bongo - any positive experience?

There are a few threads here asking about bongo, but very little posts with people who have actually used it. The question of course is ... does anybody use this as a main therapy or a supplemental when travelling?

I have very mild apnea, my AHI during my sleep test almost 10 years ago was 8. But I had a lot of symptoms - waking up in the middle of the night or the morning with a headache, falling asleep while watching TV or being very tired at work (retired now! so that's not a problem anymore.)

I do great with CPAP. I had no issues using it from day 1, and almost all my headaches and excessive tiredness are gone. My main machine is a resmed airsense 10 which I'm very comfortable with, but I hate travelling with it as it's big & bulky. I bought a Z1 travel machine years ago, which died after the warranty with a well known common problem and I was able to get a Z2 at a discounted price from the company. I don't like it as much as the airsense as breathing isn't as natural, but it's tiny and always in my travel bin so I don't have to pack up my home machine.

We travel a lot, usually a couple trips to Europe a year, and may trips half way across the country to visit the kids. Even though the Z2 is small, I still have to set it up each night and put it away in the morning when we are on the go, and I need to bring an extension cord as some hotels seem to have outlets just out of reach.

So ... bongo. Seems like a great option for travel, if it works. No electricity, no cords, fits in my toiletry bag, etc. I did get an Rx written up for it, and had a good coupon at cpap.com that brought the price way down. With the lack of comments about it one way or the other here, and elsewhere on the internet, I don't have high hopes for it. But it seemed like a low enough price to gamble throwing some money at it. I should have it in a few days. It should work similar to the discontinued provent which I had always wanted to try, but that seemed pretty pricey as you had to replace the device every day (I think?) and I don't think I'd like the adhesive on my nose all the time.

Bongo? What the heck is this?

I just looked on cpap.com and I still don't know what it is.

gibberish

Conrad wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 24, 2024 7:21 am

Bongo? What the heck is this?

I just looked on cpap.com and I still don't know what it is.

It's similar to the old discontinued provent which provides EPAP (Expiratory positive airway pressure) therapy. Basically, you breath in naturally but when you exhale some of the valves close to keep pressure in the mouth/throat which prevents airways from collapsing. In theory.

It's been around a few years, but there are surprisingly very little reviews from actual patients. It is only recommended for mild/moderate AHIs.

My expectation is that I'm not going to like it, as the positive pressure on exhale is going to feel weird. But I'll give it a try to see if it's an option for travel. Though I'm not sure how to tell if it works other than a combination of do I snore, do I have morning headaches, am I tired.

Chilehead wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 24, 2024 9:34 am

Though I'm not sure how to tell if it works other than a combination of do I snore, do I have morning headaches, am I tired.

Unfortunately subjective feelings are going to be the only way to try to measure effectiveness.
Of course any therapy is going to be better than no therapy at all.

I haven't seen any Bongo use discussion but we used to see a bit of the Provent discussion.
Exhalation issues (difficulties) seemed to be the main complaint. I suspect the same is going to occur with the Bongo.

You know even if we had a large population of happy Bongo campers it doesn't really mean much.
Just because one person does well with something doesn't mean the next person will do equally as well.

You are just going to have to try it for yourself and make your own opinion about its use.

Chilehead wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 24, 2024 9:34 am

Conrad wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 24, 2024 7:21 am

Bongo? What the heck is this?

I just looked on cpap.com and I still don't know what it is.

It's similar to the old discontinued provent which provides EPAP (Expiratory positive airway pressure) therapy. Basically, you breath in naturally but when you exhale some of the valves close to keep pressure in the mouth/throat which prevents airways from collapsing. In theory.

It's been around a few years, but there are surprisingly very little reviews from actual patients. It is only recommended for mild/moderate AHIs.

My expectation is that I'm not going to like it, as the positive pressure on exhale is going to feel weird. But I'll give it a try to see if it's an option for travel. Though I'm not sure how to tell if it works other than a combination of do I snore, do I have morning headaches, am I tired.

Thanks for the reply.

Bongo - https://www.cpap.com/productpage/bongo- ... nt-medical

If I cannot travel with my cpap, I effin' WON'T GO!

I got my Bongo thingy, and tried it a couple of nights.

• It's relatively comfortable to wear
• I feel like my size is somewhere between the L and XL, but the L felt a little loose and was easier to exhale through probably because air was escaping, so I stuck with XL which seem just a tad too big
• The first night I put it in right before trying to fall asleep, and the pressure on exhale was noticeable. Second night I put it in about 10 minutes before going to sleep while doing email, social media, etc .... and I actually got fairly used to it quickly this way
• I might end up trying it with the head-strap to make sure it stays in as a couple times it didn't feel properly sealed, but I'll see how it goes
• No apnea related symptoms after the first couple uses. I initially did the sleep study 10 years ago because of many morning headaches and daytime sleepiness. I don't know if that would come back after only a couple uses if it wasn't effective.
• Assuming I use this for a week, I'm not sure how to rate the effectiveness. No headaches? Great. No sleepiness? Great. No snoring reports from the wife. Fitbit SpO2 report says % is in my normal range (96%) Though honestly I don't know if fitbit would report short drops during an apnea event like a sleep study would.
• The cost should be less than replacing the mask/nasal-pillows periodically. I think it's $299 for the annual pack (though coupons bring it down). I'm on a high deductible plan and never meet my deductible, so basically all my health care costs I pay 100%
• I'll very likely stick with the CPAP at home, and bring this on vacations (as well as my travel CPAP, just in case.)
• Assuming I feel this is working, I'm debating getting an appt with my sleep dr to discuss. I haven't had a followup in about 8 years since everything seems fine for me.