08-23-2014, 03:35 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-23-2014, 03:36 PM by WishfulSleeper.)
Whistling Simplus FF Mask
Hi there
I have just been diagnosed with sleep apnea. I have a F&P Simplus FF mask but tonight, on the 5th day of using it, I have given up and taken the mask off due to it whistling.
I have done some research and played with the mask while the whistling is happening and have figured out that it is the air holes in the mask. It is apparently something to do with the moisture from the humidifier. This has been happening since night one. Tonight however I would rub my finger over the holes which had stopped it on the previous nights and it was starting to whistle less than 2 minutes after stopping it. Needless to say it was driving me nuts. Tonight also, for the first time, it woke my partner up and kicked him out of bed because I couldn't stop the whistling coming back.
I like the soft padded comfort of the full face mask and changing to a nasal mask is out of the question.
Does anyone have any recommendations or ideas on how to get rid of this whistling? I don't want to stop with my CPAP machine as the benefits are already being made obvious but at the same time being woken all night is kind of negating the benefits by the lack of sleep.
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
08-23-2014, 03:53 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-23-2014, 03:55 PM by surferdude2.)
RE: Fisher & Paykel's Simplus FF Mask
I tried the SimPlus mask but had to give up on it due to leakage that I couldn't stop regardless of how I manipulated the straps. I suppose if you only required moderate pressure it might work well enough but I often see my pressure up around 19. Fortunately I bought it from a company that allows 30 day free trials so I returned it for a full refund. If you're thinking about getting one, Google for the free return deal so you're not stuck with it.
08-23-2014, 10:52 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-23-2014, 10:55 PM by woozie38.)
RE: Fisher & Paykel's Simplus FF Mask
(08-23-2014, 03:35 PM)WishfulSleeper Wrote: Does anyone have any recommendations or ideas on how to get rid of this whistling? I don't want to stop with my CPAP machine as the benefits are already being made obvious but at the same time being woken all night is kind of negating the benefits by the lack of sleep.
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. I use this mask and this machine but don't get any whistling noises. From experience I know excess water in the PAP air will cause the sounds you describe. You don't say where you live, but if in a coastal region where the relative humidity is high, you may not even need the humidifier.Your machine is an APAP so I think setting to auto would be a good idea too. A setting of say 8 to 14 would be good. In any case I would advise you to gradually cut back on the humidifier setting until the whistling stops.
The current setting on my Icon is "4". Perhaps you could use this as a guide. If you are getting mask leaks, perhaps this post will help.
(08-09-2014, 11:45 PM)becker44a Wrote: Hi Woozie,
Happy Simplus user here. I have experienced the effect you mention. I'll be most interested to see your modification when you can post it.
Good Luck negotiating! The cost of obtaining a patent for my idea makes it not worth all the trouble so I have posted a description of the "Woozle" here in the commercial posts area.
Keep on breathin'
RE: Fisher & Paykel's Simplus FF Mask
(08-23-2014, 03:35 PM)WishfulSleeper Wrote: Hi there
I have just been diagnosed with sleep apnea. I have a F&P Simplus FF mask but tonight, on the 5th day of using it, I have given up and taken the mask off due to it whistling.
I have done some research and played with the mask while the whistling is happening and have figured out that it is the air holes in the mask. It is apparently something to do with the moisture from the humidifier. This has been happening since night one. Tonight however I would rub my finger over the holes which had stopped it on the previous nights and it was starting to whistle less than 2 minutes after stopping it. Needless to say it was driving me nuts. Tonight also, for the first time, it woke my partner up and kicked him out of bed because I couldn't stop the whistling coming back.
I like the soft padded comfort of the full face mask and changing to a nasal mask is out of the question.
Does anyone have any recommendations or ideas on how to get rid of this whistling? I don't want to stop with my CPAP machine as the benefits are already being made obvious but at the same time being woken all night is kind of negating the benefits by the lack of sleep.
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
I had the same problem with an F&P zest mask. It would whistle after a while and I would wipe my finger across the vent holes and it would quit. If it comes back repeat for a while and usually my whistling would go away. Might take 3 or 4 or more repetitions. If you are using humidification reducing it will help if that is possible without causing other problems. Washing the mask more frequently seemed to help too. I was going to try taping off a couple of the holes but got a new mask that does not do that.
Good luck,
PaytinA
RE: Fisher & Paykel's Simplus FF Mask
Hi woozie and paytona
Thank you both very much. You both seem to agree with what other information I have read on this mask. I was wiping it myself and had success with the whistling going away but last night it just kept persisting and I had to just stop my CPAP machine because I couldn't sleep with it. Unfortunately, I can't turn the pressure down on my CPAP as I have OSA but luckily I am on a trial and am seeing my specialist tomorrow so will look into it further.
Again, thank you for your feedback. Good to know I wasn't going insane.
08-24-2014, 12:12 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-24-2014, 12:13 PM by landyz.)
RE: Fisher & Paykel's Simplus FF Mask
I have been using one for the past week, It was ok until my pressures went up, now I can seem to stop the leaks
was good though at the lower pressures
RE: Fisher & Paykel's Simplus FF Mask
(08-23-2014, 03:35 PM)WishfulSleeper Wrote: Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. It occurs to me that you may or may not be using the heated hose supplied by F&P for the Icon. If you have the heated hose, it may not be pushed far enough onto the swivel to engage the electrical contacts that supply the heating coils. I noticed (whilst assembly my Icon) that the tube fit here was tight and took some effort to get it right on and cause these contacts to meet up.
Keep on breathin'
RE: [split] Whistling Simplus FF Mask
I had the exact same thing with both of my last two F&P FF masks. Got tired of wiping my finger arcoss the vent holes. Under a microscope i found that the vent holes are not flat sided. They have some mold inperfections that give the holes a funnel appearance. Sooo... I redrilled them with a tiny drill that made the holes smooth inside. Problem solved. However, the first mask I did this to, I used to large of a drill and it increased the air flow to much. So I then had to add tape to close off some of the holes to get my manufactured leaks back down to the intended 35 lpm (if I remember that leak rate correctly. They are published for each mask).
Hope this helps.
John
RE: [split] Whistling Simplus FF Mask
I have recently move to the F&P simples from the ResMed P-10. Each person is different, if the mask fits you well and has minimal leaks, try returning it a defective! As stated above some manufacturing flaws are causing this.
I have had whistle, but only when I wash my mask right before bed, the high moisture (as stated above) is the cause. Drilling out the holes is an option if your somewhat mechanically inclined, so the bottom line here is, that if your happy with everything else, there are ways to fix the problem. If you don't want to mess with it...get a different mask.
In either case, good luck!!!
RE: [split] Whistling Simplus FF Mask
(08-26-2014, 10:11 PM)blizardj Wrote: I had the exact same thing with both of my last two F&P FF masks. Got tired of wiping my finger arcoss the vent holes. Under a microscope i found that the vent holes are not flat sided. They have some mold inperfections that give the holes a funnel appearance. Sooo... I redrilled them with a tiny drill that made the holes smooth inside. Problem solved. However, the first mask I did this to, I used to large of a drill and it increased the air flow to much. So I then had to add tape to close off some of the holes to get my manufactured leaks back down to the intended 35 lpm (if I remember that leak rate correctly. They are published for each mask).
Hope this helps.
John
Hi John,
Interesting solution. What size drill did you find to be correct?
A.Becker
PAPing in NE Ohio, with a pack of Cairn terriers
|