If you have sleep apnea, it is vital that you get treatment. And once you get treatment, you’ll be happy that you did as you enjoy more energy and feel that you’re getting better rest. Most people have difficulty adapting to CPAP, and might prefer to use an oral appliance. But even if you’re one of the lucky ones and can use it to get good rest at home, it can sometimes be a problem.
One of the times when CPAP can be the biggest problem is when you try to travel with it. You don’t want to travel without it because that will mean the return of your sleep apnea. If you dislike the nuisance of travelling with CPAP, an oral appliance can be a good backup for travel.
Hard to Pack and Carry
One of the first problems you have with your CPAP machine is packing it for travel. As it’s been sitting on your bedside table, you may not have noticed how much equipment it really is. And over time you’ve added various accessories to make the experience more bearable and the treatment more effective, so it’s become much more bulky than it was when you first bought it.
You may end up needing an extra bag just for your CPAP machine.
Airport Security
The next nuisance of CPAP is airport security. If you take your CPAP machine in your carry-on luggage (which might be smart, see below), count on going through a little extra security. You may get waved through, but most likely the TSA will want to take a closer look at the machine.
Lost Luggage
So what if you decide to save yourself the nuisance and put your CPAP in your checked bags instead? Then you run the risk of having your CPAP get lost with the rest of your luggage. Admittedly, this doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, you’re without a CPAP treatment.
And you know what it’s like when you’re without your CPAP. Sleep apnea can sap your energy and your enjoyment of your vacation, and jaw pain in the morning can also be rough. And if it means the return of your snoring, it can ruin everyone’s enjoyment of the vacation, too.
Where Do I Plug in?
Your problems don’t end once you get to your destination. Now you need to find somewhere to plug your device in. If you’re just staying in a hotel, this may not be a problem–they’re good about supplying outlets–but if you’re renting a house, you may have a hard time finding one that’s in a convenient place.
And the situation can be even worse if you’re traveling to another country. There may not be as many outlets, and the electricity may not be as reliable as at home.
Battery operated travel CPAP is an option, but some people find they don’t work as well–and you have to make sure you’re carrying enough batteries.
Where Do I Clean up?
Many components of your CPAP machine should be cleaned every day to help avoid the risk of infection or illness. You might be tempted to skip this while traveling, but the truth is that it’s probably more necessary when you’re in areas where you’re exposed to different bacteria and viruses.
Cleaning up at home can be kind of a production, but with practice you’ve probably got everything laid out pretty well and the process goes smoothly. Trying to do it on the road is a different story. The hotel sinks aren’t really made for that. And in some countries you won’t want to use the tap water for cleaning your CPAP, anyway.
Oral Appliances Make Travel Easy
Even if you do well with CPAP at home, an oral appliance is better for traveling. It’s easy to transport–it fits in your pocket, not a separate bag. It’s easy to get through security, so there’s no temptation to risk putting it in checked bags. When you get to your destination, you don’t have to worry about plugging it in, carrying batteries, or dealing with complicated cleanup.
Overall, an oral appliance is a more comfortable and convenient treatment for sleep apnea than CPAP. Whether you’re looking for an everyday alternative or a more convenient option for travel, an oral appliance will work. To learn more about oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea in Wichita Falls, TX, please call 940-322-2252 today for an appointment with a sleep dentist at StarImage Dentistry.
