CPAP + O2 COncentrator

I am fairly new to CPAP and O2 Therapy. The CPAP machine I have has a humidifier. I don't want to use the humidifier but my supplier says all CPAPs they carry have humidifiers. The O2 concentrator they gave me is the size of a small suitcase. From looking on line it looks like they have smaller, portable concentrators that are battery powered. My question is Is there a company that makes a plug in CPAP/O2 concentrator without a humidifier in the same machine that is reasonably sized? The size of the O2 concentrator and the fact that I have to pack two machines for travel makes it very cumbersome. It seems like this would be a no brainer but I can't seem to find anything like this.

Were you prescribed the 02 concentrator? It's not standard equipment with Cpaps and only would come with one if prescribed specifically.

And from what I know (which is far from everything) 02 concentrators don't necessarily come with humidifiers, but Cpaps certainly do, whether or not you choose to use them.

Yes I was prescribed O2 Concentrator.

Is it really that rare to have a CPAP and O2? I figure this must be a common enough complaint that a company would have come up with a more elegant solution.

There are several members that use CPAP and O2 here. They just must not be on at this time. Keeping checking you never know when one will be here.

If you are wanting a machine that will do both...provide cpap pressure and also produce oxygen like a concentrator then you are outta luck. No one makes that sort of combination machine.

Jessescott wrote:I am fairly new to CPAP and O2 Therapy. The CPAP machine I have has a humidifier. I don't want to use the humidifier but my supplier says all CPAPs they carry have humidifiers. The O2 concentrator they gave me is the size of a small suitcase. From looking on line it looks like they have smaller, portable concentrators that are battery powered. My question is Is there a company that makes a plug in CPAP/O2 concentrator without a humidifier in the same machine that is reasonably sized? The size of the O2 concentrator and the fact that I have to pack two machines for travel makes it very cumbersome. It seems like this would be a no brainer but I can't seem to find anything like this.

Your supplier is correct in saying that all current model CPAPs have humidifiers, but except for the Airsense, where it is integrated, you are not required to buy the separate unit. I don't know what your DME's beef is. To add an oxygen concentrator, you just need this plastic part on the end of your hose for the inlet (got it free from hospital, so don't know how much it costs - check our sponsor's listings). Then your o2 concentrator is turned on to the level prescribed. Seems to me that someone is making your life more complicated than it needs to be.

Jessescott wrote:Is it really that rare to have a CPAP and O2? I figure this must be a common enough complaint that a company would have come up with a more elegant solution.

it's an edge case. a friend of mine uses an o2 concentrator with his cpap. nobody else I personally know does, though several people on the board do, out of the thousands of members.

yes, you can buy small battery powered o2 concentrators, they're much more expensive.

I am apparently one of the few who use both.
My O2 concentrator is about 2 feet tall 16 inches wide and about 40 pounds. I guess you could say the wheels make it portable. No one I know of makes a combination machine.
My PRS1 60 series and my original Rested S9 both have detachable humidifiers, but I don't sleep without the humidifier ever.
I have done most of my travel by car or RV. In the RV the O2 comes with but not in the car.

You may not want to use the humidifier with your CPAP/Concentrator but if you don't, you'll be breathing desert dry air all night.
It sounds as if you have a Respironics O2 concentrator similar to mine.

If you go looking for a smaller, portable one, be sure it provides continuous O2 and not pulsing O2 which is not compatible with CPAP machines.

Jessescott wrote:Is it really that rare to have a CPAP and O2? I figure this must be a common enough complaint that a company would have come up with a more elegant solution.

I use both CPAP and O2 at night. The lighter weight oxygen concentrators seem to be very expensive ($1.5Kusd and up), so product development of an all in one CPAP and O2 is probably not cost effective to develop when the market can just buy separate pieces for night use. I bought my O2 Concentrator for $500 gently used, tested and calibrated.

JDS74 wrote: you'll be breathing desert dry air all night.

meh, not really... you'll be breathing VERY slightly drier room air.

oxygen concentrators don't actually concentrate oxygen, they filter out nitrogen, leaving the rest of the room air gases in what's delivered (fortunately, that's mostly oxygen) that's also why oxygen concentrators can't deliver 100% oxygen.

I been using a Resmed Air curve V 10 with a heated humidifier for a year now. I also used a rental respironics oxygen concentrator which is around 40 lbs. I have taken it with me on vacations and weekend trips. While it does require some extra effort to set up I managed well. Recently I purchased an Inogen At Home oxygen concentrator which only weighs 18 lbs and is smaller and should be easier to haul around. It will still require the extra effort to set up and pack as you travel. Both oxygen concentrators are continuous flow. I do use the heated humidifier for comfort. Also I only use oxygen at night with the resmed aircurve machine.

Like wyonel, I decided the at home concentrater would fit into my lifestyle better than a traditional concentrater. I travel frequently to visit family, and like to camp on blm lands. I wanted a battery operated one, but they only come in pulse models. I did spend the 1.5k on it. I considered a typical concentrater, but it would be challenging to travel with. My health is worth the extra $800. It's not too hard to deal with both, once I was able to accept the extra bag, and consider it as a fact of life.

Personally, I like the humidifier on my vpap. I have extremely dry lips. Before vpap, I would have to apply lip balm several times a night. With the vpap, I'm good all night, and still moist in the morning.

Good luck with it. Remember there are folks who have been able to make it work.

TG

From my experience working with patients, the great majority do not use cpap and oxygen. Most people are just on cpap. We did have some on oxygen and cpap of course but those set ups were less common.
The concentrator you are describing does sound like the Respironics concentrator (as someone mentioned). Its a fairly common one. The only other one I can recall that is smaller and offers continuous oxygen is the Inogen model. The DME I work with carries them but only lends them to patients when they travel. You may want to contact your DME and ask them if they have any portable concentrators (with continuous flow) that they provide for traveling customers. Many DME companies will have some in stock and it just takes a little coordination to get one delivered before your trip.
Good luck.