Travel CPAP

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
mvanlint
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Joined: Sat Apr 15, 2023 8:03 am

Travel CPAP

Post by mvanlint » Sat Apr 15, 2023 8:09 am

Dear all,

I was recently diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (AHI 21.7) and in June I will receive my first CPAP device.
However, I was wondering what people would recommend for a travel CPAP and mask? I suppose the Resmed Air Mini is quite popular?
What about backpacking and sleeping in the backcountry?...

Thank you!
Michel

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Dog Slobber
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Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: Travel CPAP

Post by Dog Slobber » Sat Apr 15, 2023 8:41 am

A lot of people don't recommend travel CPAPs, especially when one is mew and hasn't adjusted to therapy.

Travel CPAPs are often a compromise. Typically:
  • They're noisy
  • Poor humidity options
  • Fewer mask options (AirMini)
  • Don't have long term history stats of everyday usage from a large install base
  • Expensive
  • No heated hose option
They are smaller and typically have better energy consumption.

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Pugsy
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Location: Missouri, USA

Re: Travel CPAP

Post by Pugsy » Sat Apr 15, 2023 8:56 am

+1 for what DS has said.

It can mean a trade off....
example...do you need added moisture? If you do...is it a little or a lot?
If you need a lot of added moisture remember the tiny machine for travel can't off much or in some cases any .....without being able to add much moisture could be a deal breaker for someone who needs/wants more than the machine can provide. Those little disks to add moisture...may or may not be enough and not suitable for use with a lot of masks.

It is for me....I need a LOT of added moisture to keep my nasal mucosa happy and what they do to me when they don't get what they want is a LOT uglier than any positive I might have with a tiny machine.
It's a deal breaker for me and for that reason have never considered a tiny machine for any reason.

So first thing I suggest someone do when considering any tiny travel machine is turn off your humidifier and remove any water from the chamber and use current machine without added moisture .....see if your nasal mucosa gets mad at you or they don't care.
Before spending the money and going through all that hassle....make sure you can even use it when you get it.
Use current machine without added moisture at home now...then proceed if you determine you don't need that added moisture.
Then you get to worry about the noise and/or any other potential negatives.

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mvanlint
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Re: Travel CPAP

Post by mvanlint » Sat Apr 15, 2023 9:34 am

Hi, thank you all. I realized travel CPAP is not ideal and not as effective as a normal device, but was hoping to make traveling easier/lighter.
At home, I would be using the normal CPAP.

Good idea to try without added moisture first and feel how that feels...
I will wait for the normal CPAP to arrive first.

Michel

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JOinPA
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Location: Philadelphia area

Re: Travel CPAP

Post by JOinPA » Sat Apr 15, 2023 12:12 pm

This is something I actually have a lot of experience with. I have the AS10 and the AirMini.

When I first started therapy, I would take the AS10 with me on business trips in the travel case and I did not find it a bother. However, I was in sales and a road warrior at the time, so after about 6 months of traveling with the AS10, I bought the AirMini. I got the hard case for it and started packing the unit, power supply, hose and mask in a medium Eagle Creek Pack It cube. As a road warrior for many years, I pack pretty efficiently and was able to take the AirMini with me in my carry on bag. With the carry on and briefcase, it was nice to be rid of the third piece of "luggage", the AS10 case.

Some thoughts:

1. People's reaction to the AirMini is extremely varied. I happen to love it, I use the P10 nasal pillows mask because that's what I use at home with the AS10, and the HumidX cartridges work fine for me. However others hate the mask and are frustrated with the need to modify their favorite masks to work with it, and some feel the HumidX does not work for them. Some think it is too noisy. I love the thing, but then again, I'm notoriously indifferent to machine settings, mask types, etcetera, and seem to sleep great regardless. You may end up hating the machine, and they are not cheap by any means. There are other travel CPAP travel machines you may want to investigate, I have no experience with them.

2. You have not even started PAP therapy yet, I suggest you hold off on getting a travel machine until you see how you adapt to it. Medical Devices can be carried on airplanes without regard to the limits on number of carryons, so you will be able to use your regular machine for some trips so as not to disrupt your acclimatization to therapy in case you do take a while to "dial it in". You want to limit yourself to one machine if you have trouble adapting to it, and save the travel machine until you are comfortable with PAP therapy.

3. How often do you travel, and how long are your trips? I got the AirMini because my travel pattern was a large number of short trips, and being able to ditch the extra carry piece meant a lot to me. I maxed out the airline and hotel points in those days. If you have fewer trips of longer duration--especially if you don't travel much for work--say a few week-long vacation trips each year, frankly, you don't even need a travel CPAP machine. You may prefer one, or want one, but you don't need one. I'm not traveling for work much anymore, and frankly, if I did not already own it, I would not bother buying a travel machine. I'd just use my home machine in the travel case. They are awfully expensive for a handful of uses each year, and the normal CPAP travel cases are about the size of a large woman's handbag. Why bother?

That's my two cents. Well a dollar and two cents, with all I wrote, I guess. :) I love my AirMini, but those who don't like them REALLY don't like them. Unless you're traveling frequently, I wouldn't fiddle with a travel machine right away. If, however, you are like I was in my last job and a real road warrior, they definitely are worthwhile then. The extra piece is a real PITA when you often do less than a week trips in two cities.

Good luck!

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Initial diagnosis = severe, current stats (03/29/23): weight 220 lbs, Airsense 10 w/P10 & ClimateLineAir tubing, Climate and tube temp = Auto, Pressure min/max = 10-15, ramp = off, EPR = 1

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JOinPA
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Re: Travel CPAP

Post by JOinPA » Sat Apr 15, 2023 12:27 pm

I know nothing about this machine, but stumbled upon a few reviews of it. It uses a moisture exchange cartridge for humidification, like the AirMini does, but will work with any mask that does not have it's own short hose. It is also a bit quieter than the AirMini, so it addresses the two most common complaints about the AirMini, noise and lack of mask choice.

I'm not endorsing this machine, and I love the AirMini. [/disclaimer]. I just posted this because so many really don't like the AirMini, with lack of mask choice being the most common complaint.

https://www.cpap.com/blog/transcend-micro-cpap-review/

_________________
MachineMask
Initial diagnosis = severe, current stats (03/29/23): weight 220 lbs, Airsense 10 w/P10 & ClimateLineAir tubing, Climate and tube temp = Auto, Pressure min/max = 10-15, ramp = off, EPR = 1

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chunkyfrog
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Re: Travel CPAP

Post by chunkyfrog » Sat Apr 15, 2023 1:09 pm

For off-grid, I purchased a Devillbiss Intellipap Autoadjust,
as it can be run off 12v DC directly, though, without heat in the humidifier.
I have run it off the "lighter" port in the car. (I was not driving.) :lol:
Sadly, this nice machine is no longer being made.
If you can find a used one--GRAB IT!

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LIK1000
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Re: Travel CPAP

Post by LIK1000 » Tue May 02, 2023 4:16 pm

This thread is really helpful -- thanks. I travel internationally for work a fair bit. I mostly don't mind carrying the AS11, but have found it challenging to find distilled water in unfamiliar places abroad. Do you have a trick for this, or do you use tap water? With an older machine I used tap water in a pinch, but the AS11 manual is pretty emphatic that only distilled water be used. I'm also taking a personal trip to Europe this summer during which I'll be moving every day or two by train. Don't really feel like lugging around a bottle of water or spending half-day in every new city looking for it. Any advice would be appreciated.

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SleepGeek
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Re: Travel CPAP

Post by SleepGeek » Tue May 02, 2023 8:23 pm

LIK1000 wrote:
Tue May 02, 2023 4:16 pm
but have found it challenging to find distilled water in unfamiliar places abroad.
I put a 16oz soda/juice/water bottle in with my cpap - you can get away w/2 or 3. You must declare it to TSA they may test it but it is allowable for medical use. IF you want more put them in your checked luggage.

I like to have some in w/my cpap in case I get stuck/delayed at the airport and need my cpap. Esp. these days.
And IF you travel much you know you can loose checked luggage or it gets delayed at any time.

I like to carry enuff to last me 3 days to give me time to find some locally. You can always call ahead to see if the locals have some in stock.
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JOinPA
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Re: Travel CPAP

Post by JOinPA » Fri May 05, 2023 1:13 pm

Most of us here don't bother with distilled water, even though, as you say, the manufacturer is "pretty emphatic about it". There is a sticky about it.

I have not used distilled water in many years, but I do dry my humidifier chamber every day. If you feel you want to use distilled water, if you don't use it on a short trip, it won't cause any harm and you can go back to distilled water after the trip if you wish.

FWIW, I dry the humidifier chamber daily, I clean the nosepiece for my P10 every day using my hands and hand soap. Once a week I clean the humidifier, nosepiece for P10 and the short hose for the mask using Dawn dish soap. I don't bother with the main tubing except every month or so. I then soak all the above in a solution of 1/1 water and white vinegar for a while, rinse, soak again in plain tap water. This works for me. I wouldn't be surprised if many here were less fastidious than that.

But using tap water won't harm your CPAP machine, you just might get mineral deposits in the humidification chamber if you don't follow my routine. I never get deposits with my routine, and have gone a year on humidification chamber, though they say replace it every 6 months, I think.

_________________
MachineMask
Initial diagnosis = severe, current stats (03/29/23): weight 220 lbs, Airsense 10 w/P10 & ClimateLineAir tubing, Climate and tube temp = Auto, Pressure min/max = 10-15, ramp = off, EPR = 1

Pequod
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Joined: Wed May 31, 2023 2:46 pm

Re: Travel CPAP

Post by Pequod » Wed May 31, 2023 3:52 pm

Hey, Travel CPAP
JOinPA had some Great feedback for you. My experience is with Transcend Auto from 2013'14.
The phone # for the company's Customer Support in Findlay, Minn. (Minneapolis suburb) is (877) 621-9626 [Central Time Zone] Travis, Chris, or John are on the phones.
As mentioned above, on domestic airlines (even international flights originating in the US) travel CPAPS carried on Don't Count as carry-on.
I too, like JOinPA, tolerate a lot of stuff other folks don't like. For the fishing, camping, hiking & the remote backpacking that I do in national forests, the Travel CPAP with BATTERIES has been a Godsend . Prior to 2014, I had to hike in, set up camp, fish for a minute, then hike back-to-the-truck to sleep for the night using an extra truck battery/converter/ Resmed combo & repeat for two more days.
NOISY machine?...I use earplugs. Humidity....my 1st Resmed CPAP in 1998 didn't have one so I still don't bother with a humidifier(though the Micro has those sponge filters that recapture your exhaled H2O & sends it back to you.) On airlines, when I use my Transcend Auto, noise doesn't seem to be an issue, but the MICRO does offer a "muffler" system, which suggests that the tiny thing just might have an issue that way 🤔.
Good Luck