Quieting my BiPAP

Hello fellow Sleep Apnea sufferers! Stopped by here many times but just today am officially registered and part of the community I have had severe apnea for 10 yrs now and use a BiPAP. My main question at least today is how to quiet my machine??? I stayed at a friends apartment in the living room where he slept and whenever I would use my machine, he said it was so loud and woke me up several times, once taping the noise. I of course said he was exaggerating but still didn't use it as often as I should have. I finally moved and got my own place; first it was a downstairs unit which I didn't really care for and luckily an upper unit came available. Long story short; the landlord forwarded me an e-mail from the couple right below me pointing out how loud my machine was and that they could hear it in the hall and living room as well as bedroom!! I was embarrassed at first because again, didn't think it was that loud...had no complaints with my upstairs neighbor at all for the whole three months there. I haven't been using it as I want to be considerate but of course I need to use it. Any ideas on how to quiet it; I read today about putting it under the bed? Would putting a light blanket or pillow over the machine help do you think. Really would like some advice. I called Apria and they are as worthless as usual; although when I called them last week they said I'm eligible for a new machine. Hope to get back some replies...glad to be a member now!
Brian

Brian48G wrote:the couple right below me pointing out how loud my machine was and that they could hear it in the hall and living room as well as bedroom!!

WTF???

I believe Apria must have filled your prescription with one of these -

Brian, go to your User Control Panel ucp.php and fill in information on your equipment. Most machines and bipaps are very quiet, and if people are hearing yours in other rooms, there is something wrong. It would help to know the brand and model of your unit.

Sleeprider wrote:Brian, go to your User Control Panel ucp.php and fill in information on your equipment. Most machines and bipaps are very quiet, and if people are hearing yours in other rooms, there is something wrong. It would help to know the brand and model of your unit.

Actually, two things could be wrong. There is likely something wrong with your machine and you may have hearing loss. My brother has an 8 year old bipab and while it makes sound, you certainly don't hear it outside the room (not even outside an open door). Please don't put a blanket or anything over your machine. It could heat up and cause a fire!

In the meantime, go visit your neighbor and apologize for the noise. You weren't aware that your machine was that loud and you will be getting a new one. Offer them some of those disposable earplug packages you get at Walgreens and apologize again telling them that you promise, it won't be long!

My unit is a Respironics BiPAP S/T Model # 1012885

That is a pretty old machine with a smartcard.

My 750P Bipap got loud before the blower motor went.. It maybe time for a new machine..

SewTired wrote:Offer them some of those disposable earplug packages you get at Walgreens and apologize again telling them that you promise, it won't be long!

Can't think of anything that would tick someone off more than having someone drop off a set of earplugs because I was making too much noise.

As for it won't be long, Most likely will need a referral to a sleep Dr, first visit to see what's up get approval for sleep test, schedule a sleep tests (it's been 10 years), wait for results with schedule appoint with sleep Dr, get insurance approval for machine, wait for appoint with DME for fitting.... good be quite a while.

He will need a quicker solution to the noise issue itself.

Don't know if this will help with the amount of noise you are reporting, but some people have suggested setting the machine on a computer mouse pad to decrease noise.

OkyDoky wrote:Don't know if this will help with the amount of noise you are reporting, but some people have suggested setting the machine on a computer mouse pad to decrease noise.

I use the mouse pad under my PR 960 ASV. It doesn't help much, but mine only sounds like a pickup truck not a locomotive.

I agree, if you are the only one who doesn't hear the machine, you need to get your ears checked. I did. no I have some shinny new hearing aids.

They kept telling me aging was not for sissies, but I guess I never heard them.

Thanks for all the replies! I contacted my doctor to request a new BiPAP which is the starting point. An Apria rep also called me and told me to bring in the machine and they will check it out...often, insurance won't approve a new one unless it's broken though I know my machine is an old on. She also gave me the advice to put a book under the machine, which I'm going to try tonight though really don't think will help...who knows

Well hopefully upon looking at it they might do something. I couldn't get Apria to do anything when my machine failed 8 months out of warranty. No loaner, nada.. It took almost a week for an expedited replacement machine to be obtained. And I didn't have to do a new study or even see a Sleep Dr.

Slept in the recliner for a week and was a zombie by the end of the week. That was about 6-1/2 years ago now.

That's a great start. Hopefully they won't require additional testing. Wouldn't accomplish anything...if you need a S/T machine, that problem isn't going anywhere.