I believe I am addicted.........

[bayourest]

dont do it boognish

[archangle]

Geez, remember this is a medical treatment, not a religion. The CPOPE is not going to excommunicate you if you renounce your faith.

Apnea may be caused, in theory, by too much weight, poor health, dental problems, other medical conditions, etc. If you lose weight, exercise, fix your dental problems, etc., wouldn't it be great if you didn't have to CPAP anymore? Or if the need goes away on its own just because your body changes? Or if there was some kind of exercise, medicine, or other medical treatment that would fix the apnea?

I think it's a legitimate question if the treatment is addictive in itself? Your body does tend to adjust to the situation its in. Does your brain and body get "lazy" and become dependent on the pressure? If you put CPAP on someone without apnea, would they develop a dependence on the machine and eventually have apnea if they stopped CPAP? Does a person with borderline apnea become worse after using a CPAP? Does setting the pressure a little too high "just to be safe" make you then become dependent on that pressure?

I know that with sick newborn infants, they are very careful with the ventilators they put them on because they can become permanently dependent on the ventilator and never be able to breath without it if it's done wrong. I think there are some similar problems with adults in some situations. It's reasonable to be concerned that CPAP may have similar effects and try to reduce the addictive effect if it exists.

I'm not against CPAP. I AM dependent. I suffer too much if I don't CPAP to stop unless something improves. I just think it's a legitimate question whether the machine makes me more dependent.

And just to get it over with, "Shun, Shun the non-believer. Shuuuuunnnnnnn!!!!"

[BlackSpinner]

I'm flying to D.C. for a week long business trip in a couple of weeks, and I'm planning on leaving the CPAP at home. I guess I'll report back how I did sleeping without it for a week.

I hope it isn't an important meeting where you need your brains and to stay awake and make intelligent remarks! Why would you do that to yourself and your co workers?

[JayR_1945]

For a week?
If this is a business meeting I would think you would want to be at your best.
If you fall asleep, your snoring would disturb others and keeps them awake.

I would suggest doing without the machine for the next few days and see how you feel.

[WhoDatSleeping]

That is a good suggestion Jay!
You may find that you are not really functioning at an optimal level.

[boognish]

I know, I know...it's probably a bad idea, but I don't want to deal with it in the airports and I guess I'm a little self-conscious of it and don't want to have to explain what it is to the people at this conference. All the participants will be picked up at the airport and will then be shuttled a couple of hours away to this private lodge, where we'll be spending the week.

[OutaSync]

Why wouldn't you want to explain it? I carry my bag proudly and am happy to explain it to anyone who asks or even looks. You never know when you might have the opportunity to save someone's life. A lot of people who need CPAP have never heard of CPAP. Use the trip to educate others. Never be ashamed of being a Cpaper! It's not like you did anything wrong!

[BlackSpinner]

I know, I know...it's probably a bad idea, but I don't want to deal with it in the airports and I guess I'm a little self-conscious of it and don't want to have to explain what it is to the people at this conference. All the participants will be picked up at the airport and will then be shuttled a couple of hours away to this private lodge, where we'll be spending the week.

The TSA all know what it is and are totally blassee about it. If you are not sharing a room who is to know and if you are they will be very very happy not to listen to you snore and gasp all night.

[snardo]

I wanted to add my 2 cents to the discussion about traveling with a machine. I've been on my machine for over 6 years and I can count the number of nights without it on 1 hand (3 nights to be precise). It goes EVERYwhere with me and from what I understand I'm not even a severe case - I currently run at 6cm, although a recent revisit to the sleep lab tells me I should probably get bumped up to 8. Anyway, I've carried my machine all over the world. It's really not much of a hassle in airports. The screening folks treat them just like a laptop - take it out of the case, run it through the x-ray machine and occasionally do a swab on it and that's it. I'm usually careful about where I put it in the overhead bin and I would never consider checking it, but otherwise, it's no different than if I was taking a laptop through security. For reference, I typically use airtravel about 4-6 times per year.

Still using the same REMstar I started with over 6 years ago.

[dae3dae3]

I just flew last week. I put the cpap bag inside my larger carryon and when I put it on the scanner belt I told the person there that I had a medical device in the bag. Both times they just nodded at me and it went through the scanner and I picked it up on the other side. They didn't take it out of the bag or swab it or anything. It was a non-event. Taking my shoes off was a much bigger inconvenience than the cpap.

My Mom was with me and her cpap got swabbed on the first flight but she opened up the bag before they even asked her so I think she almost forced them to do it.

[dae3dae3]

Also, I haven't slept a single night without the cpap since I got it in September of 2008. Just the thought of trying to sleep without it almost gives me a panic attack. We had the power go out one night and I just got up and read for a while instead of trying to sleep without it. Fortunately, the power was only out for about a half hour.

[boognish]

Another thing is that I'm flying Delta, who charges extra for checked baggage. I need to bring my laptop and a carry-on bag with clothes enough for a week. I really want to avoid the expense and hassle of checking bags.

[redjoe]

Your PAP doesn't count as a carryon, so you can bring it in addition to your laptop and other bag. You're running out of excuses!

[boognish]

Your PAP doesn't count as a carryon, so you can bring it in addition to your laptop and other bag. You're running out of excuses!

Really? Well that changes everything. You're sure about that?

[BlackSpinner]

Another thing is that I'm flying Delta, who charges extra for checked baggage. I need to bring my laptop and a carry-on bag with clothes enough for a week. I really want to avoid the expense and hassle of checking bags.

Cpap in its case can get on as carry on and is not counted . It is medical equipment and is specially allowed - if you show up early and tell them. Otherwise suck it up and put your clothes in check in - it is a business trip so it is part of your expenses. Are you really thinking of risking your health and comfort for a measly check in charge?