Short Trip -not taking CPAP

diboja wrote:... I am flying on a short trip and going to be away three nights..... I don't want to be luggaging the CPAP ...

I hear you. My current ASV unit is a monster to carry about. When I used a Respironics BiPAP Auto (M Series), I would just take the unit, not the heated humidifier. It made it much, much more portable.

diboja wrote:... I have only been on CPAP for 3 months and am not a long time user -- I realize each of us have varying degrees of issues with Sleep Apnea but I am wondering if any of you folks have travelled for very short periods without your Equipment....

Before you decide to go 3 nights without CPAP, you might want to try one night (before a weekend would be best). If you don't mind it too much, then you might do fine for a few days without it. It all depends on the severity of your sleep apnea. Unfortunately, that's never been an option for me. Oh, there's the odd night that I've not used xPAP therapy. But in almost 20 years it probably comes to less than 30 nights! And at this point, I simply don't sleep without my ASV unit.

But, you might not have significant problems without your CPAP unit.

So whether I sleep well or not without it isn't really the issue, is it? If you sleep okay, can still sleep and function without it, then a few nights may not be too bad. But try it before you are a long journey away from your unit. You might find your body now expects the CPAP and you won't sleep well without it. Or it might not be any problem.

Anyway, best of luck with your journey, with or without your CPAP unit!

Thanks to all of you for your replies -
Last night I tried sleeping without using CPAP. I quickly found out that my body has climatized to the use of the therapy and to not use it is like a Crack cocaine addict stopping crack ! After about 3 hours of not using the unit I slapped my mask on and cranked up the machine....Oh boy what relief...fell asleep like a baby.....

Your suggestion JohnBFisher, is the one that I will use - disconnect the humidifier from the machine to make it more compact on my M series and stick it into my carryon.

I suppose that one of my fears was that with the increased air security I would be hassled by the security agents at the airport, but I noticed that imprinted on the bottom of the machine it specifically indicates that this is a medical device .

I want to be in top notch shape as I am escorting my spouse to Toronto for a heart assessment and a possible heart operation in the near future......and because of your help on this forum and my "test" I am going to "suck it up" and take the CPAP unit with me...

Reading this forum over the last 3 months has been an education and I do want to extend my thanks to all of you hosers.....

I would (and have!) taken my machine for ONE-night travel. I haven't found the TSA dance to be that complicated. I would no more be without it than I would my toothbrush. And I would strongly encourage ANY hosehead to do the same.

But, apparently, that's not the message you want to hear, so...

Leave it at home. It must not be doing you any good or you wouldn't even consider doing without. Put it in the attic and forget about it. Set it out on the curb with the garbage. Or send it to me.

Take your pick.

LinkC wrote: I haven't found the TSA dance to be that complicated. I would no more be without it than I would my toothbrush.
But, apparently, that's not the message you want to hear, so...

You didn't read my last message. I am taking it.

You are correct, sir. I did not. I may have started my response before your's appeared.

But I'm glad you tried your experiment...and became a "believer".

Consider this your metaphorical welcome to Toronto. I live there (here!) and would be glad to provide you with any local info you need - restaurants, hotels, CPAP equipment...send me a private message if there's any help you need. (Where will the heart assessment take place?)

Thanks Moneygal...I sent you a PM.

You will find the climate much different in Toronto - much damper so going without the humidifier should not be much of a problem. That should make taking your machine a little easier.

DO NOT check it. Put it on your carryon bag. It will be small enough I think without the humidfier. You don't want it lost in checked luggage!

Hope all goes well!

Hawthorne wrote:You will find the climate much different in Toronto - much damper so going without the humidifier should not be much of a problem.
DO NOT check it. Put it on your carryon bag.
Hope all goes well!

Thanks Jean...
I never thought of the relative humidity near the lake - your right! Yup, its going into the carryon.
Thanks
Dave

If you are leaving your humidifier behind, make sure you pack that little adapter thingee that allows you to hook the hose up to your CPAP. If your machine doesn't require one, just disregard this message.

Ack! I disagree. Hotels are NOTORIOUSLY dry environments. Hot dry air blowing 24/7 with no humidification. Yes, the outside air is moister here than in the prairies (where I grew up), but the inside air is extremely arid. I live in Toronto, have a humidifier on my furnace, and yet use a humidifier on my xPAP every night.

OutaSync is so right! You need to put that little adapter on or you can't attach your hose!

It should have come with your machine. Check your machine or humidifer manual for attaching it after you remove the humidifier.

I just saw MoneyGal's post. I based my comments on London and not Toronto but Toronto is closer to the lake so I don't know.

I use passover humidity almost all year round. I DO put it on 1 on very cold nights here when the inside humidity goes lower.

I guess you'll have to decide---.

One of the first things I checked was to see if I had the adapter - yup I do!
I normally have my humidity at 3 in our cold winters...back in October I set it at 1.

MoneyGal wrote:Ack! I disagree. Hotels are NOTORIOUSLY dry environments. Hot dry air blowing 24/7 with no humidification. Yes, the outside air is moister here than in the prairies (where I grew up), but the inside air is extremely arid. I live in Toronto, have a humidifier on my furnace, and yet use a humidifier on my xPAP every night.

Normally, I agree. But for a few nights, it's often easier to use no humidifier and without the bulk when needed. Though you raise a good point. And I suggest the poster consider taking some nasal saline spray. When I don't have a humidifier that often helps. Otherwise my sinuses will dry out too much without it.

Well, the important thing is the air. Whether it's moist or not is secondary. BTW, you should be able to take your machine PLUS humidifier as carry-on - I do....