Travelling with CPAP- I know again

[Drowsy Dancer]

I agree that the only way you can GUARANTEE that your xPAP will arrive with you at your destination is to carry it on. I've flown with mine a number of times and have used it twice on international flights (which was not a great experience, but better than sleeping without CPAP).

I personally would never check my CPAP machine. I travel with a copy of the pertinent CFR with me.

[BlackSpinner]

Depending on where you are flying, you may desperately NEED a humidifier. I wouldn't want to be in a northern hotel in the winter without one. Heating often makes the room drier then the Gobi desert.

[HoseCrusher]

I have adjusted what I put in my backpack to make room for my xPAP machine, hose, and mask. I put the machine in a gallon zip loc bag.

I put my humidifier and extension cord and extra supplies in my checked baggage. I figure that I can go a night or two without using the humidifier should worse come to worse.

At security I pull my laptop out of its bag and pull the xPAP machine out of my backpack. This seems to satisfy security. I just flew last week and had no problems at all.

The downside to this is that my backpack now weighs more, and has less room for my winter coat. It is also a little more bulky and doesn't fit as loosely in the overhead bin.

I have no problems getting up at 3:00a and stuffing the xPAP machine, hose, and mask into my backpack and the humidifier into my suitcase on my way out the door to catch the flight.

[Drowsy Dancer]

I have an index card with a checklist of everything that I need to take with me when I travel with my CPAP. Every single time I move my setup from one location to another, whether by car or plane, I take out the checklist and verify that I have everything with me.

[billbolton]

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

Yes.

I have the S9 + H5i + power brick + slimline hose + l-o-n-g power cord (sometimes with a plug adapter on the end) + mask + nasal spray + occasionally any temporary medications I may be on - all in the Black Resmed S9 CPAP shoulder bag. I usually have reading material for the flight in the outside pocket.

The only things that come out of the bag when I'm at home are the S9 + H5i + power brick - the other stuff stays in the bag (I have duplicates in my bedroom) , so I have only three things to put in the bag when I need to travel.

I travel with a roller bag for clothes etc (IATA cabin size for local trips - larger size checked bag for overseas trips) and the Resmed bag slips over the handle when rolling.

Cheers,

Bill

[-tim]

Pack a packing checklist and a plastic bag for both the machine and humidifier. Get some of the white packing foam and cut it to suit (bubble wrap and airplanes aren't the best options).

If you must have the device (and since your new to it... now you could get along with out it but give it a few months and it could be like a kid without their favourite stuffed animal) If you're doing days at some spot, prepack a spare and keep it at someplace where they can drop it by fed ex on short notice if needed.

I wonder if someone shouldn't start a list of open late DMEs around the world.

[ReadyforRest]

I have some questions.

Machines & cards:
1. If you use a different cpap machine when you travel, does that mean you have two different sd cards?
2. If yes to the above, then how do you input your data and keep it in order using 2 cards?
3. Can you have 2 machines, and use the same sd card for each?

Carry-on's:
I haven't flown in a while. Last time though, you could only bring one carry-on, and it had to fit within the wire frame that they have near check-in. So ...

Is a cpap machine not included in the "only one carry-on" limit? Can you still bring one carry-on, plus your cpap machine, onto the plane in hand?

[JohnO]

Is a cpap machine not included in the "only one carry-on" limit? Can you still bring one carry-on, plus your cpap machine, onto the plane in hand?

This is correct. The CPAP machine doesn't count against your carry-on limits. I can't answer your other question as those same concerns led to to tavel with my primary machine.

John

[Drowsy Dancer]

Is a cpap machine not included in the "only one carry-on" limit? Can you still bring one carry-on, plus your cpap machine, onto the plane in hand?

This is correct. The CPAP machine doesn't count against your carry-on limits. I can't answer your other question as those same concerns led to to tavel with my primary machine.

John

Links to various regulations for US travelers here: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=87233&p=795635#p795635

[BlackSpinner]

Is a cpap machine not included in the "only one carry-on" limit? Can you still bring one carry-on, plus your cpap machine, onto the plane in hand?

This is correct. The CPAP machine doesn't count against your carry-on limits. I can't answer your other question as those same concerns led to to tavel with my primary machine.

John

However - the caveat is that if the flight crew think there is too much crap already on board they have the full authority to make you stick it in the belly of the plane. Also small planes do not allow that either. Safety will override all these rules.

If you do the extra bag then board with the people who need help and small children.

[chunkyfrog]

I wonder where I can get a HUGE medical equipment sticker for my cpap bag.

[JohnO]

However - the caveat is that if the flight crew think there is too much crap already on board they have the full authority to make you stick it in the belly of the plane.

Since I've started traveling with CPAP, I've started checking my roller bag. Much easier to get through the airport and the airplane. Of course there is a cost, but most of my travel is for work, and they will cover the cost of checked bags. I've been fortunate that the wait for bags after deplaning has rarely been more than 5 minutes after I walk to the baggage carousel.

John

[billbolton]

The CPAP machine doesn't count against your carry-on limits.

That depends on which country you are flying in. Its not something which applies everywhere in the world by any means.

Cheers,

Bill

[Pugsy]

Machines & cards:
1. If you use a different cpap machine when you travel, does that mean you have two different sd cards?
2. If yes to the above, then how do you input your data and keep it in order using 2 cards?
3. Can you have 2 machines, and use the same sd card for each?

It depends on the machine brands. Respironics SD cards you can use 1 SD card between 2 Respironics machines.
I don't know about ResMed machines though. I have my doubts though.

In terms of SleepyHead it doesn't care how many different machines you use under one user profile and that includes multiple brands.
I don't think that you can mix machine serial numbers with Encore or ResScan though.
The one time I tried to mix 2 machines in one user profile in Encore it told me it didn't like what I was doing but I did it anyway and all the data from the older machine disappeared.
I have never tried it with ResScan.

[billbolton]

I don't know about ResMed machines though.

It depends what you intend to use the data for.

If you want to accumulate data across two S9 different machines prior to taking it to a DME (et al) for downloading - that won't work.

If you want to capture non-overlapping data from two S9 different machines, each on it own SD card, and regularly download that into one patient profile within your own copy of ResScan - that is definitely workable.

Cheers,

Bill