Don't Screw Up Like I Did.....

My spare machine is always kept "ready to go"....for travel......and to substitute....in case my daily-use M-Series auto fails.

My honey and I celebrated New Year's with family in Phoenix....and as we left for home....I made a mistake. As TSA processed us through the "Phoenix Security Theater", my "M" Series was removed from my sight...by a TSA woman who told me it was to be tested for explosives. I gave my permission....and I shouldn't have. I should have requested that I be present....even at a distance...as it was tested..... so that I could be sure no damage was done to my machine.

Fast forward to last weekend.....My honey and I hit the road.....and I loaded my spare machine in the Yukon. When we checked into the Hampton Inn, I started setting up my CPAP equipment......opened the integrated reservoir cover to remove the water tank for filling....and it was GONE! NO TANK!

I spent my first night in 2-1/2 years without my CPAP machine. I didn't sleep well.....I had a sore throat the next morning....and I was not a happy camper.

After making sure that I had not left the tank where we stayed in Phoenix, I came to the conclusion that the sweet folks at the "TSA Theater" had removed my reservoir tank....and I was determined to let all my friends on this forum know what had happened to me.

When I got home......I unloaded my inoperable CPAP machine....and shoved it into its space in the closet. At that moment, I spotted the reservoir tank......right where I had put it 1-1/2 months ago....to dry.

Even though TSA was not to blame, I realized that I shouldn't have let my machine out of my sight. I won't make that mistake again. Second, I'll always completely check my gear...before I leave....to make sure that NOTHING is missing.

Lessons learned......

Gerald

Ok, just because I never make the same mistake twice....put the little doohickey in the bag that goes on the machine if you take it off the humidifier...it's small enough to fit, and if you ever leave the tank again, you can use the machine wihout the humidifier.

Deb.....

I left the "do-hickey" at home....in the box with all the other unused stuff....mask parts....spare hoses, etc.

That's called a "screw-up squared".....

Gerald wrote:Deb.....

I left the "do-hickey" at home....in the box with all the other unused stuff....mask parts....spare hoses, etc.

That's called a "screw-up squared".....

Yeah...ok, now just in case you zone it again...go get the doohickey out of the box and tuck it in the front cover of the bag...really, it doesn't take much space..

I did the same thing. And of course I'd also left the doohickey safely at home. I spent an entertaining but otherwise miserable few nights trying to jury rig a replacment without success.

I THINK it's now in the bag but I'm definately going to double check.

midnightowl

Okay, I'm sleep deprived. What's the doohicky? I want to make sure it's in my travel bag now.

LOL,
Babs

I believe the doohickey is:



https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Respir ... -Port.html

My DME wasn't going to give me mine, thankfully I asked for it!

sepool wrote:I believe the doohickey is:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Respir ... -Port.html

My DME wasn't going to give me mine, thankfully I asked for it!

You are correct. You have to have this to hook the hose up if you are not using the humdifier. My DME made a point of showing it to me and explaining firmly that if I chose to travel without the humidifer, I had to have that with me.

Ah yes.... Thank you very much!

Now I have to go hunt through my box of spare parts and ascertain if I kept that one.

Thanks much for the post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Babs

Whispering: What is your DME ? Director of Medical Equipment? Laughing.

DME = Durable Medical Equipment

It's usually used in the context of "Supplier of Durable Medical Equipment".

It is the common jargon used to describe the equipment dealer that provides CPAP and/or other medically necessary equipment.

To say "my DME" means to reference my supplier.

For example, our host, https://www.cpap.com, is an "online DME". And they are MY DME.

Cheers,
Barbara