For me it turned out to be a CPAP machine. Was at the new Great Wolf Lodge with my wife and kiddos this past Sunday-Monday, so one overnight there.

I had brought my CPAP travel machine that I have as usual but halfway there I realized I forgot the elbow which is the piece that connects the hose to the mask and without it the entire thing is useless. Went to four different CVS stores looking for this and of course no one had it so I said “I guess I’m just going to do a night without it.”

Well, I didn’t realize I basically cannot sleep anymore without this machine. Drove the poor wife crazy with me snorting and snoring and did not get hardly any sleep because I kept waking up from her elbowing me or me gasping for breath.

It’s crazy how you don’t realize just how important something or maybe someone is until it or they are gone. Now I need to get a battery pack to run this machine if we have any overnight power outages.

Anyone ever have any sort of experience like this with something you relied on but never realized just how much?

I forgot my BiPap once. Just once. Worst night of my life.

Agreed - unpleasant once you're accustomed to it!

I did that once recently, visiting family and realized on arrival that I'd left the water tank on table out of way in bedroom to dry. Irony of this is the only reason that happened is I'd gotten a second unit to be able to grab and go without having to pack up primary (plus the original is going on 8-9 years, so nearing end of life).

Without that genius move I'd never have left part behind!

Get a 300 dollar travel battery. Only get 3-4 hours with humidifier. without 6-8.

That sucks. Does this machine force you to sleep in one position all night due to the hoses and whatnot?

Btw, the MacGyver in me wonders if a judicious use of duct tape could have saved the day?

Left for work in a hurry the other day and forgot to put in the hearing aids. Oy! I honestly don't know how I did without them for so long.

Silly me, I thought we were gonna get into a discussion about sex toys and I was have to sit out the discussion due to lack of knowledge.

Actually, I miss using my 1948 ferguson tractor. It was running well until my heart attack left both me and the "Fergi" idled for an extended time. Now, with bad gas, bad battery, bad points, etc., it would require more energy than this old man has at this point. But maybe this spring!

When I got mine, it was a huge change in my quality of life. To the point that I don’t travel away from home overnight without it. After a couple power outages, I built a battery box for it. The current drama is that a couple months ago it started saying motor has reached end of life when I turn it off. The plus is it hasn’t failed yet, but insurance won’t replace it until I have another sleep study done. And the next available appointment is in May

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:

Left for work in a hurry the other day and forgot to put in the hearing aids. Oy!

I got about a mile from home before I realized that something wasn't quite right. Turned around, went back to get them.

Your job, you need to be able to communicate with your medical team. Me, not so much requirement to communicate, and it sure is peaceful and quiet without the hearing aids.

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
That sucks. Does this machine force you to sleep in one position all night due to the hoses and whatnot?

Btw, the MacGyver in me wonders if a judicious use of duct tape could have saved the day?

Not possible. The pressure would blow it right off plus the elbow, pictured below has anti-asphyxiation valves in it:

quote:

Originally posted by buddy357:
When I got mine, it was a huge change in my quality of life. To the point that I don’t travel away from home overnight without it. After a couple power outages, I built a battery box for it. The current drama is that a couple months ago it started saying motor has reached end of life when I turn it off. The plus is it hasn’t failed yet, but insurance won’t replace it until I have another sleep study done. And the next available appointment is in May

I think they last a lot longer than they advertise to keep the whole insurance-industrial-complex running but if you really get stuck, all you need is a scrip from a doctor saying you require a CPAP and you can buy a used or new one out of pocket.

I bought my ResMed AirSense 10 new from CPAP.com before the prices went crazy and a used identical model from Hart Medical Supply for around $400-$500. It was sold as "used" but only had around 120 hours on it. That's my travel/backup machine.

Back when I lived in Alaska, I had a multicity business trip. I needed to be in Houston Wed to Fri, and the following week in Los Angeles Mon to Wed. It made zero sense for me to fly back to Alaska in between Houston and LA. I had previously lived in Houston so I made plans to crash with a buddy for the weekend.

Apparently, the nasal pillow fell off in the Houston hotel so my BiPAP was useless. I suffered thru Friday night and woke up Saturday morning with the plan to go pick up a nasal pillow from my old DME supplier which was conveniently near my buddy's place. While I was away, my old DME quit opening on Saturday morning, and it was a few years before Walgreen's and CVS got into CPAP DME. I barely slept Saturday night. Of course I called the hotel and they supposedly searched for the nasal pillow unsuccessfully.

Coworkers in Anchorage were flying to LA but my Anchorage DME opened about lunch time so everybody's flights left before then. I flew to LA with the plan to visit a DME near where I was working Mon-Wed. I barely slept again Sunday night, and Monday morning 3 DME suppliers refused to sell me the nasal pillows without a copy of my prescription. My Anchorage doctor refused to email or fax my prescription as they were in a lawsuit over medical records with the sleazy sleep doctor they had recently fired.

I barely slept Monday night or Tuesday night. By Wednesday morning, I'm window licker stupid from lack of sleep and I'm terrified I'm going to say something stupid in a meeting and get fired. I made it back to Anchorage without incident and slept like a teenager.

Now, I have both a digital and paper copy of my DME prescription with me when I travel. I also double check everything present before zipping up the BiPAP travel bag.

I learned my lesson for sure. I'm bringing two of everything on travel and vacation from now on. Two hoses, two masks, backups to it all.

The one thing that happened to me I didn't mention other than the crappy sleepless night was I woke up with a horrible sore throat from all the snoring.

I'm also going to shop around for a battery power supply, I know there was a lengthy discussion here about them before.

I can deal with the sore throat. For me, it's the intense headaches the next day.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
...Now, I have both a digital and paper copy of my DME prescription with me when I travel. I also double check everything present before zipping up the BiPAP travel bag.

It is incredibly stupid that suppliers don't sell anything without a Dr. prescription on hand. It is obvious that you were prescribed previously to get the initial equipment. What, are we suddenly have no need for cpap? Sell us the supplies!!!

Regardless of my rant, having the script with you while travelling is something I never thought to do. Will do so now.

This works for me in an emergency...sleeping partially upright in a recliner chair.
Enough angle to keep my head from falling forward. The seated position keeps me from tossing around into a bad position.

quote:

Originally posted by TRIO:
This works for me in an emergency...sleeping partially upright in a recliner chair.
Enough angle to keep my head from falling forward. The seated position keeps me from tossing around into a bad position.

Works for me also if a recliner chair is available.
My recent heart attack had me in the hospital without my Bipap but the hospital provided one. Problem was is was the noisiest thing I ever saw. Between the pain and the noise it was no sleep for me the first night. Second night my daughter brought me mine from home.