Status
Not open for further replies.
Glad that the RT agreed with what I said. I wouldn't want to think people thought I was trying to blow smoke up their butts. LOL
AL.
 
I finally had a chance to ask a friend who owns a travel agency and was told there is no problem taking a bipap and using it on a plane. It would be a good idea to have a letter from your doctor explaining what it is and its' purpose. As long as you don't need oxygen there is no problem. If you do need O2 they want you to purchase it from them - they charge about $150.00. There is no difference between your O2 and theirs, they just want to sell theirs.

So, this does not seem to be a problem at all - with any airline they have booked flights through.
 
Sorry to revive this threat, but I need to ask how bad does ones breathing need to be before airline travel can be problematic?

I should probably say hello and inform you of my reasons for asking. I'm not diagnosed, but have noticeable atrophy and twitching in my right leg. I've been seeing a neuro at an MND center in southern England since Oct. 2006, had 2 EMG confirm nerve damage in the right leg and MRI ruled out trapped nerve etc. The numerous blood test have not indicated any cause. Despite the Neurologist department itself being a center for MND/ALS I've now been referred to a MND/ALS specialist at Oxford (have appointment July 2).

I'm an American living in Britain and have just completed a law degree. To celebrate I have booked a 4 day vacation to New York, so I can watch my Mets take on the Cardinals.

Because I sometimes feel shortness of breath (particularly when sitting) I have feared that I may have breathing problem. Reading about the difficulties of breathing on airplanes I've got nervous about flying from London to New York on sunday. I know you guys can't diagnose or tell me what to do, but how bad does ones breathing need to be before flying can become difficult?

B93
 
Hi B93,

You might want to bring along an Ambu-Bag (manual resuscitation bag) just for peace of mind. They are relatively inexpensive, and I am sure you won't need it, but you will be less anxious about the flight.

Mike
 
I needed a Bipap for breathing long before I had problems on an airplane. Stay calm is the trick and try for a seat with more legroom or at least an aisle seat and then you can stand if you get uncomfortable breathing while sitting.
AL.
 
The smaller bi-paps sound much more maneuverable and easier to deal with in everyday life, which can be a critical thing for a person in a weakened condition. Here I had this misconception that using a bi-pap for more than just night-time and naps would tie a person down and be very isolating since it would be so difficult to take it anywhere, even around the house. My dad's was pretty big and heavy. In fact, part of the reason he wasn't using it on the day he went into a breathing emergency was that the nurse who came to set him up with it didn't move it into the bedroom and neither of my folks (78 and 84) were able to maneuver it in there when he lay down.

I recommend that anyone referred to get a bi-pap check with the medical supply company to find out about what brand and size they deliver, and use a company that will give you the smaller type. As with so many things, I hadn't even known to ask.
 
bi-pap

I am on bipap for a year now. One night mine quit working as
I was getting ready to bed down. I could not get it restarted
and could not lay down to sleep without it. I called the people
but no one was their so I had to set up all night. After that
I got them to give me a backup. They do go out sometimes.


Davis 07
 
Thanks for the replies and advice. Anxiety is probably my biggest issue at the moment and your replies have helped.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top