Napping without CPAP support

First time posting on this forum. I am in my early 70's and was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea a year and a half ago. I am fine using the equipment and my wife enjoys the quiet nights! My question is regarding nap times. We have been retired for several years and have developed a routine of napping for an hour in the early afternoon. I have a favorite recliner in the living room where I do this. My wife reads on the couch while I nap. Of course she doesn't sleep until I've finished napping because, I snore at that time! It would be a hassle to move my Air sense 11 from the bedroom to the living room daily. Going to bed to nap is an option but doesn't appeal to me. I am thinking of buying an Air mini for nap time use. My insurance won't cover a second machine but I am getting concerned about consistently sleeping an hour a day without CPAP support. The dangers of untreated apnea are real and don't discriminate where I sleep. The cost is a concern and I have looked for refurbished / used units but not excited about this option. I am sure there are others who have faced a similar mid-day sleep situation and would like some guidance with this dilemma.

A second machine is a good idea if you don't mind the cost. First it will serve you well when you travel. I've killed more than one full size machine traveling, the dedicated travel machines hold up better. The second reason is to have a backup. It can be a long process to get a replacement machine if it fails. Its not common, although I've had 2 fail on me, probably because I traveled with them. It was a terrible experience, I now never ever travel with my main machine, and I'm never ever without a spare.

mlmollenkamp wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 27, 2025 11:04 am

A second machine is a good idea if you don't mind the cost. First it will serve you well when you travel. I've killed more than one full size machine traveling, the dedicated travel machines hold up better. The second reason is to have a backup. It can be a long process to get a replacement machine if it fails. Its not common, although I've had 2 fail on me, probably because I traveled with them. It was a terrible experience, I now never ever travel with my main machine, and I'm never ever without a spare.

Excellent points! I really like the idea of having a spare machine. Last year we had a power outage and realized I needed a battery backup because the thought of going a night without my CPAP therapy was not acceptable. The same would apply if my machine broke down. What travel machine do you have?

A travel CPAP is much better for battery operation than a full size machine so it makes sense as a backup. I have a very old Z1 that I use for air travel. Its not a great machine, dumb constant pressure, but gets the job done well enough for a few nights. I had an Apex machine 15 years ago or so, but it wasn't very rugged. The LCD failed although the machine still worked. I got the Apex when my original Respironics machine died, also from travel. The Z1 replaced the Apex. The Z1 failed once but I had it repaired. I now use an old Autoset S10 when I travel by car. At home I use an ASV because of complex apnea, but I can get by with pretty much anything if its not for too long.

I'm keeping my eye out for a used AirMini which would be my choice if I traveled like I used to. I put in a couple of million miles of business travel before I retired. Now just vacations. One advantage of the Z1 that its a 12 V machine, batteries are easier, no adapter at all to use in the car or with a 12 V supply. The ResMed machines are 24 V so the batteries are more specialized and more expensive. Both the Z1 and the AirMini are low power though, but the S11 without humidifier or heated hose is low power as well. I like the idea of a ResMed machine because I know the algorithms and it should be easier for me to get workable settings. I'm also impressed with the ResMed machines in terms of reliability, I've had 3 of them and they all still work even with some travel.

I purchased an Air Mini last week to use for naps, travel and a spare. I've tried it out for naptime the past couple of days and am very impressed with its ease of use and portability. I wouldn't want it to use as my main machine but definitely serves as a great backup!

Thanks for coming back and sharing the info.