by v17l » Mon 05 Oct, 2015 2:19 pm
hi Darren
when I was looking at a travel cpap, I read all the reviews and things on line that I could. The sleep apnea forum included. It was hard to get an impression of the unit operationally. People gushing about their unit didn't help me understand it. So if there are any questions about it, just ask.
i will weight the cpap and battery when I get home, and post the weights.
The transcend is not a sophisticated unit by anymeans when compared to the resmed. There is no display for you to check your overnight AHI, but apparently it does record your data. My cpap therapist said she can connect her computer and get the info though. This needs to be confirmed.
My resmed is much nicer, put the mask on and breath, and the little fairy in the resmed kicks the unit into action. Not so with the transcend. Operational wise, connect the battery to the transcend, then push the tactile start/stop button and the transend will start. The reverse to stop the transcend. I do get a little mixed up at night, in the dark to find the tactile start/ stop button, as there is another button similar to the start button close by.
At the end of the second night using the battery, it was my impression that the unit just slowed down in terms of breathing pressure. Still worked fine for me, as my AHI is 9.5. YMMV. My cpap therapist has set the machine up as an auto unit, not as a constant pressure.
When I first connected the transcend up to use, there was a constant flow of air, with no regulation. Bit of a worry as as per normal, i didnt bother reading the manual before I went away with the unit. Turns out they supply a small, 50mm junction unit, that fits inline with your hose and the cpap, which required connecting up. Once I did that the unit worked as it should.
The cpap unit is slippery when used on a flat surface, because it is so light, and that they have not put rubber feet on the unit. I use it in the travel case, with my battery as the anchor when I have a slipppery surface. Not a problem, but something to be aware of.
You will hear mention of the cpap being noisy on the net, and whilst it is not as quiet as the resmed, it is quite ok to use. Mrs V17l doesn't notice it at all. I am trying to think of something to compare it to, but can't. Suffice to say, it is not an issue what so every for me. The alternative is way more noisy, having no machine. I do chuckle to myself when my kids are now happy to share accommodation with me when we travel, now I use a cpap machine. Cheeky sods were less than complimrntary of my volume prior to my cpap foray.
Part of the reasoning for buy the transcend, apart from travel, is a temporary back up for my resmed, should the resmed have problems. Touch wood. Could be I was looking for excuses though, as my resmed is a very reliable machine. Prior to the transcend, I had traveled with my resmed interstate, and to singapore and malaysia, without a hitch, the resmed survived. I was just careful then.
One area I mentioned is that the transcend does not have a humidifier. I was worried about waking up to a dry throat in the morning. When I wake up overnight, if I do, I have a drink of water. There are sprays you can get, but I have no knowledge of them. I have faired ok in this regard, but perhaps try it at home on your normal machine, without filling up the humidifiers water tank and see how you go. I am lazy, and dont use the heater humidifier function on my resmed even though I live in a dry desert environment.
hope this helps
stevet