Advice for travel?

allen · Post by **allen** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 3:59 pm

Hi, all.
I'm going out of town on Tuesday for Thanksgiving. I'll be sleeping in my sister's home.

My home bed is an iron frame with many large spaces through which I can run my cpap hose. I don't know what kind of bed I'll be sleeping in at her house and it's possible that I'll even be sleeping on a couch. (Argh.)

What should I take with me to adapt my upcoming sleeping situation to CPAP success? Scrunchies? Other items?

After over a month of CPAPing, I'm celebrating my 1st week of feeling that the CPAP actually helped my sleep. The circles under my eyes that usually get progressively larger and darker during the week were barely present by yesterday. I actually felt positive about the whole thing this week--a HUGE shift from last week! Thanks for the encouragement some of you offered me last week, and thanks--in advance--for ideas about items for a CPAP "travel kit".

Thanks,
Allen

Severeena · Post by **Severeena** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 8:10 pm

Allen I have my APAP on a stand almost even with the bed. I do not have problems with rainout or getting tangled in the hose.

You may want to consider asking about your sleeping arrangements before arriving at your destination.

I have slept in a motel twice now with mine and I have placed it on the floor at the head of the bed with no problems.

I have never propped up the hose. Hubby never has either.

Have fun and Happy Thanksgiving.

ProfessorSleep · Post by **ProfessorSleep** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 8:11 pm

Happy holiday to you! Take your own distilled water, a small bottle, if you use a HH, whatever you need to clean your equipment, and I take about a 12 " piece of thin velcro that I can use for just about anything when I travel. Hook it over the hotel headboard, trap it behind a pillow, Hang the hose around the lamp base, whatever. Actually, I often use a spare pillow as a prop to keep the hose in place and that works just fine. Other than making sure you pack all the equipment you need, it shouldn't be any big deal (unless you're traveling by air - that's a whole 'nother thread or two). Travel safely, and enjoy your visit!

Severeena · Post by **Severeena** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 8:17 pm

ProfessorSleep, what happens if the motel or hotel doesn't have a head board. I am finding the head board is attached to the wall with no way of hanging anything over the edge.

ProfessorSleep · Post by **ProfessorSleep** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 8:21 pm

That is quite common. I use a pillow to prop against the headboard/wall and push a few inches of the hose behind that. Then the pillow I am using to sleep on holds that in place. It worked the same as if I had the hose tied or otherwise suspended over my head.

chrisp · Post by **chrisp** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 9:15 pm

Dddont forget the extension cord. A 20 footer at least. I once had to rearrange the furniture in a hotel in London because the only outlet was on the other end of the room.

:twis ted:

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 9:38 pm

chrisp wrote:Dddont forget the extension cord. A 20 footer at least. I once had to rearrange the furniture in a hotel in London because the only outlet was on the other end of the room.

:twis ted:

Absolutely agree... I recently made a trip without and had to unplug the lamp and the alarm clock to use my machine/heated hose.

BTW, I tried to move the bed away from the wall so that I could loop my hose over the headboard...but the bed was screwed to the wall.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 11:09 pm

Hi Allen,
Your progress is great news.
And for those reading the thread whose humidifier needs separate electricity, or using a heated hose: take along a socket multiplyer to stick on the end of the extension cord.

O.

allen · Post by **allen** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 12:34 pm

I'm adding something to the list, myself.

I didn't sleep well last night. I had caffeine in the afternoon, ate a late and heavy dinner, then went to bed later than usual. Consequence: Horrible sleeping. Tossing and turning all night.

Alarm was set for 6:00AM this morning. I got up earlier than that. Drank some coffee, then decided to take a nap at 6:30. I knew I had to be up by 7:00, so it was a short nap.

I got in bed and put the mask on before realizing that I'd not turned on my floor fan. I was too tired to mess with it, so I went ahead and turned on the CPAP machine.

Wow--I had NO idea how loud the machine and the noise of my breathing is, since my floor fan is a noisy one that lulls me to sleep.

Added to my travel kit: My loud fan!

Allen

donnm · Post by **donnm** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 4:47 pm

I've been using a CPAP for about 4 years. I travel on business about once a week on average. For a one-night trip, I sometimes don't take the CPAP, although I usually regret that as I wake up repeatedly all night long. For longer trips, I just put the CPAP on the hotel nightstand and don't worry about stringing up the hose or anything. Works just fine. As others have indicated, the hardest part is finding an outlet! I often have to unplug a lamp. I just noticed the battery operated CPAP and may be looking into that. Hope you don't have to sleep on a couch! That would not work for me; I wouldn't want to be seen in the living room with a CPAP on.

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