(Part 2) Best products from r/SleepApnea

I have the ResMed S9 and I'm pretty happy with it, but there's definitely room for improvement. First, there is absolutely no reason to have the tube go out the back (other than to make it look pretty). If there's some mechanical reason for air to exit the back, then at least include an elbow with a swivel. In fact, the elbow/swivel ought to be standard equipment on every machine. If you want to make it pretty, then put a clock on it--not some dinky thing that's only readable when you're standing right over it, but a real replacement for the standard bedside clock (with an alarm too). Next, we all need better connectivity, so Bluetooth or wi-fi is a must. Integration with phone apps and sleep tracking would also be helpful. Also, wi-fi could eliminate the need for expensive modems and cumbersome SD cards. Next, the humidifier should have more options. Many folks in cooler climates like the warm, moist air; I prefer cool, moist air. Why not make a humidifier with a larger surface area in contact with the water, but that's not heated? [Here's a random example.]. Lastly, no matter how good our current mask is, we'd all like a better one. Better fit, more comfortable, easier to tolerate. (A monumental task.) Good luck.

Some type of heavy foam to cushion the strap? At least on the back of the head. Maybe there is some type of heavy shoe inserts that is foamy or of a gel type that would work and can be trimmed. Not sure how to keep it in place to align up with the strap. Might also find some lighter material that can cushion the nose area. Something spongy like maybe made out of the material they make those makeup sponges out of for foundation for women. It is similar to the spongy material they sell as padding for the nose rest on a pair of eyeglasses.

I'm really good at modifying things and designing solutions to things I just wish I were closer to you and I would help you in person. I'm in the San Diego area.

My other suggestion is to entirely change the way you are treating apnea and switch up the mask situation. usually you require a visit to your sleep apnea doctor and they will have a representative that can offer you various options and often when I go in they have the latest inventions in sleep apnea masks to show me.

I don't know if this would be an option due to anatomy and severity of sleep apnea, but I have changed my mask multiple times before I was able to truly get the treatment that I need. I use a mask that has headgear and sits snugly and gently under the nose, but I am thinking of switching to one that is an upgrade of the same mask that also goes over the mouth. Before I do this, I am probably going to try some headgear that someone shared a link to recently that is from Amazon that helps keep the jaw closed, because that is one of my biggest issues. I always put a small piece of clear medical tape over my lips vertically, about three eighths of an inch wide piece of tape from top to bottom lip to just keep my lips together but it doesn't necessarily hold the jaw shut. For me it did greatly reduce the mouth-breathing, though. I don't know the name of the mask right now it's the Dream something or other. I only use the nasal pillow that rests beneath your nose right now, there are no parts that actually go into the nose. It's done okay for me, but my sleep apnea might not be quiet as bad as yours as I have no weight issues to complicate things. The rep from the company showed me an example of the one that goes over the mouth also, and it really is comfortable and not at all obnoxious to wear. It attaches to a separate strap that has magnets that hold it to the mouth part of the mask.

I suggest finding a type of mak that doesn't have to seal over your entire face and get something that just goes around the nose underneath and trying a good jaw strap that will help you. The one I saw advertised and mentioned here, I believe it was under $20. If I can find the link I will add it below, let me take a look...

Here .. https://www.amazon.com/Anti-Snoring-Chin-Strap-Effective/dp/B07984PQS1

I feel you friend. I also went camping but did take one of those car jump all in one batteries along with a 12 volt power adapter for my machine. it had worked the previous camping trip for about three to four days just fine. But this time, it died at 1 a.m. the first night and I was awake the rest of the night. I simply cannot sleep without my cpap at this point. The rest of the trip was a misery, next night slept in the passenger seat of my Prius with the CPAP plugged and car on (on but not running). trying to sleep in a seat sucks, but the car turned itself off every hour so it was hardly any better than that first night. I believe the next night I slept in the bed of a truck with a CPAP plugged in in the truck (again, on but not running) through the little back window and it worked much better. Until it rained.

So the NEXT camping trip I got my shit together.

Get a deep marine battery. These are designed to power small things on a boat and are used to the small dribble of electricity over a long period of time. Get a battery box to place it in for safety, and a battery tender to charge it before the trip. You'll want a ring terminal harness to attach to the battery posts, and a female 12 volt adapter to plug your machine into.

The box contains everything safely with just the plugs you want sticking out the slots in the lid, but if there's small children in the camp you may want to ratchet strap it closed to be on the safe side.

I got battery and box at my local walmart. The rest from Amazon.


Female cigarette adapter:
Battery Tender Black 081-0069-8 Female Cigarette Adaptor for Quick Disconnect https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0041CDPQO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_173UCbVCXJH0M

Ring terminal harness:

Battery Tender 081-0069-6 Ring Terminal Harness with Black Fused 2-Pin Quick Disconnect Plug https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NCOKZQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_7-3UCbPET1K8N

Battery tender to charge your battery:

Battery Tender 12 Volt Junior Automatic Battery Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CITK8S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Ak4UCbQYJBZCA

And of course you'll need to get the 12 volt power adapter. Look up the model maker of your CPAP machine and Google away to see where you can find one. I looked for my manual and then I found the one that was recommended in the manual along with recommendations. Mine recommends I do not use the water chamber when using the 12 volt power adapter due to power consumption and no way am I risking the battery running out of power before the trip is over. I got the adapter from a generic CPAP supplies website.

Good luck! I'm going camping this summer I hope my setup still works!

I usually camp out of state with family and have a few nights in a house before heading home. I always bring a new face mask new filter and even a new hose if I have one as after camping the machine reeks of woodsmoke and it drives me absolutely batty.


Edited to fix oh so many typos.

PS: I will edit the links more pretty when I'm on a desktop sorry about the non pretty formatting

To piggy back off others:

1. lose weight is option 1. You didn't mention if you're overweight or healthy so this generic statement is being mentioned. If you're overweight and losing weight can help and/or cure your apnea, well that's just about the biggest motivation in the world to start a weight loss journey.
   
   
2. I tried 5 masks before I found one I can sleep all night with. Yes, FIVE masks. I was fortunate that my insurance was covering all of this, but the fifth mask finally worked. Every other mask I would take off in the middle of the night. The Dreamwear mask is the one that worked the best. But I was still taking the mask off at first. I then switched to the medium nasal part instead of the small. I've been golden ever since.
   
   If you're skinny and have already tried a dozen different masks, then this advice will not help you in any way. From what I've researched, you need to explore the MMA surgury if you've truly tried a dozen masks and are skinny.
   
   Best of luck!

I never found cleaning to be effective. The machine is just compressing room air and pushing it over the water in the humidifier.

I did add an antibacterial inline filter like this one between the mask and hose. One lasts me about a month. The other thing I did was put my humidifier heat to it's lowest setting for dry winter days, and off completely most of the year.

I always had difficulty breathing through my nose my entire life. TBH, I grew up in the days when everyone smoked cigarettes everywhere--restaurants, offices, homes. So even though I never smoked, I still got the full benefits of second-hand smoke.

Fast-forward to 2001, when I was diagnosed, I still had trouble breathing through my nose. I struggled with masks and found the only ones I could tolerate were the nasal prong masks.

I also had significant weight to lose, and about five years ago started a keto diet. That entailed eliminating sugars and grains from my diet. Both of those are inflammatory foods. Eliminating them helped me to lose 85 lbs. over the next year.

To my surprise, though, my bones stopped aching from head to toe almost immediately after I transitioned to that way of eating--and over the next year I gradually realized my sinuses had stopped being constantly congested.

I still have seasonal allergies, but since one of them is to grasses, and grains are grasses, the connection seems pretty clear to me. But the good news is that OTC allergy meds work effectively during the couple of months a year I need them.

Good luck to you!

I doubt they have a guaranteed universal fit, but they are pretty darn universal by mask type.

I use a full face mask (ResMed F20), and here is the cover I use: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MT4CDMG/

It's a little fussy to get it in exactly the right place, but I only use retinol 2-3x a week, so I just skip the mask cover on the other nights. I was using it every night for a little while, and it's totally doable, just slightly annoying (but better than burning your face by sealing off active ingredients with silicone!)

My friend and neighbor has a distiller he bought from Amazon, I believe it's the one in the link below. He needs distilled water for other reasons, but when I started needing it all the time for my machine he offered to make me an extra gallon or 2 a week (I also use for my humidifiers etc.) Really extends life of coffee pots, steam mops, irons too, if needing an excuse to invest. I just lucked out I knew someone who already had one nearby.

https://www.amazon.com/CO-Z-Stainless-Distiller-Distilling-Countertop/dp/B078GHJ921/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=distiller&qid=1573501135&sr=8-5

This mask https://www.amazon.com/Onyix-Silicone-Hydrating-Nighttime-Relief/dp/B01IIFECDY?ref_=ast_sto_dp saved my eyes. It makes a gentle seal around the eyes, and is soft and comfortable to wear. It completely blocks out the air from the CPAP.

Definitely don't blame you for looking to fix it. I've tried a lot of things including a bumper belt as side sleeping helps me. Currently a wedge pillow is helping me in combination with my cpap.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KKPKOFK/

Why not use a small battery back up ?

You’ll regret not bringing it.

Something like this is light weight.

Freedom CPAP Battery Standard Kit - Number 1 Most Advanced, Longest Lasting CPAP Battery https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H637L82/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_E.9JBb9M89A2V

And if you plan to go backpacking a lot you could invest in the resmed mini.

https://www.resmed.com/us/en/consumer/products/devices/airmini.html

I've had very good luck with this.

http://www.amazon.com/Grinding-Mouth-Guard-Sleep-BioGrind/dp/B00D3LKWNI

Thanks - I know the DC-AC-DC is inefficient. Was really hoping that this was a simple out of the box solution, but may not be.

Here's a twist - it's possible to gut and convert the basic Ego battery chargers into a DC power supply by using a buck transformer - I was looking at doing this for a separate ham radio project that needs a portable 13.8V power supply (I have two spare basic chargers just gathering dust - you get one with each lawn tool). Basically you use the shell of the charger that has the interface for the Ego battery terminals, and pop your own buck converter in with your desired plug on the end. There's buck transformers that take 30-60V in and produce 24VDC out (e.g. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D266YWS/ref=psdc_10967761_t1_B01CUA4N4Q ) at 15A - would that be sufficient? Then the trick is finding the correct plug for the ResMed - I found a thread that indicates it's a 7.4 x 5.0mm which is the same as an older HP laptop power supply. I might be able to construct my own Ego/ResMed DC-DC converter if I can source the plug.

you can buy the cushion to interchange with the frame.

you’ll also need the full face adjustable straps to securely wear the full face cushion

only those two you’ll need! the rest is the same - whatever size your nasal cushion is now (probably small or medium) is the size full face you’ll buy. The sizing is only measuring how far your nose comes out under your nostrils length wise

I sleep sitting up. I could not handle sleeping on my side, and do not like the idea of the machine; so sleeping reclined it is. Not diagnosed because that costs monies, but I do snore very loud, and wake up tired. Lately I have been waking up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom which can be a sign as well. Sleeping reclined has helped quite a bit. I feel better during the day and do not feel like I am going to fall asleep at work or in traffic.

I will be picking up one of these to help eventually.

Personally for local or camping (not air travel) I like the 35-55 AH AGM SLA scooter batteries. (SLA = sealed lead acid aka non-spillable) If you turn of heated hose & humidification (passover humidification is okay) they will last a few nights. See the ResMed battery guide for more detailed run estimates at https://www.resmed.com/us/dam/documents/articles/198103_battery-guide_glo_eng.pdf.

Basic list of parts you need:

• Battery https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K8E0WAG
  
• Battery box https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002WCUIC4 (optional but nice to have)
  
• eyelet terminal cigarette adapter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G8WLW2Y (optional for ResMed)
  
• battery charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004LWVEKS or similar
  
  Depending on which CPAP machine you have:
  
  
• ResMed DC adapter https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed-dc-converter-airsense-aircurve-10-machines
  
• Philips DC adapter https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-dreamstation-shielded-dc-cord
  
  Edit: the cigarette adapter is only optional for ResMed since it comes with a clamp adapter - Philips does not. I'd still get one though since it can bolt to the battery terminals.

I sleep on this cervical pillow that I got from my chiropractor when on my back. It helps a LOT with my neck and head position, and I sleep way better.

I can't sleep on my side on this pillow with my cpap however (The vents on the front of my mask blow right onto the pillow and it makes a lot of noise and blows back onto my face), so when I switch to my side I switch pillows. (I have a "My Pillow" for side sleeping)

I have a collection, for every need, which annoys my husband. ;)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000H2Y78M?aaxitk=8NUs0i8j6VHnrl2yKqS-Zw&pd_rd_i=B000H2Y78M&pf_rd_p=44fc3e0f-4b9e-4ed8-b33b-363a7257163d&hsa_cr_id=6072806950201&sb-ci-n=asinImage&sb-ci-v=https%3A%2F%2Fm.media-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F51JRVYvTz0L.jpg&sb-ci-a=B000H2Y78M

yep, i bought both pieces on amazon for about $40 total. nice to have the option if needed, and keep the hose connection at the top of my head

it helps with congestion, but i didn't get a good seal with it. perhaps because of my beard. after my congestion cleared up i switched back to the nasal mask

mask (med size, but get whatever equivalent is to your nasal)

headgear

I agree make sure it’s some sort of auto adjusting CPAP.

If you decide to use it buy all new accessories for it. Mask, hose, and filters. Also don’t just get the filters for the back of the machine. We use these filters for our multi patient use CPAP machines in the sleep center.

I just recently bought this one on Amazon, so if you end up wanting to trying, there's an easy to get it:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01G0NXCWS/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I use a wedge pillow (in the lower position), and find that I sleep so much better. The only hard part is that I find myself sliding down on occasion - but a quick re-position, and I'm back in-place.

I could tolerate my CPAP without it - but it is so much more comfortable with it. I just miss it when I'm at hotels...

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B009HHLBKK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

I also have an AirSense 10 Autoset. The power "brick" provided with the unit is a conventional 120-240 VAC to DC converter. With the Ego Lawn Mower and Inverter you're converting electricity from DC to AC to DC. There will be substantial power-to-heat losses due to less-than-optimum efficiency of the power conversion.

Additionally, the AC output of the Ego Inverter (see manual, page 9) is limited to 150 Watts. At 120 Volts, this means that the current maximum it allows is 1.25 Amp. The maximum current demand that the AirSense 10 requires is 1.50 Amp. This is why the inverter's overheat is being triggered and it cuts power to your APAP; too much current is being demanded by the unit for the inverter's circuitry to handle.

I recommend following Resmed's Battery Guide using stand-alone, deep-cycle batteries.

I take my AirSense 10 camping and I recently purchased the following items, totaling to $205.56

1. $68.99 12V 35AH Group U1 Deep Cycle Scooter Battery
   
2. $11.36 Group U1 Snap-Top Battery Box
   
3. $45.03 Battery Tender Plus 1.25 Amp Battery Charger
   
4. $69.99 Rockpals DC Converter Compatible with S10 CPAP Series
   
5. $10.19 Battery Tender Female Cigarette Adaptor for Quick Disconnect
   
   12V 35AH batteries ship factory-charged. If used with tube heating and humidification switched off, and maximum IPAP pressure of 16 cm H2O then a single battery will last you for two 8-hour nights. See Page 7 of Resmed's Battery Guide for details of power consumption if using any of the heat settings.
   
   I hope this helps. Feel free to ask me questions.

Get some blue light filtering glasses. I got the cheapest ones I could find on Amazon and they have been a game changer already. Here are the ones I got, if that's helpful. https://www.amazon.com/Bluelight-Blocking-Computer-Headache-Transparent/dp/B07T46YKB2

Your most reliable and easy to use bet would be something like https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-24-Battery-AirMini-AirSense-Devices/dp/B07C8734MB assuming they make something similar for your specific device.


You can leave them plugged in in-line with your machine all the time, and it'll kick in when the power goes out.


I'm not sure a couple outages a year for a couple hours is worth that to you or not, you could also just as easily just go without the machine for those hours, depends on how much that'll ruin your day or your wife's sleep.


Something like the above would also work, but you're not likely to leave it plugged in all the time, so there's going to be some set-up cost when the power goes out. As folks here point out, you'll get more hours out of the device if you have the DC adapter for your device, might mean more if you don't want to have to switch back off of it when the power goes back on, if you want it to last the whole night. With humidifier, that one might last a full night, or it might not, and probably won't if you're using the AC plug.

When your face was swollen was it tender? If so, I'd hazard a guess that it might be a sinus infection. You really should see a doc about it if you can afford it.

As for what is in the tank, does your machine have an air filter and what shape is it in? That's the only way I can imagine a lot of stuff getting into your tank. Also, did you routinely run your CPAP till the tank dried out? Other than that, the only thing I can think of is that maybe your distilled water isn't distilled.

Finally, you might be interested in these. I don't use them myself, so can't comment on their effectiveness.

I got this chin strap and it works well enough, at least cuts my waking up in half

It'll do until I can afford a sleep study 😂
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07984PQS1/ref=mp_s_a_1_9_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1536155135&sr=8-9&keywords=chin+strap+sleep+apnea&dpPl=1&dpID=51DeSX32p-L&ref=plSrch