Mask Noise
Question:
Elinor Lindheimer wrote: > Lee, you’re lucky to have such good service from your DME–maybe it’s a > Canadian thing. I’ve found that techs vary greatly in their knowledge about > CPAP equipment.
I’ve met a lot of people that are on CPAP during the last three months and everyone seems very pleased with their suppliers reps. A common thread however, seems to be that they are all at least early middle aged and are well qualified with lots of experience. Also, the Ontario Government has spend a lot of money in the last few years setting up home care services, and a CPAP user automatically is set up under the Assisted Home Devices service. Regards, Lee TFTD – I like long walks, especially if they are taken by people who annoy me. — Lee Babcock Scarborough (Toronto), Ontario, Canada Email —- babco…@idirect.ca
Response:
Kymberli wrote: > Regards, > Kymberli – who makes a point to return *all* phone calls before the > end of the day, even if it means calling from my home.
But yuz is a good kid, Spud! (You probably are too young to understand <g> Regards, Lee TFTD – Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. — Lee Babcock Scarborough (Toronto), Ontario, Canada Email —- babco…@idirect.ca
Response:
I put it on the outside. Whistles like crazy when I have put it on the other way. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Ruth Logerquist wrote in message <857sgk$11t…@news.inc.net>… >Thanks to this post, I went and turned mine around and its quieter now. >(still not sure if its right) Where do you put the little flat piece? On >the inside or outside? (its straight across on the bottom of the air vent >but the mask isn’t. You either have to have to slip this flat piece on the >inside or outside. The picture in my instructions doesn’t show the flat, >just the rounded part. So much for instructions. >Ruth >"EaronDavis" <earonda…@aol.com> wrote in message >news:20000107181155.01019.00000888@ng-fi1.aol.com… >> The only time I noticed a loud noise while using the Mirage mask was after >I >> cleaned it. I removed the small, semicircular soft plastic area on the >bottom. >> Apparently, after cleaning, I put it back backwards. When I used the >mask, >> thereafter, it made a loud noise I had not previously noticed. I then >removed >> the small semicircle and replaced it the other way and the noise was gone. >> I don’t know whether this helps you, but it was a pretty strange >experience for >> me until I figured it out. >> Earon
Response:
Ruth, I’m using Respironics Equipment so I can’t say what other companies may have by way of sizes, but the template she had had at least 5 or 6 different sizes for the masks. I use a small. I think there was one size smaller (petite) and at least three sizes bigger (medium, large and extra large). All I know is it is Respironics and it is _not_ a Gold seal mask. Of course the only really important question I could think to ask at the time was "does this contain latex?" as I have a big allergic reaction to Latex (not good if you are going to need to use this for the rest of your life, and need to choose between possible anaphylactic shock and a life threatening disease). After learning about Cpapman here I went to see how much my equipment cost out of curiosity, and discovered that mine is not a new state of the art model. NO. I have a Bi-PAP S featuring Auto-Track. I don’t know what year this particular model was introduced but it looks a *lot* bigger than the new models (approx. 12" x 12" x 14 or 16") no digital readouts or fancy tricks. I’m wondering if I should feel cheated (but I feel a lot better so I can’t complain too loud).
Response:
"Magesteff (Steffeny Muller)" wrote: > Lee, > I think you hit the jack pot with your Therapist. Mine > pretty much said, "here is your equipment this is how it > gets set up, this is how it gets cleaned, but I don’t know > what your Doctor wants you to do in the case of a power > failure during a hurricane."–
Steffeny…. I like my therapist and I am very pleased with him. Prior to working for a medical equipment supplier, he worked for one of the larger hospitals here in Toronto and seems to have an incredible amount of knowledge aside from CPAP directly. Since I’m in the computer business, I have my unit hooked up to a computer UPS with the alarm. If the power goes off, the alarm will wake both me and any dead and buried within about a kilometre! Regards, Lee Lee Babcock Scarborough (Toronto), Ontario, Canada Email —- babco…@idirect.ca
Response:
Ruth Logerquist wrote: > Nothing has been working right for me yet. I first got the mirage mask, > didn’t think it was working and then got the breeze. Now I’ve been > switching between them. I’m not sure if they fit right or not. My > therapist never said anything about fit. Just had me put it on my face so I > knew how to put it on. She never tried adjusting it to see if it fit right. > What do you mean by *correct sized mask*? They only come in one size don’t > they? Or do you mean trying different types?
Ruth…. you can’t keep changing between masks in the early days or you will never get used to CPAP! As for the Mirage, its different sizes are the size of the seal flaps. Hold it straight out from you face and you will see sort of a long tear shaped opening. While I’m a large person, I use the small size as the bridge of my nose is very narrow. They had a lot of trouble when I had my second sleep study in finding a mask that I was comfortable with and would fit my cute little nose! <g> Regards, Lee — Lee Babcock Scarborough (Toronto), Ontario, Canada Email —- babco…@idirect.ca
Response:
Hi, I rotate between a Mirage mask and the Breeze Nasal Pillows. My problem is that both seem to make a loud hissing noise through the little hole that is used for exhaled air. I’ve been using my CPAP for about six months and just lately this seems to be bothering me more while trying to go to sleep. I’ve checked for obstructions, but have none. Does anyone else notice this? Thanks in advance, Marty
Response:
I notice the noise from the exhalation place on the Mirage mask only when I have the comforter up against it, or my hand, or anything. It has to be completely free for me not to hear the noise. Elinor – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -MPN 28 wrote: > Hi, > I rotate between a Mirage mask and the Breeze Nasal Pillows. My problem is > that both seem to make a loud hissing noise through the little hole that is > used for exhaled air. I’ve been using my CPAP for about six months and just > lately this seems to be bothering me more while trying to go to sleep. I’ve > checked for obstructions, but have none. Does anyone else notice this? > Thanks in advance, > Marty
Response:
Every so often my respironics mask seems to make a very soft but high pitched whistle. I think it is coming from the exhaust port but sometimes I’m not sure if air might be leaking around the swivel in the mask closer to my face. Sometimes I find it annoying, but as I’m not sure exactly where its coming from I’m having trouble figuring out if I can do anything to stop it. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -MPN 28 wrote: > Hi, > I rotate between a Mirage mask and the Breeze Nasal Pillows. My problem is > that both seem to make a loud hissing noise through the little hole that is > used for exhaled air. I’ve been using my CPAP for about six months and just > lately this seems to be bothering me more while trying to go to sleep. I’ve > checked for obstructions, but have none. Does anyone else notice this? > Thanks in advance, > Marty
Response:
Hi Marty, I use nasal pillows, so my experience is not directly relevant. However, I seem to recall someone saying that the exhaust port could be installed backwards on a mask. I don’t recall which mask for certain, but I think that it was the Mirage. If installed backwards, it is a lot noisier. Apparently people sometimes re-install the exhaust port the wrong way after cleaning it. My nasal pillows are noisy sometimes if they are close enough to the sheet or other obstruction as Elinor suggested. Most of the time I don’t notice any noise above the (low) noise of the CPAP. Some people have observed that sometimes the edge of the port is a little rough; if so, VERY GENTLY smoothing just the edge without enlarging the hole will lessen the noise. If you find the cause and its cure, please report it to the group for future reference. Kent Taylor – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -MPN 28 wrote in message <20000107162224.19667.00000…@ng-fl1.aol.com>… >Hi, >I rotate between a Mirage mask and the Breeze Nasal Pillows. My problem is >that both seem to make a loud hissing noise through the little hole that is >used for exhaled air. I’ve been using my CPAP for about six months and just >lately this seems to be bothering me more while trying to go to sleep. I’ve >checked for obstructions, but have none. Does anyone else notice this? >Thanks in advance, >Marty
Response:
The only time I noticed a loud noise while using the Mirage mask was after I cleaned it. I removed the small, semicircular soft plastic area on the bottom. Apparently, after cleaning, I put it back backwards. When I used the mask, thereafter, it made a loud noise I had not previously noticed. I then removed the small semicircle and replaced it the other way and the noise was gone. I don’t know whether this helps you, but it was a pretty strange experience for me until I figured it out. Earon
Response:
Thank you, Mongo, for reminding us about the possibility of installing the exhaust port backwards. I did that on my new Mirage mask the first time I washed it. Wow, did it make noise! It wasn’t intuitive either. I had to just try putting it the other way (from the outside in rather than from the inside out). Elinor
Response:
In article <38766EFE.54428…@bellsouth.net>, "Magesteff (Steffeny Muller)" <mages…@bellsouth.net> wrote: > Every so often my respironics mask seems to make a very soft but high pitched > whistle. I think it is coming from the exhaust port but sometimes I’m not sure > if air might be leaking around the swivel in the mask closer to my face. > Sometimes I find it annoying, but as I’m not sure exactly where its coming from > I’m having trouble figuring out if I can do anything to stop it.
I use a Respironic Goldseal gel mask (I think that’s the right name – it’s got a swivel-thingy). If the plugs aren’t firmly pressed in it makes noise. It used to make all kinds of noise and blow air into my eyes until I figured out that it’d fit if I removed the foam block.
Response:
On 07 Jan 2000 21:22:24 GMT, in alt.support.sleep-disorder mp…@aol.com (MPN 28) wrote: >I rotate between a Mirage mask and the Breeze Nasal Pillows. My problem is >that both seem to make a loud hissing noise through the little hole that is >used for exhaled air. I’ve been using my CPAP for about six months and just >lately this seems to be bothering me more while trying to go to sleep. I’ve >checked for obstructions, but have none. Does anyone else notice this?
Marty, I had this problem with the nasal pillows. I managed to reduce the noise, but not eliminate it, by rounding the sharp edges of the hole using a small round file. If you do this, make sure that you don’t significantly increase the diameter of the hole. Hope this helps. — Tony Polson, North Yorkshire, UK
Response:
MPN 28 wrote: > Hi, > I rotate between a Mirage mask and the Breeze Nasal Pillows. My problem is > that both seem to make a loud hissing noise through the little hole that is > used for exhaled air. I’ve been using my CPAP for about six months and just > lately this seems to be bothering me more while trying to go to sleep. I’ve > checked for obstructions, but have none. Does anyone else notice this?
Marty…. It is supposed to ‘hiss’. There must be a very specific sized outlet for the airflow to discharge the carbon dioxide that you are exhaling. The Mirage mask has one of the highest CD discharge rate of any sold. I use the Mirage, and once used to it, don’t find the hiss a problem, although it find the cool air flow discharged uncomfortable on my bare forearms if in line. However, it does keep the damn cat from settling in on the pillow beside my head or curling up on my chest. Suggestion on the Mirage as well is to put a piece of very light thread looped through two of the holes in the silicone dischage vent and then tie it to part of the frame. In case it should come out, you won’t have to engage in a late night treasure hunt. Regars, Lee — Lee Babcock Scarborough (Toronto), Ontario, Canada Email —- babco…@idirect.ca
Response:
Mongo wrote: > Hi Marty, > I use nasal pillows, so my experience is not directly relevant. However, I seem to recall someone > saying that the exhaust port could be installed backwards on a mask. I don’t recall which mask for > certain, but I think that it was the Mirage. If installed backwards, it is a lot noisier. > Apparently people sometimes re-install the exhaust port the wrong way after cleaning it.
You are right on this! The side with the little bumps should face the outside. The bumps are there so you can check by feel to see if it is installed properly. Regards, Lee — Lee Babcock Scarborough (Toronto), Ontario, Canada Email —- babco…@idirect.ca
Response:
Elinor Lindheimer wrote: > Thank you, Mongo, for reminding us about the possibility of installing > the exhaust port backwards. I did that on my new Mirage mask the first > time I washed it. Wow, did it make noise! It wasn’t intuitive either. I > had to just try putting it the other way (from the outside in rather > than from the inside out). > Elinor
Elinor…. the person who sold you the mask should have explained all the ins and outs. My Respiratory Therepist not only explained all this in detail, but said that since most of we OSA’s have memory problems, had prepared a number of FAQ sheets regarding the use of CPAP and the mask. I found these very helpful as when I started CPAP, I wasn’t aware what day it was most of the time. REgards, Lee — Lee Babcock Scarborough (Toronto), Ontario, Canada Email —- babco…@idirect.ca
Response:
Lee, I think you hit the jack pot with your Therapist. Mine pretty much said, "here is your equipment this is how it gets set up, this is how it gets cleaned, but I don’t know what your Doctor wants you to do in the case of a power failure during a hurricane." At least she did take a few minutes to make sure I had the correct sized mask.
Response:
I don’t really need the foam block but I put one on anyway, figuring that if I ever accidentally over tightened the mask I would be glad I had it. I use the smallest one (a 3 I think). When the whistle starts I do check the little plugs and tighten all the connections just to be sure, sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn’t.
Response:
Nothing has been working right for me yet. I first got the mirage mask, didn’t think it was working and then got the breeze. Now I’ve been switching between them. I’m not sure if they fit right or not. My therapist never said anything about fit. Just had me put it on my face so I knew how to put it on. She never tried adjusting it to see if it fit right. What do you mean by *correct sized mask*? They only come in one size don’t they? Or do you mean trying different types? She said to clean the mask every day and the tubing once a wk. Didn’t say what to use, just said soap. Showed me how to hook it up and that was it. *Thank God for this newsgroup.* Ruth "Magesteff (Steffeny Muller)" <mages…@bellsouth.net> wrote in message news:38776869.385579B1@bellsouth.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Lee, > I think you hit the jack pot with your Therapist. Mine > pretty much said, "here is your equipment this is how it > gets set up, this is how it gets cleaned, but I don’t know > what your Doctor wants you to do in the case of a power > failure during a hurricane." At least she did take a few > minutes to make sure I had the correct sized mask.
Response:
Thanks to this post, I went and turned mine around and its quieter now. (still not sure if its right) Where do you put the little flat piece? On the inside or outside? (its straight across on the bottom of the air vent but the mask isn’t. You either have to have to slip this flat piece on the inside or outside. The picture in my instructions doesn’t show the flat, just the rounded part. So much for instructions. Ruth "EaronDavis" <earonda…@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000107181155.01019.00000888@ng-fi1.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The only time I noticed a loud noise while using the Mirage mask was after I > cleaned it. I removed the small, semicircular soft plastic area on the bottom. > Apparently, after cleaning, I put it back backwards. When I used the mask, > thereafter, it made a loud noise I had not previously noticed. I then removed > the small semicircle and replaced it the other way and the noise was gone. > I don’t know whether this helps you, but it was a pretty strange experience for > me until I figured it out. > Earon
Response:
Hi Ruth, Have a look at my pictures of the Mirage at: http://www.btinternet.com/~kemp.paul/mirage/index.html They might help you locate your "little flat piece", are you are talking about the stopper for the O2/manometer ports (these are at the top of the mask, just after where the narrow flexible tube joins onto the mask). Regards, Paul PS. You have got the air vent in the right way if it is not making so much noise now. If you look closely at the air vent, the holes taper. You should have the smaller holes on the outside of the mask. Ruth Logerquist <rlo…@lakefield.net> wrote in message
news:857sgk$11tm$1@news.inc.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Thanks to this post, I went and turned mine around and its quieter now. > (still not sure if its right) Where do you put the little flat piece? On > the inside or outside? (its straight across on the bottom of the air vent > but the mask isn’t. You either have to have to slip this flat piece on the > inside or outside. The picture in my instructions doesn’t show the flat, > just the rounded part. So much for instructions. > Ruth > "EaronDavis" <earonda…@aol.com> wrote in message > news:20000107181155.01019.00000888@ng-fi1.aol.com… > > The only time I noticed a loud noise while using the Mirage mask was after > I > > cleaned it. I removed the small, semicircular soft plastic area on the > bottom. > > Apparently, after cleaning, I put it back backwards. When I used the > mask, > > thereafter, it made a loud noise I had not previously noticed. I then > removed > > the small semicircle and replaced it the other way and the noise was gone. > > I don’t know whether this helps you, but it was a pretty strange > experience for > > me until I figured it out. > > Earon
Response:
> Showed me how to hook it up and that was it. > *Thank God for this newsgroup.*
Here here! My DME RT was about as helpful. What really gets my goat is that she had this big speech about "I’ll make time for you, we’re going to find something that works, I don’t want to find out you’re not using this for some reason!" Blah blah. And then I called about 4 times in one week and NEVER got a call back. If it hadn’t been for this group, I’d have no clue on half the adjustments of my mask, and would be dealing with a very nasty sore on the bridge of my nose. Of course, I probably would’ve been calling 5 times a day if things got REALLY bad, but that’s not the point…. — Aaron C. Pawlyk Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics Texas A&M University "The mind of a perfect man is like a mirror. It grasps nothing. It expects nothing. It reflects but does not hold. Therefore, the perfect man can act without effort." – Chuang-Tzu
Response:
> >Of course, I probably would’ve been calling 5 times a day if > >things got REALLY bad, but that’s not the point…. > Did you call her manager on this? I would have.
I probably would’ve called her manager. I was super pissed off, but also really busy. I’m usually the first one to complain when upset, but I didn’t do it immediately and it fell by the wayside. Next time I need her for something and she’s not there, I’ll definetly make the call to her manager. — Aaron C. Pawlyk Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics Texas A&M University "The mind of a perfect man is like a mirror. It grasps nothing. It expects nothing. It reflects but does not hold. Therefore, the perfect man can act without effort." – Chuang-Tzu
Response:
Lee, you’re lucky to have such good service from your DME–maybe it’s a Canadian thing. I’ve found that techs vary greatly in their knowledge about CPAP equipment. The one who sold me my first Mirage is long gone–back to school to finish his degree. He was superb, showing me how loose the mask had to be to make a proper seal, and helping me adjust the headgear just right. This latest was kind enough to deliver the new mask to me just as I was taking off for my second sleep study (the one where they didn’t find any apneas and so didn’t bother putting the mask on me–I get the report on that Tuesday). No one seemed to know much about the Mirage this time. And maybe they figured since it was my second, I would know what to do. Well, they’ve changed the exhaust port–that’s what threw me. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Elinor…. the person who sold you the mask should have explained all the > ins and outs. My Respiratory Therepist not only explained all this in > detail, but said that since most of we OSA’s have memory problems, had > prepared a number of FAQ sheets regarding the use of CPAP and the mask. I > found these very helpful as when I started CPAP, I wasn’t aware what day it > was most of the time. > REgards, Lee > — > Lee Babcock > Scarborough (Toronto), Ontario, Canada > Email —- babco…@idirect.ca
Response:
I’ve noticed that with my Breeze and nasal pillows, if I’ve got no leaks, and the exhalation port isn’t pointed at something close, one hears little noise. However, if I use the one mask I have (Respironics, given to me at sleep study), no matter how well I have it fastened, no leaks, etc., I do hear some air noise all the time. Is that noise unavoidable with a mask? Or are some quieter?
Response:
> Is that noise unavoidable with a mask? Or are some quieter?
My aclaim mask is super quiet except when it leaks , then I get a whistles. It is a lot quieter than my Adam’s circuit; I wished I could use it every night, but unfortunately after a while I get a sore on the bridge of my nose, so I need to use the Adam’s circuit most of the time, which works better for people with higher pressure levels. joe
Response:
> night, but unfortunately after a while I get a sore on the bridge of my > nose, so I need to use the Adam’s circuit most of the time, which works > better for people with higher pressure levels.
Did you try putting something under the forhead rest of your Aclaim to ease the pressure off your nose?
Response:
" MS" <m…@nospam.com> wrote: >I’ve noticed that with my Breeze and nasal pillows, if I’ve got no leaks, and the exhalation port isn’t pointed at something close, one hears little noise. >However, if I use the one mask I have (Respironics, given to me at sleep study), no matter how well I have it fastened, no leaks, etc., I do hear some air noise all the time. >Is that noise unavoidable with a mask? Or are some quieter?
It seems to depend on the design of the exhaust port. The earliest Breeze port had a fairly noisy vent, later versions (with two bumps on the end opposite the vent hole) are almost silent. (DreamSeal ports have only one bump, but it’s a different part number so I don’t think they’re interchangeable.) Tom
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"Tom Devlin" <tomdev…@ameritech.net> wrote in message news:7ea56u05svdr46doei5dghirfbak4gah83@4ax.com… > It seems to depend on the design of the exhaust port. The earliest > Breeze port had a fairly noisy vent, later versions (with two bumps on > the end opposite the vent hole) are almost silent. (DreamSeal ports > have only one bump, but it’s a different part number so I don’t think > they’re interchangeable.) > Tom
Is it just the exhaust port, or do masks make noise from the air circulating in the mask? (Something that wouldn’t occur with nasal pillows, where the air goes directly into your nose.)
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Tal wrote: >> night, but unfortunately after a while I get a sore on the bridge of my >> nose, so I need to use the Adam’s circuit most of the time, which works >> better for people with higher pressure levels. > Did you try putting something under the forhead rest of your Aclaim to > ease the pressure off your nose?
Tried it all, even bought duoderm to cover the area, just doesn’t work over any period of time. I still can use it for a day or two then need to go back to the Adams circuit until everything heals. Over all the adam’s circuit works better for me but I still like the feel of the aclaim, sounds weird but there is something about it that gives me a cozy type of feeling when I am using it, not to mention how quiet it is. joe
Response:
I took a roll of soft cotton kling bandaging and put it across the forehead rest. It now tips my mask ‘away’ from the bridge of my nose, and I haven’t had any leaks… I secured the kling with paper tape…… (micropore).. Jody – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -joe wrote: > Tal wrote: > >> night, but unfortunately after a while I get a sore on the bridge of my > >> nose, so I need to use the Adam’s circuit most of the time, which works > >> better for people with higher pressure levels. > > Did you try putting something under the forhead rest of your Aclaim to > > ease the pressure off your nose? > Tried it all, even bought duoderm to cover the area, just doesn’t work over > any period of time. I still can use it for a day or two then need to go > back to the Adams circuit until everything heals. Over all the adam’s > circuit works better for me but I still like the feel of the aclaim, sounds > weird but there is something about it that gives me a cozy type of feeling > when I am using it, not to mention how quiet it is. > joe
Response:
" MS" <m…@nospam.com> wrote: >> It seems to depend on the design of the exhaust port. The earliest >> Breeze port had a fairly noisy vent, later versions (with two bumps on >> the end opposite the vent hole) are almost silent. (DreamSeal ports >> have only one bump, but it’s a different part number so I don’t think >> they’re interchangeable.) >Is it just the exhaust port, or do masks make noise from the air circulating in the mask? (Something that wouldn’t occur with nasal pillows, where the air goes directly into your nose.)
I really don’t know. My experience with masks was limited to my titration, and my memories of the night are pretty fuzzy. <g> Tom
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Jody (a.k.a. Jo-Anne) P. wrote: > I took a roll of soft cotton kling bandaging and put it across the > forehead > rest.
