Constant noise in my head

[noisemaiden]

This is my second time on CPAP the first being 7 years ago for 3 years. I have been diagnosed again and have a ResMed S8 Series II. My pressure is 6. I tried a ResMed Swift LT for Her head gear which hurt my nose. I am now using an Opus Nasal Pillows Mask. The noise that I hear in my head all the time keeps me from falling asleep or else I wake after 2 hours. Is the noise normal, or is it caused by leaking air. The machine itself is very quiet and doesn't disturb my husband. I think I am more tired from the noise than anything else. That is why I quit the first time around. Any help is appreciated

[pdean44]

What kind of a noise are you hearing. The first week of cpap I had terrible leaks. That made a hurricane sound that woke up me up when they occurred and I had trouble getting the mask seated. Also i had an issue and the water droplets would get in the exhale ports and make a very high whistling whine that drove me crazy. Better hose management fixed that issue for me. I also learned to sleep with the gear and that helped. Do you use the ramp feature and do you hear this noise on all pressures? Perhaps changing to another mask may help if the mask itself is creating a noise you can not tolerate?

If it does not occur to higher pressures i would look for leaks. Also using the ramp feature may give you time to fall asleep as the machine builds pressure.

[Janknitz]

It would help, as PDean said, to know what kind of noise you are hearing. Is it a ssssssssssshhh sound of a leak around the pillows, a similar sound of the exhalation port hitting your bedding, a mechanical sound from the machine, or a high pitched sound that a few people hear coming from their Phillips Respironics System One machines?

Try to check for leaks--you can often feel them with your hand and see if that's the problem.

White noise might mask the sound for you--an MP3 player or sound machine with nature or relaxing sounds, a fan, etc.

Even the quietest machine has some sounds, but they are very light and easy to get used to.

With nasal pillows, I found that the tube connecting the nasal pillows to the hose had a kind of sound, and that sound is magnified when the tube touches the pillow. Sometimes a shift in position will help.

Hope you find or get used to the annoying sounds soon!

[noisemaiden]

Thanks for the comments. I have used this machine for 6 weeks and will see the specialist on the 25th. I think the swooshing noise is coming from the exhale ports. I have an old nasal pillow head gear and it has a bigger port so will try all three tonight and see what happens. The comment about the position on the hose is something I will be aware of. Also the machine goes louder and softer as I breathe and has a high squeal. I will keep trying, but I just want to sleep. I am used to very very quiet.

[rosacer]

Noisemaiden

I was able to hear the noise too. I noticed the level of the noise depends on the mask I wear. At the beginning I found that disturbing but with the time my brain get used to it and now it don't bother me any more. I need to say I'm very sensitive to nosie, I wear hear plugs and it amplifies the noise in your head. I think the noise goes thruough your nose to your ears and resounds in your head. Did you know we can ear thruought the brain scull ? We perceive the sound waves. But you will get used soon don't worry. To me the worst was when I change to Apap the speed changement with the inhale an exhale was a big noise concert.

[Country4ever]

I am used to complete silence for sleep, and it was a real pain to have to give that up. But for me it was a compromise. My quality of life improved, even though its not as quiet. Can you accept the noise as a necessary compromise?

[-SWS]

The noise that I hear in my head all the time keeps me from falling asleep or else I wake after 2 hours. ...
I am used to very very quiet.

Noisemaden, that sounds like a tough problem. Have you tried earplugs yet?

[warrain]

I started using the Opus 360 and also experienced the noise. Strangely, it is when I breathe IN and it is coming from the exhaust holes. F&P said the noise was caused by condensation, however, I know that isn't true. I get the noise immediately I start to use it and even when I don't use the humidifier. I've tried two other masks and don't get this noise from either of them. Pity, because, in all other respects, it is my favourite mask.

Has anyone tried a fix for this?

thanks
Warren

[ozij]

I find the Opus / S8 series very quiet.

Things to consider:
Many nasal pillows masks make a Swishhhhh sound when you inhaled - the Opus is rather quiet as far as that goes. All those mask noises were a real annoyance to me in the beginning, but the comfort of the masks was worth getting used to the noise.

For me, earplugs amplify machine and breathing noises - no help at all.

The noisiest time - if all leaks are controlled - is when the air coming out of the vent hits the pillow, sheets, duvet, etc.

When I take the Opus hose out of the cup, and wash it, I rub the gray cup and bottom edge with a fiberfree cloth (e.g. microfiber glasses cloth) to make sure its dry and smooth.

You alse have to make sure there's no humidity trapped in the vent holes after washing.

Good luck
O.

[guest also]

If the mask exhaust is hitting anything (pillow?) it will be noisy. If the noise is really in your head, it might be dry sinus (raise your heated humidifier). Just some suggestions.

[kteague]

I agree, the sounds vary from mask to mask. One thing that is consistent is that if the hose touches the pillow I am sleeping on, I hear it. Only way I know to decribe it is that the sound is internal, not external. I sleep on 2 pillows, the top being a bit smaller, and if the hoses lays on anything, it's the bottom pillow. I have at times uses a suspended hose system. But back to the masks. I used one during one sleep study that had vent hole sounds and sensations that made me nearly crazy! I sleep on my side with my hands under my face/head, and it blew on my wrist. If I pulled the sheet over the hand to keep from feeling it, the air hit the sheet with such force it flapped noisily. My Headrest mask works best for me because it up higher near the forehead and points upward. If you can't figure out what irritates you about a mask, consider that when trying another one. If sleeping with white noise or one of those sound recordings isn't even more distracting, hearing something externally might buffer what those hose sounds that seem to come from within.

If you've been living for years with the effects of untreated apnea and have returned to treatment, I'm sure you must be motivated to make this work for the long term this time. Hang in there, keep talking about any problems. Once you get to feel some benefits it will motivate you to keep moving forward. Best wishes.

[physicsbob]

I too use a Opus. There are several things to try. One get some fleece comfort pads for the side arms of your mask. the plastic can transfer sound to your cheek bones, which you will hear through bone conduction. Two, I have noticed my mask starts making more noise when the little air holes are the least bit dirty. After washing the the elbow in mild soapy water I take safety pin and carefully ream out the exhaust holes and then rinse it off and they seem a lot quieter.

[nyelement]

The noise that you are hearing is called "conductive noise". The noise you are hearing is coming directly from the machine and traveling directly down the hose, to the mask and into your head. I had a PR1 system for about a total of 7 days and could not take it anymore. I had to switch DME companies because the first DME company would not switch to a different brand. Hooked up with a different DME and they set me up with the new Resmed S9 autoset. Guess what , no conductive noise . I can now fall asleep without listening to that low droning noise.

[Janknitz]

Interesting that last night and this morning I could NOT hear that conductive noise that I hear fairly loud almost every night (but not every morning, for some reason). The difference was . . .

My ears were totally clear--no pressure in the ears. Usually I feel a lot of pressure in my ears with CPAP on**. And to prove it, whenever I swallowed, the pressure in my ears increased just a little and the sound was there quite loudly during the swallow.

I don't know what was different that my ears had no pressure last night and this morning, it just was. Same mask, same machine, same everything.

All I could hear was the soft inhalation--just slightly louder than your own inhalation sounds without CPAP on.

My nose is totally clear and open this morning, too. Not sure why it's different than usual, but I'm enjoying it while I can

**My mask seemed a little leakier than usual. Could this explain the lack of pressure in my ears???

[mimi]

My mask is quiet unless I use the humidifier. Then I hear a cycling sound that drives me nuts. So, I put up with dry mouth.

What I need help with is, why does my nose get itchy? I have to shut the machine off and unhook the mask to scratch my nose and that wakes me up too much. How do I stop that.