I can't sleep because of the noise

[the wife]

My husband was diagnosed with sleep apnea and has a machine. It seems to be helping him to get good night's sleep. The problem is that it is so noisy that I can't sleep. I am ready to tell him to sleep somewhere else.

Now before you blast me, I have been supportive. I have tried earplugs, but after wearing them for 8 hours my ears hurt. After wearing them each night for 2 weeks despite the pain, I am having trouble hearing normal conversation. I have tried every type of ear plug that is available in the stores.

I have tried turning on a fan, but then the noise of the fan and the sleep apnea machine combine to keep me awake.

Does anyone have any ideas? I know he needs the machine to sleep healthy, but I also need to sleep, and it is not happening with that stupid machine in the room.

[DecentSleep1]

Hi "The Wife",

My wife can fully sympathise with you, and she also used to wear earplugs (with the same consequences). However, as the years have gone by, she has no trouble now & especially with the newer CPAP machines, which are (believe it or not) much quieter than they used to be!!! You should have heard my first CPAP machine!

We know people who live almost next to railway lines and say that they never hear the trains go by (any more).

Your hubby could try placing the machine under the bed, but that may attract dust particles, and worse, depending upon how clean it is under your bed. Or perhaps on a low table on his side of the bed, as long as it's stable & won't fall/be knocked over. Either way, that might take the machine slightly away from your direct line of hearing.

Trust my wife, you will get used to it in time; as long as you can grin and bear it for now. Perhaps you could try to get to sleep before him. Otherwise, it might be separate rooms for you.

My wife no longer wears earplugs, I'm happy to report; although whenever we travel in our motorhome (RV), we sleep in separate beds, for precisely that reason. I don't disturb her & she doesn't disturb me; although we still get together for a "smooch" before retiring, or in the morning (which keeps us happily married!!!).

Good luck, and good on you for being so supportive.

[49er]

As a apap user who is quite sensitive to noise, you have my utmost sympathy.

When I was having trouble with noisy neighbors that interfered with my sleep several years ago, I had a hearing aid dispenser make custom made earplugs since the store bought ones did nothing for me. They helped somewhat although depending on the noise and your sensitivities, they are aren't going to always be the complete answer.

You also might want to do a google search for noise cancellation headphones and see if you can perhaps find a light weight one that would enable you to wear to bed to deal with the noise. I would make sure before you purchased one since they aren't cheap to make sure it had a good 30 day money back guarantee policy. Just like with ear plugs, they can help with some noises but they don't completely solve the problem with all of them.

Edit - The wife, Zoocrew just wrote a very helpful post. I would follow her suggestions an an attempt to solve the problem which would have alot cheaper solutions than what I am proposing. Only if by following her advice, you can't resolve the problem, then look at my suggestions.

49er

My husband was diagnosed with sleep apnea and has a machine. It seems to be helping him to get good night's sleep. The problem is that it is so noisy that I can't sleep. I am ready to tell him to sleep somewhere else.

Now before you blast me, I have been supportive. I have tried earplugs, but after wearing them for 8 hours my ears hurt. After wearing them each night for 2 weeks despite the pain, I am having trouble hearing normal conversation. I have tried every type of ear plug that is available in the stores.

I have tried turning on a fan, but then the noise of the fan and the sleep apnea machine combine to keep me awake.

Does anyone have any ideas? I know he needs the machine to sleep healthy, but I also need to sleep, and it is not happening with that stupid machine in the room.

[zoocrewphoto]

What machine and mask does your husband use?

Is the noise from the motor, or the air escaping from the mask? There are different sounds, and different ways to reduce them. Some machines will make more noise if right next to the bed rather than a little lower. Some make more noise depending on the surface. Some hoses will make noise if rubbing against something hard. A light fleece cozy will muffle that sound.

The only noise I ever here is the vented air, and only when it is hitting something like a pillow or my blanket if it gets in the way. If I move that, the sound disappears. Leaks can also be a problem. I am very sensitive to the sound of leaks, so I will readjust my mask until the sound is gone.

If you can tell us more about the noise, we can probably find ways to reduce it.

[SleepyToo2]

I don't doubt you for one minute, the wife. I wonder, however, whether it is the machine or the mask? If the mask is not fitting properly, that can be noisy, and it can make the machine noisier. Also, does the machine have a humidifier attached? When I took the humidifier off my machine, it sounded like a jet engine, and I couldn't get to sleep. Water in the humidifier is not essential, but I have recently found that it helps, too. You are absolutely right that you need your sleep as well, so I encourage both of you to keep looking for solutions that work for you.

[Drowsy Dancer]

I agree with the troubleshooting suggestions. The modern machines (and I assume your husband has a new machine, since it sounds like he just started treatment) are extremely quiet. The Husband says my machine is dramatically quieter than the sound of my snoring. So there could be something wrong.

[Tatooed Lady]

if it's the mask venting the air into the sheets, etc...I've seen somewhere that a person taped on a bit of fluff to divert the air a bit to reduce the jet propulsion factor. also, if it's the air vent, there are other masks that might help him while being quieter and thus, helping you.

[ChicagoGranny]

I agree with the troubleshooting suggestions. The modern machines (and I assume your husband has a new machine, since it sounds like he just started treatment) are extremely quiet. The Husband says my machine is dramatically quieter than the sound of my snoring. So there could be something wrong.

+1

The latest model machines are very quiet. A leak could be causing noise, but a leak needs to be fixed immediately.

[Cowboy Casey]

My wife was the same way, we bought a white noise machine and it worked...

http://www.amazon.com/Ecotones-Sound-Sl ... 002SMJQT4/

It has 10 differant sounds and a volume settings... Find 1 of the sounds that work for you ( we love the rain with slight thunder) and start at a low volume.. after about a week turn it up 1 and do that every week for 4 or 5 weeks... at the end of 5 weeks you will be sleeping sound and not hear a train come through you bedroom.. my wife stopped turning it up when she could not hear my machine or mask...

[Fullyloadedman]

My wife preferred the machine to my snoring!!

I personally used some Bose headphones that have noise cancelling. (they are expensive mainly used for airplane travel)
I found it just blocked enough of the sound out to get to sleep.

[robysue]

As others have commented: The source of the very real noise may not be with the machine (blower unit), it may be with the mask. And it would help us help you if we knew the exact make and model of your hubby's machine and mask.

Another source of unwelcome noise is that the hose can magnify the sound of the user's breathing. Usually this is something that only the user notices because the breathing sounds can be conducted directly to the user's inner ear through the hose lying on the pillow next to the head.

So let us help you: Can you describe the kind of noise you are hearing? Is it rhythmic whoosing? Is it whining? Is it coming from the mask end of the system or the machine end?

[BlackSpinner]

I am ready to tell him to sleep somewhere else.

One doesn't tell the person who is looking after their health with a cpap machine to go and sleep elsewhere. YOU are the one with the issues and who doesn't have to lug the machine to where you are sleeping so YOU are the one to move. That cpap machine makes much less noise then the average air conditioner so the problem is somewhere inside your head.

[palerider]

Now before you blast me, I have been supportive. I have tried earplugs, but after wearing them for 8 hours my ears hurt. After wearing them each night for 2 weeks despite the pain, I am having trouble hearing normal conversation. I have tried every type of ear plug that is available in the stores.

I have a lot of luck with the "EARsoft yellow neons" earplugs from amazon, they don't irritate my ears at all, unlike others that I've tried.

around 22$ for 200 pairs if you end up liking them.

[DaveDzRochNY]

I received a new ResMed S9 at the beginning of April and was bowled over by its silence (at a "16" setting). Two weeks ago,
I switched from the Breeze nasal pillow mask to the ResMed P10 Airfit nasal pillow mask. Even MORE silence in the bedroom!

This past weekend, I broke out my old old old white noise unit because the LACK of background noise was too annoying!

Just sharing my recent experience.

[OhHelpMe]

Maybe "The Wife" is overly sensitive to noise because she has untreated sleep apnea.