Traveling to San Francisco, forgot my CPAP

andrewkfiedler · Post by **andrewkfiedler** » Fri Feb 23, 2018 7:06 am

I'm a big idiot and forgot my cpap when getting ready for my flight this morning.

I'm freaking out a bit, my normal AHI is 79, anybody know some good options?

I'm going to be out there for 3 nights.

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Fri Feb 23, 2018 7:39 am

For me, this would be a huge mistake. I can't tell you what to do, but here is what I would do.

1) If I arrive during business hours, I would go to a DME and rent a machine and buy whatever supplies I needed (mask, hose).

2) If this was outside business hours, I would go to a hospital emergency room and try to rent my needs.

3) Failing one and two, I would go to drugstore to buy a foam cervical collar and some tape. I would tape my mouth, wear the collar and sleep sitting as erect as possible.

4) Another idea would be to check Craig's list to see if what I need could be bought immediately. https://sfbay.craigslist.org/search/sfc ... p&sort=rel

Cardsfan · Post by **Cardsfan** » Fri Feb 23, 2018 9:36 am

Have someone pack up your home cpap and ship it to you overnight, AM delivery so you have it for tomorrow. Or- Craigslist, or a DME, or sleep center where you are at today.

Cardsfan · Post by **Cardsfan** » Fri Feb 23, 2018 9:38 am

Call you local DME and ask if they have an office in San Fran. That can help.

andrewkfiedler · Post by **andrewkfiedler** » Fri Feb 23, 2018 9:57 am

Thanks, these are great ideas. I’m going to try seeing how much it is to rent one here. If that fails I’ll see if I can have a friend overnight it.

Lucyhere · Post by **Lucyhere** » Fri Feb 23, 2018 10:56 am

A quick google search of San Francisco turned up five DME places in San Francisco. One should be able to help you. Call as early today as possible. It's Friday and I don't know how many would be open over the weekend. Worst case... buy a cervical collar in any pharmacy, Walgreens, Target, etc., and sleep in an upright position. Good luck.

D.H. · Post by **D.H.** » Fri Feb 23, 2018 11:35 am

I know that this would not have helped this time, but you need a permanent, dedicated CPAP packing list and to keep it in the CPAP bag. You don't want to remember your CPAP but forget the hose or the mask, or some other piece that makes it unusable.

Also, if you have an unplanned hospitalization, somebody else may have to pack the bag for you.

RobertS975 · Post by **RobertS975** » Sat Feb 24, 2018 4:01 pm

First of all, I wouldn't panic. I don't know your medical history, but chances are that you had sleep apnea for years before being diagnosed and treated. But in addition to the suggestions already made, I would suggest avoiding alcohol and any sleep medication that you ordinarily take, if any.

Renting a machine would require a medical prescription.

MrsRinPDX · Post by **MrsRinPDX** » Sun Feb 25, 2018 3:03 am

RobertS975 wrote: ↑
Sat Feb 24, 2018 4:01 pm
First of all, I wouldn't panic. I don't know your medical history, but chances are that you had sleep apnea for years before being diagnosed and treated. But in addition to the suggestions already made, I would suggest avoiding alcohol and any sleep medication that you ordinarily take, if any.

Renting a machine would require a medical prescription.

I agree. I wouldn't panic. I do keep a copy of my prescription on file with our sponsors, CPAP.com just in case I do the same for a longer trip. They have next day shipping (Mon-Sat). Would be pricey to buy a new machine, but if you forget your mask or break a part, it's golden.

D.H. · Post by **D.H.** » Sun Feb 25, 2018 7:59 am

MrsRinPDX wrote: ↑
Sun Feb 25, 2018 3:03 am

RobertS975 wrote: ↑
Sat Feb 24, 2018 4:01 pm
First of all, I wouldn't panic. I don't know your medical history, but chances are that you had sleep apnea for years before being diagnosed and treated. But in addition to the suggestions already made, I would suggest avoiding alcohol and any sleep medication that you ordinarily take, if any.

Renting a machine would require a medical prescription.
I agree. I wouldn't panic. I do keep a copy of my prescription on file with our sponsors, CPAP.com just in case I do the same for a longer trip. They have next day shipping (Mon-Sat). Would be pricey to buy a new machine, but if you forget your mask or break a part, it's golden.

I always pack a spare mask. For more than one week, I pack replacement filters. As I already said - I can't repeat it enough - keep a dedicated CPAP packing list in your CPAP bag.

booksfan · Post by **booksfan** » Sun Feb 25, 2018 8:56 am

This won't help now, but for future (and for others), my husband got an electronic copy of his CPAP prescription and saved it in his email. I have a PDF copy of mine in Google Drive.

He travels quite a bit for business and packs his CPAP in his checked luggage

. His luggage was lost last fall. Airline was pretty lackadaisical until he said his CPAP was in it. Then they switched to high gear! They got him set up with a local DME to rent a machine and tracked his luggage down. He got the rental machine and his luggage showed up at 1am. Having a copy of your prescription available somewhere is a really good idea.

D.H. · Post by **D.H.** » Sun Feb 25, 2018 9:06 am

booksfan wrote: ↑
Sun Feb 25, 2018 8:56 am
This won't help now, but for future (and for others), my husband got an electronic copy of his CPAP prescription and saved it in his email. I have a PDF copy of mine in Google Drive.

He travels quite a bit for business and packs his CPAP in his checked luggage . His luggage was lost last fall. Airline was pretty lackadaisical until he said his CPAP was in it. Then they switched to high gear! They got him set up with a local DME to rent a machine and tracked his luggage down. He got the rental machine and his luggage showed up at 1am. Having a copy of your prescription available somewhere is a really good idea.

However, packing it in the checked luggage is not. Remember, it's free even if they normally charge for carry-on bags. It's medical!

msla · Post by **msla** » Sun Feb 25, 2018 7:47 pm

booksfan wrote: ↑
Sun Feb 25, 2018 8:56 am
This won't help now, but for future (and for others), my husband got an electronic copy of his CPAP prescription and saved it in his email. I have a PDF copy of mine in Google Drive.

He travels quite a bit for business and packs his CPAP in his checked luggage . His luggage was lost last fall. Airline was pretty lackadaisical until he said his CPAP was in it. Then they switched to high gear! They got him set up with a local DME to rent a machine and tracked his luggage down. He got the rental machine and his luggage showed up at 1am. Having a copy of your prescription available somewhere is a really good idea.

Last year someone else picked up my suitcase at International arrivals in Buenos Aires. Just another reason to not pack important things (CPAP) in your luggage. I was lucky and they found it and delivered it to my hotel. Otherwise I would have had to buy a new wardrobe.

But I could sleep easy because I had my machine as a carry-on.

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Fri Mar 02, 2018 1:15 pm

andrewkfiedler wrote: ↑
Fri Feb 23, 2018 7:06 am
I'm a big idiot and forgot my cpap when getting ready for my flight this morning.

I'm freaking out a bit, my normal AHI is 79, anybody know some good options?

I'm going to be out there for 3 nights.

It's been a week, and I haven't heard from you. Getting a bit worried. You still alive, Andrew?

http://google.com/?q=obituary+andrew+k+fiedler

SewTired · Post by **SewTired** » Sat Mar 03, 2018 2:32 pm

FWIW, the local DME here says that many DMEs will not accept prescriptions written by a doctor not licensed to practice in their state. They've run into this with patients who go south for the winter. Some take them, many do not. All the Online places do, however. My BIL's son forgot his mask and hose and was able to pick up both, without prescription, at a major truckstop.

I could get by for a couple of nights without a cpap. However, by night 3, I likely would be unable to drive. So, as mentioned, how did you survive before treatment is a good indicator of how well you will do without 3 nights of cpap treatment. Maybe get someone to pick you up from airport if that is a situation.

Traveling to San Francisco, forgot my CPAP

Traveling to San Francisco, forgot my CPAP

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Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Auto PAP; 13.5 cmH2O min - 20 cmH2O max