Emergency for poor packer!

[nlt6mor]

Just for the record, here is what five minutes of nightmare for the machine looks like. Good News, best AHI I have recorded on Sleepyhead however!
Last two nights have been great, no ill effects on the machine, even sounded quieter!

[OkyDoky]

Poor thing, it couldn't even get up to minimum and died quickly. Glad there were no bad effects on the machine.

[WindCpap]

The trick is to use the bag it came with and pack all of the components at the same time. The component sections have pictures so you can say yep yep yep yep yep and close the bag. I plan on buying spares of everything but the cpap so I can just put the machine in the bag and go.

[nlt6mor]

Good idea. My problem was packing after waking at 4:30 AM for travel to work couple hours away. I dump the humidifier first and try let it air dry for a while to prevent any mold or growth. Got late to leave and almost forgot my "mypillow" (I hate the big hard Hotel pillows). Threw the pillow in my suitcase and left. Forgot the humidifier that was still air drying. Although I do this every week to work three days two night couple hours from home, I am just not fully awake that time of the morning. A complete backup as one member suggested is good idea for me. But at least having a duplicate tank will allow me to keep a dry one packed!

[BlackSpinner]

Good idea. My problem was packing after waking at 4:30 AM for travel to work couple hours away. I dump the humidifier first and try let it air dry for a while to prevent any mold or growth. Got late to leave and almost forgot my "mypillow" (I hate the big hard Hotel pillows). Threw the pillow in my suitcase and left. Forgot the humidifier that was still air drying. Although I do this every week to work three days two night couple hours from home, I am just not fully awake that time of the morning. A complete backup as one member suggested is good idea for me. But at least having a duplicate tank will allow me to keep a dry one packed!

Create a detailed check list and attach it to the bag. Only tick off what actually goes into the bag.

I used to travel a lot for work at one time and mornings are not my best time of day. The only way I made it to the clients with everything I needed for work and personal stuff was by using copious lists.

[nanwilson]

I have 2 of everything. My spare is packed with everything needed to go...........plus I have a check list on top of the bag to ensure I didn't (borrow) from the bag .
Unfortunate part is that both machines are not the same, but it only takes me a few minutes to acclimate to my brick of a spare when I am away from home. Some day I will be able to afford another 60 series and I can give my F&P brick to someone that needs it worse than me.
The big hint is ... get a spare machine, you need it.
Cheers
Nan

[yippeekia]

Thanks for sharing this. I am glad that it worked out after only one tough night.

I have made a copy of my prescription and placed it in my bag. I think with it and a credit card I could get most things overnighted to me in most places I would travel if I had to.

Thanks

[nlt6mor]

My take away thoughts for the week. One of course is to get a complete back up travel unit. My other thought requires a little history.
I am 65 and just little fart. 5'8" and between 150 and 160 lbs. Size 15.75 neck. Always been mostly healthy and active.
Ten years ago at workplace wellness screening, they found my blood pressure at 170 over 120. They told me to go see a doc.
Doc put me on Benecar sp> a German BP drug and it worked wonderfully without complications.
8 years ago my insurance took Benecar off their approved allowed drug list. My Doc at the time was livid, he hated insurance companies for doing this.
I always took a jotted down list of complaints and observations about myself to remember when seeing the doc. Top of the list eight years ago was headache in the morning and night sweats during sleep. He suggested I have a sleep study done. I was reluctant and asked him how many patients he referred to the sleep study came away with an OSA diagnosis. He laughed, almost irritated, and said most of them. I was of the mind this sleep study stuff was big racket. I didn't go. We played with many other BP medicines, combinations of, but none worked as well as Benecar with complications.

This doc left practice a year ago and I had to find a new doc. My BP prescription had run out and I had to see the new guy.
So this past year I jotted a list of complaint and observations about my self for the new doc. Top of the list again was headache in the morning and night sweat during sleep. A little trial and error and getting me off of cigarettes. He told me I have not been very successful in quitting so just go get an electronic cigarette so at least I can cut down on the smoke, tars and carbon intake. He though the nicotine was the least of my worries. Anyway he found a combination of the lowest does of two very cheap and safe BP drugs that worked like a charm. BP under control.

At a later appointment to evaluate those two drugs, he went over my scribbles notes on my health observations, and told me he was ordering me a sleep study.
I was liking this guy better after fixing the BP problem, so I reluctantly went.

This past summer I had the split night sleep study and although I was hesitant, I did like the lady that was doing the test. She seemed knowledgable and cool.
So when she woke me after the first half, her comment was, "I am so glad you came in for this test". Not sure what that meant.
After she woke me up from the second half her comment was, "You are going to feel like running a marathon today". What a load of sublimation I thought.

As I left the hospital that morning, I had to admit that I didn't have a headache and the air just somehow felt clearer than I remember. But still unsure about this racket called "sleep studies".

Finally got the results and I had AHI if 57 with oxygen down to 70% over night. All cleared up with straight 8 lbs of pressure. I slept like a log. Weeks later saw the doctor and he immediately wrote the machine prescription and told me to just get started now!!

So mid Sept I started with my machine and have not looked back. Headache and night sweats gone.

So my second take away after all this rambling is, how in 5 short months of nightly using this machine, could I be so panicked and dreadful of one night without CPAP because I forgot the humidifier! That was desperate kludgy attempt at making the machine work. How beautiful the humid air tank was the second night.

What I will always wonder... what would I feel like today, if ten years ago when the first doctor recommended it, I stated CPAP then! My advise to anyone reading this far..... don't wait!

[palerider]

My take away thoughts for the week. ... I was reluctant and asked him how many patients he referred to the sleep study came away with an OSA diagnosis. He laughed, almost irritated, and said most of them. I was of the mind this sleep study stuff was big racket. I didn't go. ... So my second take away after all this rambling is, .... What I will always wonder... what would I feel like today, if ten years ago when the first doctor recommended it, I stated CPAP then!

a couple other takeaways...

most people referred to sleep studies come away with an OSA diagnosis because they're screened first, people that don't have the symptoms don't get sent for studies, ergo, the confirmation rate is pretty high.

secondly, just because it's a racket (and, it is) doesn't mean that it's necessarily bad for you, or mean that you won't benefit from it.

[WindCpap]

In truth, I am using this as an opportunity to learn from somebody else's mistake instead of my own. I can totally see me doing the same thing.

[Thatgirl]

Thanks for sharing this. I am glad that it worked out after only one tough night.

I have made a copy of my prescription and placed it in my bag. I think with it and a credit card I could get most things overnighted to me in most places I would travel if I had to.

Thanks

Oh, that's a really good idea.

[Cardsfan]

I keep a picture of my prescription on my cell phone camera. That way, I can email it to anyone to buy parts online.

[Sir NoddinOff]

I keep a picture of my prescription on my cell phone camera. That way, I can email it to anyone to buy parts online.

Hmmm... that's a good idea. Maybe include your car/health insurance, birth certificate, doctor contacts etc. You know, for emergencies. Of course if somebody got their hands on your phone then that may present an identity theft problem. Is there a way to encrypt that stuff

[Krelvin]

I use a password manager to keep all of that info including over 9000 password objects alone, RX info, device info, vehicle info, insurance, credit cards, software keys etc.

It syncs with all of my computer and my phones, requires a password and destroys the data if incorrectly entered more than X number of times.

I always have the info at my fingertips. Don't leave home without it.

[palerider]

I keep a picture of my prescription on my cell phone camera. That way, I can email it to anyone to buy parts online.

Hmmm... that's a good idea. Maybe include your car/health insurance, birth certificate, doctor contacts etc. You know, for emergencies. Of course if somebody got their hands on your phone then that may present an identity theft problem. Is there a way to encrypt that stuff

add to that, brief medical history, AND list of medications taken.