Trick That Helped Improve My Nights DRAMATICALLY

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
fredmertz
Posts: 41
Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2012 9:35 am

Trick That Helped Improve My Nights DRAMATICALLY

Post by fredmertz » Sat Jun 09, 2012 6:35 am

I am still a relative newbie, so this may be an obvious post.

I am using nasal pillows and found that looping my hose through an opening in my iron headboard so that the hose would go straight up over my head has made it significantly easier to sleep through the night. The trick is to get it with enough slack that your head can move side to side, but not enough slack for the hose to sag to the bed.

The hose stands that sit to the side of the bed don't work as well for me as it restricts turning away from the stand for me too much.

I travelled 3 days this week without a headboard and the quality of my sleep was much worse!

Again, sorry if this was very obvious to you all.

User avatar
The Choker
Posts: 485
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 12:53 pm

Re: Trick That Helped Improve My Nights DRAMATICALLY

Post by The Choker » Sat Jun 09, 2012 7:03 am

"Hose management" is a critical element to CPAP success and it is rare for a new patient to be told this by any of the medical professionals who treat him.
T.C.

wolftracker
Posts: 315
Joined: Sun May 14, 2006 8:20 am

Re: Trick That Helped Improve My Nights DRAMATICALLY

Post by wolftracker » Sat Jun 09, 2012 7:07 am

pvc pipe in twelve inch sections and a girls hair crunch makes a nice
portable adjustable hose management tool

my .02

User avatar
Suzjohnson
Posts: 499
Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2012 8:49 am
Location: Dammeron Valley, UT

Re: Trick That Helped Improve My Nights DRAMATICALLY

Post by Suzjohnson » Sat Jun 09, 2012 7:39 am

I do the same headboard thing you do, whether it's a full face mask or nasal pillow mask as I dislike the sensation of the hose pulling the mask down or over to the side. Good that you've discovered that trick so early in your therapy!

Suz

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: SleepyHead, CMS 50D+, Deluxe Chinstrap, began CPAP 4/21/2012
"We are what we repeatedly do, so excellence is not an act but a habit". ~ Aristotle

nanwilson
Posts: 3463
Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:35 am
Location: Southern Alberta

Re: Trick That Helped Improve My Nights DRAMATICALLY

Post by nanwilson » Sat Jun 09, 2012 7:47 am

Yup, me too. Only I have a large oak headboard, so I screwed a plant hanger to it, ran the hose over the top of the headboard to the plant hanger, then out over the plant hanger and down to my nose. Like you I just keep the hose slack enough to turn over without pulling my mask.
Started cpap in 2010.. still at it with great results.

User avatar
Bert_Mathews
Posts: 480
Joined: Sun May 06, 2007 9:36 am
Location: Heber, Utah
Contact:

Re: Trick That Helped Improve My Nights DRAMATICALLY

Post by Bert_Mathews » Sat Jun 09, 2012 8:51 am

Image
I travel a lot and CozyHoze Boss™ is the best CPAP hose management solution on the market. Small enough to fit in your shirt pocket, it mounts to the wall using 3M Command Adhesive strips that are guaranteed not to damage surfaces and are removed with a simple tug on the tab. Or they can be used for permanent mounting.

The product consists of a wall mounting hook and two spring loaded, self-retracting reels with just enough tension to keep the hose up out of your way while at the same time providing low-friction full range of motion for every sleeping position. Traveling is a breeze. Just remove the hook from the wall and leave the reels attached to the hose. Simply re-attach the hook base on the wall or headboard at the new location.

The video says it all:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCJrKZsrnPQ

_________________
Humidifier
Additional Comments: CozyHoze Boss™ -- Regenesis™ Pillow -- CPAP Desensitization aromatics..SleepyHead Software
" If you don't like the HEAT, Don't tickle the Dragons!!!"Image
Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.
http://www.sharpstones.com

fredmertz
Posts: 41
Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2012 9:35 am

Re: Trick That Helped Improve My Nights DRAMATICALLY

Post by fredmertz » Sat Jun 09, 2012 4:56 pm

Bert_Mathews wrote: I travel a lot and CozyHoze Boss™ is the best CPAP hose management solution on the market. Small enough to fit in your shirt pocket, it mounts to the wall using 3M Command Adhesive strips that are guaranteed not to damage surfaces and are removed with a simple tug on the tab. Or they can be used for permanent mounting.

The product consists of a wall mounting hook and two spring loaded, self-retracting reels with just enough tension to keep the hose up out of your way while at the same time providing low-friction full range of motion for every sleeping position. Traveling is a breeze. Just remove the hook from the wall and leave the reels attached to the hose. Simply re-attach the hook base on the wall or headboard at the new location.

The video says it all:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCJrKZsrnPQ
That is brilliant and pretty close to something I was trying to invent in my mind (with the tension devices).

Thank you!

User avatar
GumbyCT
Posts: 5778
Joined: Fri Sep 14, 2007 6:22 pm
Location: CT
Contact:

Re: Trick That Helped Improve My Nights DRAMATICALLY

Post by GumbyCT » Sat Jun 09, 2012 5:53 pm

wolftracker wrote:pvc pipe in twelve inch sections and a girls hair crunch makes a nice
portable adjustable hose management tool

my .02
If you were to replace that pvc pipe with a 3M command strip you would have something.

Of course the pipe was around long before the command strips, I guess.

_________________
Humidifier: HC150 Heated Humidifier With Hose, 2 Chambers and Stand
Additional Comments: New users can't remember they can't remember YET!
BeganCPAP31Jan2007;AHI<0.5
I have no doubt, how I sleep affects every waking moment.
I am making progress-NOW I remember that I can't remember
;)
If this isn’t rocket science why are there so many spaceshots?
Be your own healthcare advocate!

User avatar
kaiasgram
Posts: 3569
Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2012 2:08 pm
Location: Northern California

Re: Trick That Helped Improve My Nights DRAMATICALLY

Post by kaiasgram » Sat Jun 09, 2012 6:20 pm

nanwilson wrote:Yup, me too. Only I have a large oak headboard, so I screwed a plant hanger to it, ran the hose over the top of the headboard to the plant hanger, then out over the plant hanger and down to my nose. Like you I just keep the hose slack enough to turn over without pulling my mask.
Any chance you could post a photo of how you've got this set up? It's a brilliant idea.

_________________
Machine: AirSense 10 AutoSet with Heated Humidifer + Aifit N30i Nasal Mask Bundle
Additional Comments: SleepyHead-now-OSCAR software on Mac OSX Ventura

TiredAlot
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Apr 29, 2012 6:44 pm
Location: Oregon

Re: Trick That Helped Improve My Nights DRAMATICALLY

Post by TiredAlot » Sat Jun 09, 2012 9:12 pm

fredmertz, I too am a newbie, started my therapy, April 27, 2012. About 3 weeks ago my husband and I were visiting our daughter and stayed in her guest room, the guest bed had an iron headboard, I tried exactly what you are talking about and had the best nights sleep ever, my events and leaks were way down compared to what I was getting at home. I've been trying to come up with a solution for my bed which is an old water bed frame with a bookcase headboard (it has a mattress in place of a waterbed now), but nothing seems to work as well as when I tried it at my daughter's house.
I'm excited to see all the ideas posted here, all because you shared your experience and I hope that more ideas and pictures of solutions will show up. I am willing to try whatever it takes to get a good nights sleep!
Thanks for your post fredmertz!

_________________
MaskHumidifier

jweeks
Posts: 1474
Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:32 pm
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Contact:

Re: Trick That Helped Improve My Nights DRAMATICALLY

Post by jweeks » Sat Jun 09, 2012 10:24 pm

fredmertz wrote:I am using nasal pillows and found that looping my hose through an opening in my iron headboard so that the hose would go straight up over my head has made it significantly easier to sleep through the night. The trick is to get it with enough slack that your head can move side to side, but not enough slack for the hose to sag to the bed.
Hi,

That is a nice trick. I have a solid headboard, so I find that I can fish the hose up between the mattress and headboard, then behind and over my pillows. I keep my machine about a foot off of the floor, so the hose kind of naturally wants to follow that path. The pillow holds it against the headboard so it doesn't put any tension on my head, nose, or headgear.

I have my routine down pat at home, so when I travel, it always takes me a while to find a way to make this work and to get comfortable. I have a hard time with most hotel pillows. I'd like to bring my own, but that is a hassle, and I don't want to risk getting them infested with bed bugs.

-john-

Rarbit

Re: Trick That Helped Improve My Nights DRAMATICALLY

Post by Rarbit » Sun Jun 10, 2012 5:37 am

Here's the way I do it:

My cpap machine is on a bedside table. I have a solid headboard about 18" high. I clamped two black and red plastic clamps (from Lowes) to the top of the headboard, and separated by enough space to allow the hose to pass between them. I also put a face cloth under the clamps, so as not to mar the headboard. I then put a coil of wire, that I had on hand, over the hose and behind the headboard. The coil has enough inside diameter to allow it to slide on the hose. It is also heavy enough so that it provides just enough tension so that the hose will slide between the clamps as I move in my sleep. It automatically takes up and feeds out the hose as required. Perhaps someone can adapt this for their own usage.

wolftracker
Posts: 315
Joined: Sun May 14, 2006 8:20 am

Re: Trick That Helped Improve My Nights DRAMATICALLY

Post by wolftracker » Wed Jun 13, 2012 2:46 pm

GumbyCT wrote:
wolftracker wrote:pvc pipe in twelve inch sections and a girls hair crunch makes a nice
portable adjustable hose management tool

my .02
If you were to replace that pvc pipe with a 3M command strip you would have something.

Of course the pipe was around long before the command strips, I guess.
I take the pvc pipe when i go on trips and use in motels and bed and baths... not sure
you would use the command strips while on travel

my .02

User avatar
GumbyCT
Posts: 5778
Joined: Fri Sep 14, 2007 6:22 pm
Location: CT
Contact:

Re: Trick That Helped Improve My Nights DRAMATICALLY

Post by GumbyCT » Wed Jun 13, 2012 3:32 pm

wolftracker wrote: I take the pvc pipe when i go on trips and use in motels and bed and baths... not sure
you would use the command strips while on travel

my .02
Oh absolutely...
I will have to assume that you have NOT watched the video linked by Bert - linked below again for your convenience.

Designed for travel and small enuff to fit into your shirt pocket. I have had mine mounted in my home for several yrs now. A 2nd unit stays packed for travel.

Absolutely THE BEST hose management system I have seen, hands down.

The command strips do NOT even mar the surface they are attached to.


Take the time to watch the video or at least look at the picture linked below.
Bert_Mathews wrote:Image
I travel a lot and CozyHoze Boss™ is the best CPAP hose management solution on the market. Small enough to fit in your shirt pocket, it mounts to the wall using 3M Command Adhesive strips that are guaranteed not to damage surfaces and are removed with a simple tug on the tab. Or they can be used for permanent mounting.

The product consists of a wall mounting hook and two spring loaded, self-retracting reels with just enough tension to keep the hose up out of your way while at the same time providing low-friction full range of motion for every sleeping position. Traveling is a breeze. Just remove the hook from the wall and leave the reels attached to the hose. Simply re-attach the hook base on the wall or headboard at the new location.

The video says it all:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCJrKZsrnPQ

_________________
Humidifier: HC150 Heated Humidifier With Hose, 2 Chambers and Stand
Additional Comments: New users can't remember they can't remember YET!
BeganCPAP31Jan2007;AHI<0.5
I have no doubt, how I sleep affects every waking moment.
I am making progress-NOW I remember that I can't remember
;)
If this isn’t rocket science why are there so many spaceshots?
Be your own healthcare advocate!

User avatar
xenablue
Posts: 1358
Joined: Tue Sep 07, 2010 12:52 pm
Location: Aussie living in balmy Wisconsin

Re: Trick That Helped Improve My Nights DRAMATICALLY

Post by xenablue » Wed Jun 13, 2012 3:36 pm

Similar to others - I have a Command cable organizer attached to my oak headboard so the hose stays above my head.

Yup, hose management and the mask are the most important items to get right for sleeping comfort.

cheers,
xena

_________________
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Dx 10/14/10. Also a T2 diabetic. High night/fasting numbers prompted a sleep study and here I am :-)