My first Camino Frances after the apnea diagnosis

[Madeleine Jacobs]

I am sharing my cathedral arrival picture with my small mini travel-CPAP! I hope it can give confidence and courage to all other pilgrims with apnea. After the very difficult period and the eventual diagnosis, I knew no better place than the Camino to restore my confidence in my body, than to walk the Camino with the mini super-silent CPAP. Thanks to all my fellow pilgrims in the albergues (including Norfolk-Keith) for accepting and suppporting me. It was not my first Camino Frances, but certainly the most uplifting experience.

 

[malingerer]

I am sharing my cathedral arrival picture with my small mini travel-CPAP! I hope it can give confidence and courage to all other pilgrims with apnea. After the very difficult period and the eventual diagnosis, I knew no better place than the Camino to restore my confidence in my body, than to walk the Camino with the mini super-silent CPAP. Thanks to all my fellow pilgrims in the albergues (including Norfolk-Keith) for accepting and suppporting me. It was not my first Camino Frances, but certainly the most uplifting experience.

Brilliant. The love of my life has sleep apnoea and could bore holes in concrete with snoring ! She has a device but it is big and heavy! Must point out there are " mini super-silent CPAPS "

Take care and best wishes

Samarkand.

 

[J Willhaus]

Congratulations! As a CPAP user myself, I share your celebration of health!

 

[Saint Mike II]

As one who also has apnea having a small portable CPAP (ResMed Mini) is a godsend to me and any sleeping partners. Cheers

 

[TheBigT]

Wow! congratulations from a fellow CPAP user (the one on the left in my profile picture).

 

[malingerer]

As one who also has apnea having a small portable CPAP (ResMed Mini) is a godsend to me and any sleeping partners. Cheers

can this be bought UK?

Thanks

Samarkand.

 

[Madeleine Jacobs]

can this be bought UK?

Thanks

Samarkand.

Hi Malingerer, it is the ResMed Airmini CPAP product, I believe it sells almost everywhere in the developed world.

 

[dougfitz]

I am sharing my cathedral arrival picture with my small mini travel-CPAP! I hope it can give confidence and courage to all other pilgrims with apnea. After the very difficult period and the eventual diagnosis, I knew no better place than the Camino to restore my confidence in my body, than to walk the Camino with the mini super-silent CPAP. Thanks to all my fellow pilgrims in the albergues (including Norfolk-Keith) for accepting and suppporting me. It was not my first Camino Frances, but certainly the most uplifting experience.

Well done. It is good to see that you are not prepared to let your apnoea stop you doing things you want to do.

 

[Sanchoxote]

Well done. I too used a Resmed mini cpap and it worked well. One piece of advice to anyone planning to travel with a cpap, let the albergues
or hostels know you use one ahead of time, so they can plan on putting you near a plug. In most instances now all the dormitory beds have separate plugs, but in two instances it wasn’t that way and they strung an extension cord for me that were ready and waiting when I arrived.
Buen Camino!

 

[WalkingInGers]

Well done. I too used a Resmed mini cpap and it worked well. One piece of advice to anyone planning to travel with a cpap, let the albergues
or hostels know you use one ahead of time, so they can plan on putting you near a plug. In most instances now all the dormitory beds have separate plugs, but in two instances it wasn’t that way and they strung an extension cord for me that were ready and waiting when I arrived.
Buen Camino!

I bring a three plug extension cord with me so that recharge my smartphone as well.

 

[walkingagain]

Hi Madeleine,
Could you share tips with fellow CPAP users on how to have successful CPAP therapy on the camino?
Congratulations on your camino!!!
Thank you,
Hunter

 

[dougfitz]

Hi Madeleine,
Could you share tips with fellow CPAP users on how to have successful CPAP therapy on the camino?
Congratulations on your camino!!!
Thank you,
Hunter

Welcome to the forum.

I suggest that you use the tag cloud or search the forum for the terms CPAP or apnoea/apnea. This is a topic that has been extensively discussed over time, with this topic being discussed most years as people prepare themselves to walk. So there is a lot of relevant and recent material you should be able to find.

 

[Saint Mike II]

can this be bought UK?

Thanks

Samarkand.

I can’t say, maybe a google search . As I said I have a Res-Med mini. It’s about 110mm long and about 65mm wide and 35mm thick. It has the usual attachments but requires a mains power connection. Good luck!

 

[JabbaPapa]

I dunno about these machines -- but then my own sleep apnea is pretty minor, and I'm 250% more likely to be awakened by a need for a pee rather than the apnea.

And really, apart from some **extraordinarily** rare exceptions of a one-in-a-million ultra-snorer Olympic gold medalist, like my dad, snoring bothers me a lot less than a CPAP machine.

I do understand that many people live in urban environments characterised by a constant hum of machinery -- having said that, I was rather grateful to one CPAP user last year, after inquiring if the machine would bother me, made good effort to distance the machine away from me and behind a bed to mitigate the noise as much as possible.

I have at other times lost sleep from these machines though ...

 

[Paul McAmino]

Well done you!
I’ve just begun bringing mine with me, and it’s a game changer.

All the best,
Paul

 

[Quahaug]

I am sharing my cathedral arrival picture with my small mini travel-CPAP! I hope it can give confidence and courage to all other pilgrims with apnea. After the very difficult period and the eventual diagnosis, I knew no better place than the Camino to restore my confidence in my body, than to walk the Camino with the mini super-silent CPAP. Thanks to all my fellow pilgrims in the albergues (including Norfolk-Keith) for accepting and suppporting me. It was not my first Camino Frances, but certainly the most uplifting experience.

Is it really quiet. Compatible with Europe electricals? I use a resmed airsense 10 at home but it’s much too bulky for the Camino.

 

[Paul McAmino]

Is it really quiet. Compatible with Europe electricals? I use a resmed airsense 10 at home but it’s much too bulky for the Camino.

That’s the one I just brought on the Ingles
—P

P.S. Amazon sells something that you can replace the water reservoir with. It snaps into place on the side of the Airsense 10, and you have a smooth side instead of the bulky reservoir. I don’t mess with water on the Camino. Of courseYMMV.

 

[J Willhaus]

I dunno about these machines -- but then my own sleep apnea is pretty minor, and I'm 250% more likely to be awakened by a need for a pee rather than the apnea.

And really, apart from some **extraordinarily** rare exceptions of a one-in-a-million ultra-snorer Olympic gold medalist, like my dad, snoring bothers me a lot less than a CPAP machine.

I do understand that many people live in urban environments characterised by a constant hum of machinery -- having said that, I was rather grateful to one CPAP user last year, after inquiring if the machine would bother me, made good effort to distance the machine away from me and behind a bed to mitigate the noise as much as possible.

I have at other times lost sleep from these machines though ...

Sorry and glad you didn't let it bother you too much. It is a "medication" for those of us who need it. Just like some need an injection, oxygen, or a physical brace. I recall you have some physical concerns with diet. Hard for others to understand, but critical to health.

 

[SilentNight]

can this be bought UK?

Thanks

Samarkand.

Travel CPAP Machines

Travel CPAP machines are small, elegant effective devices designed to allow continuation of treatment wherever you are.

shop.resmed.com

You need to send resmed.com your CPAP prescription, in order to complete the purchase.

 

[Philtration]

I also use a cpap and the quality of sleep (and life) for me and any sleeping near me is much better for it! I have a Z2 model travel model from Breas Medical. It's light and worth the cost!

 

[SilentNight]

I am sharing my cathedral arrival picture with my small mini travel-CPAP! I hope it can give confidence and courage to all other pilgrims with apnea. After the very difficult period and the eventual diagnosis, I knew no better place than the Camino to restore my confidence in my body, than to walk the Camino with the mini super-silent CPAP. Thanks to all my fellow pilgrims in the albergues (including Norfolk-Keith) for accepting and suppporting me. It was not my first Camino Frances, but certainly the most uplifting experience.

Kudos to you, Madeleine! Fellow CPAP, longtime user. With focusing on other major health concerns more pressing than my severe obstructive sleep apnea, I was on autopilot with my CPAP, though I did respond to the Philips recall. So thank you for helping me learn about the mini CPAP. I will ask my pulmonary/sleep specialist doctor for a prescription for one. is it dual voltage? The resmed.com website doesn’t say, or perhaps I missed it.

 

[Madeleine Jacobs]

Hi Madeleine,
Could you share tips with fellow CPAP users on how to have successful CPAP therapy on the camino?
Congratulations on your camino!!!
Thank you,
Hunter

Here are my tips on sleeping with a CPAP on Camino as suggested by walking again:
- Indeed, I would let the hospitalero know by phone or mail: “yo duermo con una macina de apnea” does the trick:
- I searched for the lightest extension cord that I could find and took a 3 meter plus a 50 cm of a floorcablebridge, so that no other pilgrim needed to trip;
- I used it twice, once in Granon, San Juan de Batista (that I was able to sleep again in that most special albergue without any problem, felt like such a win) and once where the bed had only a USB connection;
- I would make sure, that I would arrive early. Where possible, I asked for a cama baja, to minimise the risk the machine would fall down;
- I preferably put the machine on the floor, fitted in my slipper (it is that small), and then under the bed
- I let pilgrims sleeping immediately near me know about the apnea machine and where feasible asked later whether it disturbed them in any way.
- Actually, I was probably the quietest pilgrim in the room, since I sleep with a device to not sleep on my back.

To me, being able to walk the Camino again, now with apnea and treatment, felt like regained freedom and I wish this for all pilgrims with apnea.

 

[J Willhaus]

Here are my tips on sleeping with a CPAP on Camino as suggested by walking again:
- Indeed, I would let the hospitalero know by phone or mail: “yo duermo con una macina de apnea” does the trick:
- I searched for the lightest extension cord that I could find and took a 3 meter plus a 50 cm of a floorcablebridge, so that no other pilgrim needed to trip;
- I used it twice, once in Granon, San Juan de Batista (that I was able to sleep again in that most special albergue without any problem, felt like such a win) and once where the bed had only a USB connection;
- I would make sure, that I would arrive early. Where possible, I asked for a cama baja, to minimise the risk the machine would fall down;
- I preferably put the machine on the floor, fitted in my slipper (it is that small), and then under the bed
- I let pilgrims sleeping immediately near me know about the apnea machine and where feasible asked later whether it disturbed them in any way.
- Actually, I was probably the quietest pilgrim in the room, since I sleep with a device to not sleep on my back.

To me, being able to walk the Camino again, now with apnea and treatment, felt like regained freedom and I wish this for all pilgrims with apnea.

I have a heavy rubber band to attach the extension cord to a post on the upper bunk when a lower is not available. Tricky to sleep with the machine in your bunk with you, but it can be done. Great tips!

 

[el Sol]

I am sharing my cathedral arrival picture with my small mini travel-CPAP! I hope it can give confidence and courage to all other pilgrims with apnea. After the very difficult period and the eventual diagnosis, I knew no better place than the Camino to restore my confidence in my body, than to walk the Camino with the mini super-silent CPAP. Thanks to all my fellow pilgrims in the albergues (including Norfolk-Keith) for accepting and suppporting me. It was not my first Camino Frances, but certainly the most uplifting experience.

I’m on the Camino Invierno right now using an alternative to a travel CPAP. It’s a mouth guard called called Silent Nite. I think a forum member suggested its use.
My original use of the mouth guard wasn’t successful. So, my dentist modified the guard with a spacer to hold the guard slightly open. This did the trick. All of this is to say that there might be an even lighter solution to the sleep apnea on the Camino conundrum. Even my travel CPAP weighs in at I think around 3 pounds (on Camino right now so i can’t double check this) with all of the head gear and extension cord included; the mouth guard weighs about 3 ounces.
Hope this helps someone else to lighten their load and keep walking!

 

[WalkingInGers]

Kudos to you, Madeleine! Fellow CPAP, longtime user. With focusing on other major health concerns more pressing than my severe obstructive sleep apnea, I was on autopilot with my CPAP, though I did respond to the Philips recall. So thank you for helping me learn about the mini CPAP. I will ask my pulmonary/sleep specialist doctor for a prescription for one. is it dual voltage? The resmed.com website doesn’t say, or perhaps I missed it.

You will need a 220/110 adapter generally that come with most machines
. Don’t forget the electrical plugs for French and Spanish outlets, usually the same.

 

[dougfitz]

You will need a 220/110 adapter generally that come with most machines
. Don’t forget the electrical plugs for French and Spanish outlets, usually the same.

The machines that I looked at when I was looking for a travel CPAP all had dual voltage power supplies, and did not need a separate adaptor. The one that I chose, Transcend, also had the plug adaptors for Europe, the UK, the US and Australia/NZ, and didn't need an electrical plug adaptor. I cannot speak for the arrangements for other makers machines. Clearly, though, there are advantages to not having to carry 'extras' to make the machine work in different countries. They are, after all, advertised as travel machines.

edit: the machine I use at home is also a dual voltage machine, and doesn't need a 220/240/110 volt adaptor.

 

[walkingagain]

Here are my tips on sleeping with a CPAP on Camino as suggested by walking again:
- Indeed, I would let the hospitalero know by phone or mail: “yo duermo con una macina de apnea” does the trick:
- I searched for the lightest extension cord that I could find and took a 3 meter plus a 50 cm of a floorcablebridge, so that no other pilgrim needed to trip;
- I used it twice, once in Granon, San Juan de Batista (that I was able to sleep again in that most special albergue without any problem, felt like such a win) and once where the bed had only a USB connection;
- I would make sure, that I would arrive early. Where possible, I asked for a cama baja, to minimise the risk the machine would fall down;
- I preferably put the machine on the floor, fitted in my slipper (it is that small), and then under the bed
- I let pilgrims sleeping immediately near me know about the apnea machine and where feasible asked later whether it disturbed them in any way.
- Actually, I was probably the quietest pilgrim in the room, since I sleep with a device to not sleep on my back.

To me, being able to walk the Camino again, now with apnea and treatment, felt like regained freedom and I wish this for all pilgrims with apnea.

Thanks so much Madeleine for sharing your tips! These are super helpful and will give confidence to the many people with apnea who are planning their camino (like me)

 

[glenn6912]

I am sharing my cathedral arrival picture with my small mini travel-CPAP! I hope it can give confidence and courage to all other pilgrims with apnea. After the very difficult period and the eventual diagnosis, I knew no better place than the Camino to restore my confidence in my body, than to walk the Camino with the mini super-silent CPAP. Thanks to all my fellow pilgrims in the albergues (including Norfolk-Keith) for accepting and suppporting me. It was not my first Camino Frances, but certainly the most uplifting experience.

Awesome. I purchased an AirMini for my Camino Frances and it served me well. Not to add unnecessary weight to anybody's pack, but I would recommend packing an extra mask for the eventuality of a rip occurring in your current mask. I lost a full day in Leon waiting at my Hostal for express delivery of a replacement, and received it at 9PM (I could have been exploring Leon that entire day, but the hostal staff refused to take delivery for me.) If anybody is insured with Tricare, I might be able to help with contact information for a U.S. company who operates a branch in Rota, Spain and can express ship.

If anybody with a Resmed home unit would like to be able to use some of that gear with the AirMini, a search for "ZephAir Universal CPAP Hose Connector - Compatible for ResMed AirMini - 15mm and 22mm Hose Diameter" at Amazon or other online retailers might be helpful.