cpap machines

[Jerry Adams]

Several times people have asked about cpap machines.  They’re so heavy, and the batteries are heavy it’s difficult to carry backpacking

consumer reports article on alternatives

https://www.consumerreports.org/health/sleep-apnea/best-cpap-alternatives-for-sleep-apnea-a1399578743/

they mentioned that “inspire” device that’s heavily advertised on TV

there’s this device “eXciteOSA” that trains your tongue – 20 minutes a couple times per week.  Then you don’t have to use cpap.  If it works.  Approved in 2021.

sleep on your side, not your back

maybe you don’t need to worry about mild sleep apnea

a little bit more information that might be useful

ask your doctor about it, don’t rely on anonymous internet users or consumer publications

[Abraham Schlossberg]

May work for obstructive sleep apnea but not central sleep apnea, unfortunately

[Alex (he/him)]

I bought a ResMed AirMini and a lithium battery. Not cheap, but not too many pounds for short trips.

I’m 38 and healthy and have the physical capability to carry extra stuff safely for sleep comfort – and I do because sleep is a priority for me!

[Sam Farrington]

Found that Breathe Right strips were all that was needed, whether camping or home, to clear up snoring or other breathing difficulties.  This was after sleep tests etc. by Docs who prescribed heavy CPAP gear, which was returned to the source.  Am I the only one who has had this experience?

[Jerry Adams]

I tried breath right strips and they didn’t work

I have mild sleep apnea.  My original doctor told me how to manually set the pressure to minimum.  Each morning it shows the AHI, and with the minimum pressure, 4PSI, my AHI is about 3.

My doctor retired so I went to a new one a few years later.  She said setting the pressure manually was illegal and said it was imperative I put it at a much higher pressure as indicated by the sleep test.  I just ignored that and put it back to minimum.

Then, I went to a new doctor for some other reason and I asked him about the sleep apnea.  He said setting it to minimum was fine.

The new doctor also said that mild sleep apnea should only be treated for patient comfort, there’s little risk to health. So, really, my whole experience with cpap was mostly unnecessary.  I still use it because I don’t find it uncomfortable and it might help my health a little.

My sleep test said I had mild sleep apnea when sleeping on my back, but I’m fine on my side.  For camping I just sleep on my side.  I normally do this anyway.

Some doctors don’t give good advice.

Also, as new evidence appears, the best treatment can change.

There is a pulse oxymeter you can put on your finger and it records oxygen level all night.  And it tells you what your AHI is.  I’m too lazy to get this.  That would be useful to tell if you need to use a cpap.

 

[jscott]

Supposedly I have ‘extreme’ apnea.  I wonder. At the end of the day, ya gotta ask  yourself, ‘do I feel better during the day and sleep better at night with cpap?’ For me the answer is a resounding Yes. So I gladly use cpap every night.

I tried all kinds of nasal strips and such while backpacking;  nothing really worked. No matter, I still slept pretty well while hiking. I think those dental appliances that treat apnea may be a good substitute for cpap while hiking. but they’re expensive and many folks find they’re painful. those devices are certainly light weight.

Once I developed atrial fibrillation(since fixed) I was REALLY sold on cpap. There’s a strong correlation  between afib and  apnea.

[Jerry Adams]

I wonder if the eXciteOSA works.  Since it was only approved in 2021 there probably isn’t a lot of experience with it.  It exercises your tongue.

I have read anecdotal reports that playing a digeridoo exercises your tongue and accomplishes the same thing.

I think those would only help a little, like if you had mild sleep apnea.

[Alex (he/him)]

I looked into the dental appliance. The specialist I talked to said it wouldn’t work for me because my throat narrows far down my neck and the dental appliance only affects the part near the jaw.

So anyway – talk to your doctors.

I “only” have mild apnea, but I tried backpacking with no CPAP (sleeping on my side, as is my usual way) and slept so badly that it just wasn’t fun.

So I went on a multi-hundred dollar journey to get a travel CPAP and a battery and a little  crate to keep the quilt fabric away from the CPAP air intake on nights when it’s cold and I keep the CPAP in the foot of my quilt. It’s worth it to me, but I’m blessed to have some discretionary funds and the capability to healthily carry extra weight and cursed with bad sleep.

[jscott]

 

 

Alex has done  all the important things. True, backpacking without being able  to sleep much is misery and not worth it.

meanwhile, I did see  this,  which is new to me. For some it may be a better than nothing option  when out hiking.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/mytap-oral-appliance-for-sleep-apnea?utm_source=criteo&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=Retargeting&utm_id=417006&cto_pld=EMgWNf55AQDDHoLRsUUdDw

[Axel J]

With my diagnosis of OSA, the doctor said he would prescribe the oral appliance, CPAP or Inspire, my choice. As a backpacker, I decided to go with the mouth piece and chose that over the Inspire because the implanted battery that Inspire requires would disqualify me from any MRI study I might need in the future. After a year of nightly use, my TMJs were starting to be chronically achy so I gave it up and switched to CPAP and glad that I did. I currently use in ResMed Airsense 11. After the doctor reviewed the data from the machine, he told me my apnea was essentially gone. I still only get about six hours of sleep a night but the quality is much better. There is now an AirSense Mini but that isn’t in the budget for now, so when camping, I still take the mouthpiece. It works, but not nearly as well as the AirSense.

As a sidenote, there was a simple neoprene strap that came with my CPAP prescription designed to keep your mouth closed while sleeping and on CPAP. I only used it  a couple of times. Using the mask and the strap, it was all a bit too much going on around the face so I gave up on it. For backpacking however,  I think I will try it again, who knows, maybe that’s all I needed all along, just something simple to keep my mouth shut while sleeping.

[jscott]

Axel, I use a soft neck collar–like those for folks who’ve had neck issues or sugery–that can be bought at CVS. The collar keeps me from tucking my chin, which closes off my airway. I use it nightly along with Cpap, but it’s another lightweight option for those with apnea caused by “chin tuck”.

P.s  sleep therapists are busy and often overlook this last possibility entirely.

[Sam Farrington]

Jerry and jscott et al;

Thank you for the insights.  Clearly the problem for me was in the interior nasal area, and suggests why the breathe right strips were effective.  I also keep Austin air cleaners with the “Plus” filters on at low setting, but running all the time in the bedroom and living room where the most time is spent.  The well water also has a radon removal device and a Pentair all purpose filter, and I drink only Poland Spring water at home.

That probably sounds overdone to most; however, years ago when taking care of several cats for some family and friends, they all suffered from short lives (the cats I mean).  After switching to Poland Spring, my cats have all lived at least 15 years and longer.

So while I live surrounded by national forest land, there is a highway serving tourism and a truck route just 500 feet away, and my neighbor and I have both had types of cancer; fortunately that succumbed to treatment.  So I believe that even in the boonies, there is a great deal of pollution and air contamination.  Still, I think that hiking and backpacking in wilderness areas during most of my life has also been helpful.  Don’t even use a smart phone; but more to keep from polluting my brain than the rest of me.  But as far as pulmonary issues go, some precautions definitely seem to have been helpful in improving the quality of life.  Sam, in Chocorua NH

[Tom D.]

Just had a sleep study done last night. The technician said he thinks I’ll do better with a CPAP but said my situation wasn’t severe. Gotta wait for the doctor’s interpretation of the data.

If the technician is correct, then thankfully I won’t need to carry one on the trail, though I’ll be using one at home.

[Author]

Posts