My husband has had a CPAP machine for two nights. He has severe obstructive sleep apnoea where he stops breathing 30 times in an hour.
It sounds like howling wind when it is operating and he has tried to adjust it but it still makes this noise. We sleep together and I have fibbed and said it doesn’t bother me but my son can also hear it as his bedroom is next to ours.
The mask was fitted at the hospital to ensure a perfect seal but he feels it isn’t right.
I know it’s very early days so would welcome any comments or suggestions.
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Health
CPAP machine taking some getting used to
(41 Posts)Why doesn't he seek advice from the hospital dept, which supplied it?
My SIL uses one, but my DD has only heard the odd whistling sound. She says it is better than the snoring, which we could hear on different floor at the back of the house.
I sympathise as I have one and it does take getting used to but I don’t think it should be quite so noisy as you say. My DH is not disturbed by mine and says if he does notice it it just sounds like rain. However I have a friend who has to sleep with ear plugs to cut out the noise of her DH’s. As far as the mask is concerned I had to go back to the hospital twice before I felt happy with the fit so don’t be afraid to go back. He needs to get it right for his own comfort. The sleep nurses will be only to happy to help.
Daughter has had one nearly 3 yrs. She says howling wind probably means the tube isn't connected properly between mask & tube or between machine & tube
Or
If it has a humidifier on the back, it could be that. That should be easy to spot, can you feel the air coming out there?
If none of this helps, phone hospital dept on Monday, they will make appointment to see him with machine.
Marydoll
Why doesn't he seek advice from the hospital dept, which supplied it?
My SIL uses one, but my DD has only heard the odd whistling sound. She says it is better than the snoring, which we could hear on different floor at the back of the house.
He probably will but it’s Saturday night!
Primrose53
Marydoll
Why doesn't he seek advice from the hospital dept, which supplied it?
My SIL uses one, but my DD has only heard the odd whistling sound. She says it is better than the snoring, which we could hear on different floor at the back of the house.He probably will but it’s Saturday night!
No need for the exclamation mark. My response was polite and my suggestion reasonable.
Marydoll
Primrose53
Marydoll
Why doesn't he seek advice from the hospital dept, which supplied it?
My SIL uses one, but my DD has only heard the odd whistling sound. She says it is better than the snoring, which we could hear on different floor at the back of the house.He probably will but it’s Saturday night!
No need for the exclamation mark. My response was polite and my suggestion reasonable.
Since when has an exclamation mark been impolite?🤔
Thank you for replying.
Why single me out, by quoting my post, when others made the same suggestion? To finish with an exclamation mark indicates annoyance.
I can only assume that you are finding the whole situation stressful.
What happened to “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to upset you?” Marydoll gave helpful advice based on her own experience.
It is not an emergency and so the assumption of all of us is that you would wait for a week day to contact the hospital. I took your exclamation mark to mean you were making a joke ??? That’s the trouble with this form of communication. The meaning is not always clear but I do hope your DH gets sorted. He will feel much better when he gets into the routine
I use a cpap and dh barely notices it. Is the nose mask fitting properly. That’s the only time mine gets noisy ie if it slips and it can be adjusted in a moment by adjusting the straps.
I don’t know …. I came on here to ask for advice from CPAP users and it turns into an argument because I used an exclamation mark. I then thanked Marydoll for replying but apparently that’s not good enough either and I should have said “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to upset you.”
I didn’t say it was an emergency and I did say it was very early days for us and this gadget. I just thought somebody might have a helpful suggestion in the interim until we can get a hospital appointment.
My husband was gowned up and ready for a serious back operation a few months ago and as his BP was extremely high the anaesthetist and surgeon both came and said they dare not operate as he might have a heart attack or stroke during the op. We have spent months seeing consultants from many depts in the hospital who are all trying to decide why his BP will not come down despite being on 7 medications to lower it. After testing he has severe obstructive sleep apnoea so they are hoping a CPAP machine will lower his BP a bit but since it has been like this for many years this will not be the end of the story.
But hey ho, if people on here are more concerned about an exclamation mark then you need to have a good look at yourselves.
Thank you to those who did try to help.
What a worrying time for you Primrose. I do hope the machine solves the problem. My sleep apnoea was discovered before an operation and I had to have a spinal block instead of a general anaesthetic but obviously this wouldn’t be possible for a back operation. I hope his BP can be reduced by better sleep.
Hi, well I hope no one picks me up on my punctuation because it’s not the best but I might be able to help Primrose.
My husband has used a CPAP for several years now and when it makes a noise it’s because it’s not fitted properly somewhere.
Either the tube has become loose at either end and air is escaping or the mask isn’t fitted tightly enough.
It does take some getting used to wearing the mask but when it’s on right it is virtually silent.
In the early days he went back to the hospital several times but can can now sort it himself, I suggest you go back and get them to check again but maybe try tightening the straps tonight.
Primrose, you singled me out. Why? That is why I was concerned about your response. You know nothing about me nor the fact that my health is extremely fragile and time is running out for me. I certainly can do without the digs.Those who know me here, know that I always try to be pleasant.
Absolutely nothing to do with punctuation, it was to do with the apparently snippy respone.
Perhaps better to think carefully before you respond.
Such a pity, since my post was intended to be supportive.
A lesson learned for me.
A friend’s husband needs one - my friend said it was like sleeping next to Darth Vader ... after a couple of weeks (and having it checked over) she moved into the back bedroom.
There are several different types of machine so it seems to be the luck of the draw whether you get a quiet or noisy one.
Yes that’s true there are different types, the one we have is by ResMed and it’s a full mask that goes over his nose and mouth. A friend has one that just sticks up her nose but that does seem noisier and she says very uncomfortable.
Mine is a ResMed too with a full mask.
Marydoll
Primrose, you singled me out. Why? That is why I was concerned about your response. You know nothing about me nor the fact that my health is extremely fragile and time is running out for me. I certainly can do without the digs.Those who know me here, know that I always try to be pleasant.
Absolutely nothing to do with punctuation, it was to do with the apparently snippy respone.
Perhaps better to think carefully before you respond.
Such a pity, since my post was intended to be supportive.
A lesson learned for me.
Firstly, I posted my query under “Health” but you managed to turn it away from that and into a complaint against me and my use of a single exclamation mark.
No way did I single you out. You were the first person to reply so I answered you. never in a million years did I imagine that an exclamation mark could cause you so much distress. How you thought that was a “dig” is also beyond me.
I actually thanked you for replying! (Whoops there’s another one) 😉
Please don’t lecture me on how to respond because had you not responded by jumping on the exclamation mark we would not be discussing this now.
I am sorry your health is not good but neither is my husband’s.
Primrose, I'm going to withdraw from this thread. rather than get into a spat with you. It has become petty and I am as much at fault as you.
Dogs with a bone leap to mind.
It may be your preferred style of posting, it's certainly not mine.
This nonsense is detracting from the important reason for the thread.
Your initial response to me came across as dismissive. I commented.
That's the down side of posting when we cannot hear tone of voice or see facial expression.
There were a number of posts after mine, before you responded and quoted me. They offered similar advice.
FYI, you were the one who lectured me and suggested I take a look at myself. How unpleasant.
BTW. If it's a competition, I think I may be able trump your husband on the high BP and number of meds. Uncontrolled, consistently high BP, a life threatening, serious heart condition, with no available treatment, two heart attacks, congestive lung and heart failure and a DNR notice are not easy to deal with, so I understand how difficult life can be for your husband, as can many on this forum.
Thank you for ruining what I hoped would be a pleasant and restful day.
I hope your husband finds a resolution soon, my daughter was at her wits end dealing with her husband's sleep apnoea.
Wow!!!! The nastiness on this site!! I will not use this again (I am not a grumpy old woman and have no wish to read your infantile rants!!! Grow up!!!
I’ve had a CPAP for about 8 years now. I had trouble at first with a full face mask. I tried a mouth and nose mask which again didn’t suit. I asked for nasal pillows which are simply inserted into the nose. These work perfectly for me. I hated using a CPAP at first but persevered and got used to it. Good luck.
My dad has been using one for a few years and it has changed his life for the better. I visited last week (he lives 400 miles from me) and said his strap that hold the face mask in place was broken. I telephoned the Lung Function Department in his local hospital and they were very helpful.
I know you were stuck over the weekend but I hope you have managed to sort out the problem.
Thank you to those who have offered suggestions. Never heard of nasal pillows rileydog, will have a google. Thanks.
By coincidence my husband received a letter this morning from the CPAP manufacturers saying they had been unable to reach him by phone so could he ring them.
He did so and they had a chat about it and the guy said the best way to put the mask on is when laying down. Sometimes it really, really puffs out very hard and this is when my husband stops breathing.
He also said that in a couple of weeks they will look at the info the SIM card sends them from the machine to see what’s going on. He was very helpful and said husband can ring any time and they will do their best to help.
We need to notify DVLA (according to hospital Consultant) to say he has SOSA but it is being controlled.
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