back up plans

A bit more than a month ago, we had a power outage at home (Louisville KY) that was due to Hurricane Ike's intersection with a Canadian cold front. We had hurricane-level winds at times that day.

While we certainly didn't face the sort of disaster Ike gave folks along the coast, the wind "tore up jack," as Catnapper's husband has said. It was over a week before some of my neighbors were reconnected to the utility grid.

After a couple nights, my girlfriend and I got to borrow a machine from Catnapper (THANKS! Mom!). Prior to that, however, as my girlfriend's machine was not able to work with a battery source, we managed to rig my Respironics with a T-fitting to get by for a night. The logic was that a) the machine could pump enough air to keep someone who needs 18cm pressure going, it could pump enough to keep the two of us at 11cm, b) something is better than nothing.

What worked was that I bought a 3/4" PVC t-fitting, and ran a hose from the machine to the fitting, then a hose from each open end of the fitting to the masks. I had to tape the hoses together at the t-fitting, as they were not quite a snug fit.

As my girlfriend and I have very different breathing patterns, it was odd for a bit. I didn't have electricity to run the computer and thus pull data from my smart card, so I have no idea how terrible the leak rate graph was.

I don't advocate this, but it worked well enough to use if conditions are such that you have no better option.

All your girlfriend needs now is her own Aura Twilight Headrest mask to go with a new machine which will work with a battery and collect data.

You gotta love these cpapping families!

Catnapper - Joanie - (and to some cpappers - Mom)

What a creative jury-riggin', lab rattin' solution you came up with, T-bone!

On another apnea message board years ago, I read about guy and his wife (both used cpap) having to rig up a connection like that when the wife's machine quit during a vacation. Got them by, too.

Yes, would be VERY interesting to see the data from your machine's emergency double-duty night. LOL!!

t-bone,

It is good to hear from you. I do pray that, otherwise, all is well with you two.

Amos