Silly question

[jshu43]

I will be getting a XPAP for the first time in the next few weeks. One of my concerns seems really silly, but it's a big deal to me. How do you fit all this stuff on your night stand? My night stand right now is loaded. It has my clock, telephone, water, pens, eye drops, hand cream, etc. There's not one tiny spot left. I'm having a hard time figuring out where I would put a machine and humidifier and whatever else I might need. What is everyone else's experience?

Also, does it matter what height it is? My bed is pretty tall and my night stand doesn't quite reach to height of the mattress. Will this cause a problem?

[Slinky]

Your CPAP is best situated below the level of your mattress.

As far as fitting on your nightstand. That is a matter of priorities. Which is more important, refreshing sleep or soft, moisturized hands? Refreshing sleep or a possible telephone call? Refreshing sleep or pens and eye drops? Refreshing sleep or having to get out of bed to shut off the alarm?

Necessity is the mother of invention. Perhaps a new nightstand with drawers in it, or at least shelves, would be the answer for you.

[GumbyCT]

I specialize in silly questions

I would say that some may give breathing a priority in their lives and clear the nightstand to make room for something that will prolong their life.

Ideally, the humidifier should be below the mattress level to avoid what is called rain out. To prevent spilling and knocking the machine off the nightstand, others, like myself, keep the machine on the floor. My machine hasn't fallen off the floor yet.

Welcome to the forum. Take this time before you get your machine to search the forum, read, and write down any questions you have for your doc or DME. Write them down so you don't forget them when the time comes. Start a journal.

[jshu43]

Well, I'm glad to know the machine doesn't have to be above my mattress - that will help a lot. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and sometimes it's impossible for me to be able to even get up to eat. So, I do need to have things close by, maybe more than others. I'll have to figure something out.

I haven't had that refreshing sleep yet - can't wait!

[Hawthorne]

I bought a small separate table just for my cpap machine and humidifier. I don't use the night stand at all for that. My night stand in on the other side of the bed with a combination telephone radio and a lamp on it. It's too small to hold anything else but does have a shelf and a cupboard below the shelf. I have other things on the shelf and in the little cupboard below. I do store a couple of backup masks in the little cupboard of the night stand.

If you have room, a small separate table that is slightly lower than your bed would work for you as it does for me. Otherwise, you are going to have to move some of the items on your night stand. The other choice is to buy a new night stand with a shelf or a drawer to hold some of those items as well as your cpap machine.

[millich]

If you can't implement Hawthorne's suggestions yet, perhaps you could put your other things in a bag and and loop it over your headboard (or otherwise attach it somewhere close by).

[Slinky]

It would seem to me that you could put your eye drops in and moisturize your hands BEFORE masking up and going to bed. Two small items, I know, but its a start.

I would seriously consider a nightstand w/drawers or shelves. Some in the forum even keep their CPAP in a nightstand drawer. Open at night to accomodate the hose (and no chance of pulling your CPAP off the nightstand w/this arrangement either!), close the drawer during the day w/hose and mask in the drawer w/the CPAP. I moved my bedroom suite matching nightstand and bought an unfinished wood one and painted the wood the same color as my bedroom walls. Its actually quite attractive.

The phone and clock could sit on top of this new nightstand and the top drawer could hold all your other goodies.

[jshu43]

Slinky,

You have a lot of good suggestions. I especially liked the drawer idea. But you gave me an idea - I think I will go to some antique shops and look for something with a drawer. I can get it refinished and put either some glass or granite on top to watch out for water damage.

[Julie]

Well, we had (I'm now an ex a large bed, but no headboard, so pulled the bed down into the room about a foot or so, and my husband built a stand than spanned the whole top of the bed (behind it), sort of a long shelf with feet at either end, that just reached the mattress height. The machine was right there at hand, as was Kleenex, a fixed up shoe-box that the mask got dumped in during the day, plus (further out) books, phone, etc. etc. Well, actually the phone was on an existing nightstand, but I'm sure you get the idea. I never use a humidifier BTW.

[jshu43]

Julie,

It's so interesting to read how resourceful one can get!

[Slinky]

Oh yeah, NEVER underestimate the power of a determined and innovative CPAPper!!! Ain't nuttin' impossible, at best only improbable. One of us will find a way and share the method.

[MoneyGal]

I will share again that I have my machine in the (antique, metal; says "MEAT") drawer from an old refrigerator that a neighbour was throwing out. It fits perfectly and I like the "custom" arrangement I've created for myself.

My machine sits on a towel. The whole arrangement gets shoved under my bed during the day.