First night with a S9 Auto

[cdru]

I finally got my insurance, doctor, and prescription straightened out and receive my shiny new S9 AutoSet in the mail yesterday from CPAP.com (saved a bundle...thanks CPAP.com!). I had been on a F&P SleepStyle 604 for about 5+ years so moving up to the S9 was like driving a Cavalier for so long then driving a Cadillac. My wife loves that she can't hear it, and if she's happy, I'm happy. And that's before I get a good nights sleep.

I was very accustom to the constant pressure (14) with the SleepStyle 604. I tried the EPR feature out briefly before falling asleep. I was expecting a quick but gradual decrease in pressure during exhale. Instead, on any of the 3 enabled settings, it felt more like a trap door opened and then abruptly shut. The pressure change was very noticeable but to the point where I found it very uncomfortable. I ended up turning it off for the night but even when it was off, I would feel something I wasn't accustomed to when I would exhale. The pressure felt like it was more or less constant except for a very momentary bump in pressure just a split second after I started exhaling. I described it to my wife as feeling like a "speed bump" of pressure change. Is this just the nature of the machine? I expected some differences in feeling with switching, so I'm not concerned per se, but just curious. I could also be hypersensitive looking for differences and amplifying what I do feel.

The other thing I noticed is that during my exhaling, there's an occasional squeak or whistle. It's very soft but definitely present coming from the machine somewhere. The only problem is that it only happens when I'm lying down. If I sit up and try to locate it, it goes away which makes looking for it difficult. I've reseated the hose, lid, water chamber, and separated and reattached the modules and it still exists. I can probably learn to live with it, but it'll drive me up the wall until I found it. Anyone have a similar issue like that?

[Pugsy]

The other thing I noticed is that during my exhaling, there's an occasional squeak or whistle. It's very soft but definitely present coming from the machine somewhere. The only problem is that it only happens when I'm lying down. If I sit up and try to locate it, it goes away which makes looking for it difficult. I've reseated the hose, lid, water chamber, and separated and reattached the modules and it still exists. I can probably learn to live with it, but it'll drive me up the wall until I found it. Anyone have a similar issue like that?

Yeah, lots of people have.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=77077&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... ird+sounds
For some people much more noticeable than others. It's a known "issue" with the S9s and seems to be dependent on the force of exhale. I noticed it after someone mentioned it but it wasn't horribly loud and I could make it not happen just by exhaling a little less forcefully.

I tried the EPR feature out briefly before falling asleep. I was expecting a quick but gradual decrease in pressure during exhale. Instead, on any of the 3 enabled settings, it felt more like a trap door opened and then abruptly shut. The pressure change was very noticeable but to the point where I found it very uncomfortable. I ended up turning it off for the night but even when it was off, I would feel something I wasn't accustomed to when I would exhale. The pressure felt like it was more or less constant except for a very momentary bump in pressure just a split second after I started exhaling. I described it to my wife as feeling like a "speed bump" of pressure change. Is this just the nature of the machine? I expected some differences in feeling with switching, so I'm not concerned per se, but just curious. I could also be hypersensitive looking for differences and amplifying what I do feel.

EPR is going to feel markedly different since you use a different machine for years. EPR rate can also be altered. I think the default is to "medium" speed but you can make it slower or faster. If you had never used the F & P with no exhale relief then I suspect that the rhythm that EPR offers wouldn't feel so weird to you. Your body and brain has grown accustomed to the rhythm and pattern of breathing with the F & P.
I suspect what you feel even with EPR off is the Easy Breathe technology. Eventually you most likely will find it fades away into the background so you won't notice it. Once the brain gets used to the "new" way of breathing and "forgets" the old way these things will be come the norm and you won't notice the differences as much.
You don't have to use EPR if you are good without it.
Some people welcome different breathing rhythms and algorithms from the different brands and some people seem to notice each little difference. I went for years using Respironics machines and then had a chance to get a S9. Yeah, it's different but not a bad different. Just different and adjustments didn't take long and after a few nights the differences were not even noticed.

[Bobshouse]

Mine whistles too. If I breath out slowly, I get a longer whistle. While a short burst get me a short but louder whistle. Thing is, the machine is so quiet, it intensifies the sound of the whistle and makes it worse. I've traded machines with my DME and finally gave up. They all whistle....sure others will chime in saying theirs don't, but they are the ones who turn off their hearing aids I got one with the latest firmware, 107, I think it was, but it still whistles. Hoping that it gets tired of whistling, and goes quiet after a bit of use. Actually it used to drive me nuts listening for the next whistle, but Im past that now....least I was, till I read this post. Thanks!

[sleeplessinaz]

I have has my machine for quite some time - never heard any kind of whistle. Are you guys putting your machine on your night stand or below your mattress level? Mine is sitting on one of those small plastic step stools which is below my mattress level. It is so quiet there,

Hope this helps,
Carrie

[LSAT]

I don't know if it's my imagination, but my "whistle" seems much quieter when I use a standard hose vs the slim line hose. It's still there, but, quieter.

[DoriC]

I don't know if it's my imagination, but my "whistle" seems much quieter when I use a standard hose vs the slim line hose. It's still there, but, quieter.

Not your imagination! We always use the Standard hose for that very reason. We hardly hear the whistle at all but we did with the Slimline. I'm sure one of the engineers here can give us a reason?

[sleeplessinaz]

I use the slim line and never hear this whistle that you guys are speaking of. Lol! I guess I am lucky!

[Pugsy]

And I tried a standard hose with my S9 and it didn't make any difference with the exhale noise but then mine wasn't horrible loud anyway and until it was brought up here on the noise about the noise on exhale I never noticed it...thank you very much whoever it was that put the noise thought in my head.
I was able to eliminate the noise by exhaling a little less forcefully so I expect that part of the reason some people notice it and others don't (besides maybe a little different hearing) is that some people probably breathe less forcefully than others might breathe.
So a combination of things probably but ResMed is well aware of it and aren't going to do anything about it since it has been around for a long time. Maybe when the S10s finally get released they will have addressed the issue a little better.