a couple of random questions........

sootired2 · Post by **sootired2** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:00 pm

Hi everyone!
I have been on bipap a little over 2 months now. I find it to be very loud. I have no leaks, except when I turn from side to side and they are easily corrected. It is the inspiratory noise that I find so loud, almost a whine. When the tech set it up, he also thought it was too loud and decided the nasal pillows were too large and downsized me to smalls. I went back up to medium after about 2 days, and the noise is the same. The unit was brand new out of the box. I live alone so I don't know if it REALLY is loud, or just sounds like it to me who has it on!? I think I have read similar complaints on here. I don't think it's the Swift but I may be wrong.

I have the integrated humidifier which I have set on 4/5. I have ZERO rainout, which I find odd as I was on oxygen by itself before the bipap and had to have a water trap in all winter. The air does not feel heated to me, but the DME said that it won't. The water level goes down to just above the fill line every night, so I know it is working. Should I just be happy that there is no problem and that I don't feel dried out, or is the humidifier not working properly? I will be plenty happy if there really is no problem!

I read all the tips on here and loved the idea of re-routing the hose on the Swift to the middle, as I usually sleep on my side. I studied the pictures and all, but I just cannot get the strap threaded in on the second side.....the fit is just too tight. Anyone have a solution? I can still sleep on the side that has the hose hooked on, but it is a pain (in the face)!

I really appreciate all you people on this site. You are a very intelligent and articulate bunch.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:49 am

There aren't a lot of us on bi-levels vs those of us on straight CPAP. I just started on bi-level myself (9 nights). But I have the new Resmed VPAP Auto. I don't find my bi-level noisy at all. However, that does NOT necessairly mean that the Resmed is more quite, less noisy than the Respironics. It "could" mean that your individual Bi-Pap Plus is noisier than another Bi-Pap Plus might be.

My prior experience w/a straight CPAP and an autoPAP plus reading the forums has been that noise level is more a result of an individual device than brand or model. AND that some people are just more sensitive to noise levels at sleep time than others.

That being said, since even the person delivering your device thought it was louder than it should be says a lot. And I'd take a guess that he/she quickly blamed the noise on the Swift to protect the provider's profit margin since these bi-levels are NOT cheap and they probably don't have many patients using a bi-level and quite possibly had to order that one in for you and would have to order in another one to exchange it. You might have to push them quite a bit to get them to exchange it.

One thing that I "hope" was just a typo or misstatement tho was your comment that

sootired2 wrote: ... The water level goes down to just above the fill line every night, ...

It is the "above the fill line" that bothers me. I'm hoping that you meant to say BELOW the fill line or that I just am not familiar w/that M series integrated humidifier.

Have you tried other masks than the Swift II?? There are other styles of mask and other styles of nasal pillows that might work better for you. I had tried the original Swift when I first started on CPAP and I found the hose off to one side or the other a real PITA. I liked the ComfortLite 2 nasal pillows MUCH more comfortable, adjustable and convenient, especially for side sleeping despite mine didn't have the most free swinging swivel I've encountered. (A little dab of vegetable oil on the swivel freed it up considerably). The "headrest" (I think one of MANY names this particular nasal pillows type mask) is a really popular nasal pillows mask amongst forum members here. RestedGal is one who uses the nasal pillows that I am referring to. I'm not at all sure I've remembered the current or correct name for it.

I'm having good luck so far w/the Resmed Mirage Micro which is a nasal cushion type mask. It runs smaller than most nasal cushion type masks and I'm using the Medium right now which I "think" is just a skosh too long and am hoping that I can try a Small at my sleep lab just to be sure before asking my DME supplier to exchange the Large/Mediuim for the Small.

I had to have a water trap in my tubing for 02 as well, but have never had a "rain out" problem w/the humidifier on my CPAP or w/this bi-level. I think the difference has to do w/the volume of air pressure and the "surface" of the tubing vs hose. I know in my case it was also a matter of distance. My concentrator was in another room so I was running 25' of tubing whereas my xPAP hose is a lot wider around and only 6' long.

sootired2 · Post by **sootired2** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:22 am

Hi Slinky! Thanks for your response.

I mean the BOTTOM *fill* line when I say the water level goes down every night! It goes from just below the top *fill* line to just above the bottom line. So the humidifier is definitely working!

The DME was a sub for the regular RT, and he was really nervous, so I don't place too much credence in his opinion. I do have a message in for the primary RT for her advice.

I was on a trial of CPAP a couple of years ago, and still have the masks. I did try my old Activa, and it was horrible. The mask kept slamming into my face on inspiration, and then releasing on expiration. There was no way I could've slept like that! I also tried my Breeze, which leaked horribly and I couldn't get it situated any way to get it to stop. I am due for another in a month, so I will research some and pick one.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:35 am

Good luck finding "the" right mask. Finding the right mask can be such a frustrating experience!!

I used the Breeze nasal pillows during my first titration. My second I used the Fisher & Paykel HC 407 FlexFit. I opted for the Swift when picking up my equipment. But QUICKLY took advantage of the local DME's mask exchange policy and got the ComfortLite 2. I used that quite a while w/its nasal pillows, but once I tried its simple nasal cushion I liked that better. Which is what intrigued me about the Simplicity, so I next got the Simplicity and have been happy w/it ever since. I did get a Quattro full face mask for those few occasions when I need a full face. After this recent bi-level titration I was surprised w/a Resmed Mirage Micro nasal cushion when they delivered my Resmed VPAP Auto. I've been very pleased w/the Micro (its for smaller faces) and it has become my second favorite after the Simplicity.

There were a couple of other nasal cushion masks my new DME supplier let me try "in the shop" that I didn't find particularly comfortable or fit well, once I tried the Simplicity I quit looking. Sometimes your sleep lab is more amenable to trying masks than the local DME suppliers tho it shouldn't have to be that way.