New Cpap user wants it more quiet, any suggestions?

I am new to treatment, only my second night with my Remstar Pro C-flex with humidifier. The pressure is fine, I only require a 6. But the whooshing sounds the machine makes drives me nuts. I don't recall it being that loud when I had my sleep studies done. I am the type of person who likes calm and quiet to sleep. Also, I don't feel like I am sleeping, I am so conscious that I have all this stuff on...will that feeling ever go away?

All of this is such an adjustment, when I didn't have any symptoms to start with.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Guest, I have the Remstar auto with cflex and heated humidifier and I find the machine itself is very quiet.

What type of mask are you using? I've only used 2 myself. The first was a cheap, nasty respironics one provided by the doc but it was very noisy, sounded like darth vader with a cold The second is a resmed mirage vista and this is very quiet in comparison, only a very gentle whooshing noise as I breathe (which I try to do all of the time )

The other time I noticed a lot of noise was when I didn't have the hose connected properly to the humidifier, so air was escaping at the join.

I had to drill a hole in my floor and put my Oxygen generator in the basement . It was not only so loud and annoying, but it had a bright indicator light. I need it quiet, dark, and cool to sleep. Maybe you could put the machine on the
otherside of the wall, and thread the hose through the wall.

The crazy things we do just to sleep. Try a white noise machine to drown out the CFlex gear shift noise.

I concur with Meister's suggestion, I use a white noise machine, on low and it really does drown out the whooshy, breathing/in/out noise from my 420E.

But this is one stunner, got a call today, a friend of ours, on life support, no brain activity, was DIAGNOSED yrs ago with OSA, and NEVER USED ANY cpap therapies, and so consequently he went into CHF and now is tubed up and in a nursing home. Only in his 60's. Point is, can happen, does happen, scarey stuff, and I think of THESE people when I strap on the beast at night.

Got to do it to keep us healthier and alive. We all tend to think it happens to other people these scary events, guess what? We can be these other people, such an eye opener...........yikes.

Sad but true story. Sorry for downer info.....

Anonymous wrote:I am new to treatment, only my second night with my Remstar Pro C-flex with humidifier. The pressure is fine, I only require a 6. But the whooshing sounds the machine makes drives me nuts. I don't recall it being that loud when I had my sleep studies done. I am the type of person who likes calm and quiet to sleep. Also, I don't feel like I am sleeping, I am so conscious that I have all this stuff on...will that feeling ever go away?

All of this is such an adjustment, when I didn't have any symptoms to start with.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

My REMStar Auto with C-Flex was driving me crazy with the whooshing sound when it was on the nightstand. I now put it on the floor, and the difference is amazing - try it you'll like it
derek

Guest,
There are many possible sources of noise and many possible solutions. I also have a Remstar/Pro.

The Mask: Two kinds of noise here... The "external" noise from the (very necessary) exhaust port is usually the most noticeable. Earplugs for you can help. The "internal" noise is probably turbulance in the air column from the machine, through the hose, into the mask parts, and in your sinus cavities. Your bed partner usually can't hear this, but it'll drive you nuts. Quietest masks I've found so far are: FP HC407, ResMed Ultra Mirage, Resmed Activa (more white noise with this one). Respironics masks have a reputation for being noisy.

CFlex: If you don't need it, don't use it. At a pressure of 6, you probably don't have much of an issue with exhaling pressure. So, as a "patient", you can turn CFlex to its lowest setting (look at your manual). Or, better yet (as I did), have your DME turn it off completely. Made a world of difference for me.

The humidifier: If that coupling between the humidifier and machine isn't just right, it will leak a little air and make lots of noise (especially "internal" noise). It is also possible that the hose itself can develop small leaks (cats, dogs?).

The machine itself: Not all of them are quiet. I demonstrated to my DME that my first Remstar Pro was making more noise than it should have and they exchanged it as defective. The new one was much quieter.

You may resort to putting the machine on the floor or somewhere out of direct earshot. I have also "isolated" it by putting a pillow on it, making sure the inlet port in the back is very free and clear.

Good luck!

It takes time to get used to new things. It takes more time when we feel uncomfortable trying to sleep. But this forum is perhaps the very best place to learn how to adjust to a *medical* problem.

I remember the story about the boy who cried because he had no shoes until he saw a boy who had no feet.

I believe we OSA people have to keep our "discomfort" and our "hardships" in perspective. I would rather have OSA and sleep with a mask than die during an apnea event.

Stay the course, my new friend, it only gets better.