Experiencing difficulty with a new CPAP machine

On 7/18/06 I was diagnosed with severe periodic limb movements with ostructive sleep apnea with desaturation. This was resolved on 8cm of cpap. I began using a Respironics Remstar Pro 2 with C-flex (I think it was called the "M" seies) and a Resmed Mirage full face mask in August of 2006. I subsequntly switched to a Mirage Quattro mask when it became available and I am still using this mask. I had no trouble with this unit until it failed in November 2012 with over 14,000 hours on it. The DME deemed it unrepairable and sold me a Respironiccs PR System One DS 560 HS with humidifier. It soon began making a variable pitch whine and was relaced with a new unit. The problem I have been having now is loud airflow noise both thru the machine and the air venting from the mask seems louder too. My wife says it sounds like a wind storm. I never had this problem with my old legacy unit. I think the bulk of the unit (the old Legacy) helped mask some of the noise. Does anyone have any suggestions about how to resolve the airflow noise in my new unit. The DME did offer to sell me a used Respironics Legacy for $175.00 but I'm still paying on the new noisey unit. Would switching to a different mask help decrease the noise? Any tips regarding this airflow noise would be greatly appreciated.

Hi,

I think your old machine was a straight CPAP unit, and your new 560 is an auto machine (APAP). Is it possible that your new machine is adjusting to a higher pressure (due to treatment needs, events, or leaks) than your old machine? If so, that could explain the louder wind noises.

-john-

You could try experimenting with the Aflex setting, sometimes lowering the setting helps with the noise. Since you have a pretty low pressure you might not even need it.

You can try setting the blower unit on the floor where the bed will block the noise. You might set it on something so you're not sucking up dust off the floor.

Try running a fan in the room to drown out the noise. It doesn't need to blow on you, it's just to make noise.

Be sure your filters are clean.

Turn on the machine, disconnect the hose from the mask and plug it with your thumb. Listen for leaks anywhere in the system.

You can also try putting the machine in a drawer or a box. In the drawer, leaving the drawer open enough for the hose to come out of will give you a big enough hole for air to get in. If you use a box, be sure there's an extra air hole at least as large as the hose for air to come in.

The noise at the mask is a function of the pressure, not the CPAP machine.

If your current machine has "Flex" turned on, the noise changes as you inhale and exhale and may seem louder since it varies. If it's set to "Auto", it may be detecting that you need more pressure and adjusting appropriately.

Apart from your noise problems, the 560 machine is enormously better than your old CPAP machine. It collects data that is like having a mini sleep test every night, so you can check and see if your therapy is working.

You could be having air leaks around your mask as well. If you install the SleepyHead program on your computer and check your leak rate. There are links in my signature line.

Whippet, are you not using a humidifier by any chance? Without the humidifier the PR is MUCH louder. The water and the weight of the humidifier helped dampen the noise a great deal. Even if you don't need the humidifier, it may be worth it to have it and use it in passover mode (no heat) just to dampen the noise.