[CPAP] Excited! Getting new (to me) cpap machine today after 20 years!

[MikeBear]

OMG, I just tried the S8 for a short nap, and WOW, it's SO quiet, I'm not sure I can stand it! LOL.

I LIKE the louder old blower fan on my old machine, it's like listening to a "white noise" machine at the same time, and helps mute room sounds as my brain stays hyper-vigilant at night to "wrong" house noises, even while asleep. I can't even tell this thing is turned on, so much so I had to put my hand in front of my mask vent a few times to prove it.

I'm not sure I can get used to a machine that's so quiet!

[Sleeprider]

You're really not going to like the Airsense 10. It is much quieter. Better add a white noise machine to your Christmas list.

[MikeBear]

You're really not going to like the Airsense 10. It is much quieter.  Better add a white noise machine to your Christmas list.

Well, you called it. I got the Airsense Autoset machine on Sunday (YEP, they delivered on Christmas EVE! around 12:30pm). We had to go visiting family later, so I didn't try using it that night. Last night however, I DID try it.

I set it to Autoset 5-12, EPR 2, Smartstart ON, Humidifier OFF, I'm using a Mirage Swift II nasal pillow mask and set it for that.

I started breathing into the mask, and it turned on and started blowing. It's SO QUIET, I sounded like Darth Vader with my breathing sounds, where with my old machine, I can't even hear my own breathing over the white noise blower sound. I tried calming down, but even after 14 minutes or so, I didn't feel like I was getting any air and a bit of anxiety set in. I stopped, and reset the settings to 7-12 with EPR 1 and started over. It didn't work any better for me by then, as I think I was already too hyped up and I started wondering if 7 on this machine, wasn't the same as 7 on my old machine. Or maybe I really am addicted to much to the noise of the old blower, and am going to have a BIG "re-training my brain" curve here. So, I gave up and went back to my old machine to sleep overnight.

This morning before getting up completely, I switched back over to the Airsense, but changed it to straight Cpap 8, EPR 1, Smartstart OFF, Humidifier OFF. I tried that for 45 minutes and it seemed a little better, and my breathing eventually didn't sound so much like Darth Vader anymore. However, I couldn't actually get completely back to sleep at that point. I did get a stuffed up nostril on the right side with this test though, so maybe 8 is too high for me.

There's nothing wrong with the old machine at this point, and I can continue to use it. So, things aren't critical for me trying the much newer machine. Maybe I just have to sneak up on it over a much longer period of time. Maybe I DO have to also buy a white noise machine.

I'm determined to make the new machine work for me, but anxiety because of breathing issues is my ultimate nemesis, and is NOT an easy thing to overcome.

p.s. I did try the S8 Autoset II machine the other day for an afternoon nap, and I didn't have nearly the problems getting used to it as I did with the Airsense 10 machine last night.

[Sleeprider]

As you probably know, this is mostly in your mind, and you just need to substitute the sounds you have been accustomed to, with something else. The therapy is not much different, but you need something else to focus on besides your own breathing. Once you get more comfortable, post up some charts and we can probably help get you dialed in. The new machine gives you a lot to work with for comfort, including pressure, exhale pressure relief, humidity, etc. I'm sure you will eventually make peace with it.

[SarcasticDave94]

I think it's very interesting the CPAP machine progress in things such as how quiet they are. After 2 generations of machines I'm familiar with, they are super quiet now. My REMStar CPAP was what I considered quite loud, even though I like fan noise to sleep with for white noise. Can you imagine, they might make a CPAP too quiet for some? Personally, I think it's easier to add noise than to block the machine's noise IMO.

Best wishes for your success, MikeBear.

Dave

[ajack]

What if you turned your old machine on in the background to make some noise?
You might find an all music radio station might help or some use a fan as white noise

Yes dave, the remstar did put out some noise. I took my old one to Bali, so I wouldn't fry the electronics on my S9. I wasn't sure of the power supply. I really noticed the difference when I went back to it.

[MikeBear]

What if you turned your old machine on in the background to make some noise?
You might find an all music radio station might help or some use a fan as white noise

Yes dave, the remstar did put out some noise. I took my old one to Bali, so I wouldn't fry the electronics on my S9. I wasn't sure of the power supply. I really noticed the difference when I went back to it.

Now there's an idea I can try for now until I get a white noise machine (anybody have any preferences on a good electronic noise machine?, maybe even something that uses headphones?).

Great idea for now, and I'm going to try it on a nap this afternoon.

[SarcasticDave94]

What if you turned your old machine on in the background to make some noise?
You might find an all music radio station might help or some use a fan as white noise

Yes dave, the remstar did put out some noise. I took my old one to Bali, so I wouldn't fry the electronics on my S9. I wasn't sure of the power supply. I really noticed the difference when I went back to it.

Now there's an idea I can try for now until I get a white noise machine (anybody have any preferences on a good electronic noise machine?, maybe even something that uses headphones?).

Great idea for now, and I'm going to try it on a nap this afternoon.

FWIW MikeBear, I just did a Google search for "white noise machine". Amazon came up near the top of the list with several machines being offered; it looks like pricing starting at about $20 that ACCEPTS headphones. Happy shopping and sleeping.

Dave  

Random PS thought: imagine a "comfort" setting on our CPAP machines that involves how many dB the CPAP creates OR CPAP machine has built-in white noise generator...


OR..........get a wife, I hear they create white noise too........

[Sleeprider]

I have a white noise machine!

[SarcasticDave94]

Old Sinbad says Hi everyone. Sadly, he won't be with us much longer, but he's a noise generator as well. Sorry, MikeBear for hijacking.