CPAP, Lets Talk

[shootist~]

+1 on looking into the Resmed Travel CPAP, but only after you get acclimated the Airsense 11. Until you get dependent on the 11, you "might" be able to do without it for awhile. Something to discuss with your Doc.

The Resmed Travel CPAP (Air Mini) does not use a water tank, and therefore uses less electricity.

The 11 is probably usable without the water tank, I haven't checked. (My 10 needed an adaptor and the Travel version made more sense at the time, and was recommended by my NP service provider.)

I have two Freedom batteries and slept using battery power due to nightly power outages.

For future reference, note that Resmed makes a small filter called a HumidX. This plugs into the inside of their F20 face mask and helps you retain moisture when the water tank / humidifier is not used.

 

[farrokhrt]

I used CPAP machines for 25 years since I had a severe sleep apnea. Went through 4 machines. I kept a battery pack for power out nights I bought on Amazon for about $350. Last year i was really tired of the darn machine waking up with sore nose or eye with parts of mask poking! I started on Zepbound injections as it is the only drug FDA approved for treating sleep apnea. It worked for me as my latest sleep study 4 months ago indicated I didn’t have the problem and don’t need CPAP treatment! What a blessing. Of course, there is an implanting device for treating sleep apnea but not everyone qualifies using it for medical reasons.

 

[uplander01]

Once you get used to it (I use resmed airsense) you will sleep better than ever before. The key is the right mask, I use dream wisp, only cover the nose. I take mine with me to africa, out of 5 safaris only one had power completely off at night. An alternate battery source works too. And honestly 4 hours on the machine is like 8 without it, and you can’t really compare the sleep. Sleep apnea is a real thing and can cause serious health problems, aside from that your body needs restorative sleep or long term fatigue and muscle weakness will set it.

 

[lhook7]

The VA is fitting me for one when I get back from SCI. I travel an about 70% of the time for work, so I’m hoping I can get one from them that will work for my schedule.

 

[JimP]

The VA is fitting me for one when I get back from SCI. I travel an about 70% of the time for work, so I’m hoping I can get one from them that will work for my schedule.

@Ihook7
I just got back from a hunt down in Arizona. We did stay in a motel for a week so I didn't need any remote power for my machine.

I did take a 6' extension cord with me and a gallon of distilled water in a bottle with a screw on cap. We also stayed in a motel on the way down for one night and I didn't want to haul that gallon bottle with me so I had a separate 16 oz water bottle that I had filled with distilled water.

But I can see a problem if you are flying trying to convince TSA about that separate bottle of distilled water. But the nice thing is that you can get distilled water just about anywhere including convince stores.

On my last hunt in South Africa I let the manager know that I would like some distilled water for my sinus rinses. She had no idea of what it was, and I explained it to her. I figured that I'd have to suffer and took a few extra small bottles of sinus spray with me. When I got there I found a gallon of Battery Water in my room, different countries different names.

As a fyi, I have no idea if it really helps but it appears that it does. I got some baby wipes and each night before bed I'll take one and wipe down the mask cushion both inside and outside. It seams like I have less chances of leaking air around the seal and can see zero leakage on my app that I have on my phone where I can track what is happening.

 

[lhook7]

@Ihook7
I just got back from a hunt down in Arizona. We did stay in a motel for a week so I didn't need any remote power for my machine.

I did take a 6' extension cord with me and a gallon of distilled water in a bottle with a screw on cap. We also stayed in a motel on the way down for one night and I didn't want to haul that gallon bottle with me so I had a separate 16 oz water bottle that I had filled with distilled water.

But I can see a problem if you are flying trying to convince TSA about that separate bottle of distilled water. But the nice thing is that you can get distilled water just about anywhere including convince stores.

On my last hunt in South Africa I let the manager know that I would like some distilled water for my sinus rinses. She had no idea of what it was, and I explained it to her. I figured that I'd have to suffer and took a few extra small bottles of sinus spray with me. When I got there I found a gallon of Battery Water in my room, different countries different names.

As an fyi, I have no idea if it really helps but it appears that it does. I got some baby wipes and each night before bed I'll take one and wipe down the mask cushion both inside and outside. It seams like I have less chances of leaking air around the seal and can see zero leakage on my app that I have on my phone where I can track what is happening.

Thank you for the advice! I appreciate it.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

So with advancing age and a couple of health conditions I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea and am now on a CPAP machine. While there is no problem with it 99% of the time I was wondering what those of you that use one do on our remote type or powerless hunts.

I haven't talked to my supplier for my machine yet but need to look into a 12 volt adapter and then the battery pack to work with it. Pretty much all of my hunting will be done with a vehicle in the area of camp but I really don't want to have to depend on the vehicles batteries. I also haven't investigated the power draw of my machine which is a Resmed Airsense 11 but will researching it along with talking to my respiratory therapist to see what they recommend.

I've seen smaller travel type machines and that may be the route that I go but for now how do any of you take care of it while on a hunt?

I've been using a CPAP for many years now, I simply would not not use one. I also have the Airsense 11 for use at home. A few years ago I got the Airmini for travel.

When I bought it, I also got one of those Lithium batteries so that I could use it on a plane. This was before most jets went to having power sockets available. So it's great to have when traveling by airplane, but the battery generally doesn't get used there.

However, I've now taken it to Uganda and Mozambique. Both of those camps had generators to power up batteries at the tents. These tents had inverters. The Uganda camp's setup I could just use the power overnight. For some reason in Mozambique at night the power was kind of goofy and the Airmini didn't work quite like it should when plugged in. So I charged the battery during the day while out hunting and used the battery to power the Airmini at night when I was sleeping.

I always travel now with the Airmini with the battery as a backup if needed. Most camps now it seems at least have generators that work during the day. So I suggest you go this route. The Airmini's are certainly not cheap, but your health is worth more.

 

[JimP]

I won't say that I'm done hunting Africa since I do have a couple more animals that I would like to go after but for now I'm just chasing pronghorn, elk, mule deer, and perhaps a couple others here in the Mountain West.

I will usually have a vehicle in camp so weight won't be a problem but there is always the "what if" a chance occurs that I can't pass up.

That along with being 73 does slow me down a little.

 

[Challer]

You don't want to haul around the 11. Get the Mini for travel. The largest battery pack you can take on a plane is 100kwH so buy one of those. I use Anker. It'll do what you need overnight. I also use a USB-C to ResMed cable - no reason to do AC.

This one works great.

Amazon.com