Are you touchy about who touches your machine?

[FreemasonCyclist]

Are you touchy or nervous about anyone else who goes near, touches or handles your machine other then you or the staff of where you got it from? I am.

My father in law has sleep apnea as well as a result of post polio problems. He is in his late 60's and had polio as a teenager that affected the muscles in his chest. He has been using a CPAP for the last 10+ years. I have only been using mine for the last 5+ years.

One time he and my mother in law were visiting me and my wife in our home. He knew I recently got a new machine. With out my permission of immediate knowledge he asked my wife to show it to him. So she did. I walked into the the bed room and saw he had picked it up and was looking at it. They had also pulled my humidifier out of the bag, (I don't use it in the summer), and was looking at it. I almost lost total control. I started glaring at them and more or less told them in a very pissed off voice to put it down, I will put it back the way it was, and to back away from it and to NEVER touch it again.

They did and left the room. They knew I was very pissed about this. My wife knew I do not trust anyone except myself and the staff at the medical store where I got it to handle the machine. I don't even trust her with it. Let me put it this way. Because the machine is on a night stand on my side of the bed, when she changes the bedding I am either helping her on that side of the bed or I move the night stand out of the way. She is not to touch the machine, hose or any part of it.

The reason I am like this is I know with out it I do not sleep. It is almost like I am addicted to sleep, because of this machine as one would be addicted to an illegal drug.

Is anyone else this sensitive about their machine? Do you let just anyone touch or handle it? Am I crazy for feeling this way about my machine and not wanting anyone else to mess with it, except me or the staff at the medical store?

[Slinky]

Well, you are a bit more overboard about your CPAP than I am my VPAP (bi-level). I would have had a hairy if they had picked it up w/the humidifier attached and water in the humidifier tank but other than that the most I would have felt was a bit irritated that they didn't ask ME to show it to them. After all it is mine. But, if my hubby chose to make the bed I wouldn't mind if he moved the nightstand while making up my side of the bed. He knows it is NOT an inexpensive device and would treat it as such.

On the other hand, just a few weeks or months ago my neighbor came down to visit and for some reason unbeknownst to me chose to bring her three grandsons w/her aged 5, 7 and 9. I'm not that wild or impressed w/other people's kids to begin w/which she is very much aware of. Anyway, the little "darlings" did play w/my VPAP and they got into a fight and the youngest ended up w/a bloody nose all over my bedding and .... I was NOT particularly graceful in the way I handleld the situation and did tell her NOT to bring ANY kids to my house again quite emphatically. I didn't inflict my kids or grandkids on my friends or neighbors and they didn't inflict theirs on me - until this recent visit.

So - we all have our "kinks". Whatever floats your boat. Its your house and your CPAP. As your wife, tho, I think I might be just a bit more stiff-necked about your situation. In short, I don't blame you for being peeved but I do think that you over-reacted. Just as I most likely did w/my neighbor and her grandkids. Lets just say that both of us most likely could have been a tad more diplomatic or tactful in getting our point across.

[Debjax]

Yes, I am particular about who handles my machine. However, hubby and I both have them, and we help each other with our maintenance. He IS my husband, and if I trust him enough to sleep next to him in the same bed, I should be able to trust him to handle my machine with care. He is not going to do anything that will harm me, and that inludes messing my machine up.

Now, at the airport, I get the shivers when the TAA folks have to handle it, I've not seem them take any amout of care that I feel is appropriate to handle it. I don't like it a bit, but have no choice in that matter.

Kids? hands off. My nephews know I will paddle their bottoms if they get near it.

[DaveMunson]

Yes. Touchy about anyone that goes anywhere near my machine.

[6PtStar]

Well, I guess I am in the minority. You can come rub on mine all day long as long as your hands don't look like you just got out from under the hood of your car.

Jerry

[FreemasonCyclist]

Interesting point about the TSA officers at airport security. When ever I fly I always have my machine as carry on baggage. When I take it to the security check point I actually have anyone who handles my machine sign a document stating if any damage is done they are responsible for it. They sign it. Once the TSA staff wanted to open the bag. It was locked. I unlocked it and opened it myself, I would not let the TSA officer touch it, all they wanted to do is see the sticker on the back stating it is a medical device. Again I would not let them pull it out of the bag and did so myself and showed them. I did how ever have to let them do the chemical test for explosives on the bag and zipper. That wasn't a problem because I do not know how to do so and the bag was zipped shut.

[boston]

I have a 3 year old son, he has known since i brought it home, it is daddys, and he is not to touch. He has done really well, there have been a few times I have caught him looking at it, but hes never touched it that i know of.

About a month ago, we went camping and I had set it where it would be out of the way, and no one had any reason to touch it, get near it, etc.
On the second night I went to turn it on, and it had been moved, my wife claimed she had to for some reason or another and we had a brief discussion about how if she (or anyone) for that matter damaged the unit, 1. we would have to buy another unit out of pocket, 2. I would be like I was pre-cpap until a new unit got here and would have to work off any sleep deficit built up.

I truly dont think she understands the gravity of the situation if I was to be without a machine for any length of time. (i went one night once, and it took several days to recover)
Which confuses me because she has helped look into travel units, backup units, and battery options.

But yes, I think all of us have a very good reason to be protective of our machines.

[elader]

Interesting point about the TSA officers at airport security. When ever I fly I always have my machine as carry on baggage. When I take it to the security check point I actually have anyone who handles my machine sign a document stating if any damage is done they are responsible for it. They sign it. Once the TSA staff wanted to open the bag. It was locked. I unlocked it and opened it myself, I would not let the TSA officer touch it, all they wanted to do is see the sticker on the back stating it is a medical device. Again I would not let them pull it out of the bag and did so myself and showed them. I did how ever have to let them do the chemical test for explosives on the bag and zipper. That wasn't a problem because I do not know how to do so and the bag was zipped shut.

TSA keeps swabbing mine for explosives.

[BeanMeScot]

Maybe the difference is the degree of your Apnea. Mine isn't severe and while I don't think I would like not sleeping without it (I haven't done so since I got it), it wouldn't bother me if others touched my machine. I would be concerned if they tried to touch it with the humidifier in but only because of the potential of water damage.

[Trinity101]

Well, I have to side with the "touchies". My hubby can touch the machine - I made sure that he knows how it works, how to fill the humidifer, etc, just in case I get ill and he has to help-I have other health issues and I have learned that "ya never know" but as far as just anyone- no way. My grandkids have NO business being around it.They have tons of toys here to play with, they do not need to be in my room,much less play with my CPAP.
~joan

[tomjax]

The cyclist would probably get a more helpful reply if he ran his question by a psychologist or psychiatrist rather than those here.

Me thinks his reaction to his family was a bit unusual and revealing.

But then I have the same concern for many replies to lots of questions here.
I am glad I do not live in driving distance of some here- especially if they have a gun.

I could be wrong though.

[cflame1]

My sister and I have had words over her kids being around my machine (though I'm not sure that she understands that's what I've had problems with).

When I stay at my mom's and they show up, I have issues with them being on the same floor as my machine without me being around. I don't believe that they understand the importance of it to me and I know that they aren't careful around other people's things.

I'm ok with them being down there as long as they aren't in the room that I'm sleeping in without me. So I make sure that the door is shut and then things are ok.

[roster]

..........
I am glad I do not live in driving distance of some here- especially if they have a gun.

.......

Tom,

You do live within driving distance of Charlotte.

I have known you a long time and I would loan you my car, my truck, my clothes, my money, or my wife.

But don't touch my Perazzi, my pointer, my chainsaw or my CPAP!

Remember that and you will be safe.

[El Pap]

TSA keeps swabbing mine for explosives.

Same here, in fact last time I flew the TSA guy asked me to take in out of the bag and put it through the X-ray in a tray the same way I had to do for my laptop. When it came out, he brought it behind the partition and swabbed it for explosives. The TSA people seem to be very familiar with them, he referred to it as a "breathing machine".

At the time I was more annoyed by the invasion of my privacy -- I don't see why the whole line of people waiting to go through security has to see my gear -- than I was that someone was touching the machine.

[Debjax]

I am glad I do not live in driving distance of some here- especially if they have a gun.

Hope that doesn't include me... ... I work on the other side of the river from your place....