REMStar System One 60 series inhalation noise from mask. Arg

My original flavor REMstar (the pre-2007 era one) recently got on its last legs, so I purchased a new REMStar System One 60 Series because my doctor suggested an Auto-pap would make a big difference. The machine is great -- I literally cannot hear it work. I am positive it is not making noise. Brilliant.

The problem is the mask. I use a Comfortgel Blue nasal mask (does not cover mouth) with the standard heated hose that came with the Auto-pap. Exact same mask I was using before. When I inhale I get tremendous noise, when I exhale there's nothing (a-flex, I suppose, at work). With the other, older CPAP I didn't have any noticeable mask noise at all.

It feels/sounds like the white silicon material that is placed against my face is vibrating wildly when I inhale. I've adjusted the mask setting to X1 (which appears to be the recommended setting) and that hasn't helped.

So not sure what to do. Is there a setting that can be tweaked? If not, is there a mask anyone suggests that is as quiet as possible? My wife finds it difficult to fall asleep, and stay asleep, with the Darth Vader noise coming from my side of the bed.

Sounds like a mask adjustment problem. Higher pressure on inhale is causing leaks, lower on exhale and no leak.
Can you get reports and look at the leak data?
You didn't say if your pressure scrip changed with the new machine.

Sometimes a mask liner will help.

Some mask ideas...
How about a nasal pillow mask? Have you ever tried one? The ResMed AirFit P10 nasal pillow mask (see link in my profile) has the new diffused venting system and it's pretty much silent.

Now in the nasal cushion types of makes the F & P Eson has a diffuser that is supposed to help with vent noise. I have never tried one myself.

Respironics machines seem to have more noise on inhale than exhale but I have found that noise is more in my head which means conducted noise most likely through the hose or bed (I lay the hose on the bed). Since your wife is complaining of hearing the inhale noise then I don't know how much of it is conductive noise but you might try routing the hose upwards with some sort of hose management system and see if that helps or not.
I know that sometimes I get that "Darth Vader" noise but my husband says he can't even tell the machine is on so I know it's conductive noise.

The newer masks now do seem to have a more quiet venting system than the older style masks like your Comfort Gel Blue so you might look at the other masks and think about trying one to see if it helps or not.
Here's a link for the F & P Eson
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/fisher ... -mask.html

JDS74 wrote:Sounds like a mask adjustment problem. Higher pressure on inhale is causing leaks, lower on exhale and no leak.
Can you get reports and look at the leak data?
You didn't say if your pressure scrip changed with the new machine.

Sometimes a mask liner will help.

Hm. When you say leaks, I'm thinking of air escaping from beneath the mask where it connects to my face. Are we talking about the same thing? If so, I'm quite sure I have a firm seal.

I haven't tried the software yet. Is there any you recommend?

My pressure did not change with the new machine.

I'll check out the mask liners.

First I would check the pressure settings on your new machine. Many doctors and DMEs leave the auto machines at the default settings of 4-20, that may be causing some of the problems.
If tightening the pressure range doesn't help and adjusting the headgear doesn't help, then let the mask shopping begin.
There are thousands of members here and if you asked each of us you would get a recommendation for our favorite mask. I am more generous than most so I could recommend at least three. Mine would include the Sleepweaver Élan, the Wisp, the TapPap and the F&P 431. Check out our sponsor cpap.com and read their evaluation of each mask that looks interesting.

I experienced the same problem with my PRS 1 960. It seems to have faded away over the past year and a half. I don't know if we just got used to it or I made adjustments that helped. I know I complained to my DME, my doctor and here. For the first couple months nothing seemed to help.

The software to get is Sleepyhead and it is free. You can read about it in the stickies at the top of the forum.

Pugsy wrote:Some mask ideas...
How about a nasal pillow mask? Have you ever tried one? The ResMed AirFit P10 nasal pillow mask (see link in my profile) has the new diffused venting system and it's pretty much silent.

Now in the nasal cushion types of makes the F & P Eson has a diffuser that is supposed to help with vent noise. I have never tried one myself.

Respironics machines seem to have more noise on inhale than exhale but I have found that noise is more in my head which means conducted noise most likely through the hose or bed (I lay the hose on the bed). Since your wife is complaining of hearing the inhale noise then I don't know how much of it is conductive noise but you might try routing the hose upwards with some sort of hose management system and see if that helps or not.
I know that sometimes I get that "Darth Vader" noise but my husband says he can't even tell the machine is on so I know it's conductive noise.

The newer masks now do seem to have a more quiet venting system than the older style masks like your Comfort Gel Blue so you might look at the other masks and think about trying one to see if it helps or not.
Here's a link for the F & P Eson
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/fisher ... -mask.html

Good god, are those nasal pillow masks comfortable? They sure don't look it! But I can see how they would certainly be quieter! Thank you for the recommendations.

I find the nasal pillows extremely comfortable. So comfortable that I don't even notice they are there.
Some people think that the pillows go up into the nostrils but they just barely have the tiny tips of the inner cones that go into the nostril and those tips don't touch anything inside the nostrils at all. They just barely rest gently on the outer nostril area and that's the only part that is touching...nothing inside at all when properly fitted and properly sized.

I have been using nasal pillows since I first started therapy a little over 6 years ago and for a long time I would have to touch the mask to even know it was on my nose.

noisyinhaler wrote:Good god, are those nasal pillow masks comfortable? They sure don't look it! But I can see how they would certainly be quieter! Thank you for the recommendations.

*MOST* comfortable... hardly know it's there, compared to the big heavy straps, and all the contact from my full face mask.

there's a reason that nasal pillows are the most popular mask on the forum viewtopic.php?f=1&t=104522&st=0&sk=t&sd=a