Hotel stays & CPAP - what to do with Darth Vader when away..

[WestCoastCdnGrl]

Hi.

I'm going out of town next week for 2 nights and am taking Darth Vader with me. I will be staying in a hotel (as opposed to someone's home) and was looking to see what the people here in CpapTalk land do with their xPap units when they stay in hotels.

This is my first stay with Darth in a hotel, and while I'm o.k. with travelling with him (he came with me to Toronto back in May), the thought of someone from housekeeping touching him or my mask grosses me out to no end.

I am by no means a neatnick or one of those ultra clean OCD germophobe types, but Darth and I have a very personal relationship (as would be expected) and I don't like the idea that someone other than myself or my family (am travelling with my Mum) touching him (especially the mask, since it touches my face and I have to breathe through it)... I don't know where their hands have been and what chemicals they may have touched. It gives me shivers just thinking about it.

Do I just tuck him away in his carrying case in the morning and put said case away in the closet or at least tuck him away in a drawer or do I dare [horrified look]leave him out on the night stand[/horrified look].
Yes, regardless of what I do, I will unplug Darth's brick from the outlet when not in use)

I hope that I'm not being overly paranoid about this, and am seeing your guidance and advice!

Thanks!

[DaveL]

I take mine wherever I go. In the morning I pack it up in its case. I have a "medical equipment" label and my name on the case. I am concerned about leaving something behind, so I hae a routine. Soon as I touch a component, I pack it. My worry is losing a power cord for instance.
I also include a surge suppressor with a long cord on it. Sometimes receptacles are in the wrong spot in a room. Specially in older hotels. Had a surge once that took out the room tv. So that power bar saved my machine!

Hope this helps. good luck

Dave

[WestCoastCdnGrl]

thanks for your reply...

I'm not so worried about forgetting to pack Darth up at the end of the trip, but rather I don't want someone whom I don't know touching him when I am not around... i.e. the hotel cleaning staff.

I'm just looking for the easiest way to keep him assembled (not that clicking the compressor and the humidifier together and refilling the water chamber are difficult things to do) while reducing the chance that he may be touched by someone whose hand cleanliness I cannot be assured of/won't take care of him as well as I would.

Am thinking that the sticking him in his carrying case every morning and putting him in the closet will likely be the best route to go... that way I know that he'll be safe.

[cowlypso]

When I stay at my friend's house, I leave the unit plugged in on the bedside table, then just disconnect the hose from the unit and toss it into my case, mask and all still attached. It's a 5 second deal, and all the important stuff (i.e. stuff that could be shredded by the cat) is put away.

[Bons]

Why not leave it assembled and stick it in a dresser drawer? Even easier if the nightstand drawer is deep enough.

[archangle]

Be really sure to remove the humidifier any time you move it or any time you leave him unattended.

Hotel housekeeping staff are often swine.

[FizzyWater]

I don't change my sheets or towels at home everyday, so I see no reason to when I travel. I leave the Do Not Disturb sign on the door all day. When I get back, depending on the hotel chain, there might be a note under my door or on voicemail acknowledging the room wasn't cleaned and to feel free to contact housekeeping when I get in if I want/need service. For a two-day visit, I wouldn't find any need for them to swap out towels or make the bed!

[Tip10]

I clean mine every morning and pack it back away in the case and put the case in an out of the way place.
Doesn't take but a few minutes and I don't have to worry about it.

[HoseCrusher]

I do the same thing Trip10 does.

[ozze_dollar]

Well I am going away tomorrow for a week. Its my first time with the machine. Its my intention to just leave it where it is. Will be harder to steal that way. Perhaps I will put the the "do not disturb"sighn up and then I can be there when they clean. If they do that is.

[nanwilson]

I put mine in its bag every morning..empty the water first..I have a LARGE label I put on top of the bag once its packed stating its medical equipment and my name and address. I never leave it out..who knows what kind of stuff the cleaning staff use to wipe everything down (shudder). I also take an extension cord and a protection plug with me every time I travel.

[Mary Z]

I always just leave mine out on the nightstand except for the mask which I place in a drawer or the carrying case. Never had any problems.

[imsleepynomore]

Wow talk about not trusting people and germiphobia, I just finished a 17 day trip on a motorcycle with my CPAP all I did was empty tank in morning when staying more than 1 night at a motel I frequently used drawer to prevent slipping off slippery night stand came home healthy and happy no fuss with any thing . PSI found I can use micropore tape to reroute hose up on headboard this makes hose dry and no pull as I turn in bed

[Paula J]

We are staying a week in a motel. I call Housekeeping every morning and either tell them we don't require anything or we just need clean towels & bathroom cleaned. Haven't had any problems so far.

[bigpoppa62]

I travel quite often and I just disconnect the mask and leave the machine in place.I also carry a surge protector and one of those plug things that makes a 3 prong into a 2 prong.