Frustrating noises when breathing

So it came time to replace my F&P Sleepstyle CPAP machine for a new one, but I'm having a devil of a time getting an acceptable one.

I really liked the Resmed Airsense 10, but both units I tried had this horrible sound like I was breaking through a snorkel (or I was Darth Vader). Sure it's quiet...when nobody is breathing through it. But as soon as someone does that, I was measuring sound levels of 50 dB.

Last night I tried a F&P Icon, and although it wasn't quite as bad as the Resmed, _it_ had a sound when exhaling....so it sounded like weeeeeeee oooooooo weeeeeee oooooooooo. ARGH.

My six year old machine doesn't do this. Yeah, it might be slightly louder when on, but the sound level _stays_ level. I don't get what's so difficult about this?

Guess I have to try the Respironics next, but I'm getting concerned that _all_ machines do this now. (plus I hate the design of the water container...that looks...fragile).

Could be the pressure relief on exhale. Maybe your current machine doesn't have that feature and the ones you tried do have it. Not sure. Why are you replacing your machine? Mine is older than that and I still use it. I guess if all the machines make an annoying noise you could try turning on a fan or air filter to make a steady noise in the room and cover the sound. That's is what I do because the sound of the breathing in the machine has always been really annoying to me.

When the sound is coming from the machine, my first question is, "Where is the cpap?"
A common recommendation is to set it low enough so that the edge of the mattress blocks some sound.
This also helps to channel condensed water into the tank, instead of the mask.

At what spot did you measure a 50 dB noise and what did you use to measure it?

nobody wrote:Could be the pressure relief on exhale. Maybe your current machine doesn't have that feature and the ones you tried do have it. Not sure. Why are you replacing your machine? Mine is older than that and I still use it. I guess if all the machines make an annoying noise you could try turning on a fan or air filter to make a steady noise in the room and cover the sound. That's is what I do because the sound of the breathing in the machine has always been really annoying to me.

Unfortunately my wife is a light sleeper and can't sleep,with a fan on. The annoying thing is I should be able to shut off the pressure relief, and on the Resmed when I did it didn't change anything.

I'm replacing my old machine because it's starting to fail.

chunkyfrog wrote:When the sound is coming from the machine, my first question is, "Where is the cpap?"
A common recommendation is to set it low enough so that the edge of the mattress blocks some sound.
This also helps to channel condensed water into the tank, instead of the mask.

Unfortunately I tried that. No dice.

avi123 wrote:At what spot did you measure a 50 dB noise and what did you use to measure it?

iPhone app, just above my pillow.

You can use a white noise generator to mask the sounds:




or
http://www.hammacher.com/Product/77174

A couple of questions about your environment.

1) Does it sound this way immediately upon use? Or only after some time?
2) Is the humidifier tank full or empty?
3) Have you tried measuring the sound level next to the machine rather than very near to you?
4) Is the mask the same as before or is this a new mask? If it is a new mask, does it have a diffuser in the mask to muffle the air coming out when you exhale?
5) is the hose the same as before or is this a new hose that came with the new machine?

My dB meter reads between 52 and 58 at my mask and, as a reference, about 50-51 for the cooling fan on my desktop PC exhaust fan. I placed the microphone pickup directly next the exhaust from my mask. At some distance away, it didn't register. So the machine you are measuring is quieter than my Respironics 960 ASV.

avi123 wrote:You can use a white noise generator to mask the sounds:




or
http://www.hammacher.com/Product/77174

Unfortunately my wife can't sleep with those. I _love_ white noise generators.

The thing that gets me is that my 6 year old machine does this _fine_. Why can't current models do it? And if it's some 'feature' instead of a bug, why can't I turn the thing off?

JDS74 wrote:A couple of questions about your environment.

1) Does it sound this way immediately upon use? Or only after some time?
2) Is the humidifier tank full or empty?
3) Have you tried measuring the sound level next to the machine rather than very near to you?
4) Is the mask the same as before or is this a new mask? If it is a new mask, does it have a diffuser in the mask to muffle the air coming out when you exhale?
5) is the hose the same as before or is this a new hose that came with the new machine?

My dB meter reads between 52 and 58 at my mask and, as a reference, about 50-51 for the cooling fan on my desktop PC exhaust fan. I placed the microphone pickup directly next the exhaust from my mask. At some distance away, it didn't register. So the machine you are measuring is quieter than my Respironics 960 ASV.

1. Immediately. The Icon wasn't as bad, but still had a "weeeeee ooooooo weeeee ooooooo" sound with my breathing.
2. Full.
3. No.
4. "New" mask. It's brand new, but its the same Zest that I've been using for years. And it doesn't make the noise when I use my old machine (which I've had to do while I've been wrangling with this issue).

Just came across this article:

https://www.cpap.com/DisplayNewsletter/ ... actor.html

And it does sound like it's 'all' machines that do this now. But the Resmed seemed to not change when I turned off EPR, and as far as I can tell, the Icon doesn't let you deactiviate their version.

If your wife can't sleep with a fan or white noise generator how does she sleep with the sound of your cpap?

Looking up the F-P Zest mask it appears that it doesn't have a diffuser filter associated with the exhaust port immediately about the swivel. My F-P Oracle mask has the exhaust port integral to the swivel and if I leave out the diffuser filter, the mask is extremely noisy. Perhaps it may be possible to attach some diffuser material to the Zest exhaust port and quiet if down for the new machine. You would have to be careful to not block any of the exhaust holes.

Have you looked at the F-P Pilaro Q nasal mask. It has the diffuser built into the swivel like the Oracle and may bring the noise level down to acceptable levels. I know changing masks after having found one that you really like is a big deal so this is just a suggestion if all else fails.

hmm; my Airsense 10 machine only makes a noticeable noise when the humidifier tank is not pushed in all the way. Of course, I do sleep with both a white noise generator and a fan.

About the white noise: Sometimes when the white noise level is too low, you notice it more. Seems contradictory, but it might be worth it to get one and play it loudly, and ask your wife to get used to it. It's certainly possible to do so.