Renting Nebulizer

[cookleitz]

My son uses a nebulizer every morning. We're trying to avoid having to carry one along with us on the cruise. I called Disney and they do not have one in the medical facility that we can use. They recommended calling Brevard Medical Supply, which is near the port, to arrange to have one delivered to the ship. Has anyone had any experience with this?

Thanks!

Chris

 

[DisneyElf]

Quick question - how long has it been since your replaced your son's nebulizer ???

My plan will cover a new one every couple of years - and when I filled the prescription for it (You have to order from one of their sites) I asked the operator for the smallest portable one they had. Packed easily into the suitcase for use.

Otherwise - I would check out the cost of renting one vs. purchase.

Have a great cruise !

 

[TiggerKing]

Chris, another option is a company called Pediatric Services of America in Orlando (if you are spending any time there). Having worked for a company that provided this type of equipment in the past, I can only suggest that you be prepared to provide evidence of his need for the device, regardless of where you end up renting it. It is one of those crazy liability issues due to our litigious society.

Hope this helps a little bit. Have fun on your trip.

 

[ciadriamom]

Another option would be to contact your doctor and insurance company. I also use a nebulizer and when I cruised I called my dr and explained that I was going on a cruise and that I didn't want to risk traveling with my nebulzer, not to mention the size and weight of the thing. My Dr. wrote me a script for a portable nebulizer and the insurance company honored it. I only had to pay the usual co-pay.

It may well be worth the phone call and then you'll always have an extra on hand.

 

[scrapperjill]

I'd do the insurance check also. We were able to get a script for a portable nebulizer for our dd...without any trouble. Matter of fact we've been able to get diffrent modles every couple years....so now we have two home nebulizers and one portable.

 

[aprilgail2]

I brought my daughters with us..our insurance paid for the regular one and then 2 months later I requested a portable one and they sent that too..didn't even have to pay a co-payment for either of them!

 

[cookleitz]

You guys all have great suggestions! Unfortunately, insurance won't cover another one for us yet - we have to wait another year before any replacemetn is covered. I did call the medical supply place near the port and their charge was $75 for the week's rental and delivery.

I called the place where we got Trevor's nebulizer and asked if they had portable ones for rent and she told me that they'd just loan me one - I could come pick it up this week and not have to worry about bringing it back until we got back from vacation! I was very impressed with that.

When I talked to Disney today, the CSR told me that we have to have a medical clearance form completed to take the nebulizer onboard. I was a little surprised to hear that. I guess I need to call the airline and find out what I need to do to fly with the nebulizer.

Thanks again for all your suggestions!

Chris

 

[Jhalkias]

This is timeley for us, but I wish we would have thought of it sooner, since we leave in a few days . . . We were just talking about this, as my DD nebulizer is pretty big.

I have never heard of DCL asking what you said, and don't remember them ever asking me for something like my cpap machine. I also have never been asked by the airline, except when going through security once - they asked me if I used a breathing machine.

Speaking of asthma . . .

Have any of you ever had your kids on Singulair???

Doc had our DD try it last week, and it is working great on the asthma, but it is making her (in my opinion) really, really hyper.

John

 

[flexsmom]

We were told that as long as we had the script for the medication (just like any other medication), it wouldn't be a problem. Our nebulizer is pretty small, too. At any rate - good luck and as long as you have the script for the meds, you should be OK.

 

[aprilgail2]

with that.

When I talked to Disney today, the CSR told me that we have to have a medical clearance form completed to take the nebulizer onboard. I was a little surprised to hear that. I guess I need to call the airline and find out what I need to do to fly with the nebulizer.
Chris

What?? I have flown with her nebulizer many many times with it in my carry on bag and never was I asked for anything special....I have cruised with it 3 times, again I carried it on so they saw it in my xrayed bag and I was never questioned about it...

 

[ciadriamom]

Same here, I carry mine in my carryon and have never had a problem and was never asked for a medical certificate. I did carry the medicine in its original package with the pharmacy label on it, just in case.

I take Singular daily for about the past three years now. Made me a little hyper in the begininning but it wore off as my body adjusted to the meds. Still you might want to mention it to her doctor.

 

[cruzings]

You can purchase a portable nebulizer like the Omron Elite for about $50-60 for the basic package (much less than the rental price for a week!). It will cost a little more if you buy the extras such as battery pack, car adaptor, etc. We have one (just the basic since there's always an outlet somewhere) and we have brought it on many of our trips on airplanes and cruises. We have never been questioned or asked to show proof of medical need to carry it on board. Incidentally, I am a physician and have never had to fill out any paperwork for any of my patients who travel with their nebulizers. I have only done them for diabetic patients who need to carry their needles and other supplies onboard.

Remember: if your child uses medication is respule form (like Pulmicort), make sure you do not purchase a micronized nebulizer. These are more expensive anyway~$200 the last time I checked. The regular nebulizer compressors can handle both nebules and respules.

 

[tvguy]

We always used to pack our nebulizer in our carryon. Gave more than one treatment to DS in an airport, and you never know when you'll have a flight delayed and need it.
Never had a problem with airport security, but this was well before Septemer 11th changes.
DS is 18 now and thank goodness outgrew his asthma by age 5. Nebulizer is still sitting in the closet. Don't recall having to have a prescription to buy it, just to buy the medicines for it. And had to pay for it myself, our deductable for durable medical devices at the time was more than the machine cost.

 

[MikeysDad]

I purchased a portable nebulizer from eBay and it worked GREAT! It is about the size of a paperback book, but a wee bit thicker (8" X 3.5" X 2.5"). I purchased it from eBay for $50. Here is one for $55 or so:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Invacare-St...ryZ75079QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Jhalkias]

Don't you need a prescription for this from your doctor? Can you buy this without a prescription?

To me it does seem silly, as the meds require a prescription - but our local med equipment place will not sell without a prescription, and their compact one is $275!

John

 

[MikeysDad]

Don't you need a prescription for this from your doctor? Can you buy this without a prescription?

To me it does seem silly, as the meds require a prescription - but our local med equipment place will not sell without a prescription, and their compact one is $275!

John

You would require a prescription/reason for medical necessity IF you were going to try to get reimbursed by insurance or have the purchased covered by insurance. However, it is not a 'restricted' piece of medical equipment that requires authorization to work so you would not need an Rx for it.

When I ordered the compact one from eBay I knew that it would not be covered by my insurance (they only cover ones that are much bigger and bulkier). With shipping, it turned out to be more than $60 (probably closer to $80), but it was most definately worth it for us.

 

[DeeCeeSW]

We also have an Omron Elite and I purchased it for about $60 on Ebay. I haven't had to use it yet (son has Reactive Airway Disease, not yet Asthma), but we take it with us when we travel. Brought it with us to WDW in October w/o question from the airline. Also carry an Epipen, Jr. and was not questioned about that either.

Our old insurance was a basic plan and never covered the nebulizer--after reading these posts, I will definitely check my current carrier to see if they are covered. Did not know I could possibly get a new one every couple of years.

Oh, and I have filled out a DCL medical form to be signed by my son's pediatrician due to his food allergies where I mention that we carry a nebulizer. However, I do not think you are required to mention that. I only see a question about oxygen on the form.

 

[cruzings]

their compact one is $275!

John

The $275 ones are usually the micronized nebulizers. Advantages: very small, quicker treatment delivery, very quiet. However, as I said in my previous post this kind cannot be used for respules.

 

[ljm]

What a timely thread! We just got some special compounded "nebulized" antibiotics for my son delivered today to take for the next three weeks because of a prolonged sinus problem (since August!). We are leaving for our cruise on Dec. 18th, so we will have to take it along with us. We have a nebulizer from a round of bronchitis from last year. It is not too large, so I think we'll be fine bringing it along. I'm sure the "portable" ones would be much better, but we'll just have to lug it along with us. I had not heard of a special medical form. I just figured it would be like any other medication, as long as it was in the original container, it would be fine. However since this is compounded medication, the ampules (respules? I am not sure of the difference - sorry!) are not labeled with the contents, just the name of the pharmacy. Where does one get the medical form for the physician to complete? I hadn't anticipated this problem...

 

[Jhalkias]

Well, we ordered one from that company on Ebay, and I called to get it next day air on Wed - should have been here yesterday, but was not.

Had to pack up th big beast.

Hopefully it will be here when we get back!