Breathing Noise from Swift Nasal Pillows and C-Flex

[Jerry69]

Does this bother anyone else? I used REMstart pro 2 with C-Flex and ResMed Mirage Swift Nasal Pillows System last night. It was my first night on CPAP. Very disappointing night. The air sounds from the pillow system were loudest, but the CPAP machine with C-flex also made air sounds in concert with my breathing. Very disconcerting. Do CPAP machines without C-Flex make breathing sounds or are they constant? What masks might not be as noisy as the pillow system? Thanks for any advice. I didn't rest well at all.

[kortizRN]

Sorry to hear you had a hard time sleeping your first night with your CPAP. Normally, CPAP's can be quiet if fitted properly. Noises are usually caused by air leaks. The Resmed Swift Nasal System usually comes with three different size pillows; small, medium, and large, with medium being the pillow on the mask. Try changing to a different pillow size and see if that helps, also make sure the mask is snug but not too tight. You can also place the CPAP machine on the floor next to your bed if the noise it makes is too much for you. As you continue to use your CPAP you will find yourself becoming more accustomed to it and less likely to be bothered by any noises. Hope this helps you. Good luck.

[yardbird]

Jerry69,

I'm kind of new here myself. Not new to CPAP, but new to these forums. Sounds to me like you're just in that "getting used to it" phase. When I first started using CPAP, the "new" noises in my room tended to hold my attention. Now they're just "white noise" and I sleep very well. Kind of like sleeping next to the seashore. If you've never done it, the waves keep you awake. Once you've been there a while it would keep you awake if the wave noise WASN'T there.

Relax and I have a high degree of confidence that you'll get used to those noises and won't even notice them in a very short time.

I use a nasal pillow CPAP as well. And it does sound different from my nose mask gear that I started out with.

If you're experiencing excessive noise and you're concerned something may not be working properly, by all means call your DME provider and ask for a check-up on the equipment.

[Apneaat22]

I am finishing my first month on CPAP and my 4th night on the Swift, and yes there is a noise accompanying the exhaust of the Swift. If you read through the posts there are many comments on this, mine included.

Last night I broke out the earplugs for my gf and myself and that defenatly makes a difference. I am starting to realize that the secret to a good nights sleep is to make sure all of the holes in your head are sealed. Closed eyes, pillows in the nose, strapped shut mouth, and plugs in the ears. I guess the sleep is leaking out, thats the real problem. Perhaps I will market a OSA device like press n seal to help prevent all of that leaking sleep.

Apnea@22

[biggziff]

I have the same setup and while the Swift is louder than most "masks" it isn't something I consider to be annoying. I have my machine on the floor next to the bed. This serves 2 purposes. Any rainout rolls down and towards the machine and the sound level is also reduced. I had it on top of my headboard (waterbed hutch) and even there neither I nor my wife found it to be loud. I can barely hear mine.

[rested gal]

I am starting to realize that the secret to a good nights sleep is to make sure all of the holes in your head are sealed. Closed eyes, pillows in the nose, strapped shut mouth, and plugs in the ears. I guess the sleep is leaking out, thats the real problem.

ROTFL!! Good one, Apnea@22!

[Jerry69]

All of you provided encouraging feedback. Thanks.

I moved the CPAP unit as far away on the bedside table as possible. If this doesn't reduce the "breathing" noise, I'll think about putting it on the floor, but I said, "think about it," as I don't think my wife will let me do that.

I will also get the lawn mowing earplugs and try them and even turn the radio on and try that. But, as several of you suggested, it is probably just a matter of getting used to the sounds. Good to know that you all have experienced them and could acclimate. I particularly liked your analogy, Yardbird, that of the ocean sounds. I tried to tell myself last night that what I was hearing was the sound of the ocean...and not my breathing.

I hate to admit that I was close to panic last night and even this morning I thought I might have an anxiety attack. I'm feeling better this evening and ready to try it again. I'm very sleepy and maybe that will help. I have a darn head cold though and that doesn't help me to adapt to CPAP.

Thanks, again, for the support. Nice to have a family of supportive CPAP users.

[yardbird]

Jerry69,

I asked my wife once if the CPAP machine bothered her. She stated unequivocably that it didn't. She said, "You have the pleasure of never having had to sleep NEXT TO yourself when you're snoring! This is like a vacation!"

And it's true that SHE sleeps better when I'm on the machine. As for the head cold.... don't be discouraged if you have difficulty. A head cold could compund your frustration. Over time I've learned though that USUALLY... if I can get my nose clear enough to breathe right before going to bed, the CPAP actually HELPS me stay breathing clearer through the night.

[Barnaby]

Jerry..i went thru the noise routine too I ended up putting small pieces of absorbent cotton in my ears to muffle any sounds..not perfect solution but adequate to let me doze off

[Barnaby]

Jerry..i went thru the noise routine too I ended up putting small pieces of absorbent cotton in my ears to muffle any sounds..not perfect solution but adequate to let me doze off

[Jerry69]

[quote="yardbird"]Jerry69,

As for the head cold.... don't be discouraged if you have difficulty. A head cold could compound your frustration. Over time I've learned though that USUALLY... if I can get my nose clear enough to breathe right before going to bed, the CPAP actually HELPS me stay breathing clearer through the night.

My second night on CPAP. I'll keep this thread going for a while so that all of you who offered advice and encouragement can see how it is working for me.

Good report from my 2nd night! No panic! I turned a radio on and put in ear plugs. Unfortunately, the radio was distracting and the ear plugs didn't really block out the noise. (Why is it that you can go to sleep 'watching' TV' but a radio will keep you awake?) I woke only an hour or so after going to bed because my nose had stopped up. Took a Drixoral, turned the radio down, and went back to sleep without CPAP. Woke up about 3 AM with a reasonably clear nose so I went back on CPAP. Listened to myself breath for a while (still can't get over that, but I will, I hope) and changed positions from left side to back to right side, which is something I hadn't felt free to do on the first night. But the Swift Nasal Pillow System stayed seated and leak tight.

Bottom line...I slept until 7:15 AM and I am pleased with my progress. As most of you suggested, it seems just a matter of getting used to CPAP. Of course, I cant tell you that I feel truly rested, but hopefully, after I get used to the machine I will realize the benefits of CPAP.

One thing I'd like to throw out: I have visited a newsgroup computer printer forum from time to time and I came to the conclusion that most of the people who posted were having problems with their printer and/or were looking to buy a new printer and wanted advice. Few posted just to say they loved their present printer and there were no problems with it. I suspect this forum is a lot the same. Are you not more likely to see posts from people who are having problems with CPAP than from those who have adopted it as a way of life and would praise it? My post is an example. Fortunately, there are experienced CPAP users who haven't taken CPAP for granted and are willing to read posts, such as mine, and offer encouragement and advice. Thank you.

[Jerry69]

In case anyone is following this thread, I'll tell you: My 3rd night was encouraging: to bed at 10, awake at 12, 3, 6 to pee and up at 8:15...almost 10 hours of sleep! I could have stayed up at 6, but I was feeling positive about my ability to get back to sleep, and I did! I understand that the pee trips will be reduced after a while on CPAP.

I may have some setbacks, but I think I'm over the hump.

Thanks to all for the help.

Jerry

[Colorado Jan]

Good Job, Jerry! If you stick with it, it will all become second nature to you. One other thing to try, if you want to speed up the process, is to try to wear your mask and CPAP at other times rather than just bedtime. Such as to read and watch TV and the like. Get your ears used to the sound and your face used to the feel of it BEFORE you lie down in bed and have nothing to do but focus on those aspects you dislike about it! lol, lol.

I did that several times in my first week on CPAP and it really was helpful. Best of luck to you!

Jan in Colo.

[another_guest]

I got same set up and am also new at this - don't find a problem with noise - I had use the nasal aire interface a few nights too and found it was noisier - I have an air cleaner running in the room too so don't hear the cpap over it - I have the cpap by the foot of the bed with a 10 ft hose running under the comforter from the foot of the bed so I guess my head is a good 6 ft away from the machine - I do hear the exhalation noise but more when in the ramp at start than during the night and notice the noise does depend on how good of a seal I have - and sorry RG - no tape on this person except for under the swift above my mouth to minimize friction -

now if I could just stop the d*** cat from hauling her toy mice and pipecleaner rings down the hall crying all night to tell me about them ----- but if you ditch all her "furbies" then she wants to play with the swift so I can't win -

[Jerry69]

Colorado Jan and "Another Guest",

Helpful and humorous. I've never been to a forum where there were so many expressive people willing to help. Your minds have not been damaged by oxygen deprivation due to OSA.

It's 11 o'clock here in Florida and I've taken a Valium, which I only started using again with CPAP, and a scotch and water, which I use regularly. I'm feeling as if I could go to sleep sitting here typing (slowly), so I'm ready to strap on the Swift and go nighty night. Who would have thought that I'd be sleeping with a machine. I never even used a humidifier.

I'll provide a report of my 4th night in the morning.

Jerry