Dedicated CPAP packing list

[D.H.]

My bag has actual compartments with pictures on them. lol. It tells you exactly what goes in each section of the bag. There is my packing list.

Actually, it is! In effect, you do have a packing list!

[DavidY]

No list. But I have a battery backup system in case of power outage. Have my travel case with my backup hose. Other supplies such as a backup mask are being currently developed.

Dave

[Bertha deBlues]

My bag has actual compartments with pictures on them. lol. It tells you exactly what goes in each section of the bag. There is my packing list.

Actually, it is! In effect, you do have a packing list!

My CRS (Can't Remember S---) demands that I have lists for lots of things. Grocery shopping, packing for a vacation, CPAP travel/hospital stays, etc. If I check things off as I go, there's no "darn, I forgot. . ." later.

[Bertha deBlues]

DH, looking at your recent (and not so recent) posts,
the idea of a packing list seems to be an obsession with you.
You have brought up the subject MANY times.
We get the point.
When will you consider giving it a rest?

I see nothing wrong with mentioning the need for a list, especially for new users. There are people here (myself included) who have not/do not read every single thread. Many of the Old Guard have a list ( ) of tips they give to members asking questions. It's all good.

[D.H.]

. . .

I see nothing wrong with mentioning the need for a list, especially for new users. There are people here (myself included) who have not/do not read every single thread. Many of the Old Guard have a list ( ) of tips they give to members asking questions. It's all good.

Thanks Bertha. There are some really rude people on this blog as you noticed. I've mentioned this a number of times before, but usually in the context of somebody having forgotten something. As you said, not everybody has read all the past postings. It's always possible to forget some silly thing that makes it not possible to use the CPAP. for instance, the piece that goes between the mask and the hose (if applicable).

More importantly, what if you have an emergency hospitalization and somebody else needs to pack the bag for you?! Will (s)he know every piece that's needed? I doubt that this is the case even for a spouse who sleeps in the same room.

[Bertha deBlues]

More importantly, what if you have an emergency hospitalization and somebody else needs to pack the bag for you?! Will (s)he know every piece that's needed? I doubt that this is the case even for a spouse who sleeps in the same room.

Great point! Last year I was taken by ambulance to the local hospital, where I was moved from the ER to a hospital bed for 2 nights' observation. I did not have a list at that time, and had to come up with one for my husband to go back home to retrieve my CPAP stuff. I wasn't feeling well, so thinking clearly was a bit hard. Luckily I was able to remember all the truly important stuff so that I didn't have to sleep without my CPAP.

[chunkyfrog]

Well, so much for a thread about lists, yet no one has provided a SAMPLE LIST.
EDIT: here's the list I used:
The MACHINE, hose, mask, distilled water, power supply, extension cord,
hose management apparatus, baby wipes.
Please feel free to add or omit according to your needs.

[Bertha deBlues]

Well, so much for a thread about lists, yet no one has provided a SAMPLE LIST.
Oops?

Packed inside travel case:
- CPAP Machine
- Power cord
- Mask, including headgear and short hose
- Spare nasal pillow/nasal cushion/FF mask
- Long hose
- Filters, including spares
- SD card
- Extension cord (just in case)
Hmmmm. . . that sounds about right, though I'm sure someone will be along to point out errors.
EDIT: I forgot to add
- A note giving pressure settings.
EDIT #2: I like to add a small (2 oz. or less) bottle of dish detergent (unscented, not anti-bacterial) and a few facial tissues (unscented, no lotion) to keep my nasal pillows clean.

[D.H.]

Here is my packing list for the Phillips Respironcs DeramStation CPAP® machine with a Respironics Comfort Gel® mask.


I) The base unit.
II) The humidifier.
...A) The detachable unit. It is approximately equal in size to the base unit.
...B) *The reservoir. This is a tray with an open top. It should be empty and dry.
III) The Filters.
...A) *Dark blue reusable filter.
...B) *Light blue (or gray) pollen filter.
IV) Compliance Items.
...A) *The SD card.
...B) *The modem.
V) Oxygen Port. Not used, but should be included, just in case.
VI) Mask.
...A) Base
......1) Main Piece.
......2) 360° pivot joint.
......3) Plastic forehead connectors.
......4) Exhaust port cover.
...B) Soft triangular face cushion.
...C) Hard triangular cushion bracket.
...D) Headgear (strap).
...E) Two lower connector pivot joints
...F) Spare mask (preferably unopened)
...G) Padding (generally use two terry-cloth socks; juvenile size OK).
......VII) Cords.
...A) The main power cord (with a “brick” in the middle)
...B) Extension cord. At least 6’ (1.83 m) with two or three prongs.
VIII) Heated hose with rubber cuff to attach mask. Other end should have a snap-in connector to the humidifier.
IX) Distilled water. If not available, use any potable water.
X) International Adapter(s) if needed.



________________________________________
Notes
• Make sure that the unit – especially the reservoir – is dry. Even a small amount of water can damage the unit during transport. If this is not possible, try to place a barrier around the reservoir or carry it separately.
• This unit can be operated without the reservoir. This should be done only if absolutely necessary.
• It is best to use distilled water in the reservoir. Do not use distilled water that is sold in a petrol station; it contains battery acid! The next best choice is to use purified water. If neither is available, any potable water will do. However, do not use flavored, colored, or carbonated water! If nothing is available, operate the CPAP without the reservoir attached.
• My prescription – as of October 2016 – is 13.5 cmH2O. This is an automatic unit, so the minimum pressure is set to the prescription, and the maximum is 20 cmH2O (the highest setting on the machine). Thus far, it has never gone above 17 cmH2O. I generally keep the humidifier at 5, (which is the maximum).
• Items marked with an asterisk, will generally already be in the machine or the humidifier.

[Lucyhere]

Here is my packing list for the Phillips Respironcs DeramStation CPAP® machine with a Respironics Comfort Gel® mask.


I) The base unit.
II) The humidifier.
...A) The detachable unit. It is approximately equal in size to the base unit.
...B) *The reservoir. This is a tray with an open top. It should be empty and dry.
III) The Filters.
...A) *Dark blue reusable filter.
...B) *Light blue (or gray) pollen filter.
IV) Compliance Items.
...A) *The SD card.
...B) *The modem.
V) Oxygen Port. Not used, but should be included, just in case.
VI) Mask.
...A) Base
......1) Main Piece.
......2) 360° pivot joint.
......3) Plastic forehead connectors.
......4) Exhaust port cover.
...B) Soft triangular face cushion.
...C) Hard triangular cushion bracket.
...D) Headgear (strap).
...E) Two lower connector pivot joints
...F) Spare mask (preferably unopened)
...G) Padding (generally use two terry-cloth socks; juvenile size OK).
......VII) Cords.
...A) The main power cord (with a “brick” in the middle)
...B) Extension cord. At least 6’ (1.83 m) with two or three prongs.
VIII) Heated hose with rubber cuff to attach mask. Other end should have a snap-in connector to the humidifier.
IX) Distilled water. If not available, use any potable water.
X) International Adapter(s) if needed.



________________________________________
Notes
• Make sure that the unit – especially the reservoir – is dry. Even a small amount of water can damage the unit during transport. If this is not possible, try to place a barrier around the reservoir or carry it separately.
• This unit can be operated without the reservoir. This should be done only if absolutely necessary.
• It is best to use distilled water in the reservoir. Do not use distilled water that is sold in a petrol station; it contains battery acid! The next best choice is to use purified water. If neither is available, any potable water will do. However, do not use flavored, colored, or carbonated water! If nothing is available, operate the CPAP without the reservoir attached.
• My prescription – as of October 2016 – is 13.5 cmH2O. This is an automatic unit, so the minimum pressure is set to the prescription, and the maximum is 20 cmH2O (the highest setting on the machine). Thus far, it has never gone above 17 cmH2O. I generally keep the humidifier at 5, (which is the maximum).
• Items marked with an asterisk, will generally already be in the machine or the humidifier.

Thank you for taking the time to type all this out. Not all of it is applicable to my machine, but the general idea is.

[Bertha deBlues]

Here is my packing list for the Phillips Respironcs DeramStation CPAP® machine with a Respironics Comfort Gel® mask.


I) The base unit.
II) The humidifier.
...A) The detachable unit. It is approximately equal in size to the base unit.
...B) *The reservoir. This is a tray with an open top. It should be empty and dry.
III) The Filters.
...A) *Dark blue reusable filter.
...B) *Light blue (or gray) pollen filter.
IV) Compliance Items.
...A) *The SD card.
...B) *The modem.
V) Oxygen Port. Not used, but should be included, just in case.
VI) Mask.
...A) Base
......1) Main Piece.
......2) 360° pivot joint.
......3) Plastic forehead connectors.
......4) Exhaust port cover.
...B) Soft triangular face cushion.
...C) Hard triangular cushion bracket.
...D) Headgear (strap).
...E) Two lower connector pivot joints
...F) Spare mask (preferably unopened)
...G) Padding (generally use two terry-cloth socks; juvenile size OK).
......VII) Cords.
...A) The main power cord (with a “brick” in the middle)
...B) Extension cord. At least 6’ (1.83 m) with two or three prongs.
VIII) Heated hose with rubber cuff to attach mask. Other end should have a snap-in connector to the humidifier.
IX) Distilled water. If not available, use any potable water.
X) International Adapter(s) if needed.



________________________________________
Notes
• Make sure that the unit – especially the reservoir – is dry. Even a small amount of water can damage the unit during transport. If this is not possible, try to place a barrier around the reservoir or carry it separately.
• This unit can be operated without the reservoir. This should be done only if absolutely necessary.
• It is best to use distilled water in the reservoir. Do not use distilled water that is sold in a petrol station; it contains battery acid! The next best choice is to use purified water. If neither is available, any potable water will do. However, do not use flavored, colored, or carbonated water! If nothing is available, operate the CPAP without the reservoir attached.
• My prescription – as of October 2016 – is 13.5 cmH2O. This is an automatic unit, so the minimum pressure is set to the prescription, and the maximum is 20 cmH2O (the highest setting on the machine). Thus far, it has never gone above 17 cmH2O. I generally keep the humidifier at 5, (which is the maximum).
• Items marked with an asterisk, will generally already be in the machine or the humidifier.

Well done!!!

[TASmart]

Here is my packing list for the Phillips Respironcs DeramStation CPAP® machine with a Respironics Comfort Gel® mask.


I) The base unit.
II) The humidifier.
...A) The detachable unit. It is approximately equal in size to the base unit.
...B) *The reservoir. This is a tray with an open top. It should be empty and dry.
III) The Filters.
...A) *Dark blue reusable filter.
...B) *Light blue (or gray) pollen filter.
IV) Compliance Items.
...A) *The SD card.
...B) *The modem.
V) Oxygen Port. Not used, but should be included, just in case.
VI) Mask.
...A) Base
......1) Main Piece.
......2) 360° pivot joint.
......3) Plastic forehead connectors.
......4) Exhaust port cover.
...B) Soft triangular face cushion.
...C) Hard triangular cushion bracket.
...D) Headgear (strap).
...E) Two lower connector pivot joints
...F) Spare mask (preferably unopened)
...G) Padding (generally use two terry-cloth socks; juvenile size OK).
......VII) Cords.
...A) The main power cord (with a “brick” in the middle)
...B) Extension cord. At least 6’ (1.83 m) with two or three prongs.
VIII) Heated hose with rubber cuff to attach mask. Other end should have a snap-in connector to the humidifier.
IX) Distilled water. If not available, use any potable water.
X) International Adapter(s) if needed.



________________________________________
Notes
• Make sure that the unit – especially the reservoir – is dry. Even a small amount of water can damage the unit during transport. If this is not possible, try to place a barrier around the reservoir or carry it separately.
• This unit can be operated without the reservoir. This should be done only if absolutely necessary.
• It is best to use distilled water in the reservoir. Do not use distilled water that is sold in a petrol station; it contains battery acid! The next best choice is to use purified water. If neither is available, any potable water will do. However, do not use flavored, colored, or carbonated water! If nothing is available, operate the CPAP without the reservoir attached.
• My prescription – as of October 2016 – is 13.5 cmH2O. This is an automatic unit, so the minimum pressure is set to the prescription, and the maximum is 20 cmH2O (the highest setting on the machine). Thus far, it has never gone above 17 cmH2O. I generally keep the humidifier at 5, (which is the maximum).
• Items marked with an asterisk, will generally already be in the machine or the humidifier.

My God you are retentive, aren't you? How does a "small amount" of water damage the unit? Why should a unit capable of being run without the humidifier only be used that way if only necessary? Where on earth did you come up with distilled water at gas stations containing battery acid? That is most certainly not the case in the US.

[D.H.]

. . .
My God you are retentive, aren't you? How does a "small amount" of water damage the unit? Why should a unit capable of being run without the humidifier only be used that way if only necessary? Where on earth did you come up with distilled water at gas stations containing battery acid? That is most certainly not the case in the US.

That was written for a much older CPAP; I never removed it when I updated it for this one (or the prior one). I'd rather have it dry for travel anyhow, so I left it.

The gas station water was in Argentina. They wanted to sell me a bottle of distilled water that a a warning - in Spanish - that the water was unsafe to drink.

[jennmary]

This seems like so much overkill. It is pointless.

The only reason for this is if I am unconscious, in a hospital. If that is the case then they already know to use distilled water. They already know they need a mask to go with the machine, they already know that a machine can run without a humidifier. As someone who used to work in healthcare I would give this a hard eye roll if someone came at me with this nonsense.

Hospitals also have their own machines for use when needed. My son was on one in the nicu after he got off the ventilator. In a real emergency they will hook you up to one of theirs.

I dont know. This just seems like an awful lot of droning on for the sake of droning on.

And battery acid? Come on. No. The reason that distilled water can be labeled as not for drinking is because it is not for drinking. There is some contention on whether it is safe to drink regularly or not and some believe it is hard on your kidneys. Anyone who reads your comments about battery acid is going to take the rest of that list with a huge grain of salt.

[SewTired]

Don't really need a dedicated list for mine. I follow the pictures. If it's empty, it needs something.

FWIW, if there were a hospital emergency, which around here is frequent, I already have a complete backup bag with a big orange tag that says BACKUP BREATHING MACHINE (for my Mom's benefit). My brother's old Bipap is set up the same way. Bipap, hose, mask and sleep masks with big orange tag. When I've had my Mom pack up my brother's setup, something occasionally gets forgotten, so this is just easier for all of us.

If you make a list for someone else, be sure to mention that there are TWO PARTS to the cord (if you have that) or half will be forgotten and your machine is useless to you. Also don't rely on the hospital to have them. Their supply of units may be quite limited.

Before I set up the separate bag, this was the hospital ER run list. My Appointment/ER purse has a separate list for the ER so that I remember the stuff for his Itouch (i.e. power pack, extra cords, wall charger, headphones) as well as get my wallet, flip phone and ereader from my regular purse.

Hospital

1. Get Bipap bag (top shelf)
2. Empty humidifier bin; put back into unit.
3. Unplug unit at power strip.
4. Unplug power cord from unit.
5. Put unit into bag complete with hose and mask on top.
6. Add BOTH PARTS of power cord.
7. Add 2 blue sleep masks.
8. Add medication list
9. Add dry mouth spray.
10. Close