Newbie Problems

[Chipmunk76]

My hubby is the one reluctantly using the ResMed APAP machine because he snores like a trucker and his sleep study said he was having 7 short episodes per hour of apnea. Mild, but enough to warrant the machine.
My question is...
Should his mask be so loud? It sounds like it's vacuuming his face. I feel like I'm laying next to Darth Vadar and wishing I could actually sleep with that next to me. And he's still snoring and gasping for air at times while wearing his mask. He's been fighting a cold for about a month now too and I've heard that congestion can be a side effect from the machine as well.
But, when we wake up and check his machine, no big leaks, everything is smiling but us. He's not rested, I'm exhausted and to the point of tears worrying he's not getting any help from the machine at all. The only reason he got it was to get me to stop complaining.
Any suggestions before he gives up??
Thanks.

[Pugsy]

Welcome to the forum.

You shouldn't be hearing the Darth Vadar sounds. There are masks that have venting that is silent and the Wisp isn't one of them.
Respironics doesn't do the diffused venting....ResMed and F & P have some great masks with diffused venting so much less likely to be having the Darth Vadar sounds.

Is the machine silent until he starts breathing with it?

The congestion....might be from either too much humidity or not enough humidity.
What setting for humidity is he using and is he using the heated hose or non heated hose?

[Chipmunk76]

Thank you so much for responding. Yes the machine is silent for quite some time then when he starts breathing deeper or snoring is when the Darth Vader sounds start. It's like the mask is fighting back.
He also has the ResMed AirFit starter mask but he said the nostril mask rubbed on his upper lip, he didn't like it.
Ramp time is set to auto.
His tube is heated, the temperature is set to 78 degrees.
Climate control is set to auto.
I don't see a setting for the humidity.
Like I said we are newbies so I'm not sure where to find some settings. It was all preset for us by the home medical place.
Any suggestions you might have would be helpful.
Thank you!

[Pugsy]

Climate control is set to auto.
I don't see a setting for the humidity.

"Auto" is a humidity setting equal to about 4 if comparing to manual humidity setting.
Manual settings available are 1 through 8 with 8 being the highest amount of added moisture.
I don't know that humidity is the cause of the congestion but it might be. He might need more or less added moisture.
It also might be simply the Wisp mask itself causing congestion. I had that happen to me when I tried the Wisp. The pressure of the mask itself across the bridge of my nose where the turbinates are located caused congestion. I only lasted 90 minutes with the Wisp because of this. It holds the record for the shortest mask experiments ever.

Ask him to do a little experiment to see if it is possible that the mask itself is the culprit. Have him take his fingers and place them up on the sides of his nose (where eyeglasses would rest) and press gently to about the level of pressure he has the Wisp cushion putting on that area. See if he gets congested or not. Might take 3 to 5 minutes to show up fully.

For potential humidity related....take it out of "auto" mode and change it to manual and change the setting to a numbered setting.
We don't know if his nose needs more or less moisture but if going by the odds...more.
Ask him if a hot steamy shower helps open up his nose when he is congested...if it helps...try a setting of 6 and see what happens.

It's possible that the noise you are hearing is the vent noise because of the machine increasing the pressure trying to get through the nasal congestion. More pressure equals more vent noise and more chance to hear the Darth Vadar sounds.
Without seeing the software reports as to exactly what the pressure is doing I am just guessing but that's a possibility.

My first thought....change masks. There are less noisy masks out there no matter what the pressure. Get a mask with a diffused venting system. ResMed and F & P both make such masks...Respironics is late to that game and doesn't have one.
Get one that doesn't touch the bridge of the nose area if your husband finds that pressure from the fingers causes any nasal congestion at all.

My second thought...figure out the cause of the congestion and try to fix it because we don't sleep well when congested and the machine can't fix nasal congestion with more pressure no matter how much it tries.

[Chipmunk76]

Thank you sooo much for the suggestions. We'll see how it goes tonight.

[ragtopcircus]

I am VERY sensitive to even light touch on the bridge or sides of my nose - clogs me right up.

[Pugsy]

I am VERY sensitive to even light touch on the bridge or sides of my nose - clogs me right up.

That's me too.
The only reason I even tried the Wisp was my DME asked me to for an honest review of it back when it was first released.
He got his honest review and I returned it for a different mask that I could use since we used my insurance for it.
I know people do well with the Wisp but not me because of the pressure thing on my turbinates. I simply don't even bother trying any mask that touches that area of my nose because I already know it's going to be a disaster. No sense in wasting my time and money trying one. Too many others out there that might work better.

[Chipmunk76]

Does anyone use the ResMed AirFit nasal pillows? Anyone like them or have any fitting suggestions?

[zonker]

Does anyone use the ResMed AirFit nasal pillows? Anyone like them or have any fitting suggestions?

while you are waiting for your answer, i suggest you go to you tube and search for any mask fitting videos you can find for your mask.

[djams]

My question is...
Should his mask be so loud?

Because you're newbies, Ill ask a really basic question.
You're certain that it's the mask and not his mouth being open? With nasal masks the mouth must stay closed.

[jsmit86]

My question is...
Should his mask be so loud?

Because you're newbies, Ill ask a really basic question.
You're certain that it's the mask and not his mouth being open? With nasal masks the mouth must stay closed.

+1
What he said.

If your mouth is open, far better to get a full face mask.
Resmed F20 series (AirFit and AirTouch) have very quiet vents.
That may be worth a try.

[Auntducky59]

Your experience made me laugh. I totally get it and empathize/sympathize. I agree that the Resmed F20 is an excellent mask to try next. I also recommend Resmed F30. I went from the F20 to F30 because I didn't like my nose being covered. The F30 rests under your nostrils and leaves your nose exposed. The F20 leaked for me & I needed liners. The F30 didn't leak at all. That doesn't mean the F20 will leak for your husband. If he doesn't mind his nose being covered, It's worth a try. If you want to stay with a nasal mask, you may need a chin strap as well. Good luck to you and your husband.

[Auntducky59]

since he is using the dreamwisp, he may prefer the hose on the head option. In that case, I recommend the Dreamwear Full face mask or the dreamwear nasal mask or nasal pillow option. is he using a chin strap? that may be all he needs instead of a new mask. I recommend the halo or ruby style chin straps. Those are the only two chin straps that worked for me. Resmed N30i or P30i are other nasal mask options he can try. These are all "hose on the top of your head" models.