Machine recommendations for frequent traveller

[wytco0]

Hi all, I know from an earlier post that when I get my NHS machine on Monday I will have very little (no!!) choice over the model.

I have a fairly unusual lifestyle at present which involves living in 2 separate houses and a lot of international travel. As a result of this I want to try and find a machine that's small and light and easy to travel with.

I would also prefer a machine that's as quiet as possible (but I expect everyone wants that).

Also does anyone know whether the airlines have special rules regarding carrying essential medical equipment and if this can be carries on-board as an additional carry on bag (in addition to normal allowance).

[James @ Intus]

Hi,

Yes, different airlines have different rules so check with their special needs department in advance and if you really need on board use, try and get the all clear in writing as what they say on the phone is not always what they allow at the gate. Also double/triple-check power availability and/or whether you are allowed to bring a battery.

The BreatheX Journey has been cleared for cabin use by Virgin and BA (I checked for customers of ours and Virgin rang us for a data sheet on the electricals).

That machine is ideal for when travelling but not really recommended as your number one machine. It can only run off the battery and lacks certian functions that make for a better every night machine. That doesn't mean it's not a quality machine though and especially great for travel of course.

Most present day machine switch automatically between 110 and 240V so you just ened the right wall socket adaptor or cable. Most also have altitude compensation features, just in case one address is highehr up than the other. If you require long haul flights, you might want to look out for a machine which internally runs on 12V (such as the SleepCube, REMStar etc. unlke the F&P and ResMed machines) because they'll be easier to run off aircraft power (though you often need a converter from the 15V to 12V) or a battery.

You can also consider getting two machines, if budget allows. Many of our CPAP customers have for example a Zzz-PAP or a second SleepCube at the home they stay in abroad. They are affordable and quiet and having a machine already there saves you lugging one with you (avoiding risk of breakage etc.). If you are worried about snoring/apnoea during the flight, you can always get a decent mandibular advancement splint to get you through that particular night.

From the NHS you can expect anything form a shiny modern bit of kit to ancient ones which would need its own cargo plane, it's hit and miss really.

[wytco0]

Thanks and another question!

Hi James thanks for your comprehensive and informative reply.

One small question, what is a "mandibular advancement splint" and what makes a good one?

[James @ Intus]

When we wanted to offer CPAP users an alternative therapy or temporal one, we looked at some 80 different ones.

For snoring and occasionally for OSA (i.e. a flight, when your machine breaks, a weekend away - in other words not for long-term use or number one treatment) we settled on the affordable yet quality DIY "boil and bite" Somnofit.

As a full on alternative to CPAP for every night use (because it's custom fit and clinically proven to work) we settled on offering the SomnoDent MAS, for which we are the UK distributor. Because the latter involved 3 dentist appointment and a custom engineered precision appliance, it costs around 10 times more than the former, just more than a full CPAP kit (but a lot easier to use, especially when travelling).

Especially in the UK, CPAP is still the first line, almsot guaranteed to work form of therapy and that's probably what all severe and moderate OSA sufferers should stick with. Mild and moderate ones who can't tolerate CPAP are good to go on a custom splint such as the SomnoDent. Boil and bites DIY splints are only really for snoring only (non-apneic people). They aren't comfortable and customzied enough to be a full OSA treatment. There are many really bad ones out there so make sure you get one, if you want one, from a reputable supplier who's not into a million snoring gadgets but knows about safe treatment of sleep disordered breathing.

[wytco0]

When we wanted to offer CPAP users an alternative therapy or temporal one, we looked at some 80 different ones.

For snoring and occasionally for OSA (i.e. a flight, when your machine breaks, a weekend away - in other words not for long-term use or number one treatment) we settled on the affordable yet quality DIY "boil and bite" Somnofit.

......

Thanks James this looks worth having for flights etc, I have sent you a PM about it.

[wytco0]

Still not sure ! HELP

Well I have read as much as I can find about machines for travellers and I still cant decide what to do!

The BreatheX Journey looks ideal for use when flying and camping etc but I am not sure if I could use it as a main machine e.g for 6 weeks.

In a few weeks I am going on an extended holiday to Australia, I need a machine for that trip and the nature of the trip shows some of the problems that I am still uncertain about.

The flights
It takes about 24 hours to fly to Oz and it would be good to get some sleep on the flight, The BreatheX Journey would be ideal here however I am a bit worried that the lack of humidity might cause problems that could take a while to recover from. Aircraft humidity tends to be lower than normal and this might make things worse.

The Somnofit mouth splint looks like a possible good solution for flying as it does not need power and its easy to cary, however I am not sure how well it would work, my feeling is that this is better than a machine on a plane especially as I probably wont sleep much on the flight anyway.

In Australia
We will be staying in several different places in friends houses and they will all have mains power so something like the Sleep cube or the Probasic Zzz-Pap would be good, but again I am a bit worried about humidity and doing without it for several weeks. The Sleep cube looks like an excellent machine but in my view this would be best as my main machine at home and used with a humidifier.

Australia Camper van trip
We will also be spending 8 days living in a camper van and travelling through very remote areas with no mains. Again the Breathe X Journey looks as though it would fit in here, however I am not clear about how this machine is charged? I know it battery only but does it need mains to charge the batteries? or can it be connected to a 12v system as well?

So overall I am still confused and uncertain about what to do. I would like to keep the weight and size to a minimum and I also need to try an keep the costs as low as possible.

I would be grateful for any further advice especially on the following:

1. Has anyone used a Breathe X Journey as a main machine for several weeks
2. Are there any passive ways of increasing humidity to help with a machine that does not have a humidifier?
3. Has anyone used a Somnofit mouth splint as their only OSA treatment for several weeks? I know this is not recommended.
4. I have not tried using a CPAP without the humidifier, I use nasal pillows and I am interested in hearing from anyone who uses this setup without a humidifier. Is it something that I could do for several weeks

[James @ Intus]

Well I have read as much as I can find about machines for travellers and I still cant decide what to do!

You have a range of distinctly different needs so it'll be tough to match them all with one machine.

The BreatheX Journey looks ideal for use when flying and camping etc but I am not sure if I could use it as a main machine e.g for 6 weeks.

Modern battery technology such as used in this machine allow for many re-charges so the machine can handle 6 weeks out and about but you do need mains power (or anothe rbattery + inverter) to recharge its battery. Whether this is every night or not depends on your pressure. At 9 cm you can expect it to last 2 nights. Of course you can bring multiple batteries pre-charged if you need to cover more than one battery's capacity away from mains power.

It takes about 24 hours to fly to Oz and it would be good to get some sleep on the flight, The BreatheX Journey would be ideal here however I am a bit worried that the lack of humidity might cause problems that could take a while to recover from. Aircraft humidity tends to be lower than normal and this might make things worse.

That'd right but taking a humidifier on such a trip brings with it a host of issues. For starters, humidifiers won't run off 12V as the heater plate takes too much power. It can be done with an inverter but whatever battery you use as the source will deplete rapidly. And as you need more than 100ml of water, you wouldn't be allowed to use it in the cabin anyway. So you either have to tough it out (a nasal-only mask would help) or go the splint route, which is more discrete too.

The Somnofit mouth splint looks like a possible good solution for flying as it does not need power and its easy to cary, however I am not sure how well it would work, my feeling is that this is better than a machine on a plane especially as I probably wont sleep much on the flight anyway.

As DIY splints (as oppose to dentist custom fit ones) always have a bit of bulk in terms of material, mouth breathing can be hard for some with such a splint. They need to rely on nose breathing, which is fine unless you are clogged up all the time. That's the only downside you should be aware of. And of course it will help if the flight isn't the first night you are using it, so you are more used to it and more comfortable wearing it. If you can breathe through your nose, the hairs in your nose will act as a humidifier and counter, to a degree, the dry air of the plane.

We will be staying in several different places in friends houses and they will all have mains power so something like the Sleep cube or the Probasic Zzz-Pap would be good, but again I am a bit worried about humidity and doing without it for several weeks. The Sleep cube looks like an excellent machine but in my view this would be best as my main machine at home and used with a humidifier.

The SleepCube's humidifier actually fits in the travel bag very neatly. With mains power access, it would probably be the ideal situation if you really want humidification. And indeed, you might well end up using it as your first machine at home too. On the plane you could just use the CPAP, without the humidifier. The CPAP unit alone is compact enough to just sit on your lap or in the luggage compartment at your feet. With the right cable (ask airline) you can run it off their chair-power without much trickery.

We will also be spending 8 days living in a camper van and travelling through very remote areas with no mains. Again the Breathe X Journey looks as though it would fit in here, however I am not clear about how this machine is charged? I know it battery only but does it need mains to charge the batteries? or can it be connected to a 12v system as well?

Whether the BreatheX would be suitable depends on your pressure and whether you then need to bring multiple batteries. It does needs mains, or 12V + inverter (could be the van's battery) to recharge. It can't run straight off 12V. The SleepCube can run straight off 12V (without the humidifier, but you can still use it as a passive, pass-over humidifier for at least some benefit, or with the humidifier with an invertor so you upscale 12V back to 240V).

So overall I am still confused and uncertain about what to do. I would like to keep the weight and size to a minimum and I also need to try an keep the costs as low as possible.

Another machine to look at is the M Series Remstar. It's even more compact than the SleepCube at about the same price. It can also run off 12V directly, with the right Respironics cable. But you'll have the same humidifier issue.

Has anyone used a Breathe X Journey as a main machine for several weeks

I've had reports back from people who bought one and did an extended trip in Canada and the States and had great success with the BreatheX Journey. If you can re-charge it, or bring enough batteries to last, it works great.

[*]Are there any passive ways of increasing humidity to help with a machine that does not have a humidifier?

You can always use the humidifier without powering it, so it becomes a passive, pass-over humidifier. A nasal-only mask also helps as the nose conditions the air, something the mouth doesn't do.

Has anyone used a Somnofit mouth splint as their only OSA treatment for several weeks? I know this is not recommended.

Some mild apneics use it as their only form of treatment. These are mainly people who can consistently breathe through their nose as the bulk of the material (it's actually not the bulkiest there is but compared to a custom fit, it will always be bulky) obstructs mouth breathing a bit (can be done but not ideal).

I have not tried using a CPAP without the humidifier, I use nasal pillows and I am interested in hearing from anyone who uses this setup without a humidifier. Is it something that I could do for several weeks

With six weeks to go, perhaps you could try it without the humidifier a few nights, or with the humidifier filled but switched off. This real testing will give you valuable insight and help greatly with your buying decision.

I hope that answered more questions than that it brings new ones Otherwise, keep asking!

[Tigers Fan]

Dry, dry, dry in the donga

You raise an interesting point, wytco0, about humidification in Oz. Humidity can be reasonable to uncomfortable on the coast but in the centre and NT (outside of Troppo season, anyway!) and northern WA it can be damn near 0% , as you know.

Good, warm air but dry as a bone. I suppose that means you need humidification?

Could it be that at this time of year - with high ambient temperatures - pass-over humidification is all you would need?

Did you not say that you frequently go to Oz? In which case could you buy a rig out there and store it with a friend? If not the expensive CPAP machine itself, then how about the bulky humidifier and other stuff, mask, hose, etc?

Doing that would break your problem into two, more easily resolvable parts.

Down Under Don of the heated hoses might be a source of Oz CPAP usage advice. Or try www.cpapaustralia.com.au/ and see what they have to offer.

Tigers Fan

[Tigers Fan]

A price, please

Hi James

I see Intus sell Zzz-PAP's at £199 but can't find a price for the humidifier or for the combined rig. Zzz's US site tells me that the PAP is 110/220 VAC but that the humidifier is 110 VAC. Are these machines not 12 V with a built-in transformer - ah! but if it is in the PAP and mains power is looped back to the humidifier? Can you explain the power circuit for UK models, please, James.

I found that dragging an 'M' Series around the airport in hand luggage was tiresome so a light weight Zzz-PAP may just be the answer for a week away.

Would I be right in saying the humidifier about doubles the volume of the rig - in terms of packing it in hand luggage?

I figure I could justify a second machine as an Xmas present (and put the Blu-ray player down as a pre-Xmas present? Jeez! they're good!)

Tigers Fan

[James @ Intus]

That's correct, the humidifier is useless outside the States (which is why we removed it from our shop). It needs 110V and can't run off 12V. They are expecting a new upgraded model and although they've been quiet on the specs (and ETA), I'm really hoping the new Zzz-PAP will have an internationally capable humidifier.

The Everest 2's humidifier is probably the only exception, it will run off the battery but probably not the entire night so you would still either have to wake up and change the battery or rough it out (and risk running out of juice entirely so the CPAP stops too). Unfortunately, we don't have that one available though but it would have been a great option.

Here's another nice battery operated system, though currently not available in the UK.

So unfortunately there's no ideal system yet. If it was up to me we'd had:

- The new Zzz-PAP with international humidifer
- Everest 2 available consistently
- Some clever, perhaps passive humidification add-on for the BreatheX Journey (let the Ozzie climate heat it)
- That Hoffrichter Point

Then we'd have good choice for everybody!

[Tigers Fan]

Thanks for all the info

Thanks again, James.

I've been flogging around the internet looking for solutions and failing. I'm waiting for Hoffrichter to come back to me with more info but suspect the Point is a non-starter due to price.

The Zzz-PAP and an international humidifier is the way to go - but how old will we be before it arrives? As for their designers who didn't seem to know the world extends beyond the US border!!!!!

Tigers Fan

[wytco0]

Current plans

You raise an interesting point, wytco0, about humidification in Oz. Humidity can be reasonable to uncomfortable on the coast but in the centre and NT (outside of Troppo season, anyway!) and northern WA it can be damn near 0% , as you know.

Good, warm air but dry as a bone. I suppose that means you need humidification?

Hi all, been away for a while so sorry for late replies.

Yes humidity will be very low in the red centre and the temperature will be high!!! I have decided that I am going to take my NHS Resmed machine with the humidifier when I am staying with friends and use it with an inverter and no humidifier in the campervan. If I find the lack of humidity a problem I will try and find a powered site for some on the days on the road.

Did you not say that you frequently go to Oz? In which case could you buy a rig out there and store it with a friend? If not the expensive CPAP machine itself, then how about the bulky humidifier and other stuff, mask, hose, etc?

Doing that would break your problem into two, more easily resolvable parts.

Down Under Don of the heated hoses might be a source of Oz CPAP usage advice. Or try www.cpapaustralia.com.au/ and see what they have to offer.

Tigers Fan

Thats an idea an I will look into it, we got to Oz at least once a year normally for about a month at a time, this will be our 20th trip I think!!

[michelle]

Just been to Rome by Ryan air. Had to put machine etc in my bag, to take on as hand luggage, had 10kgs allowance, CPAP weighed 2kg with humidifier. When I used it in Rome, the transformer overheated, so spent 3 days with no CPAP. Hope not to put you off, have a lovely holiday, sounds great. Michelle