CPAP Necessary on Airplane?

[mpc]

I'm travelling to Europe next month, and I initially wanted to get a battery so I can use my cpap to sleep on the plane. However, the battery is ridiculously heavy because I have a Res-Med S9 and the battery has its own separate ac/dc converter which is large and heavy. I'd hate to drag it around Europe with me. The flight over occurs from (our time) 2 PM-12:00 AM, so I'm not sure how much sleep I would get anyway. The flight back is like 2 PM- 1:00 AM, and I'll likely be tired. I have three options:

1. Skip the battery and try to sleep on the plane without my machine.

2. Use the battery exclusively for the whole trip and leave my usual electronics behind to lighten the load. If the battery malfunctioned, I'd be screwed, and I may not have time to get much charge in the battery for the flight home.

3. Work out more for the next few weeks and prepare to carry the battery around Europe for three weeks.

What would you guys do? I don't mind having some interrupted sleep on the plane, and I think that's what happens to anyone. I'm just afraid of waking up feeling like I'm drowing and then being afraid to go back to sleep. Thanks.

[Pugsy]

When I fly I just skip cpap. I usually warn the person next to me that I might snore real bad and if I do just poke me. Now I haven't done such a long flight and for sure don't have those fancy seats where we can recline.
It's pretty much sitting totally upright with head sagging a bit...so I use one of those neck pillow things to help keep my head on straight.

Sitting totally upright can limit the severity of the sleep apnea in some people...might not be perfect but when I am totally upright I don't seem to snore all that much anyway.

I also find that during flight I don't sleep particularly all that well or deeply anyway. So between being totally upright with the neck pillow and warning the person next to me I might stop breathing and make some racket...I get by without feeling too horrible if I do fall asleep briefly.

[Captain_Midnight]

When I fly I just skip cpap. I usually warn the person next to me that I might snore real bad and if I do just poke me. Now I haven't done such a long flight and for sure don't have those fancy seats where we can recline.
It's pretty much sitting totally upright with head sagging a bit...so I use one of those neck pillow things to help keep my head on straight.

Sitting totally upright can limit the severity of the sleep apnea in some people...might not be perfect but when I am totally upright I don't seem to snore all that much anyway.

I also find that during flight I don't sleep particularly all that well or deeply anyway. So between being totally upright with the neck pillow and warning the person next to me I might stop breathing and make some racket...I get by without feeling too horrible if I do fall asleep briefly.

My case as well.

If I doze a bit while sleeping upright in an aircraft, it's okay, at least in my situation.

Flew to London from Frisco a couple of years back, no issues. A little tired on arrival, that's it.

Whatever anyone does and why re xpap on aircraft is fine w me. But I'm not going to mask up in an aircraft. (I do skip the alcohol, of course.)

.

[SewTired]

Honestly, unless you are a regular traveler or plan to be staying at a lot of places without electricity, I would simply leave the battery at home, but take your conversion cords/plugs. The cost of that battery for two plane trips (there and back again) is pretty high. On the other hand, if you will be sleeping on trains and such, I'd take it all and leave other stuff at home.

[hobbs]

I always take it on overseas trips. Since my wife made me start flying Business Class I also arrive rested and not tired to the bone like in the past.

[kteague]

Everyone is different. I can sleep sitting up with little trouble and no snoring as long as my neck stays straight, so I use one of those c-shaped pillows. I've seen large pillows for air travel advertised that can be placed on the tray and leaned into. I guess that prevents the tongue from falling back into the throat at least. You might want to experiment with sleeping upright in the presence of someone and see how you do - or videotape yourself. Not a perfect science, but you may find you can mitigate the breathing problems with pillows or position. Good luck.

[SKG109]

I fly 70+K miles a year. Most planes have a standard 110V US plug, so check with the airline.

The only times I missed having a battery was in Ecuador and Nepal, where the hotels did not have back-up generators.

Good luck!

[Cardsfan]

how about a dental device

[dtsm]

I fly transpacific 2-5 times a year, each flight btw 14-18 hrs in business class. Always use cpap plugged into power port. If you need a battery, check this out:http://www.paulcbuff.com/vagabond.php.
Recommended here some years back, if you search the forum, can probably find the original thread.
Fortunately I've never had to use it.