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If you mean never put the machine above head level, then it seems a good precaution against pulling it onto your face or head as you toss and turn. Air is air, no matter was direction it blows from. I doub the height differential will create a katabatic storm ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katabatic : katabatic wind, from the Greek word katabatikos meaning "going downhill", is a wind that blows down a topographic incline such as a hill, mountain, or glacier.)

Some people say a hose coming down from above, causes rainout.

Nomad's setup - even if is above head level doesn't seem to present the danger of the machine being pulled onto his head.

O.

Mine is about even with my head....maybe an inch above it. I have read that the problem with it being above the head is that it can cause rainout. The condensation flows into the mask instead back to the humidifier. I have never had this problem....but then again I havent used CPAP in winter yet.

My family thinks the machine sounds like Darth Vader. My husband doesn't like the noise but he didn't like the snoring noise either... Go figure. I like the cool air from the mask exhaust ports for summer and the humming helps me sleep.

ozij wrote:Nomad's setup - even if is above head level doesn't seem to present the danger of the machine being pulled onto his head.

Yeah, I'd have to be a modern day Houdini to make that one happen. The only downside to the whole setup is my dog likes to curl up under the night stand sometimes... usually when he's gassy. I'd almost rather take being hit in the head with the machine than that. There's nothing else quite like waking up from a sound sleep choking on a dog fart!

oceanpearl wrote:Had R/T tell me that CPAP should never be above your head. Is this true and if so, why???

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Maybe he was praising your intelligence in a figurative way.

My old REMstar Auto was nearly silent. My PB 420E has a faint, high-pitched whine that sounds like someone using a vacuum cleaner in a different room or next door. But it varies by individual machine—for example, restedgal had one 420E that made the same noise, then a second one (same model) that was also nearly silent.

Both of mine have been Auto PAPs and the sound goes up and down slightly as I breathe.

The real sound issue with CPAP is the mask vent, which can be relatively noisy.

To me the Hybrid is much noisier than the CL2 that I used to use, but my husband says he can't really hear a difference (he can feel it though--the venting is much more forceful on the Hybrid).

The reason I've read for keeping the machine below your head is if you use a humidifier and you get any moisture in the tubing, if it's above your head, it'll run into your mask; if it's below your head, it will run back into the humidifier.

During my sleep study the machine was on a counter about a foot higher than the bed. The only reason I know of to have the machine lower is for rain out, so water drains back into the humidifier.

A couple of reasons to keep the cpap and humidifier low that I know are
It is hard to spill water uphill
The machine seems quiter at floor level
Condensation runs down hill.

GeneS

Thanks everyone for all your responses! And thanks especially to those of you who've sent me PMs.

I think I've picked my machine (Respironics M series APAP w/ A-flex, mainly just for the A-flex).

But I'm still interested in hearing anyone else's experiences with noise from their machine.