First Nite w/ S9 but Exhale Sound... Normal?

Hey all! Did a lot of reading here lately trying to decide about purchasing my second CPAP machine. Decided on the S9 Escape. Used my S9 last nite and astounded at the difference in quietness vs my old machine. BUT.... On exhalation I hear a..... Wheez, not quite a whine, but maybe a faint whistle. If i exhale slowly it doesn't happen. I wouldn't even be wondering since the unit is so much quieter than what I used previously. But since it's brand new is this normal? After just one use I love this device. Also comment if I made the right choice purchasing the Escape vs the Elite. In the 5 years using my old machine I never looked at data and my doctor never asked for any. So.... I just didn't think the additional ability to get data to a doctor was of value to me. Arrived yesterday and immediately used last nite so haven't even read the manual yet. But I'm glad I spent the additional money to get this machine. Thanks... first post.

Yes... many S9 owners report the wheeze on exhale--it seems to be normal. I don't notice it on mine, but I also have a fan running for white noise.

Regarding data, you won't find anyone here who thinks that you should only view it as something for the doctor... many of us use the data ourselves to ensure we are getting optimal therapy and knowing when adjustments should be made. In particular, the leak data for masks is quite valuable when determine a mask's effectiveness. If I'm not mistaken, the Escape doesn't have leak data available. If you aren't inclined to use the data, then it probably doesn't matter--the functionality of the machine is otherwise the same. But, the $50 price difference between the Elite and Escape is worth it, IMHO. In fact, I'd have gotten the AutoSet even if using CPAP mode because it gives you all of the options.

Thanks jmelby. Maybe I should have done more research. I was under the impression from the salesman that the data was only available to a doctor. You're right only 50 bucks maybe I should reconsider. My 5 years with my old Respironics was pretty simple and never had any issues. So never thot I'd use data. Thanks not sure if I can upgrade. Main thing is there's nothing wrong with my Escape wheezing.

I hope you can exchange for a data-capable machine. I guess you and your Doctor have been going by the way you feel all these years but I would think he would have wanted to see something more tangible to know you were getting the proper therapy. The analogy is often stated here that if you had diabetes how would your know your blood levels were good without monitoring? IMO all machines should be data-capable. Good luck and keep us posted.

Also comment if I made the right choice purchasing the Escape vs the Elite

IMHO, NO! Youve tied your own hands. Neither you NOR your doctor can get any useful information from the Escape to determine what might be the issue if you ever start having problems with your therapy. The only way to see what's going on is a full blown sleep study costing thousands of dollars, when all you may need is a slight pressure change, a chin strap, or a better mask cushion--something that could have easily been figured out for free with data.

The salesman who told you data was only available to physicians was either ignorant or lying. You may not want or care to ever look at your data, but $50 is pretty good insurance "just in case". Since you'll have that machine at least 5 years, it's only $5 per year!

To me it is absolutely unconscionable that a manufacturer would make a machine in this day and age without full data capabilities available to the user!

Big S wrote:To me it is absolutely unconscionable that a manufacturer would make a machine in this day and age without full data capabilities available to the user!

They will make them as long as there is a market for them. My DME guy tells me that I am his most informed patient that he has. He reports that the majority just tell him to show him how to hook the darn thing up and turn on the machine. They don't want to be educated. They just want him to be able to set it up and make it work easily. If a problem comes up they expect him to wave a magic wand and just "fix" it because that is his job. Add in the doctors that want to be God and then add in the insurance companies who want the cheapest product sold so they pay the least money and top it all off with DME's who gladly sell the non data machines because there is where the greater profit for them is. These are patients that just blindly do what their doctor says and don't question things. There are many people who are quite satisfied to be quiet little drones and never think to ask "why". It would never dawn on them to take a proactive stance with any of their medical treatments or advice.

Me, I have worked in the medical field for many years and I have always been a question asker. If any medical professional were to treat my thoughts and opinions as any less important than theirs, they simply would have to not have me as a patient. There are some doctors that realize that an informed patient has a better chance to be more compliant and are willing to take part but more often than not it is discouraged. I never really could put a finger on it. Was it they felt their Godlike status was being question or were they simply to lazy to take the time to listen because it would cut into other patient visits or finally, god forbid, they were just plain stupid and uninformed and didn't want that tasty tid bit to get out.

People like us on this forum are in a minority and until the masses become more proactive with their health treatments, I don't see things changing soon.

Oh no---You should have not gotten the Escape---Bummer!!! Can't believe that they still sell that one!!! UGH! You surely should have gotten the Elite or even go for the AutoSet even if using CPAP mode because it gives you all of the options----all the detailed data. Your Escape will only tell you the # of hours you have used the machine.

If at all possible --see if you can exchange the Escape machine as soon as possible--you will not regret it. I went from the Escape to the Elite and now recently the RS9 Auto set---I am so happy with how quiet it is too --and all the details you can get every morning right on the LCD read out screen right there.

You should be monitoring your own sleep data--your doctor is not doing to care that much about it --but you should--it is your body and your health that is at risk. We all HAVE to be our own health advocate these days--don't sit around and wait for the doctors to tell you stuff --they just don't have the time anymore.

Carrie

Tennguy wrote:BUT.... On exhalation I hear a..... Wheez, not quite a whine, but maybe a faint whistle. If i exhale slowly it doesn't happen. I wouldn't even be wondering since the unit is so much quieter than what I used previously. But since it's brand new is this normal?

Hi Tennguy. Seems your original question has got lost in the debate about data - and yes, we should have access to good and comprehensive data - I check mine regularly, but I digresss . . . . .

I often have that wheez / whine / whistle sound coming from my mask too, and I realised that it only happened when the vent on my mask was covered by my sheet or quilt. Doesn't have to be completely covered, just happens if the vent is too close to something, and the air just whistles and wheezes because the air-flow from the vent is slightly mis-directed, or something. My whistling is easy fixed by just moving the obstruction away. Hopefully yours is just as easy to fix.

I don't think you say what mask you use - - others with the same mask may have better advice ( I use a F & P Opus - works for me)

Unfortunately I also have the whine/whistle on exhale with my S9 Autoset. It comes from the Autoset, not my mask. I took it back to Lincare and they replaced it, but the replacement does the same thing. Don't know what to do now. I would take your S9 Escape back to your DME and tell them you need a replacement, but this time make sure they supply you with an S9 Elite or S9 Autoset. If you have to, get a new prescription specifying one of these models. I love the information from the graphs from the Rescan V3.12 software and that is why I am still using my Autoset. The Autoset confirmed what I suspected, that I had central apneas when I set my Autoset pressure range too high, so now I just use it in CPAP mode. I still have the whistle/whine though at a constant pressure of 9.

My S9 Auto will wheeze. I've identified 3 sources of the wheeze. The two loudest contributers are fixable

The Loudest wheeze seems to come from my connectors. I use a hard plastic elbow between the machine and the fexible tubing to help give me more lengthn in bed while keeping the machine in my desired orientation. It can leak at the interface of hard plastic to hard plastic. I think if moisture gets in there, it can be worse. I find tightening or twisting the connection fixes that noise.

The next loudest wheeze seems to come from moisture/water between the tank and the humidifier or in the tube exiting the humidifier.

The third wheeze seems to be the machine itself and I wonder at times if moisture has somehow mad it inside the machine because its not consistent.

By all means try to exchange the Escape for the Elite...I know you won't be sorry. It is vital to have your information available to see how you are doing. There is no way I could get up in the morning and not look at the info for the previous night...exchange it while you can!