New and "hate" the noise from my REMstar...

Hi all.... I've been hanging out reading posts here for the past several weeks and have learned a lot, thanks. This is my 1rst experience using a CPAP machine and I've been doing so for right at 3 weeks. 1 week of this time has been with the addition of being sick with cold and congestion.

I have the Phillips Respironics REMstar PLUS C-flex machine with heated humidifier. I am using with good success the ResMed Swift LT nasal pillows.

Having read many reviews and posts here, my preference would have been to get the ResMed S8 Elite II. On the day of my "class" and fitting, the supplier and respiratory tech told us " we do not have any ResMeds in stock, but have received a shipment of the new Phillips Respironics machines, which are in essence an upgrade to the ResMed S8 Elite II, which we will give you for the same cost". The tech even stated that she "personally prefers the ResMed, because it is noticeably quieter".

I'm not sure if the tech simply put that "quieter" suggestion in my obsessive brain and I'm running with it or if what I am hearing in using my machine is normal for all of them and I'll just have to get used to it. I started out using my machine continuing to sleep on the living room couch, as I have done for a LONG time, because of snoring. I wanted to get used to the CPAP before sleeping with my wife, so as not to disturb her, during the transition. I HATE the sound of this machine! Hate is probably too strong a word, but not by much. To me, as I inhale the blower/motor noise sounds like a (admittedly much softer) motorcycle or race car revving up. It's kind of a low pitched humming sound that increases with the intensity of my inhalation and is a constant low hum when I pause before exhalation. If I pause before exhaling andmove my leg or arm, the hum sound will intensify as I move the limb up/down. Sounds crazy, I know, to be doing that, but just for "testing" I discovered that! LOL

In the living room, which is large and our kitchen and forced air furnace are nearby, the sound is often masked by the furnace of refrigerator noise. I have tried several times to move into the bedroom and have been frustrated and ended up moving back to the living room, because that motor hum noise is MUCH more pronounced in the bedroom, especially with the machine on my side of the bed on and end table, and corner of the room. I find myself trying to breath more quietly and smoothly to not disturb my wife. Even though she says I am not bothering her, I see her move in reaction to my inhalations and the sound. If I inhale unsteadily to me it sounds like that motorcycle revving! LOL

This is long, but wanted to get some input as to whether or not what i am experiencing is normal for a newbie or if anyone else has similar complaints anout the motor hum from the new Respironics machines. I have talked with the supplier today and told them that I want to switch to a ResMed if possible and am awaiting a call back. I would appreciate any feedback anyone might have. I even thought of building a "quiet box" to put over the machine, but thought that might interfere with its climate control function for the humidifier.

Digeeedad wrote: I have the Phillips Respironics REMstar PLUS C-flex machine

This is a bottom of the line cpap. NO data.

Digeeedad wrote: " we do not have any ResMeds in stock, but have received a shipment of the new Phillips Respironics machines, which are in essence an upgrade to the ResMed S8 Elite II, which we will give you for the same cost".

This is a total load of BS. They make much more $$$ w/the Plus.

The Resmed S8 Elite II provides full data.
It has EasyBreathe/EPR capability.
....and it is VERY quiet.
No comparison to the Mseries Plus.

Run, don't walk to your alleged DME and MAKE
them give you the Elite II.

Digeeedad wrote:Hi all.... I've been hanging out reading posts here for the past several weeks and have learned a lot, thanks. This is my 1rst experience using a CPAP machine and I've been doing so for right at 3 weeks. 1 week of this time has been with the addition of being sick with cold and congestion.

I have the Phillips Respironics REMstar PLUS C-flex machine with heated humidifier. I am using with good success the ResMed Swift LT nasal pillows.

Having read many reviews and posts here, my preference would have been to get the ResMed S8 Elite II. On the day of my "class" and fitting, the supplier and respiratory tech told us " we do not have any ResMeds in stock, but have received a shipment of the new Phillips Respironics machines, which are in essence an upgrade to the ResMed S8 Elite II, which we will give you for the same cost". The tech even stated that she "personally prefers the ResMed, because it is noticeably quieter".

I'm not sure if the tech simply put that "quieter" suggestion in my obsessive brain and I'm running with it or if what I am hearing in using my machine is normal for all of them and I'll just have to get used to it. I started out using my machine continuing to sleep on the living room couch, as I have done for a LONG time, because of snoring. I wanted to get used to the CPAP before sleeping with my wife, so as not to disturb her, during the transition. I HATE the sound of this machine! Hate is probably too strong a word, but not by much. To me, as I inhale the blower/motor noise sounds like a (admittedly much softer) motorcycle or race car revving up. It's kind of a low pitched humming sound that increases with the intensity of my inhalation and is a constant low hum when I pause before exhalation. If I pause before exhaling andmove my leg or arm, the hum sound will intensify as I move the limb up/down. Sounds crazy, I know, to be doing that, but just for "testing" I discovered that! LOL

In the living room, which is large and our kitchen and forced air furnace are nearby, the sound is often masked by the furnace of refrigerator noise. I have tried several times to move into the bedroom and have been frustrated and ended up moving back to the living room, because that motor hum noise is MUCH more pronounced in the bedroom, especially with the machine on my side of the bed on and end table, and corner of the room. I find myself trying to breath more quietly and smoothly to not disturb my wife. Even though she says I am not bothering her, I see her move in reaction to my inhalations and the sound. If I inhale unsteadily to me it sounds like that motorcycle revving! LOL

This is long, but wanted to get some input as to whether or not what i am experiencing is normal for a newbie or if anyone else has similar complaints anout the motor hum from the new Respironics machines. I have talked with the supplier today and told them that I want to switch to a ResMed if possible and am awaiting a call back. I would appreciate any feedback anyone might have. I even thought of building a "quiet box" to put over the machine, but thought that might interfere with its climate control function for the humidifier.

My first reaction is that you're dealing with a lying sack of SH*T!!! Philips/Respironics and ResMed are two different companies and the PR 1 Plus would NOT be an upgrade to the S8 Elite II. For another thing, the Elite II IS a data-capable machine and the PR 1 Plus is NOT. (You will want a data-capable machine.....sooner or later)

From all of the reports I've read, they are BOTH very quiet machines.......so, something must be wrong with yours.

This is YOUR therapy!!! Do not accept something that you do not want or is not performing in an acceptable manner.
YOU are the one who is going to be sleeping with the machine every night......not them.


Den

I agree with the others that your DME feeding you a line. Go back and get a fully data-capable machine, even if they tell you it's a "downgrade"!!!

As to the noise, my M-Series Auto makes a varying noise as I breathe...but nothing like a "motorcycle". My wife says it sounds like surf and lulls her to sleep. Either yours is defective or you are VERY sensitive to the noise. If it's on a hard surface, try putting a mousepad under it. (That would be under your NEW machine which you demand from your slimy, lying DME, of course...)

Welcome to the forum, Digeeedad!

I just wanted to add something about the ResMed machines. If you want to be able to monitor your therapy by checking the leak rate, AHI, AI and HI, make sure that you get the ResMed Elite II and not the ResMed Escape. The Escape is only capable of reporting the number of hours you use your machine, while the Elite II is capable of reporting full data. The names sound very similar, so be sure you're getting what you really want.

I hope you're feeling better since starting CPAP. Feel free to ask any questions you may have. There are lots of very helpful people here!

~ DreamOn

Thanks everyone for the replies! Actually my machine does have an SD data card, but apparently only readable by/for "home health care technicians". The Phillips/Respironics machine that I have was apparently introduced right at the end of 2009.
http://www.cpap-supply.com/REMstar-Plus ... s250hs.htm

I am still waiting a call back from the supplier and if I don't get it today, I'll probably just got there directly tomorrow. It did sem a little strange that the Res. Therapist who was leading our "class" prefers the ResMed S8 Elite II, primarily because of the lower noise level, but that it was not "currently in stock" there. A man in our group that was moving out of state the next day and wanted to get the ResMed was serviced seperately and ended up going home with that machine.... maybe not enought machines fo all 6 of us?

I might in fact be too noise sensitive, but have never had that be a problem before, as I was a graveyard shift worker and slept days for years! Between the vent noise on inhalation of the Swift LT and the motor hum rev-up as I inhale... just irritates the heck out of me! Often feels like I'm a scuba diver listening to the tank/repirator valve, as I'm trying to fall asleep! LOL Reading about everyone's breathing/sleep data from their machines actually seemed pretty overwhelming at first, but I can see where user available data would eventually be preferable.

Definitely has been an up and down thus far... Thanks again for the info

That SD card in the Plus will only collect "hours used".......nothing more.

I was wondering if you had the PR machine or the M Series......but since you said it's got the SD card, that makes it a PR One.

I presume your machine looks like this one.....

https://www.cpap.com/productpage-bundle ... undle.html


Den

Wulfman wrote:That SD card in the Plus will only collect "hours used".......nothing more.

I was wondering if you had the PR machine or the M Series......but since you said it's got the SD card, that makes it a PR One.

I presume your machine looks like this one.....

https://www.cpap.com/productpage-bundle ... undle.html


Den

Yes... that's the one with the addition of the heated humidifier.

The data card only supplies compliance data on Plus machine. Another thought I had is that the Cflex is what you may be hearing. It seems much quieter with it turned to 1 or even Off if you can do without it.

Ditto on what everyone else has said. I would ask them to order the ResMed Elite 11 and to give you a loaner until it comes in. The ResMed machines are very quite. You want to make sure you have a machine that gives you data and the ResMed S8 Elite 11 will do this. And as DreamOn said don't let them give you a ResMed Escape.


rosie

Continued thanks for all of your informative and helpful replies. No call back from the supplier, so I'll just show up there tomorrow!

Digeeedad wrote:Continued thanks for all of your informative and helpful replies. No call back from the supplier, so I'll just show up there tomorrow!

They dont want to call you back because they know you have found "That darn cpaptalk forum" and have been enlightened about things. They know what they did and they dont want to own up to it.

I have the PR System 1 Pro and I love it. The S8 Elite II is also very good. What would be awesome is if you could get the new S9 that is starting to surface.. But I suspect that many here may like the S8 better than the S9 due to some silly changes they made with the revision.

I had the same problem with both the Respironics M-series and the new System One. The constant ululant whining (and some other things) got me down. I gave the machine back and bought a Resmed Autoset II from cpap.com. It's remarkably quiet and handles the air so gently I don't use the EPR (= FLEX on yours). Combined with my latest mask, the Resmed Softgel, I sometimes am not sure if the machine is on.

HMO? Apria is the supplier?

If you have the new PR 1 - and if it is functioning properly- [ my guess is that somethings wrong with it ]

then it truly is simply a personal preference with the sound
I tried the top of the line S8 and the PR 1 - tried both in my home-
I bought the PR 1 mostly because it was the quietest- my wife literally said- "is the new machine running?"

both the s8 and PR 1 are great machines- both do a good job-

in my opinion it really is personal preference- I am only commenting because it just doesnt fit my
experience that PR 1 is loud- it was quietest I could find and why I bought it !

packer