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#8927 12-01-2006 04:09 PM
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This comes under the heading of "To whom it may concern": If you happen to be one of us who is reliant on a suction machine to keep your mouth and throat operable [as my husband is] - here is something that might interest you. You can buy a "gizsmo" called a power INVERTER to use in your car to make the suction machine work while traveling. It converts 12 volt DC vehicle power to 110v AC household power. Thus the machine can go on trips. All you need to know is the watts and amps of your suction machine. [we bought a 750 watt-up to 7.o amps converter] It is sold by Vector Manufactoring, Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. We plan to use it on the 13 hr. drive to Minnesota :rolleyes: Amy


CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease

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#8928 12-01-2006 04:14 PM
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I think that qualifies as an "Oh Wow" and it will come in very handy on that drive to Minnesota. Pretty amazing.
Regards JoAnne


JoAnne - Caregiver to husband, cancer rt. tonsil, mets to soft palate, BOT, 7 lymph nodes - T3N2BM0, stage 4. Robotic assisted surgery, radical neck dissection 2/06; 30 IMTX treatments and 4 cycles of cisplatin completed June 06.
#8929 12-02-2006 11:41 AM
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As an RVer, I'm familar with inverters -- You can get them in various sizes from 75Watts up to 1600Watts (I've seen one set up in a Jeep to run the camper's coffee pot). The 75W plugs right into the cigarette lighter and is handy for recharging cell phone, laptop computer, etc. WalMart is a good place to find them at a good cost.

One tip when using the larger sizes of inverter is that the automobile's wiring to the cigarette lighter may not support the inverter in terms of getting the full voltage to it -- In those cases, it is best to wire the inverter directly to the battery (they make cords with battery clamps on one end and the cig outlet on the other).

Pete


Age 67 1/2
Ventral Tongue SCC T2N0M0G1 10/05
Anterior Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 6/08
Base of Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 12/08
Three partial glossectomy (10/05,11/05,6/08), PEG, 37 XRT 66.6 Gy 1/06
Neck dissection, trach, PEG & forearm free flap (6/08)
Total glossectomy, trach, PEG & thigh free flap (12/08)
On August 21, 2010 at 9:20 am, Pete went off to play with the ratties in the sky.
#8930 12-03-2006 02:12 PM
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Amy,
Although I've never tried to use it this way, I have a portable suction machine that I am suposed to be able to plug in to my cigarrette lighter in the car. Don't remember how long it will operate on this since I have never done it. Machine comes in a carrying case about 8" by 8" by 8". Don't know if it would work for you, but might investigate. Beats lugging one of those huge stationaries if it does.

Take care,
Eileen


----------------------
Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
#8931 12-03-2006 03:57 PM
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Thanks, Eileen- that is interesting. John's machine is not very big [and the Ins. co. bought it for him.] It has a regular 110 plug so we have to adapt to the inverter. Wish there were more info available about these things before we need them. Amy


CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease

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#8932 12-03-2006 04:44 PM
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To add to Pete'e comment, be very careful about using those larger wattage devices. The conversion of 12v DC to 110v AC generates a substantial amount of energy (often heat) - potentially running through wires not designed to handle that load. It is easy enough to MELT the wiring in the dashboard (lighter socket, fuse box, etc.). Most car wiring can handle that extra power for a few seconds (like to heat the cig lighter), but not for a prolonged period of time. Check your vehicle owner's manual to find out what the 'sustained' load capacity is. When in doubt, like Pete recommended, get a heavy guage extension hooked directly to your battery by a pro. Only costs a few bucks and could save you a bunch in unexpected rewiring costs!! TJ


SCC BOT, mets to neck, T4.
From 3/03: 10wks daily multi-drug chemo,
Then daily chemo with twice daily IMRT for 12 weeks - week on, week off. No surgery. New lung primary 12/07. Searching out tx options.
#8933 12-03-2006 05:37 PM
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For those of you who don't know we live in the Orarks laugh - The "expert " at the store where we bought the inverter suggested that we clamp the inverter cable to the car battery and then run a heavy duty extension cord to the suction machine in the car.I'm still trying to figure this out-Ma and Pa Clampet traveling down the road :rolleyes: Amy


CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease

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#8934 12-03-2006 06:35 PM
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Hi, Ma and Pa Kettle....I spent many happy hours on the Spring River outside Hardy, Arkansas, in the Ozarks, as a young person. Do you live near there? I might be a Clampet cousin! I actually grew up in Memphis, and my mother was a professional Girl Scout. The GS camp, Camp Kiwani, was at Hardy, near where Cherokee Village is now.


Colleen--T-2N0M0 SCC dx'd 12/28/05...Hemi-maxillectomy, partial palatectomy, neck dissection 1/4/06....clear margins, neg. nodes....no radiation, no chemo....Cancer-free at 4 years!
#8935 12-04-2006 03:22 PM
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HI, August-rather than bore everyone here, I am sending you an e-mail-we might be kissing cousins laugh Amy


CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease

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