I can't sleep without my CPAP machine

Since May I have been travelling for 1-2 days a week to a different area four hours away. It's a long story, and I am not going to get into it. But when I travel I just sleep in my minivan, in the back, where I can lie down completely flat. Before OSA was officially diagnosed last year, I used to do this for months at time, and never had a problem sleeping. I was cozy and woke up refreshed in the morning. But now that I have used my CPAP for four months now, I find I can no longer fall asleep without my CPAP in my car for the first night. Not one bit. If there is a second night, I fall somewhat asleep about half way or three-quarters of the way through. I am groggy both days, especially the second.

I am going to get a battery for travel, but I am getting a new ResMed bilevel VAUTO CPAP soon, and I don't want to buy a battery for my current Philips Dreamstation Auto CPAP for just a few months. [Note: it has taken and will take 3-4 months or so since it takes time to get an appointment with the doctor, wait for a sleep study, wait for the follow meeting with the doctor, meet with the DME supplier, etc.

So how can I make myself fall asleep when I am away from my CPAP? Staying in a motel is out of the question. Once I get my new ResMed bilevel CPAP, I will purchase the travel battery, but that will be a while. That is an entire other story, as there are no good solutions for travel batteries, whether AGM or smaller.

Once you've had the good stuff, your brain won't accept rotgut. Same with sleep.

Try to find a way to use PAP every night if you possibly can. It's a safety issue if yer on the road.

You were used to felling lousy! Now you know the difference!

mileena wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 11, 2018 8:12 pm

I am going to get a battery for travel, but I am getting a new ResMed bilevel VAUTO CPAP soon, and I don't want to buy a battery for my current Philips Dreamstation Auto CPAP for just a few months. [Note: it has taken and will take 3-4 months or so since it takes time to get an appointment with the doctor, wait for a sleep study, wait for the follow meeting with the doctor, meet with the DME supplier, etc.

So how can I make myself fall asleep when I am away from my CPAP? Staying in a motel is out of the question. Once I get my new ResMed bilevel CPAP, I will purchase the travel battery, but that will be a while. That is an entire other story, as there are no good solutions for travel batteries, whether AGM or smaller.

a 12v scooter battery plugged into a cigarette lighter so it can charge while you're driving around, then unplug it and use it to power the cpap at night.

Just get the appropriate 12v cord for each type of cpap battery. Don't use the car battery, because you don't want to run it down and not be able to start the next morning.

jnk... wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 11, 2018 8:38 pm

Once you've had the good stuff, your brain won't accept rotgut. Same with sleep.

Try to find a way to use PAP every night if you possibly can. It's a safety issue if yer on the road.

and

D.H. wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 11, 2018 8:59 pm

You were used to felling lousy! Now you know the difference!

Haha! Yep, you are both right. I love using my CPAP now, even if it wakes me up a few times because of leaking air.

But I hate when I take it off at night and think it's a dream. Then an hour later I realize I actually took it off!

palerider wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 11, 2018 9:44 pm

mileena wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 11, 2018 8:12 pm

I am going to get a battery for travel, but I am getting a new ResMed bilevel VAUTO CPAP soon, and I don't want to buy a battery for my current Philips Dreamstation Auto CPAP for just a few months. [Note: it has taken and will take 3-4 months or so since it takes time to get an appointment with the doctor, wait for a sleep study, wait for the follow meeting with the doctor, meet with the DME supplier, etc.

So how can I make myself fall asleep when I am away from my CPAP? Staying in a motel is out of the question. Once I get my new ResMed bilevel CPAP, I will purchase the travel battery, but that will be a while. That is an entire other story, as there are no good solutions for travel batteries, whether AGM or smaller.

a 12v scooter battery plugged into a cigarette lighter so it can charge while you're driving around, then unplug it and use it to power the cpap at night.

Just get the appropriate 12v cord for each type of cpap battery. Don't use the car battery, because you don't want to run it down and not be able to start the next morning.

Very nice! I looked it up, and scooter batteries are just $19.99 at Batteries and Bulbs. That's cheap enough where price doesn't matter.

mileena wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:21 pm

Very nice! I looked it up, and scooter batteries are just $19.99 at Batteries and Bulbs. That's cheap enough where price doesn't matter.

Usually we're talking mobility scooter batteries, which are 35AH 12v... and usually run 60-70$.

Ah, I see, you were thinking "tiny motorcycle'... but what I meant was "battery powered thing for people that have trouble walking."

palerider wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:31 pm

mileena wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:21 pm

Very nice! I looked it up, and scooter batteries are just $19.99 at Batteries and Bulbs. That's cheap enough where price doesn't matter.

Usually we're talking mobility scooter batteries, which are 35AH 12v... and usually run 60-70$.

Ah, I see, you were thinking "tiny motorcycle'... but what I meant was "battery powered thing for people that have trouble walking."

Ok, I see. Yes, I googled "scooter battery" and got this:

mileena wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 12, 2018 12:25 am

palerider wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:31 pm

mileena wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:21 pm

Very nice! I looked it up, and scooter batteries are just $19.99 at Batteries and Bulbs. That's cheap enough where price doesn't matter.

Usually we're talking mobility scooter batteries, which are 35AH 12v... and usually run 60-70$.

Ah, I see, you were thinking "tiny motorcycle'... but what I meant was "battery powered thing for people that have trouble walking."

Ok, I see. Yes, I googled "scooter battery" and got this:

Right, looking for something more like: https://smile.amazon.com/Mighty-Max-Bat ... ttery+35ah

Note the AH difference. 1.3 vs 35

Don't forget that ResMed requires a special little connector to change the battery voltage from the 12 volt out put to the 24 volt that ResMed machines require.

And there is one for the S9 models and one for the AirSense/AirCurve 10 models...so be careful to get the correct converter.
ResMed makes 2 of them and they aren't interchangeable.

Now if you still had the Respironics DreamStation machine and wanted to use it...it runs off 12 volt and not nearly as expensive for the needed attachment to run it off the battery.

Also for at least my AirSense 10 you just can't hook up 2 batteries to get 24 volts and plug it in directly. It "scans" the power supply to make sure it legit.