Travel Blog

There are small travel CPAP machines, so small that they can fit in your pocket, or even your brief case and compared to some of the larger ones this can be very convenient.  If you travel a lot especially by plane, suitcases are packed tight then a travel CPAP can be very attractive. There are a couple of things that users should consider when traveling with a CPAP. Regardless of what machine you actually use.  The picture on the left is of someone taking the sleep test. We wanted to mention that since people might get the idea that this is the way you have to sleep. Check out the pictures in some of our other posts with pictures that show the various types of masks that can be warn once you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea.

Best Travel CPAP – Still Need Water

Regardless of which CPAP you use, we strongly recommend that you have a humidifier module attached to keep your nose and throat moist during the night. A CPAP without a humidifier can cause your nose etc to become uncomfortably dry during the night and even wake you up. Carry the humidifier portion of the CPAP with you at all times and bring distilled water with you to use so that you do not have to depend on tap water of questionable purity. If you are flying you will have to pack the water in your suitcase or purchase distilled water at your destination. Sometimes it can be difficult to obtain depending on the location you are traveling too.

Best Travel CPAP – Bring Extension Chord

You should also pack an extension chord to reach those hard to reach electrical outlets. It is surprising just how many are located conveniently for the maid. They are not for the customers with all of their electronic devices that need to be recharged. Also for people who also use CPAP machines. The chords do not take up much room. You may be surprised at how much you use it for other devices as  well. A ten foot chord will be more than sufficient.

Looking for more information about CPAP machine travel ideas, click here.

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It is not difficult to travel with a CPAP machine if you are organized! That is one of the things that I have learned over the past year with my CPAP machine. Yes you have to bring or carry an extra bag, but it is certainly worth it to have a good nights sleep and carry it with you. There are a couple of tips that some readers may find useful which we will cover in just a moment. the main thing is to ensure that you always have it with you and your hoses and straps are in good condition.

The last thing you want is for one of them to break while you are away from home and then you are unable to use the machine at all. While we have never encountered this problem, it is time we carried spares with us since it is now two years old and the plastic of the hose and mask could be a little brittle.

Always wash the mask every day with mild soap and water to keep it clean and smelling nice. Wash the hoses once a week at a minimum to avoid any further issues  as well.

CPAP Machine Travel – Bring Water

Always bring extra water with you for the humidifier. The instruction booklet strongly recommends distilled water which is the cleanest you can find. It will not add any dirt, grit or anything else to your lungs which could be in natural tap water.

CPAP Machine Travel – Bring an Extension Chord

This is probably the most important tip of all. Always bring an extension chord with you. It is amazing how electrical outlets are arranged in hotel rooms. they are often no where near the head of the bed and only an extension chord will allow you to place the machine close to you on the side table. We even found that some of the more modern hotels are short on outlets and an extension chord is required.

For more information about CPAP machines and getting used to using them, click here.

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If you have sleep apnea and have been prescribed a CPAP machine, you probably know something about traveling with one of these machines. We thought that we would write a small article about some of the things you can consider. The focus is to make traveling with your CPAP machine much more comfortable. Also avoid any problems. Travel CPAP issues include finding distilled water, power, wall plugs. Also adding it to your luggage in general when you already have a full suitcase.

The CPAP machine comes with a case for everything that you will need while traveling. The exception is water and an extension cord. We mentioned the extension cord because we have found that in some hotels there is not an easily accessible place to plug in your CPAP machine. An Extension cord can be used to reach to a distant electrical outlet. This allows you to still have your CPAP machine located right beside you on the dresser.

Travel CPAP – Bring Water

In addition I always travel with distilled water. I have the proper kind of water with me at all times. If I’m only going for two or three days, I will use a small water bottle filled with distilled water. I carry it with me inside the case that I use. If I’m going for longer periods, obviously I will take a jug of water that has been distilled with me. I still use the small water bottle filled with distilled water. This helps avoid having to carry the jug of distilled water into the hotel room each night.

In addition to these suggestions I also use a backpack instead of the case that is provided with the CPAP machine. I can combine several items of personal nature as well as a CPAP machine in my backpack, therefore having one less bag to carry when checking into a hotel or visiting friends. It is also less obvious that I have sleep apnea or am carrying a CPAP machine with me. Most people will not care about this last point however for those of you are a bit vain, using a backpack is a much more common and expected item to carry than the case that is provided with the CPAP machine.

Hopefully these small tips and hints will help several of our readers who also are suffering from sleep apnea. If you suspect you have sleep apnea, we suggest you get tested right away, wearing one of masks for sleep apnea is not as difficult as it appears and the benefits are fantastic. You actually get to sleep the whole night through and it is wonderful.

For more information about CPAP travel, click here.

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One of the worries that many consumers have when they are diagnosed with sleep apnea and are told they need a CPAP machine is how they will travel with these machines. Fortunately there are travel size CPAP machines that are easy to pack, easy to carry and easy to use. The writer uses the CPAP machine displayed in the picture shown on the left. He has traveled with it a great deal.

It is an extra bag that you have to carry and account for. However the value received by using this machine far outweighs any additional concern that you might have. If I am only traveling for a single night, I use a small water bottle to carry distilled water for the humidifier. Otherwise I carry a larger jug of water with me.

Adjustments to The Travel Size CPAP to Make it Even Better

So far I have made two changes to my travel size CPAP machine to enhance my convenience when traveling with it.  The first is relatively simple. I added an extension cord to the bag to use in hotel rooms. Most hotel rooms have an electrical outlet relatively close to where you will set up your CPAP. However there are a few, that do not or the existing plugs are all in use. I carry this extension cord so that I have no problems in this area. I use it about 2 or 3 times out of every 10 hotel rooms that I stay at.

The second change is related to distilled water that you really should use in your CPAP machine. The picture shows a CPAP with a humidifier included. Which is really recommended to keep your nose and nasal passages from drying out. It is recommended that distilled water should be used to avoid any particulates from getting into your lungs. In addition chlorine that is routinely placed in tap water

Distilled Water

The bottles of distilled water are large and it is one more thing to carry into a hotel room. If you are flying the bottles are too large to be carried on a plane, so many people need to rush out in the city they are in to find distilled water. If you are driving it is less of a problem, however it is another package or in this case bottle to carry in. I have taken a small water bottle and filled it with distilled water. It is small enough to fit in the travel case for my CPAP machine and holds enough water for two days of use.

This is just a practical thing to do to make life a little bit easier for people traveling with a CPAP machine. There may be other things that can be added, however this is what I have found so far and wanted to pass along to readers who are dealing with CPAP machines for the first time.

Emergency Power for a CPAP Machine

If the power is down for any length of time, you will not be able to use your CPAP. One or two nights without power for your CPAP is not the end of the world. Unless you have severe sleep apnea. You probably have a lot of other things to be concerned about if the power is off for this length of time. A generator can be used to provide power. However it is important to follow all safety precautions with their use including hook up and exhaust outside of your home.

We have included a number of posts about CPAP machines, sleep apnea and sleep studies. This is based on our own experience with these topics. It does not replace what your doctor or a sleep specialist might provide to you. We happen to believe that it is very important to deal with this issue to avoid the possibility of stroke, heart attack and other ailments that result from chronic lack of sleep. In addition it also affects diet and weight loss. If you are not sleeping you will be eating to provide immediate energy. Of course this is a bad thing for weight loss. Take the steps now to arrange for a sleep study if you suspect that you have sleep apnea.

For more information about travelling with your CPAP machine, click here.

Traveling with a CPAP machine is actually quite straight forward. Sure there is an extra bag to carry and you need to bring another bottle of distilled water along, however for the writer it is really worth it to get a good night’s sleep.  The bag that I have is a handy carrying case with a shoulder strap and it is smaller than a carry on suitcase. When we go into a hotel, it sits on top of my roller suitcase and really does not take any more effort.

Flying presents another problem these days. You cannot take a large bottle of liquid on the plane with you. If you check it in your suitcase there is always the danger of it leaking all over your clothes. Sure it is water, but who needs the mess and the cleanup after words. We always make sure that we know of a place where we are going that sells distilled water which we can pick up easily to use in the CPAP machine when we travel.

There are different bags for different machines. They all have room for the mask, the hoses and of course the CPAP machine when you travel. Some are like a small over night travel bag, while others are similar to a small computer lap top bag. Either way they are easy to carry and the entire unit weighs less than the standard laptop bag with all of your computer gear in it.

Why Travel With Your CPAP Travel Machine

Frankly I want to enjoy my vacation of be alert for my business trip. I would rather get a good night’s sleep than be without it so that I can enjoy my vacation etc. Who wants to be exhausted all of the time on vacation when you suffer from sleep apnea?  Even after one night sometimes of not using the machine can leave you tired and exhausted from not getting a good night’s rest. Personally when I was tested at a sleep clinic, I had a sleep interruption on average 39 times per hour. Who can sleep like that? This is why I travel with my CPAP and why you should as well if you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea.

I know it sounds unbelievable and I was shocked when I was told this by the sleep technician, however after the doctor told me the results and showed me the report, I had to believe him. I did not come totally awake all of the time, however it was enough for them to detect that I was partially awake each time. Amazing, 39 time per hour and I still managed to function during the day. With the CPAP machine, I now feel much more rested and have a lot more energy.

Some Suggestions When You Travel with a CPAP Machine

Take an extra extension chord of about 10 feet long. Hotels are notorious for not having electrical plugs close to the bed were you can plug things in. I have had to use the extension chord several times. It is easily stored in the bottom of your bag and it saves a lot of frustration as well. I have had to use it about half the time. The plugs that are accessible are usually used by the light and radio / alarm clock which you obviously need. So take the extension chord with you. Use your CPAP machine without having to unplug things.

Another suggestion if you are only going for a couple of days is to take a small bottle of distilled water. It will be good for at least the first night or the second night. It must be small enough to satisfy the airlines in terms of security. This will get you through the first night. It will give you time the next day to go and purchase a bottle of distilled water. They are available at most drug stores.

International Travel

If you plan to travel to international destinations, it is a good idea to also pack an electrical adapter. It should match the outlets  that are used in the foreign country. There are many types. Some adapters have multiple plugs built in to adapt to almost any situation.

Finally if you are planning to go on a long trip such as a winter vacation and spend 2 to 3 months in warmer climates, you may want to take extra hoses and masks along with you depending on how old yours are. I am told they tend to last an average of six months. So you can determine what is best for you in this regard. You can also check to see if there is a place near were you will be to purchase supplies close to you.

Good luck with your CPAP travel planning. For more information about CPAP travel topics, click here.

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Traveling with your CPAP machine is not all that bad and frankly I would rather travel with it than not use it at all while I am traveling.  There are many reasons for this which we will discuss shortly. However first we wanted to describe the CPAP machine and the carrying case. The particular model shown comes with an easy carrying case that has room for all of the elements of the CPAP machine.

This includes the machine, the power cable, the tubes and the particular style of mask that you have chosen. There is ample room for everything and I really only have one complaint. It would be ideal if there was an additional compartment to hold the distilled water that you are supposed to use. Other than that there is lots of room for everything.

Traveling With Your CPAP Machine

Having traveled a lot prior to being diagnosed with sleep apnea, I am pretty familiar with hotel rooms. Often there are not enough electrical plugs close to your bed that you can get access to. Some are being the bed or the dresser or are across the floor on a wall somewhere.

As a result I have decided that I will also pack a small extension chord in my travel bag for those situations were there is no electrical plug close by. This is just a practical thing, for those special situations were an extension chord will just make things a lot easier. The unit comes with a fairly long chord, but I know that there will be some situations that it is just not long enough.

Why Would You Travel With Your CPAP Machine

A friend of mine who has severe sleep apnea always travels with his CPAP machine. If he does not use it every night, not only does he not get a good nights sleep, after a few nights he is so tired during the day that he cannot stay awake driving the car. He is an actual menace on the road. He will fall asleep at a traffic light that he has stopped at.

When I am on vacation, I really want to enjoy myself and I do not want to be tired all of the time. Traveling with an extra bag can be more cumbersome, however in the writer’s opinion, it is a small price to pay for having a good nights sleep.

When you sleep using a CPAP machine, you do not snore. It is very amazing, however you do not snore at all and your partner also gets a good nights rest. They appreciate it very much and now you have two well rested people going on vacation and enjoying themselves. What more could you ask for?

Using a CPAP machine also reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. Using it on your vacation or during business travel just means you have a better chance of not having to deal with this sort of catastrophic health issue.

Traveling with a CPAP and Working

We have been discussing travel for vacation. Many people with sleep apnea are still working. They have a tremendously  difficult time doing their job because they are so tired all of the time. Drinking too much coffee to stay awake, sleeping on the job or fighting sleep attacks creates dangerous situations. It also decreases the productivity from what it would normally be.  It is a competitive world out there. We all need all of the sleep we can get to be well rested and ready to go on the job.

If you fly you will need to be sure that you can show how it works. Also probably will have to open the bag from time to time to show the customs people. One concern is of course the amount of distilled water that you bring on the plane with you. The airlines allow limited quantities to be carried on the plane. If you check the water in your bag’s you need to be sure that it is in a water tight bottle. That it is not going to leak during the flight. The alternative of course is to purchase distilled water at the location you are traveling to once you arrive.

For my partner and I, we will always travel with my CPAP machine. I really enjoy my sleep now that I have one. For more information about CPAP travel reviews, click here.

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