Noisy Machine - may I cover with a pillow?

[adksleepygal]

My machine is so noisy and I wondered if I could cover this with a pillow or something to block the sound out? It was suggested to me to put it on the floor so its there but I can still hear it "breathing" - they told me its the mechanics of the machine I am hearing as it compensates for me breathing and builds up more pressure. I was thinking like a really thick sleeping bag for the machine - I could make such a thing maybe - what do you think - I just cannot get any sleep listening to this noise all night plus having this THING on my nose. Its so discouraging as supposedly this is to help me - she said I stopped breathing 40 times in one hr - and that is kind of bad she said - so far I feel more tired with this whole thing than without it.

[mayondair]

I don't think you want to cover your machine, you may overheat it, and you really don't want to block the air intake in any way. You may be hearing noise conducted by the hose, a hose snuggie or some tube socks will help if that is the problem.I have the same machine , use a snuggie and have no problem with it. Do you use a flex?, I didn't like it and turned it off. Good luck!

[Julie]

A few people have found or built night tables where you keep the machine in a drawer. They leave the drawer open for the hose, but if you are handy (or know someone who is) maybe they could rig it so the hose just comes from a hole of the right size (no extra opening, though I'd round the edges and use something soft to pad it). Also, keeping it on a mouse pad apparently helps, or maybe even an inch thick piece of foam, though I'm not sure how it would help your air noise.

[Hose_Head]

In my experience, the PR System One is pretty quiet. What little noise there is comes through the hose to your mask. No amount of sound insulation on the cpap will stop this.

You didn't mention what settings you are using for Aflex/Cflex. However, you can lessen the effect of the "breathing" sound that you've noted by turning them off or at least turning them down to the lowest setting tolerable.

You indicate that your machine now sits on the floor. This is not recommended because it can pick up dust there. Ideally, the cpap should sit on a low stool or table beside the bed such that it's top is about 6 inches below the surface of your mattress. The idea is to have the machine out of a direct line-of-sight. Having your cpap at this level also gives you a little more hose to work with when you roll-over.

Some have placed their cpap inside a drawer of a night-side table. The drawer needs to be able to draw air from the room, but if properly done, this may reduce sound levels a bit (I haven't tried it). Search cpaptalk to find discussions on this.

You can put a computer mouse-pad under your cpap to help absorb the cpap's vibrations.

You can try some kind of white noise in your bedroom to help drown out the cpap. One option here is to use a fan at its lowest speed. If that's too loud, you can slow it down further by plugging it into a table-lamp dimmer.

If you have the option with your DME, you might try exchanging your cpap for a Resmed S9. Others have reported that the S9 is a littler quieter than the System One cpap.

Finally, hang in there. Don't think of the sound of the cpap as something negative; if you do, it will be a constant reminder and will make more difficult your adjustment to the therapy. Try to think of that sound as something positive, or better yet, put it out of your mind completely. With a positive frame of mind, it's probable that you will quickly adjust to the sound and maybe even embrace it.

Best of luck. You are doing the right thing by joining and participating in this forum. No-where else can you find the quality and depth of the collective wisdom found here.

[skylark40]

It would be a very bad idea to cover your cpap or in any way obstruct the airflow around it, I'm sure it wouldn't take much for it to overheat. You also have the heat from the humidifier to remember, so be careful about putting things that might melt underneath the machine.

I have the PR System One Pro with C-Flex Plus, and I find it to be very quiet.

[chunkyfrog]

Is your machine a rental--or has it ever been one? Maybe it IS noisier that it should be--call your DME.
Make them check it out.

[kempo]

Try setting the machine on a sound absorbing mat and add some type of white noise in the room. I set my s9 on a mat that I bought from Wally World. I think it was in the kitchen supplies section. It come in rolls, very cheap. I use a floor fan for white noise to cover up the noise from my swift FX mask. A constant white noise will take your mind off of cpap sounds.

[jweeks]

Try setting the machine on a sound absorbing mat and add some type of white noise in the room. I set my s9 on a mat that I bought from Wally World. I think it was in the kitchen supplies section. It come in rolls, very cheap. I use a floor fan for white noise to cover up the noise from my swift FX mask. A constant white noise will take your mind off of cpap sounds.

Kempo,

Both good suggestions. I put my machine on a computer mouse pad. In fact, I have 2 really thick ones stacked together. For white noise, I run a box fan. I seem to warm up a little too much from breathing the humidified air, so having air circulation in the room really helps, and I get the white noise for no extra charge.

-john-

[beemer]

Sleepygal,

I had the same machine, same problem when I first started therapy. I got very depressed, and tried all of the things mentioned here -- mouse pad, moving the machine, etc. Finally, I actually called the DME and managed to replace the PR One with a Remstar S8 Elite before my 30 days expired--(darn, wish I had gone for the S9). Noise was gone immediately, EXCEPT when I try to use my full face mask--then I hear the annoying "breathing" noise, although not as badly as it was with the PR One. I also noticed that one of my full face masks is worse than my other one (Comfort Gel appears to be noiser).

I am pretty convinced now that it is more the mask than the machine. So, the bottom line is that I rarely use full face masks, but instead use my FX nasal pillows. This, in spite of the fact that I don't do so well with the pillows either (nostrils/nares don't like the air blowing into them)-- but it is better than the breathing noise anxiety.

If you have just started, you could try changing to a different machine -- I really think for me the Remstar S8 is quieter than the PR One.

Good luck!

[lakejumper]

When I first started using my CPAP I fixated on the "breathing' sounds and the rythm of the machine as well. I used ear plugs for awhile until I got used to everything and it really helped me. It's funny how we don't think that we can ever get used to something like the sound of the machine or having a mask on your face and we can find a way to do it. I now use a small fan in the room for white noise but find I don't need to use it all of the time.

[ozij]

Did I say how glad I am you're trying, adksleepy?

I agree with all of the above.

Some things that helped me, in addition to what mentioned by others:

I love nasal pillows masks - but some are noisier than others, whooshing along as you breath. I made myself get used to that sound by:

• Realizing I couldn't fall asleep because subconsciously, I was waiting for the noise "to go away". When I realised that, I started telling myself firmly - and kindly - as I lay there that "this noise is here to stay, it will not diminish or go away"
• I also reminded myself of a time I slept near a beach, and imagined I heard the sound of waves.

When I switched to a full face mask (mouth leak issues) I was terribly annoyed by the noise made when vented air hit the hose (not a problem I had with my Headrest).
Eventually I found the my best way of keeping the hose away from the seal was a hose hanger at the side of the bed, leaving enough slack in the hose to make sure it reaches the mask in a J shape -- the short part of the "J" entering the mask from my chin /shoulder direction. Nothing hose dangling above my nose. That way, I ensure the hose rarely gets into the vented air stream. I use a hose hanger for that, installing its vertical part more or less parralel to my elbow. I use a Hozer, beacause of its ability to arc.