Need a Travel Machine

dbl · Post by **dbl** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 8:00 am

I need some advice on travel machines. Specifically battery operated machines that I can use on a plane, as I have some very long flights coming up.

I do most of my traveling domestically so have not worried about a battery operated machine, but on my last trip to Europe I had a scare and don't want to go without the nights sleep on my upcoming trips.

The Breathex models looked good but they have a top limit of 12cm and I need 15 cm. I'm thinking maybe 12cm is better than nothing but I don't know if I want to go a couple of weeks on 12cm.

Any thoughts or advices will be appreciated. Thanks.

Dave

Suz-E-Q · Post by **Suz-E-Q** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 8:27 am

Okay, if you fly for business do they fly you in business class? If so there should be no issue, all seats have outlets.

If you fly coach, then it is another story. Some airlines have installed outlets on some or all of the seats. Others haven't. So I would recommend that when you book your flight if you can talk to a travel agent they will have the information about the plane and might be able to cornfirm whether or not there is an outlet.

This is certainly a disability and if nothing else you should have preference for seating with an outlet. If not then we have a cause on our hands and it's time to start to get the appropriate treatment by the airlines.

Best of luck.
Suzanne...

oceanpearl · Post by **oceanpearl** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:45 am

I travel a considerable amount from east coast to west coast and to Europe a couple of times a year and have never found a need to use CPAP on an airplane. Unless a person is morbidly obese there usuall is not a problem with the airway closing when they are in a sitting position. I have not had a problem in business class and the seats there lay back a considerable distance.

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:50 am

I can highly recommend the Evo Everest(polaris TR) machine. I have had mine for quite a while now and find it to work just fine. It has a battery and humidifier. It is small and light, and it's case holds the machine, hose, 2 masks, extension cord, tape, ayrgel, and I even have a little room left over.
You can also use this machine with regular power. While using regular power, it will trickle charge the battery automatically.

Brenda

billbolton · Post by **billbolton** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:43 pm

Suz-E-Q wrote:Okay, if you fly for business do they fly you in business class? If so there should be no issue, all seats have outlets.

Well, only provided the outlet at your seat works!

On many flights there is a reasonable chance that a certain percentage of at-seat power just doesn't work. The airlines don't regard lack of at-seat power as an aircraft no-fly issue.... it just a convenience, not a flight safety necesssity.

At seat power is usually provided by an underseat unit which is shared by two or three seats, and the expectation is that not all of those seats will want to use it. This has a few implications.... if all three passengers try to draw the maximum allowed power per seat outlet, the underseat unit will usually shut down. Also if an underseat unit is a complete no-start, two or three seats will be without power.

Also some airlines, such as Emirates, that provide at-seat power will sepcifically not allow its use with CPAP machines.

So, at-seta power is useful it its actually available and you are allowed to use it for CPAP, but IMO its not a good idea to depend on its availability for powering CPAP!

Cheers,

Bill

billbolton · Post by **billbolton** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:48 pm

oceanpearl wrote:Unless a person is morbidly obese there usuall is not a problem with the airway closing when they are in a sitting position.

There are OSA presentations that appear when the patient is asleep in any position which are unconnected with obesity (of any grade) per se, and are also not regarded as "unusual".

Cheers,

Bill

dbl · Post by **dbl** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 5:13 pm

Thanks to everyone for their input. I believe I have narrowed my search to the new BreatheX Journey and the Evo Everest.

luneman · Post by **luneman** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 5:39 pm

I travel abroad two or three times a month and use a GN320E with a DC plug. Like previously addressed, the seat outlet is not always working, therefore I travel with a small gel-cell battery (sometimes it is an issue at security, but a letter of "medical necessity" has always resolved that issue). The 320E will accommodate your pressure needs. It is also a very travel friendly unit. Good luck with your search!

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 6:23 pm

billbolton wrote:
oceanpearl wrote:Unless a person is morbidly obese there usuall is not a problem with the airway closing when they are in a sitting position.
There are OSA presentations that appear when the patient is asleep in any position which are unconnected with obesity (of any grade) per se, and are also not regarded as "unusual".

Cheers,

Bill

I agree.

Further I believe if you have OSA, you should NOT sleep (in ANY position) w/o therapy.

Well, guess it really depends on how long you CAN hold your breath?
But hey, that's me!
GumbyCT

telly · Post by **telly** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 2:31 pm

I just talked to Northwest and they have no problem with me using my CPAP on the long hauls across the Pacific. I cannot plug into the plane's power, so it has to be battery powered. I've never seen anyone use CPAP on the plane, I hope to disguise my mask so I won't get bizarre stares from my fellow passengers (mostly Japanese). Perhaps a Breath Ex and a bandana.

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Airmini, Medistrom Pilot 24, CMS 60C Pulse Oximeter, ResScan 6