What PAP stuff do you bring with you for travel?

I rarely pack my CPAP in a suitcase when I travel. I usually have a smallish carry-on, or backpack with all my pap-gear and flight comfort items arranged for easy security check.

What do you bring and how do you bring it?


Steve

If flying, I NEVER put my CPAP in my luggage - all CPAP gear is packed in the carry bag I got with it and it stays with me at all times whilst travelling. CPAP is allowed as an extra carry-on as long as you only have XPAP gear in it. Even if my luggage is carry-on (not checked), the CPAP goes with me separately.

I take a small towel to put the machine on, extension cord, extra nasal pillows, wipes, extra hose - all separately placed in ziplock bags before packing in carry bag.

For non-flight travel, my PAP gear still goes all together in the carry bag and I add a small bottle of distilled water.

Cheers,
xena

When I travel either abroad or domestically, I pack an emergency back-up (minimalist) nasal pillow mask, headgear and mouth tape in my luggage, as I do Not want to have to be bothered with finding or dealing with any DME while on my trips if something happened to my regular FFM. Takes up almost no room at all in a ziplock, and it's just been a routine for me on any length trip.

In addition to the hose, machine, humidifier, and their power cords, I carry on all the following in my cpap bag:
--A 13' cheapo (lightweight) white extension cord that I can easily see across the hotel carpets;
--A very small travel-size (3X2X1") power surge blocker;
--A small splitter for 3-plugs (because you are usually lucky to find even one socket open in hotel rooms, and may have 2-3 things to plug in whether cpap-related or not);
--A plastic over-door hook and a mesh bag that I use for hanging my mask to air-dry throughout the day without it being handled by housekeeping staff at hotels--can also use it to hang the hose if you want to;
--The cpap clinician's manual, just in case I have to re-set anything on the machine;
--A copy of my Rx for the machine, in case it fails and I need to replace it on the trip;
--Clorox non-bleach wipes in a travel pack to clean my mask cushion (or cut up larger wipes from a cannister and seal in a couple of ziplocks to avoid leaking).

Can you to add any to CPAP water that would help one's sinus?

Great thread! There are a lot of things here that I hadn't thought of!

I also pack up my cpap every morning & keep it in it's case so there are no mishaps with rhe cleaning messing with my cpap.

My cpap is ALWAYS carry on, never packed in baggage. I want that machine with me. In addition to the cpap and humidifier, mask, and hose, I carry a 6' extension cord, a multi-tap plug, my prescription and letter of medical necessity, a copy of the TSA and DOT regulations covering cpaps as carry-ons, and several rubber bands and two short lengths of wire (the latter two items to suspend the hose from the headboard in the hotel or motel). It all fits in the travel bag that came with the cpap. I buy distilled water at my destination. If it is only an overnight stay, I just buy a small bottle of purified water like Aquafina, or Desani. I clean the mask and hose when I get home, unless it is a longer trip. Then, I carry a small bottle of baby shampoo in my TSA quart bag for mask and hose cleaning. I put the mask, hose, and humidifier tank in the nightstand drawer during the day. That way, if housekeeping moves or jostles the cpap itself while cleaning, no water gets spilled and the mask isn't misted or dusted with cleaning products.

I keep my spare cpap and one set of complete gear in a plastic container with an emergency label on top . When I head out to the motorhome, I just grab the box and off I go, if its an emergency, the emergency worker or a neighbour, grab the box and it goes with me to the hospital. Besides my cpap gear theres a list of my ailments and meds in the box. Already had to go in an ambulance, the hospital really appreciated the fact that I was prepared.

Great discussion, and very timely for me. I will get my DME tomorrow and will be traveling two of the next three weekends. Will get some extra supplies tomorrow so I can be ready for the road.

A poster said "surge suppressor". Mine saved my machine after a power outage in a rural motel. Room tv didn't have one and would not turn on when power was restored.

DaveL

Doc,

I never fail to pack my white fluffy pillow.

amos

I have a separate Travel machine -- the following lives in the case at all times (suitably tagged with medical equipment tag):
Machine, Humidifier, Hose, Hose cozy, 1st Spare Mask (see note below), spare filters, small package of wipes, 12 foot extension cord, 3 to 2 prong adapter, cube tap (i.e. multi-plug tap), single outlet surge protector, small roll of plastic tape (for emergency hose repairs), several varying lengths of velcro strapping (e.g. wire wraps, etc. used for hose management), a Manila Envelope (labeled EMERGENCY INFO) containing: copy of scripts, copy of DOT regs, copy of meds I take, copy of address/phone info for all my docs, copy of emergency contact info for me (also a sheet is added with specific contact info for the trip -- i.e. where I'm staying, etc), and a travel toothbrush/toothpaste.
I also pack all of my current meds in the travel case when I'm getting ready to go.

Packed in my luggage is usually a spare mask sealed in a zip-lock.

Fortunately my machines humidifier breaks apart to allow for easy cleaning/drying so, when traveling, while I clean and dry it every morning, I connect the hose/mask back straight to the machine and let it run to dry things out before repacking everything in the case for storage during the day.
I buy distilled water at my destination or use bottled water (since I clean/dry the humidifier tank plate every morning its not an issue).

Notice that I store my primary back-up mask in the travel case -- usually what I pack in my suitcase is my secondary back-up (or emergency back-up) mask -- my primary stays at home on my primary machine.

Note to those who wonder if its worth replacing parts at the allowable intervals -- I'd definitely do so until you have a minimum of 3 viable masks (the emergency one can be an old used one but you still want one) and at least 2 hoses -- it gives you the freedom to start creating travel packs so that you don't have to mess with your primary gear if you don't want to. I'd also suggest a bare bones basic machine as a travel/backup machine as soon as you can afford one. This machine doesn't really need to be full data unless you want to spend the bucks on it. It's main function is to keep you from having to put your good primary machine at risk when traveling and to serve as a backup.

Be sure your spouse is aware of what you need (make a list) just in case you have to go to the hospital. I ran into a tree chasing a dope-head this year and when I saw my wife carrring my cpap equipment into my hospital room, it was a sight for sore eyes!

Sheriff

As others have mentioned, my CPAP came with a travel case, so when I fly it's one of my carry ons. Besides the CPAP, hose and nasal pillows I carry an extension cord and a copy of the TSA regulation about it qualifying as medical equipment, just in case I ever need to add a third carry on (which has happened at least once when I bought more books than I could pack in my other bag). Since I just got my current CPAP last February, I don't have any spare hoses or pillows yet, but I'm due to get them in another month or so and when I do I'll be adding them to the pile. I once had my hose break while on a trip, and a spare would've been real nice to have.

Good reminder NCHawk - just adding a roll of silicone tape to my 'away' list.
I used it originally to fix a hose which split right near the business end, then taped up all my hoses just as a preventative.

Cheers,
xena