Hating on the Hose

[Violet West]

A couple months in, am adjusting well, no real problems with the machine or mask, but -- I hate the hose! It's . . . cold and plasticy and annoyingly snakelike. Sometimes I feel like it's going to strangle me.

I tried putting it behind my pillows, but that doesn't work well, since I turn from side to side. I plan to purchase a hose cover which should help a lot. Also plan to buy a hose buddy thingy, which may or may not work with my bed, but we'll see.

Have you made friends with the hose?

[Goofproof]

I don't make friends easily. I learned long ago if you have more than two friends, you don't really know what a true friend is. However, I do make friends with thing that can save my life, XPAP is my friend, I can count on it to help me breath, every night it hugs me, all it asks in return is a few seconds of my time to use it and maintain it.

It's like a puppy but I don't have to let it out back.

Get or make a hose holder or like I do bring the hose over the headboard (3') never fiddle with the hose, don't rub it, it won't mind.

Finally found a pillow that was worth carrying home, Sealy Half & HALF medium and firm, it's made my sleep much better. Jim $ 30 each?

[lilly747]

I don't make friends easily. I learned long ago if you have more than two friends, you don't really know what a true friend is. However, I do make friends with thing that can save my life, XPAP is my friend, I can count on it to help me breath, every night it hugs me, all it asks in return is a few seconds of my time to use it and maintain it.

It's like a puppy but I don't have to let it out back.

Get or make a hose holder or like I do bring the hose over the headboard (3') never fiddle with the hose, don't rub it, it won't mind.

Finally found a pillow that was worth carrying home, Sealy Half & HALF medium and firm, it's made my sleep much better. Jim $ 30 each?

+1

Get a nice cozy and pillow...make it a friend

[yippeekia]

I bought a fleece hose cover. I like the ones that unzip all the way. It makes it easier to remove. I bought a 6 foot one and pulled it close to my mask. I find that if it is covered in soft fleece, it doesn't wake me up when I touch it in my sleep. I also love my buckwheat hull pillow.
Good Luck!

[Janknitz]

I have a homemade hose hanger and a homemade hose cover. In addition, I have the new DreamWear mask, so the hose connects at the top of my head.

It's like the hose is not there any more. I never see it, feel it, or hear it. It floats above my head, never gets in my way, never bangs on me or anything else. I don't feel constrained, it doesn't pull on my mask when I turn or move in bed.

I fought with the damn hose for 6 years, although it wasn't so terrible with the hose hanger and hose cover. But bedtime feels so much nicer now!

BTW, I made my hose cover of flannel instead of fleece--it's there more to dampen the sound of the plastic hose banging in to things, and provide a softer surface than plastic. I think a heavy hose cover would still be noticeable even with the attachment on the top of the head. My hose cover is very lightweight.

[Hopeful50]

Like Goofproof, I drape the hose over my headboard. I hold it in place at the top of the headboard by running it through ponytail scrunchy attached to a Command hook, which is attached to the headboard.

Then I swivel the hose around where it connects to the mask, so it points up instead of down. I'm a side-sleeper, and this lets me turn from one side to the other with the hose staying in place above me.

[Sir NoddinOff]

I kind of treat my hose like a wubby blanket these days. In the past I've used hose hangers and hose cozys, but over the years finally got used to my hose being under the covers with me. The way I figure it, we all had umbilical cords once and we got used to that (or we wouldn't be here). That being said, you simply have to find what works for you.

[robysue]

A couple months in, am adjusting well, no real problems with the machine or mask, but -- I hate the hose! It's . . . cold and plasticy and annoyingly snakelike.
...
Have you made friends with the hose?

I put my hose in a fleece cover and named it Kaa, after the snake in The Jungle Book.

Kaa came to mind because of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1ILPl5FQaM

[Goofproof]

Like Goofproof, I drape the hose over my headboard. I hold it in place at the top of the headboard by running it through ponytail scrunchy attached to a Command hook, which is attached to the headboard.

Then I swivel the hose around where it connects to the mask, so it points up instead of down. I'm a side-sleeper, and this lets me turn from one side to the other with the hose staying in place above me.

+1, Except mine in brought to the center of the headboard, hose is wedged between the back of the headboard and the windows, stays in place. I sleep on my back (Bad) and right side, with my new pillow I move around much less. Jim

I was waking up hourly, now 2 or 3, just to get a sip of ice water, don't even open both eyes. T.V. acts as nightlight, (Bad too), but for me it works. Jim

[Violet West]

thanks for all the helpful replies. Robysue --haha! I don't have a headboard right now, so hard to attach it. And I think much of the problem is I don't wear nightwear, so the hose on my bare skin is not a comfy feeling.

[robysue]

thanks for all the helpful replies. Robysue --haha! I don't have a headboard right now, so hard to attach it. And I think much of the problem is I don't wear nightwear, so the hose on my bare skin is not a comfy feeling.

Get a fleece hose cover. It covers up the plastic feel quite nicely.

I hug my Kaa at night and he feels like a giant stuffed toy snake. I focus on the "giant stuffed toy" part rather than the "snake" part. Kaa is now a fast friend. It did take a long time for my poor insomnia wracked brain to accept his friendship.

Best of luck.

[Violet West]

you know . . . I used to have one of those stuffed animal snakes when I was a kid.

[Janknitz]

you know . . . I used to have one of those stuffed animal snakes when I was a kid.

I did too, it was huge. WHY did we have stuffed snakes??? Worst idea for a cuddly toy, ever!

[robysue]

you know . . . I used to have one of those stuffed animal snakes when I was a kid.

I did too, it was huge. WHY did we have stuffed snakes???

To prepare us for CPAP, perhaps?

[yaconsult]

I love my cheap hose hanger from amazon for less than $12: http://www.amazon.com/North-American-He ... 0034CHMRU/

It slides in between the mattress and boxspring so that it doesn't matter if you have a headboard or not. You put your hose through it and leave just enough slack in the hose that it doesn't touch you. If you put it right behind your head, you can roll to your right and left without ever pulling on the hose.

Others use different methods. You need to experiment and find out what works for you - just like finding the right mask.