Something to create background noise at lab on test night.

stevoreno · Post by **stevoreno** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 8:03 am

Well I had a humdinger of a post all typed out early this morning but apparently I took too long composing it so the website timed me out so I'm doing another one but a much shorter one and hopefully I won't get timed out this time. I have a sleep study scheduled in 2 weeks; a 2 night test. I have a bad case of ringing in my ears; tininitus(sp?) I think it's called. I don't sleep good in a totally quiet room; I have to have something running in the room to create background noise to cancel out the ringing in my ears.

Since August 1999 my Sullivan series V straight CPAP machine has been provided that background noise. I have a Honeywell 3 speed electric fan which is 8" in diameter; I'd like to take it to the lab with me in 2 weeks when I have my first night's study done. Night number one will be done without a machine; just me; a bed located in a very quiet room where I would assume I'll be wired up real good. At the time I was given a tour of the facility several weeks ago one of the techs told me how quiet it was in the lab at night.

At the time it didn't hit me to ask then if I could bring my fan with me or not on test night number one to generate some background noise in my room to cancel out my ringing ears. Question; if I took the fan and ran it on night number one would the fan possibly create or cause any interference with the lab's testing equipment? I would have the fan on in my room on low speed; aimed straight towards the ceiling just to create some background noise in an attempt to try and cancel out the ringing in my ears that night. I haven't asked the RPSGT at the lab just yet; I thought I would ask here first and then ask him. Anyone on this board think the RPSGT guy might tell me that I can't bring my fan to the lab on test night number one?

Stevoreno
Biloxi, Mississippi
10/14/07

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 9:11 am

I don't think they'd have any objection to a fan running. As far as I know a fan wouldn't interfere with the data gathering. They might want to use their own fan though, rather than having a fan brought in. Might be some kind of liability issue with that. They probably have fans available right there at the lab in case someone gets hot and wants a fan turned on.

Yeah, go ahead and ask them.

stevoreno · Post by **stevoreno** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 9:33 am

RestedGal:

So you don't think my request would be considered strange or off the wall? It just so happens I had a cousin visit me a few days ago and he had a fan very similar to mine which he set up in my home's guest room. He told me he didn't have ringing in his ears but he did like the noise the fan generated; it helped him go to sleep.

The fan won't be needed to keep me cool; that lab keeps their thermostat set on 72. We've missed you in chat the last few nights. I had fresh KK's and Gevalia for you in the house last night. You try to come back soon ya hear and I'll be sure to leave the porch light on for ya.

Stevoreno
Biloxi, Mississippi
10/14/07

Nightwatcher · Post by **Nightwatcher** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 9:43 am

Lots and lots of people have ringing in the ears. They should be fine with your fan. Or. you could buy a low priced cd of Ocean waves. I recorded the Pacific Coast about 20 years ago and use a cd of it to mask the machine noise. It's still white noise, like the sound of the fan.

best wishes,
nw

mommaw · Post by **mommaw** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 9:50 am

Stevoreno,

I use a fan every night for back ground noise. I had another PSG a few months ago and asked if I could bring my fan. They said that they have fans in every room for their patients and that it was a common question. Apparently alot of people use fans for noise. So... don't be hesitant to ask.
You need to be as comfortable as possible to get a good test. They will understand.

Good luck,
Gilda

papdaddy · Post by **papdaddy** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 10:53 am

The sleep lab that I went to had a fan in every room. They said it was a common request and they provided them for anyone who wanted to use them. It really does help mask the noises there. Definately a plus.

Rich

Vasily · Post by **Vasily** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 10:58 am

Steve,

Having a fan running during your study is not a strange request, give the lab a call and let them know you need one. Bringing you own fan in MAY not be allowed due to liability reasons like RG said.

Shutchis1951 · Post by **Shutchis1951** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 11:15 am

My sleep lab that I have been to 3 times has fans in every room also. I use a fan every night and when there isn't one to use I don't sleep as well.

roster · Post by **roster** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 12:45 pm

I have a cheap little electronic machine that works quite well and is easy to carry on trips. It has six different sounds, surf, wind, waterfall, etc., and I use the rain sound. It does a good job of masking out noises in the house like my college-student son coming home at 4:00 a.m. and my wife skipping around barefoot on our hardwood floors.

If it ever breaks, I will order one of these, http://www.white-noise.us/screen580_980.htm, which I am told is the very best and makes a white noise similar to a fan running. It doesn't stir up the air like a fan and travels well.

MartiniLover · Post by **MartiniLover** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 1:12 pm

My lab had a tv as well.

Which is good, because without it I don't sleep good at all. I have slept with noise for over fifty years, and am not going to change now.

I don't see what the big deal is.

Lab even called and said wife could come in and sleep there as well if she wanted. Kinky...............huh. My lab is very desirable to want to help it be a good experience.

stevoreno · Post by **stevoreno** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 3:57 pm

I'll check with the lab tomorrow about the fan question but I don't recall seeing one in the room I looked at about a month ago. I do know that the room I'll be tested in doesn't have a TV but I don't need a TV nor do I have a TV set up in the bedroom where I sleep at home although I do have a desktop PC which I do leave on sometimes which has a dark aquarium fish scene as it's screensaver which doesn't bother me at all during the night.

Why do some of you require leaving a TV on at night and also a fan on at night for background noise? Between the noise generated from my CPAP machine; the humming from my ceiling fan on slow speed and my central AC coming on from time to time during the night I have more than enough background noise to go to sleep by here at the house. Thanks for everyones comments.

Stevoreno
Biloxi, Mississippi
10/14/07

Something to create background noise at lab on test night.

Something to create background noise at lab on test night.

Re: Something to provide background noise at sleep lab.

Re: Something to create background noise at sleep lab.

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