Positive hospital CPAP experience

[Debjax]

Just got out of the hospital after making an emergency run on Monday. At the local hospital, which can treat the minor stuff and stabilize and transport the bigger issues, they informed me that I was getting the express ride into town....

I had gone in for chest pain and feeing very, very bad....had EKG changes from 7 months ago, that and pain and a taned potassium level, I was going to be monitored overnight. I instructed hubby to go home and get my CPAP and other overnight necessities....

Got to the hospital and to the room, and the nurse was taking my history. Got to the question on OSA, and at my positive response, asked if I used it regularly. When I said yes, she immediatly asked me where my CPAP was. Told her it was in the car, hubby would go get it if they would let me use it (he wasn't sure they would...*I* was, but he wasn't)...She gave us both the 'DUH' look and told hubby to go get it, it was not only allowed, but they would really, really prefer that I use it.

He went and got it, we hooked it up, the staff asked me if there were any special instructions they should know, I told them that if it had to be moved to take the humidifer out first, they said ok. The mask didn't have a O2 port, and I was worried they would not let me use it after all. They felt the CPAP was more important than 2liters of O2. Hung the hose and after that, nobody said anything about it, other than making sure I was wearing it if I was asleep. In one instance, I had fallen asleep during the day, and woke to a nudge to find the nurse assistant standing by my bed with my mask in hand and a stern look on her face.

After hearing some of the stories from others here about problems, I just wanted to post a positive experience.....

[BeanMeScot]

In one instance, I had fallen asleep during the day, and woke to a nudge to find the nurse assistant standing by my bed with my mask in hand and a stern look on her face.

Love it!

[N6CRV]

Hello Deb, sure hope you are feeling better and everything checked out Ok? Just take it easy and hang in there!
Don

[yorkiemum01]

Hope that your posting means your home, mending...taking it easy and doing well. It is good hear
'positive' things about CPAP therapy in a hospital setting, thank you for sharing.
My dad (who's been a CPAP user 12 yrs) is scheduled for surgery first week of june, and his surgeon
asked him to please bring his cpap equiptment for his admission to the hospital. We too find a some a
areas of medicine doesnt 'understand' the OSA issue, but his surgeon and cardiologist both are on board
with his therapy and supportive, which is very helpful in a compliance and health, healing.
Thanks for posting...as remaining pro-active in our therapy is important. Be well.

[kteague]

Sounds like they had a team approach to patients using their cpap. Hope you posting means you're home and everything is fine. Did they clear you for riding that bike? Take care.
Kathy

[ozij]

Thanks for posting, Deb. I too hope this mean you're home and feeling better.
I hope you'll never need the following, by you may want to have one handy:


This lets you bleed oxygen into any kind of cpap setup - the port does not have to be in your mask.
$9 from cpap.com O2 enrichment adapter

O.

[JeffH]

great story. hope you are feeling better now.

JeffH

[gasparama]

I hope all is well for you now. Thanks for sharing your experience because it's easy to become skeptical about hospital stays.

Jane

[tomjax]

Deb,
maybe it is something about jax.

I also went to ER for CP and then a heart cath.

Stresstestwas normal and it turns out it was not angina.
still trying to figure out what it was.

Thankfully, it has not happened again.

Maybe it is the JAX.

tom

[Debjax]

Sounds like they had a team approach to patients using their cpap. Hope you posting means you're home and everything is fine. Did they clear you for riding that bike? Take care.
Kathy

Thanks...no, can't ride the bike for a few days at least...had a cardiac cath, so have that little "hole in the big pipe" to make sure is healed before putting undue pressure on it... ..Still having the chest pain, there were changes on the EKG from the last one, but it is NOT coronary artery disease, thank God....did have a potassium plunge, apparently a banana a day was not enough potassium for the water pill the doc had me on for another issue.

So, not feeling as bad as Monday, now that the potassium is back up, but still have the angina especially with exertion with no real explanation of cause.

[Debjax]

Deb,
maybe it is something about jax.

I also went to ER for CP and then a heart cath.

Stresstestwas normal and it turns out it was not angina.
still trying to figure out what it was.

Thankfully, it has not happened again.

Maybe it is the JAX.

tom

Did they test you for reflux yet?

[Debjax]

This lets you bleed oxygen into any kind of cpap setup - the port does not have to be in your mask.
$9 from cpap.com O2 enrichment adapter

Ooooo, thanks for that link. Will get one and have it stashed in the bag. Between an upcoming minor surgeries for both hubby and myself, that is a nice "tool" to have.

[Kiralynx]

Deb,

I'm sure glad you're OK! Hope your're back to normal and normal doings (well, assuming anyone here can be considered NORMAL!) real soon now.

And thanks for the positive hospital report!

[Ruby Vee]

Thanks for posting, Deb. I too hope this mean you're home and feeling better.
I hope you'll never need the following, by you may want to have one handy:


This lets you bleed oxygen into any kind of cpap setup - the port does not have to be in your mask.
$9 from cpap.com O2 enrichment adapter

O.

Thanks for posting that. I just ordered one. I'm having surgery in two weeks, and want to be able to use my machine whether or not I require supplemental oxygen!

[Marietjie]

by Debjax on Fri May 22, 2009 4:36 am

I was in hospital the end of last year - told them about my OSA and in the theatre the anaesthetist wanted to know if I have my cpap equipment with me. I didn'd know what to answer because the reason why I didn't take it to hospital was that I am terribly shy to have my nasal pillows on my face, sleeping and other patients and staff could look at me ! ! !(and laugh ?)
It was really hard to try and stay awake once I was back in ordinary ward! Luckily I didn't need to stay overnight? if so, I will for sure ask for a private room! So, what I want to say...it's good to hear that doctors and medical staff know all about sleep apnae and that they specially care for patients with OSA - that was my experience. They're great!

O2 enrichment adapter

..............THANX very much for this information!