My CPAP Experience while Hospitalized

[mileena]

I was hospitalized for five days last November after a trip to the ER.

The ER said don't bother to bring my CPAP, as they have them there. I said no, since I am used to one kind, and my mask fits me individually. So the nurse wheeled me in the wheelchair to my car outside to get it.

Then on the first night, the doctor wouldn't let me use my CPAP because she couldn't get in touch with the head and neck surgeons to determine if the added pressure from the CPAP would cause my suspected abscess near the throat to burst. So I had to do without it, and I cannot sleep without the CPAP, so I was furious all night. In the morning, the specialist laughed and said there was no way that would cause it to burst and I could have used it.

On the next day, after the emergency surgery (turns out I didn't have an abscess at all), they hooked me up with an oxygen thing in my nose which tickled my upper lip. I was feeling fine and said it had to go. I eventually let up and said ok, but it would cause a leak in my FFM at night, so I was disconnecting the oxygen then.

At night, I took the oxygen sensor off and put my FFM on. They said a few hours later that the blood oxygen monitor on my finger said I had a little low oxygen. I told them that was normal for me. They sent the RT tech a hour later. He woke me up, and couldn't get the oxygen connected to my CPAP. He seemed confused. I was furious as I had been asleep for a few hours and was not going to allow him to take the hose off from the CPAP machine, since that can cause a leak in the hose if you don't do it right. And I was too sleepy to wake up fully and do it myself, so I told him to leave.

The other irritating thing was they woke me up once or twice every night to take my vitals, and that involved removing my FFM to take my temperature. I did not like doing so since the mask placement is crucial, since I use toilet paper carefully wadded up just right at the bridge of the nose to prevent loud leaks. When I remove it, there is always a risk of me not being able to get it on right again.

Good thing they didn't need to check or certify my machine for the electrical system, as I would have thrown a fit and not let them do it.

The only good thing was they had distilled water that I could use and the nurse brought me toilet paper to seal leaks.

[palerider]

the mask placement is crucial, since I use toilet paper carefully wadded up just right at the bridge of the nose to prevent loud leaks.

Go over to padacheek.com and let Karen fix your toilet paper woes once and for all.

[Sheriff Buford]

I was in the hospital for 4 days in November for pneumonia. I brought my own machine and mask. It never was an option to use the hospital's equipment. I thought the wife came home and got my equipment, but she says I packed it up when we left for the emergency room. Yes..it was a pain in the butt when they came in at all hours of the night to check my vitals, but they have to do it. One nurse would allow me to keep my cpap stuff going and she check my temperature by placing the thermometer under my arm (as log as she didn't flip me over and check it thru my backside... ). I joked that I need to go home to get some rest.

I initially had a "special" room. I think it was pressurized because on my condition. The nurse came in at 2 am one morning and said they would have to move me, because they had to use my room for another patient and I was getting better. I used this to my advantage. I was super nice to them as they fell all over themselves with apologies. I got extra jello and popsicles for the rest of my visit!!

Sheriff

[LSAT]

Feel better after venting?

[ChicagoGranny]

the doctor wouldn't let me use my CPAP

(The RT) woke me up, and couldn't get the oxygen connected to my CPAP. He seemed confused.

The other irritating thing was they woke me up once or twice every night to take my vitals,

No doubt, these were all Middle Easterners.

( viewtopic/t174307/My-doctors-strange-behavior.html )

[mileena]

Feel better after venting?

I do! Thank you to the forum for letting me do that. I guess I just felt the need to share. It was not all too bad, looking back in retrospect.

[mileena]

I was in the hospital for 4 days in November for pneumonia. I brought my own machine and mask. It never was an option to use the hospital's equipment. I thought the wife came home and got my equipment, but she says I packed it up when we left for the emergency room. Yes..it was a pain in the butt when they came in at all hours of the night to check my vitals, but they have to do it. One nurse would allow me to keep my cpap stuff going and she check my temperature by placing the thermometer under my arm (as log as she didn't flip me over and check it thru my backside... ). I joked that I need to go home to get some rest.

I initially had a "special" room. I think it was pressurized because on my condition. The nurse came in at 2 am one morning and said they would have to move me, because they had to use my room for another patient and I was getting better. I used this to my advantage. I was super nice to them as they fell all over themselves with apologies. I got extra jello and popsicles for the rest of my visit!!

Sheriff

Thanks for sharing your experience. I am glad they could take your temperature in your underarm. For me, the moved me to a private room after I began experiencing loose stool. They said I might have c-diff, a very contagious bacteria often caught in hospitals. They tested it, but it was negative. Still, the private room was awesome! Large, cascading waterfall shower with huge window sill that also acted as a bench seat; refrigerator; laptop work station; plenty of dressers and cabinets; multiple light options, and huge overall!

[palerider]

the doctor wouldn't let me use my CPAP

(The RT) woke me up, and couldn't get the oxygen connected to my CPAP. He seemed confused.

The other irritating thing was they woke me up once or twice every night to take my vitals,

No doubt, these were all Middle Easterners.

( viewtopic/t174307/My-doctors-strange-behavior.html )

must be her first time EVER in the hospital.

[raisedfist]

I've read other horror stories regarding CPAP use in the hospital here so I am not surprised. I use a bi-level and while staying at the hospital I didn't have my machine. I had to use their gigantic dinosaur and it was uncomfortable to say the least.

[palerider]

I've read other horror stories regarding CPAP use in the hospital here so I am not surprised. I use a bi-level and while staying at the hospital I didn't have my machine. I had to use their gigantic dinosaur and it was uncomfortable to say the least.

Last three times I've been in the hospital, I've taken my machine, I've used it every night, and had zero problems with it. (except from respiratory therapists offering to help me put my mask on.. or trying to figure out where the water goes in the S9... "you know what, I'm good, thanks... get out now")

[raisedfist]

I've read other horror stories regarding CPAP use in the hospital here so I am not surprised. I use a bi-level and while staying at the hospital I didn't have my machine. I had to use their gigantic dinosaur and it was uncomfortable to say the least.

Last three times I've been in the hospital, I've taken my machine, I've used it every night, and had zero problems with it. (except from respiratory therapists offering to help me put my mask on.. or trying to figure out where the water goes in the S9... "you know what, I'm good, thanks... get out now")

The last RT at the hospital near me, which is the largest employer in my city, told me to set up S/T AVAPS with the exact same IPAP min and IPAP max. I asked her what the point of AVAPS would be in that case? *Crickets*

[palerider]

I've read other horror stories regarding CPAP use in the hospital here so I am not surprised. I use a bi-level and while staying at the hospital I didn't have my machine. I had to use their gigantic dinosaur and it was uncomfortable to say the least.

Last three times I've been in the hospital, I've taken my machine, I've used it every night, and had zero problems with it. (except from respiratory therapists offering to help me put my mask on.. or trying to figure out where the water goes in the S9... "you know what, I'm good, thanks... get out now")

The last RT at the hospital near me, which is the largest employer in my city, told me to set up S/T AVAPS with the exact same IPAP min and IPAP max. I asked her what the point of AVAPS would be in that case? *Crickets*

This kid, looked like she was in high school, came in and said "I'm from Respiratory Therapy, here to help you put on your CPAP" ...

I looked over, waved the P10 at her and said "I think I've got it"... she still wanted to be helpful.

I said "ok, can you fill up the water?" she went over and looked at my S9.... scratched her head a bit, and said "where does the water go?"

"ok, nevermind, just get out, don't come back".

[Pugsy]

This kid, looked like she was in high school, came in and said "I'm from Respiratory Therapy, here to help you put on your CPAP" ...

I looked over, waved the P10 at her and said "I think I've got it"... she still wanted to be helpful.

I said "ok, can you fill up the water?" she went over and looked at my S9.... scratched her head a bit, and said "where does the water go?"

"ok, nevermind, just get out, don't come back".

Wanna bet you still got a nice little bill for the visit? I am betting the charge was generated long before she stepped foot in your room. They don't put on a bandaid without charging for the bandaid AND the application.

[palerider]

This kid, looked like she was in high school, came in and said "I'm from Respiratory Therapy, here to help you put on your CPAP" ...

I looked over, waved the P10 at her and said "I think I've got it"... she still wanted to be helpful.

I said "ok, can you fill up the water?" she went over and looked at my S9.... scratched her head a bit, and said "where does the water go?"

"ok, nevermind, just get out, don't come back".

Wanna bet you still got a nice little bill for the visit? I am betting the charge was generated long before she stepped foot in your room. They don't put on a bandaid without charging for the bandaid AND the application.

I ain't touchin that bet with a 10 foot pole.