CPAPs at the airport

[biztraveler]

I recently went on a trip that involved 6 flights over the course of 10 or so days. During the course of it, I noticed about 3-4 people traveling with the same Philips Respironics bag that came with my DreamStation. For some reason, I wanted to say something (I don't know what, to be honest... maybe "hey, I just got one of these"), but thought it would be very weird. I travel a ton for work and guess I never noticed, since I just started on CPAP. Has anyone struck up a conversation with a random stranger on the subject?

[Dog Slobber]

Hey if Jeep drivers can't drive past each other without waving , then certainly CPAP users can at least share a knowing glance.

[blacknebula]

I was travelling a couple of weeks ago and I was going through security with a guy who had the same grey ResMed bag as me. I realized perhaps I should put a name tag on mine, in case of any mix up! So I borrowed a marker from my son and wrote in on the 'medical equipment' tag.

[zonker]

Has anyone struck up a conversation with a random stranger on the subject?

the reverse of this happened to me. i was at an airport before i got my first machine. but i'd done some googling and sort of, kind of knew what one looked like. a fellow went through security before me and was gathering his stuff. his bag was open and i thought it was a cpap i spotted.

i gathered my courage(i hardly ever approach strangers and engage them in conversation!) and asked him about it. i got what i thought was a surprising reaction. he said basically that he wished he had time to talk to me about it, after i told him i was getting one. he said he was rushed to make a flight. but he said that the most important thing i could do with cpap is to KEEP AT IT. he said an alarmingly high number of people quit after a short time. he then dashed off into the bowels of the airport.

but i'll never forget his advice to me. i'm hoping someday i can return his favor by paying it forward!