One night hotel stay

[proudaunt]

I am going to be spending just one night away from home, and will probably only be in bed 4-5 hours maximum. While I know I should use the cpap every night (and thus far, i have), is it really all that bad to miss just one night, especially for just a short sleep? The thoughts of packing everything up for a 5 hour sleep seems crazy to me, but I'm new to this, so I don't really know. I don't know how bad my sleep apnea is, since I have not yet had my follow-up appointment with my sleep doc. All I know is he said very severe sleep apnea, and oxygen levels dropped to 63%. I guess I'm thinking if I didn't speak up, I'd have been without it still anyway, so can one night really hurt? Yes, I know I'm rationalizing, I do that a lot.

[OutaSync]

Make sure that your will is up to date before you leave.
If you had seen your sleep study results and knew that your apneas were mostly while lying on your back, I would say, just make sure that you stay sleeping on your side, or upright, in a chair. But since you do not know, I would not take a chance. Oxygen desats that low are not something to take lightly.

I'm guessing here that you are going to visit the new baby. And welcome to the forum.

Bev

[JimW203]

I agree with Bev; not only are you rationalizing missing "just one night," but you may well be endangering others. If you are driving and are having a short sleep that short sleep should be the best you can get. You are also, perhaps, falling into a pattern of rationalization that may lead to a total cessation of CPAP because it's just too inconvenient. Keep in mind how many are inconvenienced by funerals.

JimW203

[KengEsq]

I am going to be spending just one night away from home, and will probably only be in bed 4-5 hours maximum. While I know I should use the cpap every night (and thus far, i have), is it really all that bad to miss just one night, especially for just a short sleep? The thoughts of packing everything up for a 5 hour sleep seems crazy to me, but I'm new to this, so I don't really know. I don't know how bad my sleep apnea is, since I have not yet had my follow-up appointment with my sleep doc. All I know is he said very severe sleep apnea, and oxygen levels dropped to 63%. I guess I'm thinking if I didn't speak up, I'd have been without it still anyway, so can one night really hurt? Yes, I know I'm rationalizing, I do that a lot.

The simple answer is take your machine and use it.

[LoneStar]

Whenever I rationalize something, I know I'm probably trying to do the wrong thing.

Take your machine with you and use it.

Lisa

[proudaunt]

I guess I'm in the minority here. I'll be a good girl and take it. Thanks all for your kind advice.

[tillymarigold]

I'd been going to say that if you won't be driving and don't mind feeling like death warmed over the next day, it's unlikely to kill you to go without it for one night ... but then I read the rest of your post. SIXTY-THREE percent? Do you realize how close to dying you came?! Cell death begins to occur at 60%, and reintroducing oxygen after a desat that severe causes even more damage. So I have to second the comment about making your will first.

[rocketdork]

I'll join the others and say take it.

Now that I am used to the machine, I literally can't sleep without it. Not even for a short period of time. I find myself waking up constantly, and my snoring wakes me too...Now that I use it, I don't have a choice anymore. I see that as a good thing.

[Babette]

What I'm about to say can be misconstrued. Please read it very carefully.

You show 5 posts. Does this mean you are a NEW cpap patient? How long have you been on cpap therapy?

If it is less than 30 days, and you currently do not experience much difference in your waking life after using your cpap machine all night, then 1 night away from it will probably not make much difference to you on this trip - at this point in your therapy.

If you have been using your cpap machine compliantly for more than 30 days, I would highly encourage you NOT to do this. You WILL notice a significant difference. You will very likely feel groggy, and probably experience headaches, muscle aches, and signficant mood swings.

I cannot possibly guarantee that you will not die in your sleep. Of course, the machine is no guarantee you won't die in your sleep, but it helps, huh?

I carry my machine with me every week for one night only. It beats the alternative of sleeping alone 100%. I agree it's a royal pain. I'm working on getting a machine I can leave at BF's house.

Best of luck,
Barbara

[Debjax]

Yes, one night can hurt. ESPECIALLY if your sats went down to 63%. I woke up the other night after 2 hours without my mask. For some reason I took it off and don't remember doing it, but looking at the download the next day, it was 2 hours. My head was killing me and I felt like crap. After 2 hours.

I put the mask back on and within a short time the headache was gone.

TAKE the machine. you can leave the humidifier if you want but at a minimum, take the machine.

[greenvelvetdragon]

Take your machine!!!! And an extension cord, they never put the outlets in the right place, I learned this one the hard way.

all the best

GVD

[OCNorsk]

I WAS gonna say, you'll be OK for one night until I saw the severe part. I did not take my machine on my last two trips and I was fine. I also have MILD apnea. It's very easy to take it if you are taking a car trip. The hassle is the airplane part.
Frankly my dear, with your numbers, you gotta take it with you. And the extension cord is an EXCELLENT suggestion.

[tgzlavistane]

I have a question about the Extension cord when it comes to air travel. In other postings I have read a CPAP is allowed to be brought into the Cabin of the Airplane and is not considered carry on but Medical equipment. Are thier Laws that limit the length of Extension cord you can bring with you in you in your CPAP Bag on the flight, or do you have to pack it away in luggage you check in preflight?

[betty303]

I take my BiPap and all my extras in my cpap travel bag - humidifier, extension cord, mask, a bag of emergency pieces of equipment in case things are missing (I usually have to get a concentrator at my destination for 02 and it is amazing how many things the DME can overlook sending that are key to making the whole set up work.) I use my Respironics Classic tank bag, then actually travel with an M Series machine, so everything fits. (The M Series bags don't even have room for a mask.)

I have never had, or heard of any problem with the extension cord. It is the bag with the rest of the stuff. Generally, the TSA person just takes out the machine to swab it and then they only look at the rest of the things in the bag. I put a label on the outside of my bag that has "Medical Equipment" in red letters.

You can also find a luggage tag on our host's site - https://www.cpap.com. Just do a search for it - $8.95. It clearly states on the back that CPAP is medical equipment and is allowed on board without counting in your carry-on limit.

[Bigburd]

Been there & did without. Never agaain. Even with the hassle of going through security at the airport I will take it all.