crinkling sound in hose&pillow on inhalation

I am new to the forum and new to CPAP, having only been on the machine for about 3 weeks now. So, of course, I am still adjusting to it (maybe I always will be? ).

Here's my question: three or four times in the past couple of nights, I have been awakened by a strange sound and sensation in my nasal pillow (swift mirage II) and hose - a sort of "crinkling" sound on inhalation. It's as if there is not enough air in the system and I am breathing in the apparatus (like what would happen if you held a plastic bag in front of your nose and inhaled). It's so noisy and strange that each time I have pulled off the headgear and gone back to sleep without it.

What could be causing this? When I called the equipment supplier this morning, he really had no idea and couldn't seem to 'get' what I was describing. Thank you for your help!

You mentioned nothing about your equipment so all this is just a guest, I mean guess.

Could you have water in your hose? Gurgling? If so, turn the humidifier down and keep it level but below your head when laying down.

DME RT's typically get their training on-the-job.

Yes, there IS water in the hose, but I do have the humidifier below the level of my head. But the sound doesn't seem like a gurgling. It is more of a rumpling of plastic sort of sound. And the nasal pillow itself kind of crumples a bit when the sound happens...how strange is that?

Water in the hose means it is condensing there bc -
1. The HH is too high
2. The room is cooler

I would start by turning the HH down to half where it is now UNTIL it stopped doing what is bothering you. Half more each time.

You can either take the hose off each morning to dump it & see just how much is collecting. Or simply raise the hose so the water goes back into the HH. But if you have NOT yet emptied the hose you are beginning each nite w/water already in the hose, right?

You might want to try the humidifier with the heat OFF to see if you still have the problem.

If the nasal pillow is collapsing (which is what it sounds like is happening due to your description), you need to alert your provider and see why this is happening. You may need more pressure if you aren't using an auto machine.

Thank you, I will try further lowering the level of the HH. I have been dumping the water out of the hose each morning, though it doesn't always fully dry by night-time (even though it's hung up to air dry). I'm going to try running it for a bit each morning without the humidifier on to let the machine dry it out.

You really think the sound and pillow rumpling is caused by water?

It is hard to be conclusive with the info provided.
Water should not be collecting in the hose, period. Needs to be fixed.

Whether the water is displacing the volume of air you are trying to breath, causing the hose to crinkle when you inhale remains to be seen. What pressure are you at?

Does it happen after dumping the water then laying down with mask & machine ON? Do you have any other medical issues?

I have no other medical issues - am lucky to be in great health, except for the OSA. The pressure is 8.

Now that you explain the possibility of water displacing air, I understand why you are focused on the water issue.

I have the exact same equipment. If the sound you are described is similar to that made by a straw when sucking at the bottom of an empty glass..then indeed it has to be with condensation and water collection as already addressed by my fellow posters above. I had the same sound, described it as 'gurgling' and resolved it by turning down the humidifer from 3 to 1 and/or turning down the AC. Good luck

Phil

I will definitely try lowering the humidity. I was also given a new mask this afternoon (the mirage mico) - the thinking being that b/c of a flat head ( the headgear may not have been keeping the nasal pillows securely in place all night, allowing the pillow to "flutter". Hopefully, the combination of these things will solve the problem. Thanks!

Turns out, not only did I have a lot of condensation in the hose, but today I found several holes! Looks like the cat decided to chew on it. No wonder there were odd sounds!!