Hi @UnassumingScarletWolf4732. I have experience with the P10 but have never had problems with it whistling. In fact, I wear the P10 myself. You might consider contacting your equipment provider and talking to them about the noise. It is possible that you have a defective mask or a small leak in a seal somewhere. Can you tell if the whistle is occurring somewhere along the mask, like at point where the tubing attaches? Or is it occurring at the nostril where the mask enters your nose? If it the whistle is at the nostril, you may need to try a different pillow size. The P10 has several pillow sizes that can be placed on the mask frame. Best wishes!
I had a whistle on my ResMed the other day. My wife heard it easily so I knew it was not my hearing things I found a quick fix. I move the CPAP to a less congested part of the stool it was on, Then I took the reservoir out and re-seated it, And the whistling went away. I suspect I had not fully seated the reservoir when I had refilled it for the night.
Hi, I heard about this website on the radio while dropping my kids in school and decided to check it out. So far I am impressed, I was diagnosed with sleep Apnea just last month and currently exploring treatment options. Actually, my doctor advised cPAP but I am yet to get a reading. Just very sceptical and overwhelmed by this all as i never imagined me having sleep Apnea. Any advice could help.
Hello @Newdiag, and welcome to MyApnea.Org. We are happy you visited. A new diagnosis can be overwhelming at first. Mine certainly was. CPAP has changed my life, but it did not come without some initial struggles. The key is persistence, education and working with a good sleep physician and equipment provider. I encourage you to learn more about your condition by visiting our "Learn" pages. Of course, feel free to come back to the Forum and post any questions you have. Our members have a wide range of experience with sleep disorders and treatment options, and we have some great sleep professionals who often read and respond to posts. Best wishes, and keep us posted on your progress! -Dan
Hi DanM, I was diagnosed with severe OSA and have launched a research into everything sleep apnea and my knowledge is paying off. I can now ask my Sleep Doctor inteligent questions from my research. you siad the CPAP changed your life, I am looking forward to this miracle feeling with CPAP although the masks look scary to my houng children. I am all for it if it can save my life. Cheers
Newdiag... welcome! I was diagnosed about 4 months ago after my missus talked with our PCP and she recommended a sleep study. I slept OK (I thought) BUT would fall asleep while working, while driving, while sitting in church, while... you get the idea. I was particularly concerned about dozing while driving, as you can imagine.
Went into the sleep study and found I had moderate obstructive apnea. I wasn't too concerned until I saw my oxygen levels during the 15-20 episodes an hour. I was down into the LOW 70s. I did some reading and this is really a trouble spot medically; more concerning than dozing on my motorcycle while driving even as I almost always woke as soon as I started nodding off.
SInce I started PAP therapy, my oxygen levels been great as the stop-breathing incidents have been dropped to almost nothing. I have struggled with mask seal primarily and am working through that but the mask seal issues have not affected the usefulness of the PAP therapy and I haven't dozed while driving and have heard every sermon in church since starting therapy.
My recommendation is to self-educate and look carefully at the results of the sleep study you should undertake. Most of the results are incomprehensible to a layman so learn what they mean on your own and demand that the results be explained in plain English by your sleep doc. The advice about finding the right med equipment company is hardest to follow... perhaps query the sleep doc for recommendations. I picked a place at random that my insurance company would pay for and suggest that might not be the best plan; they have not been too great so back to the self educating issue. With support from a forum such as this one, you can figure it out on your own if all else fails.... also beware of medical advice you may find on other forums. Most of it is well meaning but poor to the point where it is dangerous. That won't happen on this forum.
Wiredgeorge, Your recommendations are quite very useful. I have since launched an extensive research on Sleep Apnea so now I am armed with a far better knowledge of the condition and treatment options. I was shocked when my doctor discussed my results from the sleep study with me. I was not only suffering from Sleep Apnea i had Obstructive sleep apnea and avery bad one at that. I was having as much as 56 episodes an hour! Quite alarming. However with CPAP it was zero, so I got the machine and just started using it. I hope it works like magic. Thanks for your advice.
HI my name is randy, I have had several issues trying to use my cpap. First problem was air being blown out of my eyes and pressure behind my ear. Switched to a full mask. Now my face beside my nose on both sides and under right eye are swelling and not going down but getting worse. Anyone have that issue.
Hi everyone I am a 38 year old and have still not got myself tested but I feel I have Sleep Apnea and I am very scared and worried. I am a healthcare provider myself but don't know what to do for myself.
FearlessWhteMouse, consider changing the direction of your fear to not getting a proper diagnosis. You may or may not have sleep apnea just as you may or may not have heart diease; however you want know the answer until you are tested. Both are just as deadly. I have a friend whose sister was like you in delaying the testing who passed away in her sleep; a single mom leaving 3 small children to find her the following AM when she didn't wake them for school. I hope you will call for a appointment today to get yourself tested!
Go to your primary care physician and discuss the issue and have your doc set up a referral for sleep testing. I personally believe that the worst possible effect of sleep apnea is that when you stop breathing for long intervals during the night, your blood oxygen can tank. If you are a health care provider you must realize that when you dip real low, you are damaging organs especially the heart and brain. I didn't think I had sleep apnea but the missus nagged me into getting tested and I was down into the low 70s. I also fell asleep while using power tools and driving which probably is a bit dangerous as well. Everyone is fearful that they have a serious medical issue but the treatment just isn't that bad and the positive effects of treatment far outweigh the nuisance of using a machine or other treatment options.
Hi @FearlessWhiteMouse3686. Along with Sherry and Wiredgeorge, I encourage you to speak with your primary care physician about a referral for a sleep study. I was in your shoes many years ago, and I understand the fear. I can tell you that diagnosis and treatment of my own sleep apnea has been a game-changer for me! Keep us posted on your progress, and please do ask any questions! -Dan
Hello. I was diagnosed with OSA in 2009. I first tried an oral appliance but was difficult to use because I have periodontal disease. I then used a CPAP but was not able to tolerate the mask and pressures after a few hours and would take the mask off. I read an article in the paper advertising for potential patients who couldn't tolerate the CPAP and was a candidate for an implant. I had it done in 2012 and it has changed my life. Please check it out if you would like at inspiresleep.com. Thanks for letting me share :-)
Have not been able to adjust to wearing the face mask, I was diagnosed with severe Apnea and sold a CPAP. I had a pulmonary Iemboli in both lungs and later heart arrhythmia all this year. I am frustrated and can not believe this is the 21st century with the best thing available is wearing a mask designed and used in World War 1 with the success rate about the same. 50% success rate. Thank God for WW1, the bombers where the flight crews had to use these masks and the Germans' use of Gas forcing the design and use of the face mask. My HMO uses the CPAP with and outside source selling and providing the machine which is loud and the mask is a challenge to keep in place. I am suprised the amount of people I have met with the problem but do not know anyone that has continued using the mask and go on.
I was diagnosed with severe Sleep Apnea about 2 months ago. I wear my CPAP every night. It has been a large adjustment for me and I am not having very good results. I do wake up to find it off many nights, so my compliance is not perfect. The nights I have it on for 6-7 hours I wake up feeling miserable. Lots of pain, headaches, hung-over feeling. I have a follow-up in about a week where I'll share all of this with the doctor. I am trying to tough it out as I'm told its a adjustment, but I am fairly frustrated.
Hi @WarmheartedCrimsonGoldfinch3069. I'm sorry to hear you are having such a difficult time adjusting to treatment. It is definitely a process, but I do encourage you to discuss the symptoms you mention with your physician. Pain, headaches and a hung-over feeling may not necessarily be associated with CPAP. In fact, many patients report improvement in morning headaches and feeling more clear in the mornings after being treated. If the pain you mention relates to the mask, it may be that a mask change or adjustment is needed. If the pain symptoms are elsewhere, further exploration of the symptoms may be needed. Best wishes, and please do let us know how you progress.
i hope it's an adjustment that we can figure out. The potential impact of being untreated is terrifying, but it's frustrating that the treatment seems to be having such a negative impact. My wife, kids and work are all noticing a difference in how additionally tired I am. Like I said the follow up is in
Hello, I'm searching for nasal pillow and head gear perfection. I use P10 which is great, but narrow straps do not hold it in place all night. I tried another option with head gear that has a thicker clear rubber strap that holds everything in place beautifully, but exhale vent was way too noisy. Any product that would combine these two? Thanks, Nell
Hello all. Just happened by this forum via Google Search. Sleep Study & Diagnosed Severe Sleep Apnea 2003. Three years ago diagnosed w/COPD. Prescribed fulltime oxygen, 4lpm resting, 6lpm active. Present Equip is AirSense 10 Autoset, Socked heated tube, RespCARE Hybrid FFM, and SleepyHead software. Cheers, otrpu
Hi Nell (@FaithfulJadeGoldfinch6842). There are numerous options for nasal pillow systems, but I am not sure of which ones might meet your needs. Some of the exhalation noise depends on the amount of air pressure your machine is generating. You might talk to your equipment provider about letting you try several masks while awake and at your prescribed pressure to see if you can find something that works. Keep us posted! I'm sure many of our community members would love to know about masks that others use and why they like them!
My original complaint was insomnia. After a sleep study, she recommended CPAP, sounding as it was a cure all for all sleep related problems. I resisted (actually, refused) CPAP because I had only heard "horror stories". I even tried things like tennis balls to prevent my sleeping on my back. Insomnia & sleepiness during the day were still big problems. After about a year, I learned that my brother had used CPAP for several years & recommended it highly. So I decided to give it a try.
My introduction was "inadequate", to say the least. Doctor gave very little info, except "you'll be contacted & equipment will be delivered to you." Equipment was delivered, but no instructions; no fitting of mask, etc. After several follow up doctor visits & trying several different kinds/sizes of masks & headgear, I decide a (large) full face mask was best. I emphasize "I" decided. No one provided much guidance other than try this; try that, etc . . . never much evaluation of how/if it was changing my "numbers". Very important (to me) was an explanation of those numbers; their meaning; acceptable ranges, etc. Explaining the importance of mask fit wasn't necessary, because I was having irritating dry eyes, mouth, etc. I was also surprised when I was told that Ramp Time & Humidity were the only 2 settings that I could change . . . especially considering the fact that my next doctor's appointment was 9 months away.
After about 6 months of miserable nightly use, I took a 3 week trip . . . w/o my CPAP. Upon returning (mid-Nov 2016), suddenly & miraculously, my mask fit was comfortable & I was sleeping thru the night. What a pleasant surprise!!! After a couple of weeks, I started gathering my "numbers" from MySleepMapper.com . The literature that I had received "way back when" stated that high mask fit was good, but "will rarely be 100%". My mask fit was in high 90's. It has been 100% for 25 of the last 26 nights. I was concerned/confused about the numbers & variations for AHI, Central Apneas, Obstructive Apneas & Hyponeas, which seemed (to me) to be all over the ballpark. Was something wrong? My "supplier" seemed as ignorant as I about the meanings of these numbers. Incidentally, they seem only interested in selling/sending more supplies.
I found another CPAP forum (which I'll not name) to which I posted that I was loading MySleepMapper numbers into a spreadsheet. They seem sold on Sleepyhead software. Several posts were very critical of me, calling me arrogant, know it all, refusing to listen, etc, after I asked (what I thought were) legitimate questions (mostly about Sleepyhead). I'm counting on this forum being different.
There are forums and there are forums...and even on the really good other one, there are crabby people. It happens. But SleepyHead IMO is hugely helpful. It was getting the data from SleepyHead and reading the numbers off to my last sleep doc that finally convinced him to order an oximetry test...and yes, I was having some oxygen desaturations, which he hadn't noted. So we do need to educate ourselves, if our brains are not too damaged yet, and this site is one fantastic place to get information. I am curious to know which mask you're using that you're getting 100% with!! Reducing mask leaks is all-important for my treatment, so I'm always open to suggestions.
Hello, and welcome to MyApnea.Org @Yabadabadoo. I am happy to try and answer any questions your have about what numbers on sleep reports mean. We have a great member community and a very active Patient Engagement Panel, so I hope your experience is better here on our Forum!
It sounds like you got off to a rough start with your equipment. Unfortunately, your story is true of many new CPAP users. I am a patient, and my first experience was not so good. My second experience, with a great home care company and an excellent respiratory therapist who was educated about sleep apnea, was life-changing. A good equipment provider will spend time educating the patient, fitting the mask properly and teaching the patient how to fit the mask, allow a patient to try different masks while the mask is connected to a machine (because air pressure changes how a mask feels and fits), and will follow up with a patient to make sure things are progressing as they should. It does not sound like you received much support, but I hope things are improving for you.
Please do feel free to ask your questions and share your experiences. We will do our best to make you feel welcome! -Dan
Yaba, Sounds like you swiped my intro to sleep apnea! My PCP knows little about the subject and told me so but gave me a referral for a sleep study. No one from the sleep study place contacted me afterwards nor did I talk to the sleep doc who wrote a 1 page description of the study and the prescription which was for a Bipap. This was sent to a local med supply and they handed me a mask and told me take it home and learn to make it fit right by adjusting the straps. It never did.
Found the key was to do research and stay off sites where amateur doctors are all too willing to prescribe ridiculous courses of action. You can pick up nuggets at sites like this but if you are completely in the dark like I was... well I am pretty good at my advanced age at sorting the wheat from the chaff. I asked about an appropriate mask for my BIPAP pressures and was actually given dangerous advice along with some that just was wrong and a little bit of advice that actually helps.
To this day, the only issues I have had a a sore lower back and I cured that MOSTLY by sleeping proped a bit and mask seal... I now use mask pads. My machine was manufactured by RESMED and has a transmitter that sends sleep data back to them and the med supply company (I guess) which they monitor for compliance and you can log into their site and get stats for hours of sleep, mask on/off, events per hour (AHI stuff) and mask seal. The mask seal stat is really not great as I sometimes leak like a sieve and have air in my eyes and the mask makes bad noises all night and it says seal is good and when I wear the mask pads and there are no leaks, the report says seal is bad... Not sure what to make of this but I don't think it is important if I get enough sleep and I don't have much in the way of apnea during that sleep. Most nights I am less than 1 even per hour.
The main issue that affected me was sleepiness while working and driving and my 02 level went down into the low 70s during the night quite often. I now know why I appear to be brain dead. The BIPAP machine has fixed it and I am good now!
Suggest you take responsibility for your own knowledge of the issues involved as the medical profession may not and since you are the one affected, well, it make sense you drive the ship. Good luck!
I've had mild to moderate SA for years and used a CPAP for about 5 years. I tore it off in the middle of the night or fell asleep without it half the time. Then I heard about the oral appliance and got one about 4 years ago. It is much more comfortable than the CPAP and it works for my apnea. The main problem is getting M'care to pay. This is a great device for many, and I wish I could get M'care to pay for it. Why do they love the CPAP so much and hate the oral appliance?
