Rested Gal Review: Hoffman Labs BreatheX CPAP Machine

BreatheX Overview

BreatheX CPAP Images

Respironics Comfort Curve Nasal CPAP Interface Respironics Comfort Curve Nasal CPAP Interface Respironics Comfort Curve Nasal CPAP Interface Respironics Comfort Curve Nasal CPAP Interface

Links To BreatheX Content

Product Page: BreatheX CPAP Machine

Product Page: BreatheX CPAP and HC150 Heated Humidifier

Brand Home Page: Breathex.com

User Reviews By: Rested Gal, Mike Moran, Wading Thru The Muck, Neversleeps

cpaptalk Interview: BreatheX CPAP Machine

Rested Gal's BreatheX Review

What I like about the BreatheX

  1. Non-medical appearance. If left out in plain sight, the cover that comes with it would give a visitor the impression it's just some kind of pillow. If they noticed the display window and buttons, they might think it had a little radio in it.
  2. In our area, we get a lot of severe thunderstorms in the spring. It's nice to go to bed secure in the knowledge that if the power goes out, it doesn't matter...treatment will continue uninterrupted through the night.
  3. It's nice have for car trips. Very easy to use for naps when traveling as a passenger - nothing extra needed to plug into the lighter socket. It's very handy at motels -- no need to pack an extension cord for "just in case" there's no empty outlet near the bed.
  4. I especially like how quietly the BreatheX runs.
  5. Seems to be very well made. Quality materials.

When I've been using it

  1. As my primary treatment machine when thunderstorms are predicted for the night.
  2. To keep in the living room when I'm watching TV. If I feel the least bit drowsy during a movie on TV, it's right there, ready to use for a little nap. Again, the non-medical appearance is a plus.
  3. My travel machine for overnight road trips.

How I've been using the BreatheX

I place the BreatheX on the bed or on the nightstand, or beside me if in living room or in car. I don't wear it around my shoulders. The longer of the two hoses that comes with it is ok for naps in the living room or in the car when I'm be in one position reclining or upright. However, when planning to use it all night I prefer hooking a regular 6 foot hose to it and hanging the hose overhead as I do with my other machines.

If I absolutely have to get by without heated humidification, I can. But, I do prefer to have a bit of warmed, humidified air with a CPAP. Fortunately I have a stand-alone Fisher & Paykel HC150 heated humidifier that I connect to any CPAP machine I use. The HC 150 heated humidifier works great with the BreatheX. If no power outlet is available, or if power goes off, the F&P humidifier will function as a passover humidifier, giving a little bit of extra humidification. Except for naps at home or in the car or during travel, I plug in the F&P HC150 heated humidifier to use along with the BreatheX. The HC150 and BreatheX combination is a very comfortable treatment.

What I'd change about the BreatheX

Even as lightweight as it is, I found it to be bulkier than anything I'd want to wear around my shoulders -- lying down, reclining, or upright. It worked well for me just setting the BreatheX to the side, not "wearing" it at all. Unless a significant number of people actually do wear it around their shoulders, I think the design might be better as a regular pillow shape that could rest in a person's lap when they are sitting up or are in a recliner. It would take up less room placed anywhere in the bed (or on a nightstand shelf) if it were more of a traditional pillow shape. A shoulder strap of the same material would make it easy to carry by hand or over one shoulder -- without having to wear it around the neck when moving from room to room, and without having two bulky ends swinging along when hand carried.

I wonder if the fixed ramp which is designed to start at 3.5 cms on the BreatheX should start at 5 cm. I doubt that there are many people who find 4 cm comfortable to breathe through a mask. For the very few people who are prescribed only 4 cms as their treatment pressure, no ramp is needed - they're already set down at 4 for the entire time anyway.

For the few who are prescribed 5, a ramp starting only one cm less (at 4 or 3.5) probably isn't enough difference to be worth it. The majority of people who are prescribed pressures of 6 through 12 and want to use ramp would be more comfortable, in my humble opinion, starting at 5. The current 3.5 or even 4 seems a tad low for a comfortable ramp starting pressure. But perhaps my opinion is colored too much by my own experience -- being as accustomed as I am to my own usual pressure of 10, and not needing ramp at all.

Additions that I think would be nice to include, or be available as accessories

  1. An extra slip-on, washable cotton cover (not too slippery) to put over the present cover.
  2. Fleece hose covers for the two lengths of hose that come with the machine -- to continue the non-medical appearance.

Final impression

I like the BreatheX very much and find myself using it more often than I expected I would...spring thunderstorm season is here!

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