Snoring or just breathing noise with my Swift

bigheadr · Post by **bigheadr** » Sun Jul 03, 2005 7:49 am

This was my 5th night. I am not getting much sleep. My wife wakes me up in the middle of the night because she thinks that I am snoring and can't sleep. I think that my Swift's swishing noise is keeping both of us up. Maybe I need to bite the bullet and get a quieter interface although I like the Swift's lightness and openness. I have tried the plastic mesh trick already but it doesn't seem to quiet the interface enough. As I remembered, my Profile lite mask during my titration test was much quieter than my Swift since I could sleep. Is a mask quieter than a nasal pillow interface? Which interface should I try next?

capt · Post by **capt** » Sun Jul 03, 2005 8:25 am

Noise can be caused due to leaks and the exhaust being restricted by ones arms, your pillow or any sheets and other bedding. I would think that your wife would be able to tell the difference between a leak, exhaust restriction or snoring. I would work with my wife and determine what is causing the noise. If it really is snoring I would try a mouth closing device or a full face mask. If it is leaks you can work on how the mask is fitted. If it is exhaust restrictions try using different pillows and rearrange your other bedding. it is not a easy thing to correct, as most of us move around quite a bit as wee are sleeping, and I wish you success. If you have software for your machine, it can help you determine what the problem is.

bigheadr · Post by **bigheadr** » Sun Jul 03, 2005 8:50 am

What is a mouth closing device? Is it like a snore guard that I used before occassionally before I went on CPAP? I tried to check for leaks and I don't see any. The exhaust has a constant air belowing through it. I think that it is the Swift design which is noisy.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sun Jul 03, 2005 9:08 am

I think that it is the Swift design which is noisy.

I think so too. Very noisy. The mesh trick didn't quieten it for me, either. Nonetheless, it is an interface that is so comfortable for so many people, they learn to put up with that constant woosh sound, as well as the increased noise when the exhaust hits stuff as it so easily does.

All nasal pillows and nasal prongs interfaces seem to me to be louder than most nasal masks...the Nasal Aire II (prongs) and the Swift (pillows) being the noisiest, imho. Both of those are very popular, however, so apparently others can put up with noise better than I can, or they wear earplugs or something.

To me, the Breeze/nasal pillows is the quietest of the nasal pillows interfaces. I hear only a shusssh sound each time I inhale. Essentially the same with the Aura - just slightly more sound. Those are my two favorite "pillows" types. The Activa is my favorite in the traditional "nasal mask" category (covers the nose), and I hear no sound from it. I rotate between those three just for a change...using my drastically deconstructed Aura most of the time.
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My disclaimer: I'm not a doctor, nor have I ever worked in the health care field. Those are just my personal opinions. A mask or machine I love/hate could be completely the opposite for others. Finding suitable equipment can be an expensive trial and error experience.

ahujudybear · Post by **ahujudybear** » Sun Jul 03, 2005 9:11 am

I use both the Swift and the F&P FlexiFit HC407 nasal mask. I only use the Swift for naps because the noise wakes me up. So much of the air escapes through the vent holes that it produces a loud swishing noise no matter what position the nasal pillows are in, or even whether I am lying down or sitting up. By comparison the Flexi 407 is silent.... well, unless moisture gets into the exhaust ports. Then it howls! <LOL> Gotta keep my humidifier temp down!

It may be that the noise is due to not all (not half??) of the air actually going into your nose all at once and the "excess" being forced out the vent holes?

But I still like the Swift as a break from the nasal mask. That 407 really seals! I often wake up with my upper lip partly sucked into the mask.

- JB

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sun Jul 03, 2005 9:18 am

What is a mouth closing device?

Commercial chin strap, Chin-Up strips, ace bandage used as a chin strap or to keep the lower lip raised up, stretchy headband used same way. Tape over the lips, various configurations of mouth guards.... you name it, people have tried many ways to control mouth air leaks and lip air puffs.

Tape over the lips worked for me for a long time, and was the way I avoided having to use a full face mask unless I was congested and wanted to use it. Now I'm using frequenseeker's idea of a "DYI" ("Do It Yourself") homemade mouthguard to keep tongue shoved back against the entrance to the throat....to form an airtight seal inside the mouth, even when the mouth is relaxed open during sleep.

A long topic (5 pages now!) about frequen's cool, inexpensive DYI invention is here:

Topic started by frequenseeker Dec 01 2004 subject: mouth leak solution, cheap DIY oral appliance

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sun Jul 03, 2005 10:09 am

You know, when discussing the amount noise from an iterface, we really have to mention what pressures we're using. The higher the pressure, the greater the noise -

So, just to make sure we're not comparing apples and bananas, we should say very noisy (or silent) at....

O.

bigheadr · Post by **bigheadr** » Sun Jul 03, 2005 11:39 pm

My pressure is 7. My wife thinks that I am snoring because she can hear me making a puffing sound which is keeping her up. I might want to look into a full mask if this would help with keeping the sound down. I am waiting for a 420S so that I can see how effective this 7 pressure is so that if I need higher pressure than I will talk to my sleep clinic about a 420E. Maybe I need higher pressure to stop the sounds.

bigheadr · Post by **bigheadr** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 6:39 am

I had a better night sleep and my wife didn't wake me up about my snoring. Maybe I can keep my Swift after all. Yesterday, I took a nap to catch up from the previous night but before I did, I installed the larger nose pillow and cut another piece of tulee which was larger than the previous one (made sure it covered the inside cylinder better than before) and took off the velcro strap that held the Swift tube that went to the CPAP tube. I had a great 2 hour nap without any noise. When I went to bed for the evening, I had a good night sleep without noise but I tried sleeping on my side and the tulee must have drop down to cover the tube because it started to make noise. Looks like the tulee needs be carefully put into the cylinder without restricting the air flow or it will make noise. Also, the larger nose pillow must have stop any leaks that I might have had with the standard size one. I can't wait to get my 420S and the Silverlining software to check my snoring and apnea.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 8:28 am

Great news, bigheadr!

O.