UPDATE! (DEMONIC SLEEP APNEA MASK – CPAP CAN BE CCRAP)
Okay, there WAS a solution. Unfortunately, I can’t thank anyone from any of the sleep forums who seemed only interested in correcting my terminology and bemoaning my approach to this serious problem. The answer wasn’t in the mask at all.
The new sleep machine lets you rachet up the humidity inside the mask. I had inadvertently set it at the highest level since the buttons to do so are Right Next To The On/Off button. I’d grope for it sleepily and hit the ‘More Humidity Please’ switch instead.
Now the humidity is at 1.5, I am careful not to mess with this and my mask now simply caresses my face and keeps its opinions to itself. Works fine. My husband, who has the same machine, figured it out. Thank goodness. It was really keeping me awake nights.
I need more sleep than most. 8 hours doesn’t cut it. 10 hrs is more likely. BUT with my deviated septum, I need a mask, called CPAP, so I can keep breathing while I sleep. (That’s the little demonically-possessed item in the picture. It fits around your nose). This is a Fisher & Paykel CPAP, Thermosmart & heated Serial # 091204033412 Part #HC60rMJHu The mask is a ResMed
Yes, it’s the best mask in my 12 year history. Sleep apnea science is progressing. This one is flexible, fits snugly, gives lots of air BUT it wails and moans unexpectedly during the night. Exorcism? Mistreatment? I’ve all but stood on my head to make it shut up.
Finally I’ve narrowed it down to one tiny component of all the bits of moveable and immobile plastic that make up this little triangular dictator.
It’s this tiny tooth-edged plastic circle on top that lets out the air. 
Here’s the view from inside. There are some rocks like this in the Alaskan cliffs of Lost River where the wind howls and the aboriginal legends say the souls of their ancestors cry out there in pain. That’s the kind of noise I hear from this #%!! mask in the middle of the night.
I’ve tried water levels, attempting to hold the hose rigid as I sleep, duct tape, fiddling with the connections but the only thing that works (and often for only a short time) is thumbing the air holes around the circle in a strangulation movement. But why would this work?
Obviously I don’t understand apnea engineering. 
There it sits, the llittle circle on top. Can you see it leering?
August 28th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
You are right – you don’t understand the CPAP process. I can tell from your description of the process and your failure to use correct terms. The solution for this is to get educated. Both the CPAP process itself and getting an education are DIY tasks. The best way to get educated is to join one of the excellent forums like cpaptalk.com and sleepguide.com. Good luck.
August 31st, 2010 at 7:48 pm
So you have a deviated Septum…?
Have you had Septoplasty? This surgery can work very well and fix your problem completely. You should talk to your Ear Nose Throat specialist about this possibility. Now, having said this is possible you have already been considered for this but for some reason you can’t have it done.
But I also must concur with the previous respondent here who says you should get more educated on the subject. And yes, joining a Sleep Apdea/CPAP forum would be the best way to do this.
August 31st, 2010 at 7:54 pm
I’d also like to point out one more thing… you will get some air escaping even at the best of times. But your success with a CPAP machine and mask can probably only be measured by having a proper test that measures your number of apneas while you sleep – and probably even with some air getting out you are 100 times better off. My experiences with CPAP are not perfect, but most often it works extremely well, and has really, really improved my sleep.
By the way, its nice to discover your blog. Unless I am mistaken, you owned a bookstore that I frequented in the late 70s, early 80s where I bought comics and Tom Swift novels. The Idea Factory, was it?