newbie needing advice re cpap on flight!

[organicgirl]

Hi-
So great to find this community! I felt like a pariah! I must confess though that I feel pretty overwhelmed by all the cpap lingo and detail and dont understand a lot of yet. So I read many posts re; bringing your CPAP on the airplane but am still a bit confused.

I have a Remstar plus M series with M series humidifier. While I have mild apnea (use setting of 5), I have terrible apnea on airplanes (my airway closes up) I guess from the way I'm sittting so I MUST have my CPAP with me on board so I can use it on overnight flights. (last flight I didnt yet have one and it was awful for me).
So I"m traveling to Ireland this August and I called Aer Lingus (which I wonder if that was a mistake to pre-warn them?)- to ask if they would approve the use of my device and they said it must have that damn FAA approval label.
A few questions
1) my device says "this is a medical device" on it.. I assume this is NOT what they mean by an FAA label? What does the label look like?
2)Also from reading some other posts it looks like my model is NOT one of the approved ones for air travel. Does anyone know for sure about this? Is there any point in calling the manufacturer to find out if there are any other provisions to bring it on board?
(I would also prefer not to spend $$ right now on the travel models as I dont travel much .. but if I have to I will.)

3)I have read that some people have just snuck it onboard and used it with no problems at all but now that I have red alerted the airline (and guilted them by saying "fine.. so I'll just choke.. (I exaggerated and possibly alarmed them..!)- did I cause more problems for myself and will the airline staff be alerted that I'm a passenger with "medical problems" which will make it more difficult to get in on board?!
Is there coordination between the on flight staff and the airline? I would also rather not do anything "unkosher". Just want to know I am good to go/ can use my cpap hassle free.

4)Lastly- once they became alarmed they asked if my doctor will prescribe an alternate device for use in flight.. (like oxygen?). Any suggestions?
Oh and how much are batteries b/c I was told they will not allow me to use their plugs..
Thanks very much!
Organic Girl

[elader]

Welcome to the forum. I did quite a bit of research on this for flights to Europe. I have a couple of valuable insights.

First, each airline is different. United sucks - they think they are doing you a big favor letting you actually take your cpap in your bag on a plane. Yes there is a list of approved devices, but you have to go through corporate each time and get permission. Even with permission, the captain can nix your use of the machine.

Other airlines are more savvy. Some even say you are welcome to use your cpap on the plane. However, none of them will guarantee you the access to power. You MUST bring a supply along with a battery rated to last at least as long as the trip. My advice is nap during the day and stay awake on the 6 hour flight to Ireland. I know it sounds sucky, but, carry your machine in the carry on and watch a few movies. if you have to use a macine, consider a small travel machine that can work off integrated batteries. Check cpap.com for these, and make sure it's 'on the list'

[rested gal]

organicgirl, have you thought about a simpler solution, like trying a dental appliance that holds the lower jaw forward? Perhaps that would keep your airway open "just enough" (especially since you'll be sitting up on the flight) to let you breathe in your sleep just well enough to get by.

By the way, the pressure a person has to use isn't really an indication of how mild or severe a person's apnea is. The prescribed pressure only indicates how much it takes to keep that particular individual's airway open. One person could have severe OSA and need only a bit of pressure like 4 or 5 to keep the airway open. Another person could have very mild OSA, yet need an extremely high pressure to keep the airway open.

You're flying from NY to Ireland?
I think I'd be able to stay awake easily for a flight no longer than that, but of course each person is different.

I agree with elader:

My advice is nap during the day and stay awake on the 6 hour flight to Ireland.

What a beautiful country you'll be traveling to, organicgirl! Hope your trip in August goes well!

[organicgirl]

Hi rested gal-
thanks for the info and good wishes. I wasn't aware that the setting wasnt correlated to the extent of the apnea!
I can't wait for my trip! unfortunately I have spent thousands of dollars on oral devices made by a sleep apnea dentist and tried using them on my flight to Israel with no luck at all... and I was so miserable on that flight (because I also get panic attacks at times on planes.. which you can imagine makes the whole breathing scenario a real pleasure...) that I swore to myself on that flight that I MUST get a cpap! But true- Ireland's flight is half the time of Israel's so I may just stay awake and read...

I posted another question today - maybe you can answer it if you know?. Can I take my Remstar plus M series with heated humidifier on board (FAA/ airline regs aside)- just in terms of whether this will work? then next time I'll consider buying an everest. Or since my doctor is currently trying to get me a new mask anyway.. I suggested he see if there are any better travel- accomodating models to use in flight. (dont know if they will approve this though). Is there another model or manufacturer you like better (ie RESMED... etc..) which will be versatile enough to transport when travelling and use at home? Anyone know if you can get DME to approve the Everest as your regular CPAP?!
Thanks in advance-
-Stacey (organicgirl)