Stuck in New Orleans without a CPAP :(

HI all, first time poster - one of my friends suggested that I post here.

I flew from CA to New Orleans (we are filming the college football championship game), and United lost my luggage. Apparently it's in Costa Rica right now

Yes, I know I should not have checked my CPAP. However, we're media, and we have a TON of camera gear, batteries, lenses, etc, and it's very tough for us to do so much carry on, let alone carry my cpap. I have been lectured like crazy, but hey, we all make mistakes. Now, I'm just trying to pool together resources.

Does anyone have any suggestions on where I can get a CPAP...even tonight? I have been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea (121 apneas an hour), and this is the first time in nearly a decade where I not used a CPAP machine to sleep.

Thanks in advance, I appreciate everyone's help!

You might ask the Respiratory Therapy (or version of it) dept of a hospital for names of reputable dealers there and ask if they have loaners, though unless you have your script with you, I don't know how well that will work. What about overnight courier service from home (or is there no one there to help?)? I'd say try the phone book, but not sure what to look for there. If you can use a recliner while waiting (better than flat) do so.

Might check local craigslist and see about just buying a machine.

Having to go the New Orleans, with or without a CPAP would be a form of torture.

NWS wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 09, 2020 11:28 pm

Thanks in advance, I appreciate everyone's help!

good god, this meant you slept last night without your machine. so far(touch wood) that hasn't happened to me.

if you haven't found anything yet on craigslist here's a google search of dme in the area-

https://www.google.com/search?q=dme+com ... e&ie=UTF-8

good luck!

If you are the same person that posted about this on Facebook, I'm sorry you got so many useless and judgemental answers.

To add to the list, I would search Craigslist, OfferUp, as well as DMEs as suggested above.

Meanwhile, I would sleep on my side on a sofa. Recliners are often recommended, but my apnea can be pretty bad that way. Whether my head tucks forward or flops back, it closes the airway. On a sofa, with my back against the cushions, it is is difficult o roll onto my back in my sleep. I try to arrange the pillows so my neck is straight.

A cup of coffee or tea before bed can help. No, you won't get a lot of restful deep sleep, but by sleeping lightly you will semi-wake sooner and breathe. It beats suffocating. It may also help maintain a little more tone in your airway, again by reducing deep sleep. It's a stopgap measure, not a long-term solution.

I'm sorry I didn't see your post earlier. Not because I am in NOLA, but because a similar thing happened to my husband. He checked his CPAP and airline lost his luggage. They were pretty blase about it UNTIL he said his CPAP was in his luggage! Then they fell all over themselves to help him. They found a local DME who could supply him with a rental machine, mask, and hose. He did need his Rx, but we both have digital copies on our phones and the cloud, because we travel a lot. And they tracked down his luggage and delivered it to his hotel, 2 hours from the airport, at 1AM! Is the airline aware that they have lost your CPAP? Unfortunately, it is now the weekend so it will be more difficult to get a rental, if they will provide you that option. But as others have said, perhaps a hospital respiratory department?

Good luck!

Agreed!
The airline is totally on the hook for this.
Even though we advise people to only carry-on their cpap,
sometimes it is not possible.
Airlines have a responsibility to handle THEIR mistakes.