Hoffman Laboratories BreatheX CPAP Machine Interview

Product Overview

Introduction To The BreatheX CPAP Machine

Product Page: BreatheX CPAP Machine

Product Page: BreatheX CPAP and HC150 Heated Humidifier

Breathex.com

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

cpaptalk Interview: BreatheX CPAP Machine

neversleeps BreatheX Review

The BreatheX is a well-functioning portable CPAP machine. It arrived in a cardboard box which contained the black travel bag, two hoses (8" and 21"), two spare filters, the charger, an instruction booklet and the CPAP machine, itself. (The swivel-joint air outlet connector is already attached.) It was preset to my prescribed pressure by Hoffman Labs. Note: the BreatheX is only capable of delivering pressure up to 12cm.

It was simple to charge: remove the safety plug from the unit, connect the charger cord and plug the other end into an electrical outlet. As promised, it took 5 hours to fully charge, as shown when the indicator light on the charger turned green.

I used the 21" tube and my Puritan Bennett Breeze mask. Initially, I wore the unit around my neck; life-preserver style. I pressed the ON button and watched the LCD cycle through the settings: software version, altitude compensation, ramp setting, usage hours. It displays this cycle 3 times, then goes blank. The ramp was on and I left it that way, which proved to be a mistake for me because it starts out at 3.5cm and then ramps up to the prescribed pressure over the next 15 minutes. I felt like I was suffocating at such a low pressure, so I followed the instructions to turn the ramp off: press and hold the SET button for 3 seconds until the ALT COMP option is displayed, press the SET button once until the RAMP option is displayed, press the CHANGE button, and then save the setting by pressing the SET button twice.

The first thing I noticed about the BreatheX was the sound. It is louder than my current machine (Respironics REMstar Auto with C-Flex). It was not so loud as to keep me from wanting to use it, but was noticeably louder than what I'm accustomed to. (Note: sound is in the ear of the beholder and it has been discussed many times on cpaptalk.com that sound can vary substantially, even between two identical machines. So please bear this in mind when I describe my personal comparison.) In addition to the normal consistent volume produced, I sensed an additional sound and feeling which I think could best be described as a vibration. I'm guessing it was simply from the flow of air through the hose, but because it wasn't something I've heard/felt before and because this secondary sound/feeling was variable, it was noticeable. (Had it been constant, it would have been less bothersome, but because it fluctuated and because I was concentrating on it while trying to figure out it's source, I found it hard to ignore.) Just an aside: I wonder if my typical nightly use of the SleepZone Heated CPAP Tube (Aussie Heated Hose) muffles this type of thing with my current machine.

The second thing I noticed was how heavy the unit felt. It doesn't weigh much (about 5 lbs.), but after wearing it life-preserver style while lying in bed for an hour, it felt surprisingly heavy. I felt like my chest was being compressed and it became uncomfortable. My guess is that men will fare better with the unit in this position than most women will, if you get my drift! When I removed the unit and placed it at the head of my bed between the headboard and the pillow, it was a welcome relief. Ahh! Much better!! This was how I used it for the remainder of the trial period.

The BreatheX is very convenient. It's nice to be able to hop out of bed with the unit slung over your neck and walk around freely in the middle of the night; no need to detach or shut anything off. It's also nice not to have a hose connected to a machine on an adjacent bedside table. Come to think of it, if this were your only machine, it would be nice not having any type of hospital-looking equipment on your bedside table!

In my typical setup with my REMstar APAP, I have the hose routed over the bedpost of the headboard, so I have some of the same freedom of movement the BreatheX offers, but the BreatheX wins hands down for the ability to move about (both in bed and out) completely unencumbered. Also, when tethered to a stationary unit, you always run the risk of pulling it off the table if you're an active sleeper; something you'd never have to worry about with the BreatheX.

I thought I would really miss my humidifier, as it can't be used with the BreatheX. Surprisingly, it was not as big an issue for me as I had anticipated and did not prevent me from wanting to use it. I'm guessing this could be a major issue for some people (depending on their humidification needs) and I assume it would be more of a problem in the dry winter months, but I won't know until I try it then.

Will I use the BreatheX as my permanent machine? No; I prefer my APAP. Will I use the BreatheX when I travel? Absolutely; it is much easier to transport than my current machine. Will I wear the BreatheX around my neck? No!! (Except maybe when sitting up in an airplane on an overseas flight.) Will I use the BreatheX other than when I'm away from home? Yes; every time we're expecting storms in the evening, I'll don my BreatheX when I go to bed. I'll never again have to worry about my machine shutting off during a power outage for what could be several hours.

If I weren't already spoiled rotten by my quiet, smooth-running auto-adjusting machine, my software, my C-Flex, my humidifier and my heated hose, and if I was a first-time CPAP user looking for a standard CPAP, I think I would prefer the BreatheX to a stationery CPAP machine. Back when I was a newcomer adapting to CPAP therapy (and before I knew the tricks of the trade), I would have welcomed the freedom of movement the BreatheX provides and would have been delighted that there wasn't an ominous piece of equipment on my nightstand. In fact, I wonder if compliance would be better if the BreatheX machine was someone's first exposure to CPAP. In my opinion, it isn't as formidable as the typical stationery CPAP and it eliminates the challenges that come with being 'tethered'. Additionally, the BreatheX has the benefit of being great for travel and can be used uninterrupted through power outages.

Because I AM spoiled rotten with my current machine and all it's accoutrements, I don't plan to switch to the BreatheX on a permanent basis, but it's nice to know I have the option to use it when the occasion arises.

Now, for the cpaptalk.com mantra:
As with everything XPAP-related, you have to try it yourself to know if you'll like it.