Travelling with CPAP tomorrow - Opinions/Suggestions Sought

Billy6 wrote: So far, on 10 trips through security, the TSA has inspected the machine twice, so be prepared for that.

Interesting. Mine is inspected and swabbed EVERY time. I was beginning to feel profiled, but one TSA supervisor said that their instructions are to hand inspect and swab every cpap. Almost always, the person at the xray unit stops and reverses the belt several times before they call out "Bag check on number (whatever)." I think one reason for the insistence that cpaps be taken out of their bags before being run through the x-ray is to help this part of the process so that they know right off the bat that something is going through the machine that will require hand inspection.

Funny story. The last time I flew out of Sacramento, the xray operator shouted out, "We got a breather here!" instead of the usual "Bag check." I muttered to myself, "Well, thank the gods for that, I like breathing," and the person immediately behind me said, "Amen to that." Turned out she had a cpap as well!

I just automatically take my machine out of it's bag and put it in plastic tray ... on top of a clean trash bag I pack just for that purpose. Just think of all the shoes that have been in those trays!

My machine has been swabbed each time I've travelled by air.

Mindy

Does the humidifier unit also need to be put in the tray for checking carry ons?

I've traveled for business for a decade, and just took my first CPAP trip...I travel by car in Washington State, so haven't dealt with TSA issues yet.

I only have one unit, and used the Resmed bag. It's barely big enough, but is "free." It took me about sixty seconds to pack it up in the morning by laying things out the night before.

I like to have the hose rise from the machine and pass over a hook more or less above my head before descending to my mask at bed-level. At home it's easy, but every motel is different - and some nail the headboards to the wall so it's impossible to hang the hose from it. My solution - which I haven't tried as I didn't realize this would be a problem - is to take my folding wire music stand and use it like an IV stand. Most beds roll out from the wall, so I'm hoping the music stand will work.

I generally carry an extension cord in my portable office gear, but will add one to this bag...better safe than sorry....

I think gallon zip-locs for the mask, humidifier, and hose will make packing simpler and cleaner.

plr66 wrote:Does the humidifier unit also need to be put in the tray for checking carry ons?

Hmmm - I don't know since I have only travelled with my Respironics M-Series with integrated humidifier.

Mindy

One other thing I add besides the extension cord is a small single plug surge protector. Cost less than $15 at Staples.

silver

I flew to Florida on Continental last week. Departed Newark NJ with no problem at all in security.

When I returned from Fort Lauderdale, they pulled me out of line, took out the machine, wiped it down with some type of cleaner or disinfectant. At least she wore gloves, but Yuck! She also told me to get it out prior to going through the scanning machine so they wouldn't have to pull me out of line. Talk about calling attention to yourself!!

I have had my machine since New Year's Eve, used it every night - all night. My readings while away were the highest that I've had. So, I would take all the old equipment since you are most familiar with it.

I like to have my hose above my head too.
I bought a really neat hook (3M) at Walmart. It's actually a cable bundler.
It has removable adhesive that doesn't mess up the surface when you pull it off.
http://cableorganizer.com/cord-bundler/

I love this thing, it holds my hose above my head, and I have yet to have any problem pulling it off in the morning, just pull it off the wall or headboard really slowly.
I just keep a couple in my cpap bag at all times.

Bookbear wrote:but one TSA supervisor said that their instructions are to hand inspect and swab every cpap. Almost

I wonder why? What is it about CPAPs that make them such a threat?

jda1000 wrote:I like to have the hose rise from the machine and pass over a hook more or less above my head before descending to my mask at bed-level. At home it's easy, but every motel is different - and some nail the headboards to the wall so it's impossible to hang the hose from it.

I travel fairly often, usually by car, most often to my sister's hotel in Ft. Myers Beach. The headboards are not suitable to hang the hose from. I found a hose hanger device that is designed for travel, and folds down to a very small, lightweight and flat size. It fits in the travel bag with the hose in the hose pocket. If I remember correctly, it cost me about 20 bucks. Used it for the first time last night and it was perfect.

Debjax wrote:

Bookbear wrote:but one TSA supervisor said that their instructions are to hand inspect and swab every cpap. Almost

I wonder why? What is it about CPAPs that make them such a threat?

Absolutely NO idea. I HAVE had two TSA people pull me aside and ask me about sleep apnea after seeing the machine.... how to get a sleep test, what's involved with diagnoses/treatment, what masks/machines were the best....

Bookbear wrote:

Debjax wrote:

Bookbear wrote:but one TSA supervisor said that their instructions are to hand inspect and swab every cpap. Almost

I wonder why? What is it about CPAPs that make them such a threat?

Absolutely NO idea. I HAVE had two TSA people pull me aside and ask me about sleep apnea after seeing the machine.... how to get a sleep test, what's involved with diagnoses/treatment, what masks/machines were the best....

I think it's because they feel there's a risk we could be carrying plastic explosives in our handy-dandy machines so they swab to detect explosives residue.....

Mindy

mindy wrote:I think it's because they feel there's a risk we could be carrying plastic explosives in our handy-dandy machines so they swab to detect explosives residue.....

Mindy

Makes no sense to me...under that reasoning they should also be swabbing every laptop also.

I have been using cpap devices for many years. Before I obtained a new, smaller cpap, I always traveled with a Fisher Paykel cpap/humidifier device. Carry it in a separate bag with a special tag indicating that it is a medical device and not subject to any airline carry on limitations.