Silent and smooth breathing vs. rough and strained

I have been using a ResMed AirSense 10 Augoset device with a Swift Fx Nasal Pillow for several months now. Sometimes I put it on and everything's fine. The air flows smoothly in and out of the pillow... quite quietly almost like I wasn't wearing it.

Other times, I put it on and I feel like I'm having trouble getting enough air out of it and it's noisy. It hisses. Don't understand what could cause the difference. I'm not congested... I keep the air in the room consistently humidified with a humidifier. I have the ramp set to 45...

But why would the same system work one way one day and completely different another?

Any insights would be appreciated:)

I hope someone has an answer for you because I do not. The only thing is if the hose was kinked (which you would notice) or the air flow isn't adjusting as it should.

I was thinking a tensed day vs a relaxed day, just enough to alter your face shape, or perhaps a different sleep position.

You will have day to day variations and it always good to take that into consideration when altering settings. In otherwords, perhaps your settings are not optimized for you.

In the past someone suggested it could be humidifier slightly loose. Shove it in firmly until it catches. Could the hose coming out of CPAP be not pushed in snugly? Let us know what fixes it.

My ramp function is always turned off because I used to feel like I was suffocating if it was on.

Even so I often have the issues you seem to be describing.

I usually have to reseat the pillows a few times to get it flowing right and even then the slightest shift will make it noisy even when it doesn't seem to be leaking.

It seems dependent on perfect alignment and even strap tension all round.

I suspect that it also depends on full inflation of the nose and sinuses which sometimes requires a conscious effort to widen the airways.

This is the element that can fluctuate wildly from day to day but once proper inflation is achieved and stabilised the air pressure will sustain it.

Hopefully.

I generally sleep on my side but if I am having difficulties with the gear I force myself to start off on my back because it's easier to get it working properly that way.

By the time I instinctively shift to my side it has either stabilised or I am beyond caring. :)

What's worked for me with Resmed F30 full face: Switch on humidifier for a few minutes, put the mask on, feel slight airflow, select "mask fit", which gives big airflow and a red or green smiley face, fiddle with mask until it settles and smiles green consistently, then start sleep session. Listen and move fingers around outside of mask for leakage. Take out my hearing aids and don't have noise! (slight advantage for me) ;-)

If the mask is too tight it can crush the nasal pillow cone which can make noise and make it harder to breathe. I also find with the Swift the exhaust flow has a very high velocity. If it blows against the bed covers or clothing it can make a lot of noise.

After 4 years of quiet performance from my AirSense 10 AutoSet, I got a big shock when it started up. There was a very loud hissing noise. I first tried pushing the water reservoir more firmly into the machine, and that did not help a bit. Then I found that the water reservoir was leaking air big time at the horizontal joint. If I squeezed it together the leak would stop. Obviously squeezing it all night was not an option. I then removed the reservoir and looked at it more carefully with the lights on. What I discovered was that there are two little plastic catches that snap into a slot and keep the lid closed. One had broken off. I always thought that arrangement was kind of mickey mouse. It really was! I just used some tape to hold it shut. I ordered a new one the next day from Amazon for $27.50 and it arrived the day after. The tape worked for another night, and I have been using the new reservoir ever since.

Thought I would mention it in case it happens to someone else. It is hard to complain as the original lasted 4 years....

Good to know Sierra and good to know that you held it together with tape!

I thought that was reserved for those of us without an engineering degree.

It might be hard for you to complain Sierra but let me give you a brief demonstration of how it's done.

I'm kind of an expert at complaining. I might even have a diploma somewhere which cost way too much and is printed on really terrible paper.

My Airsense10 is almost unused and currently abandoned in another state because I consider it to be a shameful example of cheap plastic manufacturing compared to the old S9 which at least looks and feels like they were trying to make a good product,

The Airsense10 will never survive the neglect and abuse that the S9 continues to be subject to, bouncing off walls and tumbling around on the floor etc.

Having said that, all the machines should come with tape and rubber bands and blu tack and string and wire and a stapler and paper clips and a hammer.

They are essential tools when something fails at 2am and you just can't get that chain saw started.

There, that wasn't so hard, as complaints go, and, apart from a bit of embellishment, it was even mostly true.