Travelling with CPAP- I know again

[ictbu]

Hi all,
I'm a relative newbie to CPAP. I've had it for not quite 3 weeks now. Not sure its making any difference for me yet... But that's a different topic. Here is my situation and I would appreciate advice from other frequent travelers.

I'm in the process of applying for a job that requires frequent air travel. I'm a fairly well seasoned traveler already but my game has been thrown off a bit by the prospect of traveling with CPAP. I always travel with a backpack carry on with my laptop, iPad and other assorted items that change depending on the trip. I've read a lot of posts about not putting your CPAP unit in a checked bag. My concern is that if I add another carry on bag after years of only carrying one bag that I will just forget and leave it somewhere. I have occasionally done such things before... (Its a miracle that I still have my Bose noise cancelling headphones. So, other than the possibility of equipment breakage, are there other reason why I should not pack it in the checked bag? Especially if I get a good hard side bag specifically for that reason. So I guess I'm saying, talk me out of trying that.

Second thing is getting a second travel CPAP unit. My new machine came with a nice carrying case but for my tastes the unit is just too big for a second carry on. Would be fine if I was just driving, but not for air travel. If I pack it in the checked bag, I will have to use a larger bag than I would like. So I'm considering purchase of a small travel dedicated CPAP unit. (Also and I hate to mention this because you are all going to think I'm a total flake but if I have to leave home for the airport first thing in the morning and I can't pack it the night before, there is a decent chance I will just leave it behind. So I'm looking for recommendations about what unit to consider. So far I'm considering these 2 but I'm just early on in the process. "Zzz-PAP 'Silent Traveler' CPAP Machine" and "Transcend II Travel CPAP Machine". I'm leaning towards the Transcend II specifically due to size.

Thanks in advance for your help and advice.

D

[billbolton]

So, other than the possibility of equipment breakage, are there other reason why I should not pack it in the checked bag?

You'll only need to have the checked bag with your CPAP kit not arrive at your destination on a timely basis, to understand why putting it in checked baggage is a very bad idea

So I'm looking for recommendations about what unit to consider.

It your call what you choose to do, but in general, xPAP machine advertised as being specifically for travel purposes have restrictions on their performance/capability.

I travel extensively with a Resmed S9. and its quite straightforward in terms of handling it as walk-on baggage while travelling.

Cheers,

Bill

[purple]

As one can not get parts for a machine, or a machine, without a prescription, and stuff happens while traveling. Like one needs a power cord with power cube, a hose, a mask, and so on. SO:

A number of folks here recommend traveling with a copy of the sleep study summary, which is two pages, and perhaps have their doc send a prescription to someone like our host, cpap.com, for a machine and all accessories. Another doc will accept the sleep study summary to write a prescription to a local DME where you have traveled to, and our host can ship things quite quickly.

In a pinch, some of us with simple OSA can get sleep by sleeping sitting up, not on our back.

Of the different places to get a lower cost, smaller travel machine, you might look at our host, cpap.com, and they have a CHAT that allows u to speak with their folks, who have rep of being honest and knowledgeable.

[ictbu]

Bill, do you also travel with the humidifier unit as well then?

[Pugsy]

Do you have to use a humidifier each night or would it be possible to go without humidified air while traveling?
That's something to consider. If you can do without it then you have less to deal with and take up space.
Me...I would do without my machine before I would do without my humidifier but that's another story.
Some people do very well without it.

Check the noise levels for those "travel" machines. There have been a few people offer their Transcends because they were unhappy with them. If you are sensitive to noise levels...something to consider.

[Cavmdc]

I enjoy me Transcend for camping, though I have no humidity then

Greg

[JohnO]

I travel with the same machine I use everyday (I like to keep the stats in order). I also purchased a second unit of the same type, since it it what I am used to, and didn't really want to bother with learning to breathe on a different type of machine. I'll have that as a reserve. I used to have my backpack with laptop, and a carry-on as carry-on luggage. I now check the carry-on and take the backpack and CPAP with me. I did leave it in an airport restaurant once,but thankfully it was right next to my departure gate, and the restaurant hostess came out and found me. At the least, be sure to put a luggage tag on it!

My two cents.

[SteveGold]

I just got back from a whirlwind trip that included eight flights. I was also worried I'd just forget the machine somewhere because it wasn't part of my routine.

But it wasn't a problem.

I kept the CPAP stuff separate throughout the trip. Only had to justify it to airport personnel once. As I understand it, checking it is bad news - it could kill the machine.

My advice is to accept that you need to carry the CPAP with you and figure out how it's going to fit into your routine. It's not too much more weight, and you can piggyback it on your carry-on when you're wheeling around the airport and so forth. I used my usual machine for the trip.

Hope this helps.

[Stormynights]

I keep my spare machine with a mask hose and extension cord in a carry on bag with wheels. Once I forgot the extension cord and another time I forgot the hose. Now with everything already packed it is easier.

[BlackSpinner]

I had a backpack that fitted my laptop, cpap machine, humidifier, hose, mask, cord, camera, meds and a change of underwear, book, slippers and my knitting. I also wore a "fanny pack" (in the front) with my wallet, tickets, lipstick, nose spray, decongestants, and cell. I have back issues and I couldn't handle 2 carry ons.

Don't put anything in check-in that you can afford to lose. Our family stuff has ended up all over the world, sometimes with tire tracks on it. On my first job I was flown to Toronto to do special testing and all my cards (shows you how old I am) flew to Los Angeles. I spent 2 days sitting in a hotel room hassling the airline to find and to get my card decks to Toronto.

[RandyJ]

I personally would not want to mess with one of the so called "travel" cpaps and risk having my therapy be any different than it is at home. Changing up something (no humidification, louder blower, etc) increases the potential for not sleeping, added to the fact that already I won't be in my own bed.

If you can fit all of your cpap gear into your single carry on, that is an option.

[fredr500]

I had a backpack that fitted my laptop, cpap machine, humidifier, hose, mask, cord, camera, meds and a change of underwear, book, slippers and my knitting.

Which backpack did you have? Sounds like a travel trailer with straps but I too like having everything in one bag.

[BlackSpinner]

I had a backpack that fitted my laptop, cpap machine, humidifier, hose, mask, cord, camera, meds and a change of underwear, book, slippers and my knitting.

Which backpack did you have? Sounds like a travel trailer with straps but I too like having everything in one bag.

I am not sure because it finally disintegrated last year. It had a special padded compartment for laptops at the back, a front compartment and a bottom zipped place under the bag (where the hose, knitting and slippers fitted). It also had straps for a bike helmet and little side pockets and a cell pone or mp3 detachable pouch on the front strap. I bought it one September in a high end neighbourhood, it cost me about $60. I got it because I had a long bus/metro commute to work and always had to bring my laptop home to control the evening uploads to the server of new software and if the load wasn't balanced it about killed my back. it was great but after 5 years the main zipper suddenly disintegrated. Look where the college crowd shops.

[ughwhatname]

I had a backpack that fitted my laptop, cpap machine, humidifier, hose, mask, cord, camera, meds and a change of underwear, book, slippers and my knitting.

Which backpack did you have? Sounds like a travel trailer with straps but I too like having everything in one bag.

My travel laptop for work fits in the outside pocket of my S9 bag, so I can carry CPAP and laptop together. Wouldn't take much more space to include the camera, meds, underwear, book, slippers and knitting.

[TangledHose]

I own a Transcend II because I pack it on my motorcycle trips and it weighs less than a pound -- the draw back is lack of humidifier and I think their solution with their HME looks cumbersome and maybe somewhat ineffective. The unit is straight CPAP and is indeed louder than most home units so I wear foam ear plugs at night when I use it. Frankly I don't mind going without the humidity for a few nights, but I wouldn't want to do that for any extended length of time. Fortunately my home unit is an F&P Auto Icon which I have the hardshell travel backpack for....it is pretty easy to pack the unit up in the hardshell for airplane trips and the hardshell comes with attachment straps that make it a backpack. The F&P Icon is easy to travel with as the power converter and humidifier are built right into the unit which makes it very compact for a machine that has a humidifier - - I would definitely recommend this unit for extensive airline travel - it's compact and also a very good machine. CPAP dot Com has the best price I have ever seen on the Icon series and the hardshell backpack case is also available as an option from F&P or other online sources. I also got the medical luggage tag from CPAP dot com to attach to the backpack that satisfies the airlines and TSA as to the fact that it is a required medical device and exempt from carry on restrictions (it does not count against your carry on limits).

The Transcend is better for short trips where space and weight are at a premium like camping or motorcycle trips - - I would look into a different unit such as the F&P Icon or similar for longer airline type travel trips.