need advice for travel

lifeartist59 · Post by **lifeartist59** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:11 am

Hi everyone,
I talked with my doctor today, and she said I should just pack my cpap in my suitcase. She said that it should be fine. I was wondering if anyone has done this? If so, does the TSA go through your lugage and check the machine. I don't want to nicely pack it then find everything all torn up due to the need to check out the machine. I am having trouble since I am booked on a tour in Ireland and the tour group says I can only have one carry on for the bus. I also must carry medicines with me, and feel these are the most important thing to have in my carry-on. I do not have a letter of need either, is this essential? Also, I know I need an adaptor, but is there anything else? I have a Resmed S8 auto with humidifier. Any advice or ideas is/are greatly appreciated. Its an anniversary trip in 7 weeks, so I am trying to prepare.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): resmed, humidifier, CPAP, auto

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 6:41 am

Have you explained to the people who set up the tour group, and explained that this is a needed medical device?
Call the MD and let her know that you will need a letter of medical need. Get a copy of your script for Xpap while you're at it. You may need it if anything happens to your machine.
Along with the adapter, be sure to have a long extension cord. No telling how far from the bed the outlet will be.
I'm one of those people that if anything CAN go wrong, it WILL. I always bring an extra hose and mask with me when I travel. I bring towellettes to clean the mask daily. I also bring tape, chapstick, ayr gel, and plumbers teflon tape.
Finally, yes, there is a good chance that they will go through your luggage. But I would be more worried about them loosing the luggage all together, or having the machine damaged when they throw the luggage around.

Brenda

WNJ · Post by **WNJ** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 8:24 am

At US airports, CPAP is no big deal. Carry it on the plane in its case. It does not count against your carry-on limit. Expect the TSA inspectors to pull it aside, open it, swipe it, maybe X-ray it separately. It has never been a problem for me. The inspectors seem accustomed to seeing them. I don’t trust the gorillas who handle the baggage to give my CPAP delicate handling.

On a bus, in a foreign country, I will defer to others who may have more relevant experience. At a minimum, I would want it in a sturdy case and I would mark it as fragile if I were checking it.

Wayne

deerslayer · Post by **deerslayer** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 8:59 am

my recent experiences viewtopic/t28877/TRAVEL-CPAP-IDEAS.html

Claire · Post by **Claire** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 9:19 am

I have recently taken two trips with my CPAP equipment. One was from Canada to Disneyworld in Orlando and the second was from Canada, through the US, and then on to Egypt and back. Both times, I carried my CPAP in its travelling case and never let it out of my sight. I didn't want it thrown around by luggage guys. For this reason as well, I didn't pack it in my suitcase. I had absolutely no problem at any airport security system. It went through the x-ray machines, but I was never asked to open it. And no one ever asked me anything about it as a carry-on. I was also carrying a heavy backpack so there probably no real carry-on issue.

I think the idea of having a medical statement is a good one in case you encounter some truly bureaucratic airport official.

I also second the suggestion of an extension cord. I had one and had to use it many times.

My humidifier uses distilled water but I couldn't get that in Egypt or Disneyworld. I used bottled water and figured I'd clean the humidifier when I got home.

The only other thing I carried for my treatment was the small PAPillow as I can't use regular pillows. That was in my regular suitcase.

Hope this helps.

oceanpearl · Post by **oceanpearl** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 9:21 am

You will find that the driver and tour director will be very accomidating when it comes to a CPAP. These guys are angling for tips at the end of the tour and will kiss your backside during the tour to make sure that they not only get the tip, but also get a good score on the customer survey card that you fill out at the end of the tour.
The first day of our tour I carried my CPAP out to the bus and the driver told me to just start leaving it outside the hotel door in the morning and he would handle it for me.
You will find that if you have a good tour director he will have a few converters and extension cords in his luggage. Don't be afraid to ask.
We estimated that on our tour the director and driver earned 300.00 per day in tips. It was suggested by the tour company that we tip the director 6.00 a day and the driver 3.00 a day.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP

JeffH · Post by **JeffH** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 9:42 am

[quote="lifeartist59"]Hi everyone,
I talked with my doctor today, and she said I should just pack my cpap in my suitcase. She said that it should be fine. I was wondering if anyone has done this? If so, does the TSA go through your lugage and check the machine. I don't want to nicely pack it then find everything all torn up due to the need to check out the machine. I am having trouble since I am booked on a tour in Ireland and the tour group says I can only have one carry on for the bus. I also must carry medicines with me, and feel these are the most important thing to have in my carry-on. I do not have a letter of need either, is this essential? Also, I know I need an adaptor, but is there anything else? I have a Resmed S8 auto with humidifier. Any advice or ideas is/are greatly appreciated. Its an anniversary trip in 7 weeks, so I am trying to prepare.

lifeartist59 · Post by **lifeartist59** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 10:30 am

Thanks so much for all the information and suggestions. I was wondering if anyone knows if there is a sort of insurance for cpap machines when traveling. My doctor also suggested looking for something like this. I have to say I agree with all of you about checking it, I've watched baggage handlers and they are not very gentle. May I ask, have any of you gotten pulled over and had the machine swabbed. If so, did it take much longer than regular security did at the time? We have a layover of 2.5 hrs and have to change airline, so I will have to change terminals and go through security again plus pick up my lugage and recheck it. Thanks again for all the help.

deerslayer · Post by **deerslayer** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 10:48 am

yes mine was swabbed, but they left my hose & mask sealed in the 1gal ziplock. the TSA is very appreciative of informed travelers--> they also graciously accept compliments of which they receive very few http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/index.shtm
P.S. u obviously didnot read the info (link) i posted earlier to help u
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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): hose

SelfDirected · Post by **SelfDirected** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:49 pm

My work requires I travel 4 days per week, on average, in the US and Latin America; with a multi-week Europe or Asia trip thrown in every couple of months. I have also gone on a couple of recreational tours similar to the one being planned here; bus and all. I always check my luggage and the machine travels in that luggage. To date I have never had an issue with damage, loss, or security screening. I did have my luggage get detoured once, but I'd prefer a night without CPAP to dragging the machine around as a carry-on all the time. I believe the machines are much more durable than folks give them credit for being. And the airlines are not as bad with luggage as casual travelers like to make them out to be.

The key is your luggage and how you pack. I use top of the line, semi-rigid, luggage; which provides great protection. Many people feel the airlines tear-up luggage because of damage to the bargain bags, which really aren’t designed for serious use, they use for their occasional travel. My recommendation is Briggs & Riley. I have also used Tumi luggage in the past, but their warranty is not as good as that offered by Briggs & Riley. My bag for single week trips is a 22" Carry-On Expandable Upright that runs about $395. For multi-week trips I use a 28" Expandable Upright that runs about $525. Both bags have seen serious travel with no damage to the bag or contents. As to packing, I don’t use the machines carrying case as it takes up too much additional room. I nestle the machine into the middle of my clothes and wrap the hose around the perimeter; sticking my Comfort Curve mask wherever it will fit. After more than 250,000 miles of travel, my Respironics M Series (with heated humidifier) and Comfort Curve are still giving me great nights at home and on-the-road!

The few times I have carried the 22” bag onto a plane, the TSA folks haven’t given my machine any notice. I’ve been put through the additional screening process a few times (because I was using a last minute one-way ticket), but even then it was just a swab and I was on my way. And I have had numerous TSA notices that my bag had been searched, but it has always been in good order; with the machine in the place where I left it. The TSA folks aren’t trolls. So my recommendation is get good luggage, pack your machine in it, and check it. Enjoy the trip!

trice54 · Post by **trice54** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:07 pm

What is the swabbing about? I fly a few times a year and have never seen this practice. (I just got the cpap so have never travelled with that...based on the majority of advice here, I wll be keeping mine with me.)
Thanks...Trice

RiverDave · Post by **RiverDave** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:14 pm

I think they are swabbing for explosives residue

lifeartist59 · Post by **lifeartist59** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:21 pm

Thanks again. Deerslayer, sorry I did read your links but only after I posted my reply. I was too eager after reading all the help to say thanks and then went back to check the links. They were a great help. I am still concerned about time constraints but don' think my lugage is sturdy enough to pack it. I really appreciate all the help!

WNJ · Post by **WNJ** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:47 pm

lifeartist59 wrote:. . . May I ask, have any of you gotten pulled over and had the machine swabbed. If so, did it take much longer than regular security did at the time? . . .

Yes, just about every time. Almost always X-rayed separately, too. Only takes a minute or two. No big deal.

Wayne

Moby · Post by **Moby** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 4:52 pm

Keep i t with you if you can. Stuff gets lost, and a night without Cpap - done it once since I started (mislaid while travelling), and don't want to do it again!

Remember to pack the humidifier in something that keeps it separate from the cpap so that water drops don't get in the machine. Very important. I took lots of plastic bags.

Di

need advice for travel

need advice for travel

Re: need advice for travel

Thanks everyone

thanks...

Re: Thanks everyone

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: straight cpap 12.20 AHI avg.0.79

Mask

Additional Comments: Equipment isn't correct, S9 ASV w/H5i

Humidifier

Additional Comments: ozzie heated hose.