Added Any Equipment to Your Basic CPAP Therapy?

[sleepyprm]

This thread is so interesting, and I'm cracking up! We all have our own routines and equipment.... i love it. My extras:
Chip Strap
Snuggle hose cover
Repti Heater with electrical tape
Travel DC plug
Hose Hanger
Pada Cheek
CPAP wipes (citrus)
Smart Card with software reader

[Kiralynx]

Let's see....

Smart card reader and software
Hozer hose manager
Hose huggie first, then a one of Karen's good ones
CL2 cover from Pad-a-cheek
Designed and built my brandy keg for chin support

Does whacking the straps off a Headrest and replacing it with a CL2 strap, plus adding my own cover to keep the rubber from doing evil things to my hair count? As well as wrapping the nose-piece of the Headrest for insulation and rainout protection, not to mention keeping the plastic off my face?

How about reworking a Zzz-mask full face to work with a CL2 strap, and designing my own Rem-zzz type face protector?

[sleepyprm]

I think it all counts, Kira!! What do you put on your head to protect the hair count? I'm worried about that!!!

[Kiralynx]

I think it all counts, Kira!! What do you put on your head to protect the hair count? I'm worried about that!!!

I used some "wicking fabric" between the mask-proper and my hair because having plastic or rubber against my scalp or skin makes me sweat, even in winter, in south Louisiana.

[cotech50]

None yet thinking about a contour pillow, has anyone tried one?? Getting sore right shoulder as other than back with the mask that is where I have to stay, I did do some back last night!!!

[SaltLakeJan]

I appreciate everyone's response. They are so interesting. Cpapers, both men & woman are the most organized group I think you could find. At first I thought the guys were were practical with batteries, etc and their KISS attitude, And women went for the comfort items, like Pad-a-Cheek and soft pillows.

The thing that didn't surprise me is the creatitivy. What is there in sleep apnea brings out all these ideas? Weary one and Ruby's Mom do use something I hadn't considered - shoe laces. I am going to secure my mask with a pair from my drawer. Won't cost me a dime. Dream On included a "Natural sounds" and a great apnea chart. I'm learning from Dream On's list. It includes things I'm going' to add to mine for sure. She regards her equipment as an investment in her health. Superb idea.

Bearded-Two has an impressive group of equipment. Katie is everyone's dream person. She has accumulated the equipment to make her treatment a success, and she has a wonderful smile.

diboja, Paul and John Fisher are the leaders in keeping things simple. For them it is just KISS. There isn't anything Kira doesn't think of - with a mask created from parts of other masks. Plus a wicking fabric that she uses between her mask and her hair. Kira, tell us more about this fabric and where we can get it. Cotech is asking is if anyone of the forum knows about countour pillow?

Scarlet, I think I adopted the idea of using a eye mask for a chin strap from you. That is a idea I would never have thought of, but it works well for me. Timbalionguy, you used original thinking in using items you had. A marble topped equipment stand sounds expensive, but you are going to use the marble you have.

lizard likes a comfy pillow - don't we all? And Cflame1 has found the Pad_A Cheek works well for her.

Katie W got all her equipment before testing, because of the help she got from the forum. Hope I haven't over-looked any response.

It has been helpful to read about each other's equipment, and what would work well for me and forum members in general.

I join with sleepy prm in reading the lists. I've hadf many a "Why didn't I think of that moment. I think the people on the forum are the greatest people you could find in the entire world. Jan.

[SleepyT]

Wow...I hadn't really considered this until now. I guess I have added a few things as well...let's see:

ResScan software and card reader
PapCap
Hose management system
Fleece hose cover
Contour pillow
Breathe Right strips
Tape for mouth taping
Wedge pillow
Neti pot
Baby wipes
Small tubs for cleaning/soaking mask and hose
Ivory soap, white vinegar

Of these items, the first 4 have been the most necessary. I am also finding that the cleaner my mask are hose are...the better my AHI number is.

[SaltLakeJan]

Hi SleepyT

Your list is interesting to me. I had wanted to ask someone about a PapCap. I am interested in what it does to your hair. I have medium short, but super fine. It is so darn fine that sometimes my headgear slips off in the night. It is also easily smashed - Yes that is the right word. I sometimes wear a cap when I'm working outside. When I do my hair looks squished & smashed. It really looks bad, So I don't know if I can stand how I would look before I take a shower and blow my hair.The PapCap was the 2nd item on your list, so it must be important to you.

Are Breathe Right Strips the product I see advertised on T.V. that helps when you can't breath out of your nares? Am I missing some good help to cpap. How do the strips help you. While I am asking, I wonder what kind of tape you you when you mouth tape. I use paper tape, but since I turned my humidifier up, for some reason my tape isn't sticking.
Jan

[KatieW]

Katie W got all her equipment before testing, because of the help she got from the forum.

Just a minor correction...After my sleep study, the respiratory tech confirmed that I did have sleep apnea, and that she was able to complete the titration. I didn't actually meet with the sleep doc until 3 weeks later. Meanwhile--with the help I got from this forum--I did order the Aussie heated hose, Hozer management system, and assembled my "1st aid kit". And researched and chose my equipment.

Then, the day I met with my sleep doc and got a copy of the study and RX, I came home, and ordered my equipment and mask from cpap.com. The rest is history...

This is a great thread!

[carbonman]

This has been an interesting thread.

I have an inventory of cpap equipment any DME would be envious of.

Part of that inventory includes a hose cozy cpap.com sent me for my
Halloween pic. That was very nice and I really appreciated it.

I really don't need it. I'm pretty well set w/hose cozy stuff.

If some one needs this and can't knit or has more necessary equipment
at the top of your cpap budget list, PM me your address and I'll send it to you.

[Muse-Inc]

Hmmm, things I've gotten or tried as a result of being a hosehead. Basic CPAP of course, then:
Hair spray (yes, it helps anchor the headgear as it slips on my super-fine super-short hair)
Extra hose
Library step for the machine to sit on
Lip balm (natural, coffee flavor)
Set of white washcloths for CPAP use only (for drying & padding for travel case)
Non-slip plastic for travel to places where the surface might be slick
Extra mask for backup
Extra set of pillows and oral cushions
Upgraded to the Hybrid mask
Second Hybrid mask for backup
7th Generation soap, Doctor Bonner's soap (doesn't clean well for me)
Bromelian powder (pineapple extract, dissolves protein deposits)
Spray bottle for white vinegar
Lansinoh (didn't work for me)
Presciption for Astepro antihistamine nasal spray
Now use Nasonex nightly
Stopped taking Claritin
3 Kleenex wrapped around straps for padding (works great)
Fleece for hose snuggy & strap wraps
Ponytail scrunchies for hose cover and to make a 3rd strap to snug Hybrid pillows in place
Over-the-door hooks to hold hoses and headgear
Power outage alarm
Had an electrician add another receptable by bed
Surge protector for travel case
Medical equipment tag for CPAP travel case
Upgraded to an APAP

Wish list: ResMed card reader or the ResLink, heated hose, backup APAP, Nonin recording oximeter, new Sealy posturpedic mattress

[DreamOn]

If some one needs this and can't knit or has more necessary equipment
at the top of your cpap budget list, PM me your address and I'll send it to you.

That is so generous of you, carbonman. With the chilly weather now, someone's sure to take you up on your offer. A nose full of rainout isn't very pleasant!

[SleepyT]

Hi SleepyT

Your list is interesting to me. I had wanted to ask someone about a PapCap. I am interested in what it does to your hair. I have medium short, but super fine. It is so darn fine that sometimes my headgear slips off in the night. It is also easily smashed - Yes that is the right word. I sometimes wear a cap when I'm working outside. When I do my hair looks squished & smashed. It really looks bad, So I don't know if I can stand how I would look before I take a shower and blow my hair.The PapCap was the 2nd item on your list, so it must be important to you.

Are Breathe Right Strips the product I see advertised on T.V. that helps when you can't breath out of your nares? Am I missing some good help to cpap. How do the strips help you. While I am asking, I wonder what kind of tape you you when you mouth tape. I use paper tape, but since I turned my humidifier up, for some reason my tape isn't sticking.
Jan

Well...I love my PapCap because the chinstrap is just excellent. Thru some experimenting I have found I absolutely need a chinstrap to not just close my mouth...but to pull my jaw forward. Means the difference between a .8 AHI or a 4.2 AHI. Huge! As far as hair goes...yes it does flatten my hair..but I have to wash my hair everyday anyway...so no biggie. I'll take the AHI below 2 over vanity any day! As for taping...I find I only have to do that occasionally. Usually my leak line is zero....but when I go thru a spell of motor boat lips...I use the medical tape for skin...or the blue painter's tape. I'm glad this isn't something I have to do every night because the last time I taped for 3 or 4 days in a row...a piece of skin pulled off my upper lip (and I did try to remove the tape slowly). Ouch! Finally....the Breathe Right strips are for when I have a cold or congestion...and just need my nostrils to be a bit more open.

T.

[SingleMom]

My list is pretty simple.

-CPAP machine
-Ample supply of favorite FF mask
-Homemade hose cover. Making a thicker/heavier one for the winter if I ever get around to it!
-I have a loft bed, so I made a little shelf even with the bed frame for the unit and run the hose over the top rail. If it's too cold, the hose just comes under my blanket.

Since CPAP:
- I keep my phone w/alarm across the room
- Keep socks on the ladder 'cause it gets cold in the morning!
- New radio for sleep music

[LoneStar]

Within a week of becoming a hosehead, I bought an Aussie heated hose and a HoZer. I use Burt's Bees lip balm on my nares; AyrGel was too "slimey."

In my "pap crap" box, I keep a spare for all the parts of my CPAP Pro mask. Probably the weirdest thing I have in there is a soldering iron to smooth the edges on the boil-n-bite mouthpiece of my mask.

Lisa