Need Help: Darth Vader Sound.

I'm a new patient. The set-up tech just left my house; he went over all of my equipment, set the settings, etc, but he never had me actually try everything on to see how it all fit/sounded - and I didn't think about it, until now.

I sound like Darth Vader when I inhale (through my nose), but everything is nice and quiet on exhale (except for normal machine noise). I've tried tightening and loosening up my mask. I've made sure all my connections are tight. The noise, on inhale, sounds like it's coming from inside the machine, as opposed to my mask.

Here's some info... My setting is at 9cm. I'm using a Resmed M Series Pro with a FlexiFit HC407 nasal mask. My left sinus is a bit stuffy.

Um... Yes. That's the sound. You make a big noise on inhale, and little to none on exhale.

I can tell you - YOU perceive that sound much louder than your partner will.

However, your partner may be very picky about that, too.

It took me several weeks to settle into that noise. Now I treasure it, because it blocks out ambient noise from the street, and I live in a noisy urban environment.

If it really bugs you - like it makes you feel you're in an ICU, which it did me - you can try to mask it with a white noise generator like a fan.

Keep breathing. It will get easier. You WILL get used to it. Persevere!
Babs

eutychus wrote:I sound like Darth Vader when I inhale.

Welcome to cpap.

All the best, it's a journey.

I guess what is sort of throwing me off is that when I had my titration as the sleep lab (last Wed.) I didn't notice a HUGE difference between inhale and exhale noise. What I'm hearing now is dramatically different - like the machine is working harder on inhale.

Well, part of that is that you can now HEAR the machine. In the lab, you were separated from the machine, all you heard was the mask.

I'm not laughing at you, we've all been through this. It's tough to get used to. I kept remembering this horror movie where this old guy is hooked up in an oxygen tent... It really creeped me out. But I got over it. Took me some time, but I did it.

Cheers,
B.

eutychus wrote:I guess what is sort of throwing me off is that when I had my titration as the sleep lab.

..you know, I don't know how anyone can use their sleep study
for an example of anything to do w/actual cpap usage,
once they obtain their equipment and start using it at home.
When I went for my study, I was so exhausted(my normal state)
I was barely functional(my normal state). Add to that, once I
took the Ambien so I could actually sleep there, I was out of it.
I was so wacked I hardly remember the tech coming in and putting
the mask and then the chinstrap on me.....let alone any sounds
specific to a machine.

That entire sleep study just seems like it was a dream.
....maybe it was.

It's a new world.
It's a chance for a new life.
It's your life.
It's my life.

I will never again go to sleep without it.

Okay, my wife just got home and I did my Vader impression for her. The verdict... It's not that loud. And this is coming from a woman who hates the fact that I sleep with a fan on all winter long for the noise. We realized that I am breathing way heavier right now than I will when I'm sleeping (a little excited, ya know). Thanks for the words. I have other questions, but I'll start another thread later.

Tonight's activities: Watch the Red Wings. Sleep.

I TOLD YOU SO!

Good luck tonight, with the Red Wings and the CPAP!
B.

EAR PLUGS ARE GREAT FOR THIS

been using them ever since I started this in 1994

The M Pro was my lst machine. I learned thru this forum some M machines are louder than other M machines of even the same model-seems like it is the luck of the draw. Ended up buying a older quieter used non M and use the M Pro for travel to muffle out urban and motel noises. I did not want to take chances with another M machine and be stuck with another loud one and would have hassles returning online purchases.

Call the place up that set up your machine and see if you can listen to other machines same and/or different manufactur and get one that has a different sound pitch. You will never get total quiet but it can be better. .You are using a local company that delivers and sets up the machine so you are most likely paying or renting more for the "services" provided compared to buying online so consider your request to listen and try another machine same or different manufacture as part of the service.

If you have c-flex, that could be the difference too. A STRAIGHT cpap with no exhale relief isn't as noisy (or actually, isn't as QUIET on exhale.

My husband told me back when I had the M Series Plus that it made no real noise, just a soothing kind of low sound. He says the Elite II makes NO noise. To me both were noisy, but as long as it doesn't bother him I don't mind. I'm used to that noise now.

I do put my mask on and say something like "Luke, I'm your father" most nights though. You gotta laugh or you'll cry.

Funny you should describe it as "darth vader sound". I always joke (half in jest and whole in earnest) that CPAP is a wonderful rape deterrent. They'll be in through the window and out through the door at a rate of knots, thinking they've come across darth vader!

grandmma wrote:Funny you should describe it as "darth vader sound". I always joke (half in jest and whole in earnest) that CPAP is a wonderful rape deterrent. They'll be in through the window and out through the door at a rate of knots, thinking they've come across darth vader!

I have always called myself these name since I started cpap treament, it was either, "hose-head, Snuffle nose or Darth vader!!!!" It will be a while until I can call myself snuffle wrinkle!!!!