Travel APAP Machines

[NEWT]

Is it true that insurance will not pay to purchase a travel size machine? I have used a cpap machine for almost 10 years. The machine I have now works great. I would like to get a travel size machine possibly the Dreamstation Go from Respironics. I have been told by my DME that insurance will not pay for a travel size machine only the full size machines. Has anyone else run into this issue?

[Goofproof]

Makes sense to me, they won't hold up in the long run and are less likely to last if used for a main XPAP. Jim

[LSAT]

Use your current machine for travel and get a new model for every day use

[Holden4th]

Are the travel machines that much smaller? If you take the humidifier off an S9 the dimensions aren't that significant.

[D.H.]

Are the travel machines that much smaller? If you take the humidifier off an S9 the dimensions aren't that significant.

Since you wanted a DreamStation Go, I suggest getting a DreamStation from your insurance. If you leave the humidifier behind, it's not much larger. Furthermore, you can buy (not covered by insurance) a carrying case for the DreamStation. The travel carrying case does not accommodate the humidifier and comes with a smaller power supply for travel. The travel power supply does not support the humidifier.

Keep the old machine on hand as a spare, and run it for few hours every week (I don't suggest actually using it during the compliance period).

You probably don't want to travel with the old one, as it's surely larger and heavier (and more prone to break down).

[bierhere]

What is the rationale behind buying a travel APAP? Is it for use in flight on long trips or is it the convenience of carrying something smaller, or is it to have a machine you can beat up a bit when traveling? I think answer to these questions will help answering what is the best course forward.

I recently bought a Resmed Air Mini. What I like about it? Very small, low power consumption. What I don't like about it. Propriety masks/hoses, no humidification, lack of data/integration with S10 machine

Primary rationale for buying was I didn't want to carry a third carry-on. I wanted something small that i can put into my laptop bag when I travel and the ResMed Mini checks the box there. The hard shell case eliminates the "extra" bag. I carry the small powerbrick and mask/hoses in a toiletry kit. It was certainly easier to use/setup in flight than a fullsize machine when I flew last month to India. And it all fits in a larger laptop bags easily. It also is very light, reduced weight is nice. I also took it on a boy scout overnight and it is certainly lower power consumption than my S10 on batteries. I do miss the humidification and I have tried the HME hack with limited success. It doesn't seem to be much different than no humidifier.

If I were to make the decision to buy the AirMini over again, I would probably consider buying an older Resmed S9 unit. I used to have an S9 that broke so I upgraded to the S10. Because the humidifier can be separated from the S9, its size while not smaller, is close enough the Mini, that it would have worked travel with one bag. The Resmed S9 also wouldn't have had propriety hoses and has full data. And I think I could have gotten a better price deal on soon to be out of stock S9. It also would be a better backup machine since it has a real humidifier if I need it which I already owned. I also owned all accessorizes like the smaller in flight power brick and DC adapter.

[NEWT]

Thank you for your responses. All of you made good points to consider. I really wanted the travel machine for when we travel and not having to lug around an extra bag with the cpap gear. I will think about your suggestions before I make any decisions.

[chunkyfrog]

. . .
What is the rationale behind buying a travel APAP? . . .

Convenience, and vanity. Nothing wrong with wanting the coolest thing out there, but be aware that there are trade-offs for the tiny size. Limited mask choice, humidity options, and NOISE, (too much for some).
Some full size machines are more flexible with respect to DC power supply.
My Intellipap plugs directly into the round (lighter) port in the car, --rest stop naps!
The Airmini is very proprietary, or so I have heard.