What are Least Noisy (when inhaling) nasal pillow masks Help

[rainydaywoman]

I'm trying to get used to using the Optilife nasal pillow mask. My machine is still finding my "ideal pressure" it's on the Autosetting for 30 days and then it will go to Auto check or something and stay at my most common pressure and then recheck every few days. Anyway, I have only been on this therapy for a couple weeks. I had a full face mask, and just couldn't stand the leaks, etc. My pressure from the sleep study is a 9.

So then the I switched to the Swift FX for her nasal pillows, I did okay the first night and then ever after I couldn't get it to stay on - slipped off my head when I turned on my side felt very flimsy, etc.

So, I switched to the Optilfe that are more substantial and stay on your face great. Only problem is this horrible Darth Vader noise every time I inhale. It was completely distracting and as the pressure got higher my nostrils were even inflating a little and I was very aware of that. This was last night - had in on the end table next to my bed very close to my ear.

The weird thing is, 2 nights ago, I slept in the guest bedroom with the machine on a lower table and the noise didn't seem as distracting and I eventually fell asleep and slept for 5 hours so I was thrilled, and the data said my pressure for most of the night was 11. But last night, in a different room with the table by the bed higher could not sleep at all with the thing on and finally took it off after 2 frustrating hours of trying to ignore the extremely loud DArth VAder inhalation noise.

Any and all advise on how to make this better would be hugely appreciated. I will sign off now and please excuse the rambling, I am exhausted today!

[herefishy]

Think I would try putting it down lower. Sorry, couldn't help it.

[Janknitz]

Where is the noise coming from? Is it the machine, the hose, or the vent?

1. The machine: Lowering the machine, as you discovered, may help. Perhaps a small stool or lower shelf of the night table. Consider lowering or turning off the EPR. That really reduced the Darth Vader sounds on my machine, and I was fully used to the pressure, so I didn't need pressure relief anymore.

2. The hose can become a conductor of sound. If the hose is resting on a hard surface like the night table or the headboard, it can magnify the sound. It can also magnify the sound if it lays across your pillow. Hanging your hose may help--if the hose isn't touching anything to conduct sound through, it won't be so loud. You can also try a thick hose cover.

3. Is the vent blowing against the bedding or other object? That can make a lot of noise. I can't remember the vent configuration on the Opus, but hanging the hose, again, may change the angle that the air comes out, so it doesn't make so much noise hitting the bedding, your pillow, your arm, etc.

If none of the above work, consider masking the noise with white noise. Many people find a fan in the room masks the noise sufficiently. There are all kinds of white noise machines on the market, many combined with alarm clocks. I sleep with my ipod playing podcasts quietly--only one earbud in.

One thing I can tell you is that ear plugs rarely work, because they tend to magnify the conducted noise through the bones in your head. But there have been a few people who found that earplugs were helpful.