Traveling with CPAP

I've been on my BiPAP for about a month now. From night #1 I've been 100% satisfied and happy with this life-changing machine I traveled out of town Tuesday and packed all my gear. Got to the hotel and set everything up about 10pm ready to hit the sack - I was exhausted from the day of travel and work. As I was hooking the mask & hose to the machine I realized the headgear was in my nightstand back at home. *GASP* I sat on the edge of the bed, a 43-year-old man almost reduced to tears because I knew what kind of night I was in for without my machine.

The FF mask uses clips at the bottom and loops at the top. I had NOTHING in the hotel room or any store nearby to rig something that would hold during the night. That night, I had the worst night of my life - waking 7 times to use the restroom, every time waking to a dry mouth/tongue/throat, had to sip water 2-3 times an hour....just miserable.

The next morning at 8am I started calling Dallas/Fort Worth area CPAP dealers to see about getting the headgear to my mask. I was very surprised to find several dealers refuse to even talk to me until I had a copy of my script, sleep study, and insurance info faxed to them. I told them I'd pay for the headgear out of pocket they still would not talk. Some of the ones who would talk told me they could not separate the headgear from the mask and I'd have to pay $186 for a new mask+headgear! Yipes!

On my very last call, though, I explained my situation that I was out of town, had all new equipment, but needed the headgear only. The man was VERY nice and told me that he had display masks that he'd give me the headgear for the mask I needed without any faxes or anything else.

Thank GOD there was someone out there who understood my situation and actually helped me without wanting to charge insurance or charge me $186!

A *HUGE* thanks goes out to Accurate Medical Supply of Fort Worth!

The moral of the story: Don't forget ALL of your CPAP gear while traveling!!! Also, I guess it's a good idea to keep a copy of the sleep study, prescription, and insurance in your CPAP bag in case you need to replace something more serious at a local dealer.

Thanks for that post. Important reminder, that. Keep Rx, duct tape, surgical tape, painters tape, rubber bands, and two pairs of the wife's knee-highs available for MacGyvering at all times, just in case.

Seriously. Good reminder.

Let's be safe out there.

jnk wrote:Keep Rx, duct tape, surgical tape, painters tape, rubber bands, and two pairs of the wife's knee-highs available for MacGyvering at all times, just in case.

Uh.... there you go giving out your opinion again. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED ABOUT THIS!!! Are you ready to have the ole boys from the backroom throw eggs and tomatoes at you? There has been talk of it... and they are not very happy about you expressing your opinion around here.

Again - just keep your mouth SHUT if you want to avoid the eggs and tomatoes.