CPAPtalk.com

Last night I pulled my BiPAP off of my nightstand in my sleep. - as I woke up I rolled over and dragged the thing off of the counter.
Of course, it dumped water everywhere and I dont know if the machine currently works right etc and am hesitant to use a machine that may be water damaged.
But my question is: what is the best way to stop this happening in the future? clamps? extending the night stand out all the way to the bed? a net? or just hope and pray that this $2500 mistake doesnt become another $2500 mistake.

ldt2g10 wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 27, 2022 8:18 am

Last night I pulled my BiPAP off of my nightstand in my sleep. - as I woke up I rolled over and dragged the thing off of the counter.

These things happen. Even to those of us who have been using our machines for a long time. I've been PAPing for 12 years now. And I pulled the machine off my nightstand the last time about 4 or 5 months ago.

Yes, it's pretty alarming when it happens. Yes, there's a mess to clean up. But the machines themselves are a lot tougher than we give them credit for. Unless this is happening frequently, it's most likely not a serious problem.

As for what to do to minimize the risk of pulling the machine off the table, here are some things to try:

1) Reposition the night table to where there is no gap between it and the bed table---particularly if you pulled the machine off into such a gap.

2) Reposition the night table in the front-to-back orientation if you pulled the machine off the front or back of the table. If you pulled the machine off the back of the table, try to push the table as far back towards the head of the bed as you can. If you pulled the machine off the front of the table, pull the table away from the wall and away from the head of the bed, but keep it next to the bed. How much to pull the table away depends on your bed, your sleep habits, and where the hose is coming out of the machine. Try adjusting in 6in increments. When I've pulled my machine off, it always comes off the front of the table. So I've got 12-16 inches of space behind the back of the table and wall that the head of the bed is on. I need that because my table is small and I tend to sleep curled up fairly far down in the bed. (I'm a 5'1" shrimp who likes to sleep curled up in a ball with the covers over my head.)

3) Position the machine in the middle of the table or on the opposite side of the table so that you have to pull the machine much farther before it reaches the edge of the table.

4) Reposition the machine's orientation on the table so the hose is coming out of the machine directly towards you and the bed. This is particularly important when using Resmed machines where the hose comes directly out the back of the machine. As inconvenient as it is, you may be better off having the Resmed's front face away from you so the hose is coming out directly at you.

5) Use a hose management system to hang the hose. This minimizes the chances of you getting tangled up in the hose and then pulling the machine off as you try to turn over in bed. Inevitably, on the rare occasions when I've pulled my own BiPAP off the table, it's been because I or my bed pillows have gotten tangled up in the hose and the machine went over the edge as I tried to turn over.

If your nightstand has a drawer, put the CPAP in there.

After pulling mine off one night I bought a rubber mat (like used under dog bowls) to put under it. I also have a command hook to attach my hose to, to reduce some of the pulling on the machine.

If you can find one, place your machine on a thick, heavy mousepad.

--------- and --------------

Use a quick connector between the hose and machine - https://www.directhomemedical.com/cart/ ... ode=DHM&gc

The hose will tend to pull loose from the machine before pulling it onto the floor.

You could put a fleecy cover on your long hose and then safety-pin it to your bottom sheet (if the sheet is fitted).

First Do NOT power on that bipap until you are certain that it is bone dry inside. I've heard that putting it in a plastic bag with rice is helpful - I've never had to try this.

Besides all the fine suggestions above you could try securing the hose to the wall or bedpost, etc. as a stress point.
The drawer thing I use at a hotel and also works well.

But check and double check for moisture inside before applying power, hopefully you already have it unplugged?

SleepGeek wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 27, 2022 12:08 pm

...putting it in a plastic bag with rice is helpful -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phone_rep ... _rice_myth

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 27, 2022 4:03 pm

SleepGeek wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 27, 2022 12:08 pm

...putting it in a plastic bag with rice is helpful -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phone_rep ... _rice_myth

<squints at your signature>

zonker wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 27, 2022 4:37 pm

<squints at your signature>

Last time a student of mine quoted Wikipedia on a paper, they got a tough reminder of why we have a peer review process when they did not get credit for it.

Putting rice into a bag, placing the device in it and sealing it can help remove the moisture from electronics, but it has issues as well. If you do try it leave it for at least a full day or two. The bigger concern is corrosion of components that got wet, but as I have not taken apart a CPAP I do not know if the electronics are uncovered, there are others who may chime in who have done so.

zonker wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 27, 2022 4:37 pm

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 27, 2022 4:03 pm

SleepGeek wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 27, 2022 12:08 pm

...putting it in a plastic bag with rice is helpful -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phone_rep ... _rice_myth

<squints at your signature>

Not sure which is shorter his height or his memory.

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 21, 2015 6:00 pm

you can try drying it out and see if the errors clear.

suggestions such as putting it in a bag or rice... (put it in a cloth bag first to keep the rice out of the nooks and crannies.

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 21, 2015 7:28 pm

maybe, but the rice trick would be better.

Turns out they both are
The original quote>

SleepGeek wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 27, 2022 12:08 pm

I've heard that putting it in a plastic bag with rice is helpful - I've never had this happen.

You see I never tried it, never had to, but read it here
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=106832&p=1017076&hi ... e#p1017076

SleepGeek wrote:zonker AND pr only post comments about comments often misleading, timewasting stuff.

SleepGeek wrote:Getting put on zonkers AND prs foe list would feel like a trifecta.
If only they could stay ON Topic or OFF the internet that would also feel like a trifecta.

Jlfinkels wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 27, 2022 4:51 pm

Last time a student of mine quoted Wikipedia on a paper, they got a tough reminder of why we have a peer review process when they did not get credit for it.

The reason is people like zonkers and prs are allowed to post misleading, timewasting stuff in Wikipedia too.

Jlfinkels wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 27, 2022 4:51 pm

Last time a student of mine quoted Wikipedia on a paper, they got a tough reminder of why we have a peer review process when they did not get credit for it.

Sure, here's another one, maybe you'll find this more compelling:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPeITOz2_YM

SleepGeek wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 27, 2022 5:16 pm

zonker wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 27, 2022 4:37 pm

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 27, 2022 4:03 pm

SleepGeek wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 27, 2022 12:08 pm

...putting it in a plastic bag with rice is helpful -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phone_rep ... _rice_myth

<squints at your signature>

Not sure which is shorter his height or his memory.

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 21, 2015 6:00 pm

you can try drying it out and see if the errors clear.

suggestions such as putting it in a bag or rice... (put it in a cloth bag first to keep the rice out of the nooks and crannies.

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 21, 2015 7:28 pm

maybe, but the rice trick would be better.

Alternatively, and I know you're incapable of things like this, but in the last seven years, I've learned more things.

Thanks for pointing out those older errors, I've fixed the incorrect posts.

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 27, 2022 5:25 pm

Just how is rice supposed to remove the moisture, given that the rice has been exposed to ambient moisture already?

It's a nice myth though.

Plenty of scientific research on the S-shaped water absorption curve and structural properties of various kinds of rice. Generally speaking, as long as the moisture content of the enclosed space is greater than the rice itself, it will absorb moisture.