Does the thought of travelling with your CPAP machine scare you beyond belief? While travelling overseas, or locally, without your CPAP machine is tempting, you run the risk of derailing your dream holiday, all in the name of convenience.
Sleep apnea is a serious condition that affects you whether you are home or away, and neglecting your vital CPAP machine for an extended period won’t be enjoyed by you or your family! Here are our five essential tips for travelling with your CPAP machine, and how sleep apnea doesn’t have to ruin your next vacation!
Avoid packing your CPAP machine in your check-in luggage
We have all experienced the dreaded feeling at the baggage carousel, waiting impatiently for our bags to appear amongst hundreds of others. If you are one of the unlucky whose check-in luggage disappears after your flight, your bag won’t normally be returned to you for days, sometimes even weeks.
Pack your CPAP machine in your carry on in a suitable and sturdy bag, one that will ensure the machine won’t get damaged whilst in the overhead locker on the plane.
Prepare for handling by airport security
During the pre-flight screening, airport security officers will more than likely want to inspect your machine. This could involve removing the machine from its case so it can be X-rayed or checked for explosives.
In anticipation of this happening, we recommend packing the machine inside a clear plastic bag, so it can travel through a scanner without having to be touched, or come into contact with the scanner bins.
Bring the CPAP charger and adaptor
Along with the machine in your carry-on luggage, make sure you pack the charging cord for the machine, a backup if you have one, and a dedicated power adaptor, if you are travelling internationally. Plugging and unplugging the machine can be tiresome, so a dedicated adaptor will eliminate the effort.
Bring your essentials for sleep
If there is certain clothing, bedding or pillows that help settle you to sleep, or comfort you whilst wearing the CPAP machine, bring these away with you. Sleeping in a foreign bed is hard enough to adapt to, let alone with sleep apnea, so pack your creature comforts for the perfect holiday.
Avoid overnight/sleep flights
Overnight, long haul flights and sleeping flights can create a lot of anxiety for sleep apnea sufferers. To avoid this feeling, investigate shorter flights, broken up into sections or that don’t fly overnight. Consider flights that allow you to be in bed during sleep times when you can access the machine conveniently.