Even people who adapt well to CPAP at home may have trouble when it’s time to take it on the road. It can be hard to transport, use, and maintain while traveling, making it your least favorite part of the trip. You may be tempted to try to do without it, but for the fact that sleep apnea would then cause you to have headaches, fatigue, and more problems that are just not worth it.
However, you don’t have to make the choice between CPAP and no treatment. There’s another option that’s more convenient for travel: oral appliance therapy.
Transporting a Bulky CPAP Machine Is a Pain
Although CPAP machines are smaller than they used to be, they’re still not tiny, not once you add in all the hoses and cords. They add extra bulk to what is likely already a larger-than-average trip. If it’s in your carry-on bags, it will have to be taken out of its case to be screened, and may require additional screening if it’s not fully x-ray permeable.
Where Can I Set This Up?
It can also be a nuisance to set up CPAP machine where you’re staying. If you get set up in a guest room without a bedside table, you may have trouble putting it where the hoses can reach you. You may also have trouble finding a suitable outlet.
And if you end up sleeping more people to a room than normal, people who aren’t accustomed to the CPAP machine may be irritated by the noise.
Worse, if you get snowed in at the airport, what sleep you manage to catch will probably have to be without the help of CPAP.
CPAP Maintenance on the Road
And when you’re staying at a relative’s house you may have trouble maintaining your CPAP machine without all the cleaners and equipment you have at home. For a few days, this may not matter, but if you’re doing an extended trip, it can get to be an issue.
A More Convenient Alternative for Travel
However, there is another sleep apnea treatment that can be better for use on the road. An oral appliance is about as big as a sports mouthguard, so it can easily be transported. There are no hoses or cords, so it stays compact. It doesn’t require any special screening in checkpoints at the airport, and because it doesn’t need a power supply or hoses you can use it easily wherever you are.
Even if you like your CPAP machine at home, an oral appliance is convenient to have around for use on the road.
If you’re tired of dealing with the inconvenience of CPAP while traveling, make all future vacations CPAP-free. Please contact the Advanced Dental Sleep Treatment Center in Omaha to learn more about your treatment options.
