Airflight

c-manzzz · Post by **c-manzzz** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 3:07 am

I am assuming that all of us on this forum have some form of sleep apnea whether it be mild or severe. Can any of you talk of experience of sleeping on a flight without the use of a CPAP? Personally, I am self conscious of snoring so have any of you slept on a plane comfortably without worrying of having the other travelers ready to throw you off due to the snoring decibels?

allergyridden · Post by **allergyridden** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 6:45 am

It seems to me I read on a post that someone was allowed to use their cpap during a flight. Truthfully, I'd find snoring or the cpap unacceptable. I guess I'm just a vain creature, but I doubt I could sleep with people trying to figure out what the devil I had on. Although the Nasal Aire looks pretty much like oxygen. It's probably the only time I'd sleep without it & just tell the person in the seat next to me to wake me up if I snored.

Buddhah · Post by **Buddhah** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 6:53 am

Hi. I fly between Australia and Hong Kong and have done the flight 3 times now. When I sleep I incline the seat and have not been told I have snored.

Hope this helps.

Regards

Roadie · Post by **Roadie** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 8:50 am

I fly all the time, usually once a week. I use my battery powered CPAP machine on the plane when the airlines allow it. I almost always need to explain that the machine does not use any form of compressed oxygen. One of the guys I travel with snores like a freight train and I hate sitting near him. Without my CPAP I snore some while seated, but with it I am quiet.

Frankly I could care less what others think about my mask and machine, the hour ot two sleep I get on the plane and in the departure lounge is often the only sleep I will get during a 48 hour period so it is pretty important to me.

I run my machine off a battery since it is hit or miss with the under seat power things. I would reccomend that you call the flight attendant to your seat prior to take off, or at least before you put on the mask and make sure that the airline allows the use of the CPAP, this also gives you an opportunity to explain that the machine is not using compressed oxygen. Make sure that the flight attendant lets the other flight attendants know. I have been awakened separately by all of the flight attendants during more than one flight, it is really annoying.

Roadie

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momadams · Post by **momadams** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 9:07 am

Which CPAP do you use for flying?
Shari

Roadie · Post by **Roadie** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 10:19 am

[quote="momadams"]Which CPAP do you use for flying?
Shari

SisterShotgun · Post by **SisterShotgun** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 10:49 am

If I were to go on an extended flight I would use my CPAP if I were to sleep. I do not care if anyone on the plane looks at me if I transformed into an alien, if they don't like it then they have the choice to not look..Even if I were to fall asleep sitting up I always wake up choking or gasping so sleeping without the machine is not an option for me.

When I was in the ER for kidney stones I took the machine with me in case they gave me painkillers to ease my pain..They did, and after I stopped laughing hysterically I fell asleep with my mask on..They all understood..

momadams · Post by **momadams** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 11:17 am

So, Roadie, a couple of questions:
Does being in a bag impede the air intake of the machine?
I assume you don't use a humidifier on the plane - is this a problem?
I'm afraid to ask what the HEPA filter looks like afterwards; when I stay in a hotel, I come home with a VERY grey filter.

But thanks for pointing out that this can work. Our last trip, we had to get up at 4am after sleeping (poorly) in a hotel. On the plane, I kept needing to doze but kept myself awake (at one point I did sleep, but asked my husband to wake me up in 15 minutes). Staying awake for the 2 hour drive from the airport was torture.
Thought I'd need to get a separate battery-powered CPAP for travel - good to know I can use the M-Series Pro.

Shari

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 12:55 pm

Don't worry about snoring. Anyone who flies without earplugs is a moron and deserves to suffer.

Seriously. Anytime you fly, use earplugs. Not only does it mute (not totally, but enough) the crying baby two rows back, and the snorer next to you, but the muting of the aircraft engine noise actually helps you feel more alive when you arrive. I read about this a few years ago, and I never fly now without earplugs.

Don't pay a fortune for fancy earplugs - just get something from the drug store. I've found I can wear my earphones over my earplugs, and hear the movie or music just fine. They just take the edge off the ambient noise that completely wipes me out and gives me "jet lag" even when I'm just flying from Seattle to Sacramento.

BTW, I never really SLEEP on a plane. It's too uncomfortable, given my weight and inability to really lean back very far. However, I do doze slightly. I bought something new and interesting I'm going to try on my flight Alabama next month, and hope it might make things more comfortable.

First Class Sleeper
http://www.travelgear.us/servlet/Detail ... YAod43NHag

Saw it on a travel website and thought I'd give it a whirl. The little "bucky" and inflatable pillows really don't do it for me.

So, SNORE AWAY!
Babs

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 3:38 pm

Hey who's the ole broad snoring in 13B?

I stopped flying when they stopped giving away peanuts.

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 4:47 pm

This summer my daughter flew to So Africa and a man on the plane appeared to wait until most others were asleep then strapped on a chin strap and went to sleep. She said he was a loud breather but not obnoxiously so. At another time he went to sleep without the chin strap, and the noise was so loud that someone from several rows up tossed a little paper wad to stir him.

I wonder if a mouthpiece for shorter trips would be enough for someone in a sitting position? But for a long trip, I think my mask would preserve my vanity more than what I could look and sound like without it. Good to hear some others' experiences.

billbolton · Post by **billbolton** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 5:56 pm

momadams wrote:Which CPAP do you use for flying?

I use a Resmed S8 with external Ni-MH battery packs.... works very well for me.

Cheers,

Bill

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 9:32 pm

Hey Kathy, good idea!!! I could probaby do very well with just a chin strap. You know, I've never napped with just a chin strap... You're starting the mice on the little mind-wheel...

THANKS!
Babs

Roadie · Post by **Roadie** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 10:46 pm

[quote="momadams"]So, Roadie, a couple of questions:
Does being in a bag impede the air intake of the machine?
I assume you don't use a humidifier on the plane - is this a problem?
I'm afraid to ask what the HEPA filter looks like afterwards; when I stay in a hotel, I come home with a VERY grey filter.

But thanks for pointing out that this can work. Our last trip, we had to get up at 4am after sleeping (poorly) in a hotel. On the plane, I kept needing to doze but kept myself awake (at one point I did sleep, but asked my husband to wake me up in 15 minutes). Staying awake for the 2 hour drive from the airport was torture.
Thought I'd need to get a separate battery-powered CPAP for travel - good to know I can use the M-Series Pro.

Shari

Airflight

Airflight

I would be too

Other less optimal treatments temporarily

Humidifier

Additional Comments: Pressure 16 cm H2O at altitude 6550ft

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Airmini, Medistrom Pilot 24, CMS 60C Pulse Oximeter, ResScan 6