Need help with CPAP for camper

[_DJ_1]

Fairly new to CPAP. The VA bought mine and it is strictly 110 volt. I thought no problem just get an inverter. Got a Schumacher 410 watt. Runs the CPAP OK but every time I take a breath in, the inverter runs then quits when I breathe out. The cooling fan on the inverter is noisy and very annoying since it does not run constantly.

I doubt if my VA Dr would write a prescription for a 12 volt model that I could go buy myself.

So, just wondering what others do. 12 volt machine or are there quiet inverters or put up with the noise?

Thanks.......DJ

[Larryect]

Wrace wrote:
I had my sleep doctor make an interesting comment during my appointment a couple of weeks ago.

As I mentioned, he is a big proponent of the newer machines that are capable of gathering meaningful data for analysis. In addition he is a proponent of the patient taking responsibility for their treatment with guidance from an MD as appropriate. He is aware and occasionally reads the various apnea discussion forums, and he is aware of the sleepyhead software. He thinks all that is good and an educated patient is a good thing.

That said, he mentioned that as much as he likes analyzing data from the machines and making the appropriate adjustments as needed, he also said that he has to guard against becoming overly 'obsessed' with the data alone. He is a sleep doctor and while treating apnea events is of course a large part of his practice, there other things that also contribute to poor sleep. Such as environmental issues (noise, disruptions, mattress, pillow etc), medical issues such as other conditions, illnesses, diseases, and certain OTC and/or prescription meds among other things.

He thought I might be similarly overly focused on the apnea data and that the real goal is to have the patient have good quality sleep throughout the night such that they have good energy throughout the following day.

I thought that was interesting, especially since I tend to want to have hard mathematically quantifiable direct data when making decisions about various things. (not just sleep quality) Life is not always so black and white I suppose.

All true. Proper Management of diagnosed OSA is an important part of that though.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

I know I can use a BiPAP that initiates auto inhalation after 30 seconds of inactivity. But to argue and require a sleep study then argue some more is both stupid and expensive for me. Sleep M.D.s are intimidated with CSA mixed with OSA.

But blood O2 levels are irrefutable. NO US MD is going to risk his license ignoring a patient's corroborated complaint that Rx'd therapy is not preventing blood O2 level from dropping into the eighties.

[sayoung]

~DJ~ wrote:
Fairly new to CPAP. The VA bought mine and it is strictly 110 volt. I thought no problem just get an inverter. Got a Schumacher 410 watt. Runs the CPAP OK but every time I take a breath in, the inverter runs then quits when I breathe out. The cooling fan on the inverter is noisy and very annoying since it does not run constantly.

I doubt if my VA Dr would write a prescription for a 12 volt model that I could go buy myself.

So, just wondering what others do. 12 volt machine or are there quiet inverters or put up with the noise?

Thanks.......DJ

I bought a "refurbished" cpap just for the camper.make sure it will run on 12V since you like to dry camp.They will run several nights on one 12volt car battery.

[Wrace]

I had my sleep doctor make an interesting comment during my appointment a couple of weeks ago.

As I mentioned, he is a big proponent of the newer machines that are capable of gathering meaningful data for analysis. In addition he is a proponent of the patient taking responsibility for their treatment with guidance from an MD as appropriate. He is aware and occasionally reads the various apnea discussion forums, and he is aware of the sleepyhead software. He thinks all that is good and an educated patient is a good thing.

That said, he mentioned that as much as he likes analyzing data from the machines and making the appropriate adjustments as needed, he also said that he has to guard against becoming overly 'obsessed' with the data alone. He is a sleep doctor and while treating apnea events is of course a large part of his practice, there other things that also contribute to poor sleep. Such as environmental issues (noise, disruptions, mattress, pillow etc), medical issues such as other conditions, illnesses, diseases, and certain OTC and/or prescription meds among other things.

He thought I might be similarly overly focused on the apnea data and that the real goal is to have the patient have good quality sleep throughout the night such that they have good energy throughout the following day.

I thought that was interesting, especially since I tend to want to have hard mathematically quantifiable direct data when making decisions about various things. (not just sleep quality) Life is not always so black and white I suppose.

[Larryect]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
If you go to high altitude please take a small O2 cylinder with you. .5 is enough to see you through the night if your O2 drops, then you an bail to lower altitude. With hypoxia to the sixties your risk of infarction was truly frightening. I am going to try a low frequency metronome to try and outwit CSA on myself. Audio rhythm cortex stimulus may or may not play a positive role. We shall see.

Will keep that in mind.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

If you go to high altitude please take a small O2 cylinder with you. .5 is enough to see you through the night if your O2 drops, then you an bail to lower altitude. With hypoxia to the sixties your risk of infarction was truly frightening. I am going to try a low frequency metronome to try and outwit CSA on myself. Audio rhythm cortex stimulus may or may not play a positive role. We shall see.

[Larryect]

Okay, Looks like I am staying mostly between 90 - 95%. A few brief dips below 90 but never down to 88.

A little hard to read the exact numbers on the chart on the software. But they have a line at 88 and the graph doesn't really even come close to it.

I am satisfied that my therapy is working.

[Larryect]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Without delving into personal level issues, please post what you find with regard to blood O2 levels. 🙂

I think I can do that.

When I was first diagnosed around 1994 with a take home testing machine, I was told I was going as low as 65% at night with episodes of not breathing being as long as 90 seconds. These major events would wake me up.

Up until that point getting the insurance referrals, Dr's appts. etc. etc. seemed to be taking a long time and nobody really takes sleeping disorders very seriously. When the test results came back, I think I had the CPAP machine delivered the next day. I don't go anywhere for the night without it. If I can't figure out a way to use the machine - I don't go.........

I have had a couple machines that just didn't seem to be doing the job anymore. Took them into the supplier to have it tested. The techs did a dead-head pressure test and the pressure looked fine. I asked then to do a flow test and they give you a deer in the headlights look. They have no clue there should be 2 tests, pressure and volume. If the machine could not maintain pressure at the prescribed flow requirement there would be a problem when breathing.

After great arm twisting they agreed to replace the machine, and my problems got better. They never agreed the machine was bad.....

[MEXICOWANDERER]

As a lowly ex EMT2 (now paramedic) below 3,000 ft altitude a patient with blood O2 in the 80's gets supplemental O2 and a free ride to the ER. Below 88 things get serious fast. If you see low readings get to a hospital - fast!

Adjustments for altitude compensation need to be done by a qualified M.D. Folks with apnea may with a dictor's endorsement combine therapy with an oxygen concentrator. This is all M.D. stuff but it may allow a borderline patient more flexibility as far as OSA & CSA and altitude restrictions. I NEVER rely on an M.D.'s advice alone. Sleep therapists can offer a treasure trove of info that when counter-checked with an MD often results in a "Oh yeah. That's right". But do not violate the MD's Rx.

[Tiger4x4RV]

We have certainly digressed from the OP's request, but here goes on the O2 question.

Info linked on Medlineplus.gov is screened with vigorous standards. Your taxpayers' dollars at work. Disclaimer: I am a reference librarian, not a health professional; that means I am good at looking up reputable, verified sources and that I do not interpret those sources.

from Medlineplus.gov and the Mayo Clinic:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/hypoxemia/basics/definition/SYM-20050930?p=1 This one says blood O2 levels below 90% are considered to be low.

From Medlineplus.gov and the American Thoracic Society:
http://www.thoracic.org/patients/patient-resources/resources/pulse-oximetry.pdf This one explains pulse oximetry and states that "Normally, more than
89% of your red blood should be carrying oxygen."

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Without delving into personal level issues, please post what you find with regard to blood O2 levels. 🙂

[Larryect]

Good info in this thread. I went and found some interesting software "Sleepyhead" and checked it out. According to it my therapy seems to be working.

I also ordered a recording Pulse Oximeter to see how my O2 level is at night for a verification.

Thx to every one for the good info.

[markchengr]

The "brick" referred to above is a 12VDC to 24VDC converter. Many of the newer machines (including my VPAP) operate on 24VDC. Right now DW and I are running a CPAP and a VPAP through a 400 watt inverter. It works for us with 225 amp hrs batteries and 200 watts solar. Don't need the humidifiers unless we're in the desert.
-Mark.

[pnichols]

Medicare will approve a new replacement CPAP machine every 5 years if a physician will authorize that you still need a CPAP machine at the 5 year points.

You might consider just getting a new CPAP machine. My new CPAP machine comes setup for use with a built-in humidifier that can be turned ON or OFF. However, I had to buy out of my own pocket a brick that allows plugging the machine directly into a 12V receptacle in the RV - so that no inverter is needed and thus using less power from RV batteries than through an inverter.

It will operate from 12 volts with or without it's humidifier being used. The brick cost about $90.