New comfortgel vents are noisy, fixes?

Hi! I got my DME to give me a petite comfortgel mask in exchange for the micro mirage mask. The comfortgel is just so much more comfortable and leaks a lot less.

However it's really noisy! There's this odd wind/whistling noise coming from the vents and it's louder when I breathe out. Or rather it doesn't whistle as much when I breathe in, I guess it's the same noise when I breathe out or don't breathe at all. I find myself listening to it and trying to hold my breath or alter my breathing as I fall asleep. Even with the ramp on at 4cm, it's still almost as noisy as at my full pressure of 8cm.

What's really weird is that I had a comfortgel small for a one week trial with a M-series Auto C-flex and I just don't remember it making any noise! Is my memory failing or is there something about this mask in particular that makes it noisier? Do your Comfortgel masks make noises? Is this normal? Do I have a defective mask? Is there some sort of plastic strip that I was supposed to take off? HELP!?

Oh, and the mask smells funny. I've tried washing it with J&J baby shampoo, but haven't gotten the smell out yet. annoying.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): mirage, C-FLEX, DME, Ramp, auto

Hello I use the comfort Gel Petite and there is not any noise. Maybe you have it adjusted wrong? the smell goes away after a while--I had that problem then I cleaned it with Dr. Bonners Peppermint Castile soap---smell all gone. It is a heavy mask and I am a side sleeper --so I did get higher leak rates when I use it but no noise that I am aware of. CHeck around the plastic part that clips onto the the mask to hold the gel in place to be sure that it is clipped in properly --maybe you are getting some leaks from there.

Carrie

didn't I say that?

Snoredog wrote:didn't I say that?

Say what?

Wrenna wrote:

Snoredog wrote:didn't I say that?

Say what?

that the ComfortGel was inherently noisy

I checked the mask with the air on at my full pressure. The sound (and air) does seem to be coming from the 'exhalation' port rather than a leak. The air all seems to coming out from one side of this area, is this normal?

Snoredog wrote:

Wrenna wrote:

Snoredog wrote:didn't I say that?

Say what?

that the ComfortGel was inherently noisy

Maybe I'll just have to get used to it. It's a lot more comfortable and less leak-prone than mirage micro, and I'm not sure what else to try. I like the nasal mask style, it reminds me of snorkeling for some reason and relaxes me. The nasal pillow masks I've tried, opti-life and swift II, both made me want to claw them off of my face the second I had them on. So those types are out. Although maybe something like the comfortlite 2 would hold the mask away from my nose rather than squish it into my nose. that would help... hmm..

Sorry for the digression. I am just trying to figure out if this is an inherent issue with the comfortgel, or if my mask is defective, or if there were some directions I should have gotten with it. And if it's a normal part of the mask, if there is some clever fix to make it quieter.

I have used a couple ComfortGel's and mine are quiet masks.

I use the ComfortGel all the time, not too much noise, unless the vented air hits something. Leave the plastic cover on it's part of the ChEEAP mask vent system. The smeel seems to be a gel problem you have to get used to it. Background noise helps too. Jim