best pillow to keep airway open on airplane?

[Staceylk]

Hi-
I'm heading to Europe next week without my cpap on board and will be on an overmight flight (in coach). My apnea is at its absolute worst when I try to sleep anywhere but a bed where I can bolster my airway with a few pillows. So I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions for a pillow that will help me sleep upright/ or some way that will help keep my airway open so I can rest without choking and waking everyone on the airline (including me!) up! (when I sleep on my side on a plane- my airway collapses).
Thanks in advance-
Stacey

[Tcamillemars]

Be sure that you don't check your machine. Make sure it is a carryon item and it doesn't count as one of the alloted bags. I just flew from Denver to Zurich and used a $5 inflatable version of those neck pillows you see at the airport shops. It did a pretty good job of holding my head up, and I didn't have to mess with one more thing to carry. I flew on Delta which doesn not allow the use of cpap machines on the aircraft. I called them to question this policy, as I have a battery and wouldn't need their power and I was told the policy was under review. I did make some comment about the CEO of Delta preferring to deal with a dead body on board a transatlantic flight that a customer using a medical equipment device, however. Nobody hassled me at the airport about having the extra bag, but I have a big Medical Equipment ID tag on the case. Still I was only able to sleep about 2 hours all night, but I think that was more about the flight attendants arguing amongst themselves and the baby crying two rows behind me than not having my machinel. Bon voyage.

[kteague]

Before you go, you might want to try some things at home while napping with an observer to get an idea of their effectiveness. Key for me when sleeping in a sitting position is that my head not lean forward or back, and my neck be kept in a straight line (posture perfect). Try sitting nearly upright and using one of those small c-shaped neck pillows, but turn it around backwards so your chin cannot fall forward. Even though I have severe OSA, I have little to no trouble when sleeping as described above, but it may just be that my airway structure responds well to that position. Can't say how cabin pressure in an airplane might affect that though - haven't flown since diagnosed.

[DreamDiver]

I agree with kteague. Get yourself a bucky travel pillow. http://bucky.com/catalog/controller.php ... oduct=T220 They're so comfortable, I cover one with regular pillow case and use it at home in bed under my neck with the open end of the c facing the headboard, cradling my neck and head. Fit it in with your medical equipment, and make sure you have a medical equipment tag on your bag so they don't deny you from carrying it on.

[Rustyolddude]

Two thoughts on the subject, remember the rules for CPR, tilt the head back to open the airway. So maybe a pillow that allows you to do that comfortably without putting a crick in your neck. A second suggestion, bring a surgical mask to wear. Since you're liable to be sleeping with your mouth open, it will spare a little embarassment, catch drool, and most of all reduce your chances of catching an airborne illness from being cooped up on the plane with everyone.

[Ruby Vee]

Two thoughts on the subject, remember the rules for CPR, tilt the head back to open the airway. So maybe a pillow that allows you to do that comfortably without putting a crick in your neck. A second suggestion, bring a surgical mask to wear. Since you're liable to be sleeping with your mouth open, it will spare a little embarassment, catch drool, and most of all reduce your chances of catching an airborne illness from being cooped up on the plane with everyone.

Depending on what kind of mask you wear, you might be able to put a surgical mask over it, a blanket over your lap and chest to hide the hose and use your battery operated CPAP on board without anyone being the wiser.

[chet]

I bought a backpacking pillow at REI that I use at home,I see no reason it would not work for travel.It is small and has two loops attached that allow you to roll it up like a sleeping bag.