I was diagnosed with sleep apnea several about a month ago, and received my Repironics REMStar M-Series a week ago last Friday.    My job puts me on the road every week, usually visiting 2-3 cities per week via 2-6 air segments.    This is my story of the first week - a trying, but rewarding time for me.

My prescription calls for 9cm of pressure, and was for a portable machine, and a nasal mask.    

The machine does have a humidifier (thanks for small favors as my home is in a VERY dry climate), and also has a ramp feature.  

When I received the machine, I was just coming down with a fairly bad cold, and was more than a little worried about whether I could use the machine.    My first night was at home, and after some fiddling with the mask, I was able to get settled in for my first night.   Candidly, I hated it.   I couldn't find a comfortable position, and got tangled in the hose several times over the course of the night.   The air vented out of the mask was noisy, and I kept wondering if the machine was functioning correctly (it was).    I also had trouble adjusting to exhaling against the pressure, and reset the ramp several times early in the evening (a 15 minute each time).   I would estimate that it took almost 2 hours to get to sleep that night.    To my GREAT surprise, I awoke the next morning feeling better than usual, and it wasn't by just a little bit.   I had more energy, and didn't feel "foggy" any more.   However, the bridge of my nose was sore, and very red.  

The second night I worked hard on adjusting the mask to address the sore nose, and really didn't have much luck - in fact the next morning I had developed an inflamed pimple on the bridge of my nose, reminding me of my teen years LONG LONG ago.

The following day, I had to start the travel routine.   When I travel, I ONLY take carry on (for flexibility to go standby).    Given the rules allowing for necessary medical equipment, I now travel with 3 bags - the luggage, my laptop, and the CPAP.    Having researched here a bit, I knew the routine for TSA.     I packed the mask in a gallon size ziplock bag (for my convenience and cleanliness), packing it and the hose in the outer pouch of the bag the M-series came with.    When I got to security, I unpacked the machine and sent it through the x-ray separately.    For the first time in four years of weekly travel, the TSA agent THANKED me (for taking out the machine).   I was floored.     I did get some strange looks from folks seeing the three bags, but was not challenged.    I think I need to print and pack a copy of the rules allowing for the CPAP just in case I am challenged at some point in the future.   Net of travel experience  : its a pain to carry another bag, and find a SAFE place to put it (so that hose/mask dont get crushed), but its manageable, and over time I think Ill get pretty good at it.

As the week wore on, I have gotten more and more used to the machine, and fall asleep much faster each night.   Im still having trouble with the sore on my nose, and unfortunately it has developed into a small scab.   I seem to be able to get it to heal a bit, then I have another bad night and irritate it badly.   I still wrestle with the hose a bit from time to time, but generally I think Im really adapting.

The REALLY good news is that I feel better now than I probably have in over 2 years, and this was while I had a cold (just getting over it now).    I didn't really know how tired I was until starting CPAP therapy!     More energy.   More alert.   Less irritable, much better mood.   I would swear I think faster.      The negatives... Sore nose.   Bruised pride (hosehead).   Wrestling with the hose in the middle of the night.    I think its more than an acceptable trade off - especially when considering the longer term health benefits of getting real sleep again.

Next steps :  Contact supplier to discuss mask problems, consider alternatives.    Extend ramp time to 20 mins (just did that tonight).   See if can find a job that doesnt require weekly travel (always worth INVESTIGATING).

jc

I just booked tickets for airline travel. It's my first flight since joining the CPAP Club.  Just what ARE the regulations concerning flying with CPAP. I was told that my CPAP bag would have to be my carry-on.  I usually stuff my purse into my carry on bag which contains my meds, book, whatever I have to entertain me during my flight.  My CPAP bag is just big enough for the machine, humidifier, hose and mask so there wouldn't be room for anything else. .  Do airlines and airports have different regulations?  Why unpack the CPAP if it's in it's own bag?  I'd welcome any advice from CPAPers who have experience with air travel. I am not leaving the US.  To add to the excitement, I always set off the alarms since my hips were replaced so have to get patted down and "wanded" every time I fly.  Will having CPAP complicate matters even more?  
Grandma


_________________
ResMed Quattro Full Face Mask
ResMed S8 Escape with heated humidifier
Pressure set at 11

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/cpap.shtm

Grandma wrote:

I just booked tickets for airline travel. It's my first flight since joining the CPAP Club.  Just what ARE the regulations concerning flying with CPAP. I was told that my CPAP bag would have to be my carry-on.  I usually stuff my purse into my carry on bag which contains my meds, book, whatever I have to entertain me during my flight.  My CPAP bag is just big enough for the machine, humidifier, hose and mask so there wouldn't be room for anything else. .  Do airlines and airports have different regulations?  Why unpack the CPAP if it's in it's own bag?  I'd welcome any advice from CPAPers who have experience with air travel. I am not leaving the US.  To add to the excitement, I always set off the alarms since my hips were replaced so have to get patted down and "wanded" every time I fly.  Will having CPAP complicate matters even more?  
Grandma

Violets post above is the primary link you need to understand - it addresses the CPAP machine directly.  This link :

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/index.shtm

addresses medical devices in general, and contains the link to the CPAP directive that violet posted.   There is a link to a pdf file contained this posting that contains detailed information about what you can and cant do.   As I understand it, it would also allow for you to bring the distilled water required for the humidifier, but I choose not to do that, rather I find water at my destination (I use bottled water).

See here for links to the carry on limits - each airline has their own policy, but they seem all to exclude assistive devices from the count of carry on items.

http://www.ifly.com/carry-on

So in my OP... I didnt really state my questions clearly, there were supposed to be questions in there :

1.  Any advice on mask options to stop the sore on the bridge of my nose - this morning its QUITE sore, and there was a deep indentation.  I cant figure out where the indentation came from, there doesnt seem to be anything with that acute of an edge on the mask!

2.  Has anyone found TSA or other government language that CLEARLY states that the CPAP CANT be counted against the number of carry on limits?   Having the airline language above is cool, but I would rather carry ONE directive than one for every airline.

jc

Grandma wrote:

I just booked tickets for airline travel. It's my first flight since joining the CPAP Club.  Just what ARE the regulations concerning flying with CPAP. I was told that my CPAP bag would have to be my carry-on.  I usually stuff my purse into my carry on bag which contains my meds, book, whatever I have to entertain me during my flight.  My CPAP bag is just big enough for the machine, humidifier, hose and mask so there wouldn't be room for anything else. .  Do airlines and airports have different regulations?  Why unpack the CPAP if it's in it's own bag?  I'd welcome any advice from CPAPers who have experience with air travel. I am not leaving the US.  To add to the excitement, I always set off the alarms since my hips were replaced so have to get patted down and "wanded" every time I fly.  Will having CPAP complicate matters even more?  
Grandma

Violets post above is the primary link you need to understand - it addresses the CPAP machine directly.  This link :

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/index.shtm

addresses medical devices in general, and contains the link to the CPAP directive that violet posted.   There is a link to a pdf file contained this posting that contains detailed information about what you can and cant do.   As I understand it, it would also allow for you to bring the distilled water required for the humidifier, but I choose not to do that, rather I find water at my destination (I use bottled water).

See here for links to the carry on limits - each airline has their own policy, but they seem all to exclude assistive devices from the count of carry on items.

http://www.ifly.com/carry-on

So in my OP... I didnt really state my questions clearly, there were supposed to be questions in there :

1.  Any advice on mask options to stop the sore on the bridge of my nose - this morning its QUITE sore, and there was a deep indentation.  I cant figure out where the indentation came from, there doesnt seem to be anything with that acute of an edge on the mask!

2.  Has anyone found TSA or other government language that CLEARLY states that the CPAP CANT be counted against the number of carry on limits?   Having the airline language above is cool, but I would rather carry ONE directive than one for every airline.

jc

Thanks to you both for the travel information. It was very helpful.  As for the sore nose, the only thing I can offer is a quote from a former nurse at ResMed:
"For patients who have a very sensitive nasal bridge, you can use foam tape over the bridget of the nose to cushion it, and still obtain a good seal from most masks.  The company 3M makes a good brand of foam tape called "Microfoam" tape. This can be purchased directly from them on their website, or in drug stores and pharmacies. Patients can you more than one strip of tape over the nasal bridge to cushion it."

I have been unable to buy this tape from 3M's online store and the links I have found have not been helpful in purchasing the tape.  I did ask at Walgreen's and they said they could try to order it for me.  I would suggest asking at a pharmacy or maybe your DME if they can locate the tape for you to try. I am going to ask my respiratory tech tomorrow when I go back to try on more masks.

I think that, even though the silicone seal is soft, the pressure of it against the nasal bridge causes the soreness, especially since most of us are having to pull the straps so tight to keep out leaks.
Good luck. I hope that you find a solution soon.
Grandma


_________________
ResMed Quattro Full Face Mask
ResMed S8 Escape with heated humidifier
Pressure set at 11

I hadn't seen the Microfoam tape around here either, but believe it or not one of my "premium" grocery/drug stores has it.  So check a high-end grocery in your area that has a large first-aid section, it just might be there.

Blessings,
--pseudonym

Grandma, the important things that milehighjc had mentioned and I have also noticed are:

         CPAP bags do not count against your carry-on limit.
         When going through security, take your machine out of the bag and put it on an x-ray tote/tray

These two are probably the most inportant things to remember when traveling within North America, Bermuda, and the Caribbean.  Your milage may vary when traveling out of Europe, I have heard that some of the UK security people believe that CPAPs bags DO count against your limit.

As milehighjc has also said, you should put your mask in a ziplock bag, I find that my mask fits in a quart freezer bag.  My hose fits in a gallon ziplock.  I also carry a spare mask and hose in my checked bag.    

Don't forget a cheap 12 foot or 2 six foot extension cords and a 3-way adapter.  If you are traveling out of North America, also carry a set of outlet adapters.

One thing that may help to not forget something is to use a packing checklist of everything that goes into your CPAP bag.  My CPAP bag checklist would look something like this with my Respironics M:

Machine
Mask (in bag)
Hose (in bag)
Power brick
Power Cord
Extension cord
3-way adapter

Spares bag containing:
Power Cord
White filters
Foam filter



Last edited by Bearded One on Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:07 am; edited 1 time in total

what i used to do while using my full face mask is to put a cotton pad, the one use to remove makeup a thin square, place it exactly over the bridge of my nose and leaving like one inch free at the superior part of the pad, and from there a put micropore tape, which is used at the hospitals, and attach that micropore to the exterior part of the mask. micropore tape is like a paper tape. no more sore bridge nose.

I Googled for "Microfoam tape" and it appears that many online stores sell it.  It also looks like you can pay a large variety of prices for it.  You can also buy Microfoam tape through Amazon.com



Last edited by Bearded One on Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:14 am; edited 1 time in total

they sell it at walgreens, it comes in different sizes.

Anyone traveling with a CPAP and two carry on's should print out the TSA web page and stick it in their ticket wallet.

Even though it is a federal law and every airline follows the rule, you still have a very good chance of finding an idiot at the gate who doesn't know their own company policy.

I learn something new every day on this forum.  I had been Googling for the microfoam tape but obviously wasn't typing in the right words!?   I kept getting page after page of 3M informational sites and when I went to the 3M store site, couldn't find the tape to buy.  So after I read Bearded One's post, I Googled again and there it was!  It doesn't even cost that much.  Where have I been? I did try Walgreen's here and asked both a manager and a pharmacist and they said they didn't have it.  I guess it depends on where you are.
Grandma


_________________
ResMed Quattro Full Face Mask
ResMed S8 Escape with heated humidifier
Pressure set at 11

BarryKaraoke wrote:

Anyone traveling with a CPAP and two carry on's should print out the TSA web page and stick it in their ticket wallet.

Even though it is a federal law and every airline follows the rule, you still have a very good chance of finding an idiot at the gate who doesn't know their own company policy.

Finally found this documentation on the DOT site...   Im printing this to take with me for all future flights.

http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/publications/disabled.htm

jc

grandma, it is made by m3 and it is called micropore