Traveling with C-Pap

[elader]

just use tap water and rinse it every morning and let it dry. It'll be fine. If the tap smells from chlorine, use bottled. Nothing wrong with it.

[koolkathy]

I just got back from a 10 day trip. My intent was to use bottled water, but we got to the hotel so late, I opted for tap water. I had no problems at all. Upon our return, I cleaned my unit thoroughly. All is well

[BlackSpinner]

Just got back from Edmonton Alberta. They told me to leave the cpap in the bag & just take out the lap top on the way back in security. My shoes which apparently have metal in their heels made more of an issue the way there.
I packed one back pack with my laptop, cpap, humidifier, hose & mask and my medications, change of underwear and my book & knitting and had no problems except that I almost didn't get on the flight home because it was packed. They tried to tell me I was not in dress code because I had "athletic shoes" on - Lady those are walking shoe with orthopedic inserts to keep my knees going! (I travel standby - work for Aircanada - if you are not in dress code you get bumped to the bottom of the list)

[Guest]

I always take my CPAP when I travel and I always use distilled water. I was told that, over a period of time, mineral deposits in tap water or non-distilled bottled water could eventually cause problems with the machine. That's why they recommend distilled water - to keep the machine running smoothly as long as possible. I have no idea how mineral deposits would get into the machine (through the humidity?)

When traveling, before I leave, I ask the hotel (or cruise ship) for a gallon of distilled water to be delivered to my room upon arrival. The request has never been denied and I have never been charged for it, although I would not have any objections to paying for it.

I doubt that using tap water or regular bottled water on occasion would do any damage, but I wouldn't do it on a regular basis.

[araminta]

gotta say ditto to eladar, once again.

i've traveled by plane several times since becoming a hosehead in Feb. i just leave the cpap in its bag (in this case, a well-cushioned camera day pack w/ a nice spot to slide in my laptop) when going thru security. And 50% of the time they don't even bother to take the cpap out of the bag. On those occasions when they do remove the cpap from the bag, I ask them to use clean latex gloves when they swab it. it takes only an additional 5 minutes, at most. I always take the laptop out and place it in a tray.

i usually use tap water at the hotel, unless there's a nearby store to get distilled water. I clean it out when I get back home. It's not been a problem. There's not been a build up of mineral deposits.

[RMinOntario]

I am currently traveling. I've been gone 3 1/2 weeks and 2 more weeks to go. I didn't have airline issues as I am taking the train for 8 nights in total (4 more to go). Since I went with coach instead of a sleeper, I had a great deal of difficulty keeping the nasal mask in position because of gravity, I guess. I eventually, chose to go w/o CPAP as the leak issues were huge because of the positions I had to rest in. All the train portions are 2 nights each & I am back on again tomorrow for the next 2 nights.

I have asked at hotels for distilled water and none have been able to supply it (even tho' I requested it in advance at one of the hotels), tho' they could tell me where to purchase it. With the amount of luggage for 5 1/2 weeks, plus camera gear, netbook and full CPAP I couldn't lug a jug of distilled water as well. I did manage to get vinegar from hotel restaurants to clean my humidifier regularly and the tap water seems to have worked out okay.

This is a once in a lifetime trip so I really rest up after the train segments. Last night my hotel lost power for 2 1/2 hours but that was a first. Just meant no CPAP from midnight 'til 2:30am.

[bearcatx16]

From another thread I just posted on.

When I fly I get in late, use the shuttle to the airport, and leave late the next day to another destination or home. I have a copy of my Rx for distilled water, took the original to the pharmacy got a gallon, with part of the water placed in 2 32oz prescription bottles with the prescription label on the bottles. Have never been question by TSA about the water. It is in the case with my cpap and they haven't even looked at it. If it is a multi day trip I have carried on partial bottles of water.

Like everything else, in cpap lilfe, do what works for you.

Additionally, when I go through security I take the cpap out of the bag and place it on a plastic liner I have in one of the trays. This has eliminated TSA agent from handling the cpap. What I have observed is they pick up the tray take to the sniffer swap it and return it to me in the tray. This has pretty much eliminated touching by TSA. I let my work partner carry the computer, I then only have one item to remove and keep track of.

Blessings,

Fred

[wlbecker]

I have a suggestion I had not seen here (could have missed it) Bring an extension cord! I had to move furniture to get mine right last week. Outlets are scarce in a hotel room.

[briank]

There are numerous previous threads on cpaptalk.com about traveling with CPAP. A search (right under the CPAPTalk.com logo) for "travel" will get a lot of irrelevant hits, but a search for "TSA" seems to give pretty useful results.

[LinkC]

I have no idea how mineral deposits would get into the machine (through the humidity?)

They don't. The deposits stay in the humidifier tank. If not cleaned regularly, they will become impossible to remove...and may damage the aluminum heating plate in the bottom of the tank. At worst, you end up replacing the tank before its time. They will not affect the machine itself in any way.