RESMED Swift FX mask - vent hole NIGHTMARE!!

[Sleepless-in-Tundra]

Hoping there might be some good advice out there.....I have a Remstar Plus Cpap model # 1005960....an older machine but hardly utilized before....starting too now....anyhow....I just purchased a new mask for it which I love...very very comfortable......the problem is the vent holes are sometimes quiet.....but also sometimes very very loud....so loud my significant other either can't fall asleep ~ OR ~ gets woken up and can't fall back to sleep....which is causing some BIG problems....the mask I'm using now is a: RESMED SWIFT FX (Nasal Pillows) - the pillows are the right size and the mask is fitted and worn correctly!

Has anyone else encountered this problem? Is there a solution?? BEGGING FOR HELP!!!

[LSAT]

Be sure that the vent holes are not blocked by the hose...that will cause noise. If this is the case, figure out a hose management system.

[Sleepless-in-Tundra]

Thanks LSAT....the hose is free and clear from the vent holes.

[Jersey Girl]

Make sure that the vent isn't blowing at all on the blanket, pillows, your arm, your partner's arm, back, etc. I actually take the small hose and turn it to the side a bit so that the vent is out of the way more.

Best regards,

Jersey Girl

[Bright Choice]

I have the FX also and really like it. When mine gets noisy I find that there is a leak around my nose. When I readjust the nose piece the noise goes away. I have had times when it just won't stay in proper alignment and the noise keeps coming back. Last night I went up a size in pillow size - to a medium. It looks like it would be too large for my nose but it actually wasn't. I slept all night without any noise or air leak awakening me. It felt really good. Good luck!

[Sleepless-in-Tundra]

Thanks Jersey Girl....I am told that when it happens there is nothing in the area that would cause any interference or vibration from the air coming out of the vent holes....

sooooooooooooo frustrating.....grrrrrrrrrrr

[NancyAZ]

Mine makes a lot of noise if the blankets (or anything else) are too close to the vent. It works much better since I have rigged a way of getting the hose over my head and out of the way. If it is ok some of the time, it makes me think that something is getting too close to the vent and causing the problem. Be sure that it is away from everything. Last night I tried to pull the blankets up to my chin and the vent was very noisy. I moved the blanket away from the vent and it was quiet. Good luck!
Nancy

[Sleepless-in-Tundra]

Thanks Bright Choice......I was using a small pillow...will try a medium for a few nights

[Sleepless-in-Tundra]

Thanks NancyAZ.....second time I got that advice...I will watch the immediate area of the vent.....

Almost convinced it's time to sleep naked with no covers on the Tundra....hmmm.....if a vent hole whistles in the forest....will anyone hear it??

[Bright Choice]

I like your sense of humor!

[Janknitz]

If you look closely at the vent, you'll see that it was somebody's bright (NOT!) idea to make the holes point downward at a 45 degree angle. Most mask vent holes point straight out or upward. Their idea was to keep the air flow from blowing on your bed partner. So it blows on YOU instead.

The darn 45 degree angle is a problem. The vent is almost inescapable--it's extremely annoying. If it's not blowing on you, it's bouncing off the bedclothes right back at you.

The only solution I have found is a hose hanger. That makes the hose come from the ceiling instead of from the floor, and then the vent holes blow UP and OUT instead of down and in. So the vent flow is less likely to hit a solid object and make noise, and less likely to blow on you or bounce off something to blow on you.

I'd like to find the person who thought the 45 degree angle was a good idea and make HIM (I'm sure it is a male!) wear the darn mask every night for a week!

[greg-g]

This is a comment I posted about 7 months ago.

Air diffuser

The filter material is a very open and loosely secured over the vent holes. Some people have also used a piece of inlet filter but this is a lot finer.

You can make an air diffuser for most masks that almost completely removes the air blast effect.
I've been using mine for about a month now, and I can't see any downside. There is no effect on the air outflow from the mask.
My diffuser is made from an A/C intake filter, but I'm sure the normal CPAP filter would be fine.
see my previous post

viewtopic/t55230/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=54961&hilit=diffuser

_________________

[Bright Choice]

Just curious - did the medium pillow help? Worked great for me - 2nd night although I have a cold and awakened coughing a bunch.

[tattooyu]

Do you use a hose cover? Make sure you aren't having rainout. I have noticed that when a droplet of condensation forms on one or more of the vent holes, it will whistle a little bit. Try using a hose cover and/or a padacheek nasal pillow cover to minimize rainout.

[chunkyfrog]

That vent is bad news; but the FX I tried also kept pulling apart right below my eyes. Very bad.
I tried that mask and the ZZZ-mask at about the same time--the FX went back to DME--I'm keeping the ZZZ.
I was a bit disappointed that the ZZZ has been redesigned so the cushion is no longer replaceable;
but they still are way heavier than those flimsy ResMed cushions.