Okay so this isn't a marriage counseling forum but...perhaps someone has some experience. I'm a new cpap user and feel the jury is still out on its effectiveness. Still trying to find the right pressure setting but having trouble getting to sleep at all because my wife, who is a very light sleeper, hates the machine; a Remstar Pro2. She says there's a high-pitched whine like a dentist's drill that I can't hear. I put the device under the bed and she says the sound travels under the bed and echoes off the wall on her side. I do believe she's hearing something. Even she says the sound is not very loud but is enough to keep her awake. Tried wrapping the machine in a towel being careful not to block the air intake without success. Any advice from you cpap pros? thanks in advance.

bludog wrote:

Okay so this isn't a marriage counseling forum but...perhaps someone has some experience. I'm a new cpap user and feel the jury is still out on its effectiveness. Still trying to find the right pressure setting but having trouble getting to sleep at all because my wife, who is a very light sleeper, hates the machine; a Remstar Pro2. She says there's a high-pitched whine like a dentist's drill that I can't hear. I put the device under the bed and she says the sound travels under the bed and echoes off the wall on her side. I do believe she's hearing something. Even she says the sound is not very loud but is enough to keep her awake. Tried wrapping the machine in a towel being careful not to block the air intake without success. Any advice from you cpap pros? thanks in advance.

Hi Bludog,

Firstly, and I don't want to sound smart  :lol: , but does she prefer the snoring to the machine ?

The whine noise is probably coming from an air leak in your mask as distinct from the machine itself, or possibly a very small hole in the hose. Check the hose by turning on the machine (no ramp), put your hand over the mask and move your hand up and down the outside of the hose. If there is a leak you will feel it.

What type of mask do you use ? Are the straps very tight ? Remember tight straps can create leaks, which can cause whining noise. If the leak is near the eyes/nose it would probably wake you, but if it is leaking below the nose it might not.

If you still think it is the machine, place it on a computer mouse mat or carpet tile or similar. These things will kill a certain amount of motor noise.

Finally......and this is extreme, but I have heard cases of where it was done. Place the cpap machine in an adjoining room, drill a 2/3 inch hole in the wall and run an extended hose (4 metres), available from your DME supplier, from the machine to your bed.

Daniel


_________________
The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

Several years ago, I read a post by a person who used a small styrofoam ice chest with a lid, cutting a small hole in the back for the cords and air-intake, another near the lid for the hose. The poster stated it muffled the machine noise.... he lifted the lid and stored his hose and mask in the chest during the day, keeping it away from curious animals.  I haven't tried this, but sounded like it could work, and wouldn't cost much.
  A company also was making foam lined suitcases with outlets they marketed for the same reasons, but haven't seen that for a few years.
  I have also read of people actually using 10 +  foot hoses to place the machine in a nearby closet, or even with a hole through the wall, in the next room.  
  My husband swears my "hose" is loud if I don't use my quilted hose sleeve.
  I'm assuming you have already considered ear plugs.

  You might also ask your DME turn on different machines for you, and see if any of them are quieter.  There is a difference in the sounds of various machines.  My mother complained terribly of Dad's first machine, but couldn't hear his second one (S6) He has a large bedside table with a door on the lower unit where he keeps his machine, only opening the door a crack for the hose to come through.

A. Have  your wife sleep in another room.     B.  Get a new wife.  
 
Steve

Hey, I know this is flippant, but, what the hell...as long as you're getting a good night's sleep that's all that matters, yes?

I also like Steve's idea...tell her to wear ear plugs.  Cripes, doesn't she realize the CPAP could be saving your life?  Hmmmm, or maybe she does....

Perhaps, Bluedog, there might be some activity she might enjoy leading her to a state of exhaustion just prior to slumber.  Of course, you would have to conserve enough energy to put the mask back on.


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Success Nourishes Hope

ah...hmmm...I hate to bring this up, but could it be psychological?  Maybe she is so stressed out by seeing you hooked up to a machine and knowing you have to depend on it that she's sleeping even lighter than usual?  I have extremely acute hearing (according to the audiologist I saw a few months ago) and I don't hear anything other than a very slight fan noise and the breathing sound from my machine (a respironics remstar apap).  
The other option to consider is that you may have a defective machine.  For example, when my computer whines, I know a part is having problems, so perhaps the fan or something in your cpap needs attention?  Even if it's new, there can always be "oops" moments in the manufacturing process.

I think that you not only have to think about yourself, but also the other person in the room with you. If bludog's wife is not sleeping then that is not good neither. You came up with some good ideas Okie...maybe these will help you and your wife bludog.


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*** Linda ***

(Seriously though)

Magnetic fields can generate high-pitched sounds.  It is possible your wife can hear a higher pitch than you can.  Electrical motors use strong magnetic fields inside them, so typically they can cause a noticeable magnetic field around the motor.  If your equipment is near a powerful electric motor it might generate a more intense magnetic fields near your CPAP.  Remember also that fans used in air conditioning can generate problematic magnetic fields so it is a good idea to keep your equipment away from those.
 
As a familiar example, most folks have had to move their transistor radio away from equipment causing it to whine?  See what I mean?


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Success Nourishes Hope

My hubby and I just sleep in separate rooms.  We still have time for that "other" activity, but we sleep in separate beds.   I am the Machine person, and I do not want to bother him.  It just makes it easier for both of us!!!

My wife and I have been sleeping in separate bedrooms long before I was diagnosed with OSA.  
She also snores and we both like to sleep on the same side of the bed.  
This solves all of our problems.

DW

bludog wrote:

Okay so this isn't a marriage counseling forum but...perhaps someone has some experience. I'm a new cpap user and feel the jury is still out on its effectiveness. Still trying to find the right pressure setting but having trouble getting to sleep at all because my wife, who is a very light sleeper, hates the machine; a Remstar Pro2. She says there's a high-pitched whine like a dentist's drill that I can't hear. I put the device under the bed and she says the sound travels under the bed and echoes off the wall on her side. I do believe she's hearing something. Even she says the sound is not very loud but is enough to keep her awake. Tried wrapping the machine in a towel being careful not to block the air intake without success. Any advice from you cpap pros? thanks in advance.

I'm not familiar the the Remstar Pro2 is it a BiLevel Device, cause I know it can be noisy when it ramps up and down. Luckily, we have used a HEPA filter in our bedroom for years and it acts as a white noise to block the sound of the device out.

And good for you MAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMA, in that you are able to recognize that while you now sleep in different rooms, you not absolved from making the GOOD NOISE. Best of both worlds if you ask me!


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My Kinda town Chicago is



Nothing in life is guaranteed, not even taxes -- you have to make money to get money back

tbone wrote:

bludog wrote:

Okay so this isn't a marriage counseling forum but...perhaps someone has some experience. I'm a new cpap user and feel the jury is still out on its effectiveness. Still trying to find the right pressure setting but having trouble getting to sleep at all because my wife, who is a very light sleeper, hates the machine; a Remstar Pro2. She says there's a high-pitched whine like a dentist's drill that I can't hear. I put the device under the bed and she says the sound travels under the bed and echoes off the wall on her side. I do believe she's hearing something. Even she says the sound is not very loud but is enough to keep her awake. Tried wrapping the machine in a towel being careful not to block the air intake without success. Any advice from you cpap pros? thanks in advance.

I'm not familiar the the Remstar Pro2 is it a BiLevel Device, cause I know it can be noisy when it ramps up and down. Luckily, we have used a HEPA filter in our bedroom for years and it acts as a white noise to block the sound of the device out.

And good for you MAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMA, in that you are able to recognize that while you now sleep in different rooms, you not absolved from making the GOOD NOISE. Best of both worlds if you ask me!

WOW, I liked my answer to the point I quoted myself!!!!!


_________________
My Kinda town Chicago is



Nothing in life is guaranteed, not even taxes -- you have to make money to get money back

Sleeping in separate rooms is a good solution, as everybody seems to agree.  But in our house it creates another problem.  We are starting to trip over the ragged edges in the middle of the carpet between our two rooms!  The trail seems to have worn through the carpet to the floor.  There are actually two different worn out trails marked in the carpet because we both seem to walk on the right hand side of the hallway!


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Success Nourishes Hope

Thone,

Respironics has BOTH a REMstar Pro 2 CPAP w/CFLEX and a Pro 2 BiPAP machine.

I have the Pro 2 CPAP w/CFLEX.

DW