The holiday season is just around the corner, and with it comes traveling to see loved ones. While festivities and spending time together can be rewarding and fun, not everyone enjoys traveling or sleeping in an unfamiliar bed. However, especially if you have sleep apnea, staying overnight away from home may present an even greater, more frustrating challenge. In this post, you’ll learn how to make traveling with sleep apnea more comfortable and safer.
Pack Your Supplies
When going on a trip, you can forget some small items like toothpaste or socks and simply buy them when you arrive. When it comes to your sleep apnea supplies, you must make sure you have them with you. In fact, you should double and triple check before leaving home!
CPAP Machine
If you use a CPAP machine, you may wish to leave it behind in order to save some packing space. However, your treatment is necessary not only to allow you to get deeper, more restorative sleep but also to help you have better days. In other words, if you want to have a good time in your travels, you’ll need to bring your CPAP along!
You’ll need to pack your CPAP machine, mask, tubing, and humidifier. You should also consider including an extension cord in your suitcase because you may require it to reach the nearest outlet in your room. The thought of packing all this stuff may worry you, especially if you plan to fly to your destination. The good news is that a CPAP machine itself counts as medical equipment and can be carried on in addition to one personal item on airplanes.
Sleep Oral Appliance
If, instead of a CPAP machine, you have a special sleep oral appliance, traveling is much easier. This small device should easily fit in your carry-on or suitcase, giving you plenty of room for other items.
Stick to a Normal Routine
When you’re excited to see family and friends and have activities going on, it can be hard to maintain your typical nighttime routine. However, large disruptions to your sleep patterns can mess up the quality of your rest, leading to more fatigue during the day. Try to go to bed at a decent time, sleep in a dark, quiet room, and avoid looking at a screen right before bed to give yourself the best chances of rejuvenating sleep.
Talk to Your Sleep Dentist Well in Advance
Before the holidays come, you may want to reconsider your sleep apnea treatment and see if you are a good candidate to get an oral appliance. If this is the case, schedule an appointment with your sleep dentist as soon as possible. It will take a few weeks to fabricate the oral appliance and get it to you.
In the end, sleep apnea doesn’t have to tie you down and prevent you from seeing loved ones. In fact, when you take these steps, you can look forward to traveling for the upcoming holidays!
About the Author
As a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and the American Sleep and Breathing Academy, Dr. Jeff Rodgers has focused his career on helping patients identify and treat sleep apnea. In particular, he enjoys offering oral appliances as an alternative to CPAP machines. If you would like to meet with Dr. Rodgers, contact his practice, Sleep Better Georgia, online or call us at 770-394-4310 to schedule an appointment.