with two machines - the first was a Respironics REMstar Plus M-Series - and the current is the DeVilbiss IntelliPAP AutoAdjust. Soon I should have the Resmed S9 AutoSet, but it has not yet arrived. In terms of quiet, there is no comparison between the older, and much noisier, M-Series - and the IntelliPAP which is nearly silent.

I notice you live in Centennial - as do I. If you care to send me a PM, we can arrange a time and you can hear the DeVilbiss in operation for yourself. If quiet is your goal - the DeVilbiss is going to be hard - VERY hard - to beat. For that matter, price and features are going to be hard to beat as well.

davecpap wrote:My issue with the noise from my AutoSet II is that the noise changes as I inhale/exhale. If the noise generated from the machine was constant, I wouldn't find it so troubling.
I have a little fan that I use to drown out the CPAP machine.

I assume the difference in how the machine sounds during inhalation and exhalation is due to EPR, but I love EPR so I work around it

I notice this as well but am getting used to it. Problem is that it's bugging the heck out of my husband! I really do think it is the pitch change that's annoying him rather than the machine itself, which is remarkably quiet. I just changed my EPR setting to 2 to see if that makes a difference, and also changed the mask setting (since I have a Philips who knows if the Resmed masks I have to choose from might make a difference).

I am very curious to see how it goes tonight. Any other suggestions for reducing mask noise - other than trying another mask, since it took forever to finally get a comfy one, lol! I thought my days of sleeping alone in my bed were done when the snoring stopped!

Shari

I have had to work midnight shift years ago. I used a little noise machine...to rain, or a waterfull, or ocean waves.....would something like that on a high enough setting to hear, but not too loud to disturb help with cpap noise? Just wondering....

Tired Linda wrote:Good topic, because I really don't understand what the noise fuss is about. Can someone please explain exactly what type of noise is causing the problem? Why do people talk about Respironics machines being noisy?

Although my PR System One RemStar Auto is the only machine I've used, there really is no noise issue. Believe me, my hearing is fine. So is the hearing of each of my 21 and 24 year old daughters, who both have made it a point to stand over my machine and "inspect" exactly what goes on when I'm masked up and the machine is blowing. Both commented (separately, and without me asking) on how quiet everything was.

The only time I notice noise is from my mask...either the vent air hitting something or a leak. My husband, who is on the opposite side of the bed, doesn't hear anything. He's just happy I'm not rattling the windows anymore.

If someone can enlighten me, I sure would appreciate it.
Linda

According to Linda's testimony noise hasn't been a problem with her new Respironics CPAP machine. Somebody told me they found the M. series Respironics CPAP machines noisy. As the noise profile or intensity changed since the M. series?

My Respironics Remstar Auto System One started making a lot of noise at about 6500-7000 hours. It got so bad at 7500 hours that I was about to throw it away, until.... The noise was a vibrating noise that spiked between inhale and exhale. When it first started bothering me, I found that if I pressed on the top of the unit, the noise would go away, so I got some temporary relief by putting an elastic band around the unit. But the noise returned and despite any elastic configuration, it became unbearable. A firm hand pressure on the top of the unit would quiet it, but that is hardly conducive to sleeping.
Here's how I solved the problem: I took the pump unit apart--not the humidifier unit. There are two long torx screws, I think T-15. You pull off the control knob and lift the top cover off, revealing a clear plastic case for the black, round motor. I took the top of the clear case off, with another torx driver, I think T-10. I pulled the motor up and put three green felt sticky round cushions under the motor, placing them near the mounting holes. These sticky felt rounds are designed to stick to the bottom of a flower pot, etc. Reassembled with every screw tightened well, and, voila! No noise whatsover.

Cpap.com lists the measured noise levels of each machine they sell under the "features" tab.
Decibels are a logarithmic scale, so 22 Db is WAY LOUDER than 21 Db.
Do not let the numbers fool you.