Best portable Auto CPAP machine?
I use a Resmed Airsense 10 - actually have one in each home I reside in, and used medical mode to setup to my needs. I do travel from time to time and need to get a more portable machine, but have no experience with anything other than my AirSense 10's
Any of you who have used and like a particular portable Auto CPAP that I can fully setup on my own, like my AirSense 10, please chime in! I can use all the help I can get!
Thanks
Steve --
RE: Best portable Auto CPAP machine?
Most of us use our home machine for travel. It is the machine we are most used to. An option to that, for those that have a backup machine is to use that for travel.
What kind of travel are you talking about? roughing it off the grid? That requirement is a whole lot different than travel by modern car, bus, plane, rail, and hotels or even campgrounds with power.
RE: Best portable Auto CPAP machine?
While I am not a road warrior, I do travel for a few weeks each year, and I didn't want to pack up my primary machine to have it possibly get damaged. I found a bit of a trick in Ontario when you have private insurance, where you can essentially double-dip by paying the Co-Pay on the Government's Assistive Devices Program (rather than claiming the co-pay through insurance), and then claim 100% of a second device through insurance. As such, I thought having a travel machine as a backup would be a good idea... so I had my insurance pay for the travel device. For the travel machine, I went with the Dreamstation Go for the following reasons...
1. I'm already a Dreamstation APAP user, so it's fairly consistent treatment between the two
2. There is no power brick to carry around with the unit, just a straight cord to the unit (the transformer is contained within the device)
3. There is a modular battery available rather than having to wire one up in series
4. I can use any mask that I want (some travel devices are limited to specific masks)
5. There is a heated humidifier available (but you can't use it when running on battery)
6. All of my data from both machines ends up in the same repository for my Respirologist to review when needed.
Most of the above will vary from person to person... but that is why I chose the Respironics.
RE: Best portable Auto CPAP machine?
(05-08-2019, 01:54 PM)same2you Wrote: While I am not a road warrior, I do travel for a few weeks each year, and I didn't want to pack up my primary machine to have it possibly get damaged. I found a bit of a trick in Ontario when you have private insurance, where you can essentially double-dip by paying the Co-Pay on the Government's Assistive Devices Program (rather than claiming the co-pay through insurance), and then claim 100% of a second device through insurance. As such, I thought having a travel machine as a backup would be a good idea... so I had my insurance pay for the travel device. For the travel machine, I went with the Dreamstation Go for the following reasons...
1. I'm already a Dreamstation APAP user, so it's fairly consistent treatment between the two
2. There is no power brick to carry around with the unit, just a straight cord to the unit (the transformer is contained within the device)
3. There is a modular battery available rather than having to wire one up in series
4. I can use any mask that I want (some travel devices are limited to specific masks)
5. There is a heated humidifier available (but you can't use it when running on battery)
6. All of my data from both machines ends up in the same repository for my Respirologist to review when needed.
Most of the above will vary from person to person... but that is why I chose the Respironics.
Thank you Thank you!
What an incredible post.
I live in Ontario.
I just visited my DME and admired a very small cpap unit. They explained cost was high.$1600. There was no humidifier and there could be no claim through government assistive devices program.
I also use hearing aids. I wonder if this method would help me with a back-up pair too? My concern is losing one...so a backup pair would be great.
RE: Best portable Auto CPAP machine?
I can't speak for hearing aids, but it did work well for CPAP. I'd cover your bases to be certain... I first had a quote for the machine to be claimed through insurance submitted for pre-approval and noted that ADP had already been leveraged on a previous machine. When it came back as being 100% covered, then I went forward with the purchase. In my case, it boiled down to the clause that my insurance company will only cover 1 machine every 5 years; if you claim your ADP co-pay through insurance, then they consider that claim to be your one machine for the next 5 years... so if you do NOT claim your co-pay, then they have not reimbursed you for your one machine and have to cover the total cost (up to your limit, minus any deductible, blah blah blah) of another machine of your choice.
The important thing to note... I believe that ADP is a one-time thing, and they only refresh funds through the program if your machine no longer works, and is out of warranty after 5 years... they do not simply subsidize a new machine every 5 years like insurance does. At least that's what I recall hearing, so the above would only work (purchasing 2 machines) if your live in Ontario (I don't know about the other provinces), have decent private insurance, and have NOT leveraged ADP already.
05-08-2019, 03:01 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-09-2019, 02:59 PM by DaveL.)
RE: Best portable Auto CPAP machine?
That's true.
My first CPAP was used for 8+ years. My sleep doc refused to give me a prescription because it still worked.
By the time I replaced it, it was noisy enough that it would wake the dead.
Good Ole Dr Inouye. Thank heaven he retired.
RE: Best portable Auto CPAP machine?
We travel several times a year, for 2+ weeks at a time, and take several shorter trips as well. I got stopped in Stockholm and told I had to put my CPAP in my carryon, the exemption for medical equipment didn't count there! I was so flustered, I left my passport on the table where I opened my suitcase! (fortunately, they brought it to me) After that trip, I bought myself an AirMini.
I went with the AirMini because it offers the same 3 modes as my AirSense 10 Autoset for Her (CPAP, Autoset, and Autoset for Her). I wasn't thrilled about mask limitations but since I used the humidifier, figured the Humidex might be an acceptable trade off.
My AirSense is silent. I mean SILENT! AirMini is not. Now, I don't sleep in a quiet room, I have to have my meditation music to go to sleep, but the air noise is a bit of an issue. If you try a travel machine (all of them are noisier), be sure you have a trial period. More of an issue was the mask. I HATE the P10! I mean, LOATHE it! So...ssshh, don't tell anyone, I've hacked the hose to use it with any mask. Used it with my former mask (PilairoQ) in Australia/New Zealand in Feb/Mar, and with the Bleep DreamPort, my new fave  , last weekend in MA. Had to give up the humidification, but it is worth it to me!
RE: Best portable Auto CPAP machine?
IF you have the cash I've heard good things about this one.
ResMed AirMini Auto Travel CPAP Machine (can't link since new member)
If you're out of town for a few days it should do the trick.... if you're gonna be out of town a while I'd probably just pack your full-size unit tbh,
RE: Best portable Auto CPAP machine?
Thanks all for your posts...
I purchased an Air mini the other day with the P10 mask...and should have it shortly. It comes with a few of the humidex tabs so I'll see how that works as well...
RE: Best portable Auto CPAP machine?
Hello,
I travel every week for work so having a second machine was a must for myself. I also like to tour by Motorcycle on Road trips so it had to be smaller than my Dreamstation I almost refused the main machine my first words at the DME were how do i take this on a motorcycle trip? The Respiratory therapist showed me a Dreamstation go but said Insurance won't pay for one but it was a option. Within a few months I had purchased a Dreamstation go online way cheaper than DME. My go has about 1500 hours on it in about 17 months I am satisfied with it its very similar to using my home machine. I have the Humidifier and the Battery pack (The Battery wont wok with Humidifier hooked to machine) for it as well but like that I can condense it down to a minimal size when on the Motorcycle. I honestly did not consider any of the other machines because my data must be reviewed yearly for my Commercial Drivers License and the Go makes that about as easy as it can be its not perfect but close. The advantage to having a travel machine is when you get home your machine is always ready no unpacking before going to bed, less risk of it getting broken, and I have spare were something to go wrong with my main machine. I would try to stick with a travel machine that fits your needs and has the features you want and need. One thing about travel machines they tend to be a bit noisier and some people cannot handle that. Good luck in your search for a travel machine.
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