OP,
I got an Resmed AirSense 10 for my original machine almost 6 years ago, and still going strong. I remember picking it up (nose pillows recommended if you watch TV to fall asleep), and thinking there is no way I am luggin this thing around and not liking the idea of a CPAP overall. The first night at the house I used it, my wife told me the next day she was tempted to push on me because I slept so sound she said I was like I was dead. Same position I went to sleep and did not move. Two weeks later after every night use, it was packed before my clothes were for the weekend trip. Life changing rest. Your insurance will get you hooked up with a service that will contact you every three months for replacement supplies. Usually hose, nosepillows if you use them, filters for the machine, etc. There is one thing I cannot stress enough. NEVER, EVER, use anything but distilled water in it. EVER. I will sleep with it dry or not at all before I'd use any other water. Reason being: The machine will force a light flow of air to dry out the heated hose. Distilled water has no contaminants. In 6 years, with regular hose, nosepillow, headgear changes, etc. I have never had to wash it out. No residue, no nothing, no machine related allergies or sicknesses. None. Can wipe the inside of the hose when changing it for a new one and nothing there.
Resmed does make an AirMini travel CPAP, which is also a good unit, HOWEVER, it uses a humi-disc insert in the non heated hose that helps gather the humidity from your exhale to keep you 'humidified". I have narrowed it down to this disc that I do have an allergy to. The second day after the first use and I have had an allergy feeling. I quit using in during "Covid" on trips and packed the regular unit because I did not want to exhibit any issues due to self reporting for work. However, I also was not a regular user of allergy meds like Zyrtec/Nasonex which I have done so since March of 2020 (Covid Point Zero). I always got sick during the fall due to allergies which I did not this last fall for the first time in decades, so I will likely try using it on a long weekend to see if this has abated. The AirMini is a great little unit, but beware no insurance will pay a dime for it, period. I tried for two months and they actually created a medical code at my insurance carrier to avoid paying for it. Not kidding. Used the HSA money that had been rolling up. I liked/like that machine and some of the companies that carry it also make a battery for it that will last days of use.
Take my post for what it is, but one thing for sure....if you Doc has put you up for the sleep study to determine if you need a CPAP, get one and USE it. I was in denial for the most part until my sleep study, thinking it was mild apnea. The guy that ran my study unhooked me from the wires and walked me down the hall and showed me the Ox line on my graph. I would not say it was scary, but was disconcerting for sure. Then after having the machine, I can get 4 hours of sleep on a short night and feel better than 9 without it.
