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I wouldn't say I am touchy, but, I am trying to figure up a name for my new best friend. I mean this is gonna be with me for the rest of my life so I may as well embrace it! (giggle)
Anybody up for helping me pick a name?
Fatigued

I found myself getting irritated when people were touching / moving my machine due to the timeframe involved replacing it , so I bought a backup machine. It was $70 used, but now everyone doesn't think I'm a nutcase (DW's words) for panicking whenever someone is near my CPAP.

I think your reaction was disproportionate to the situation. I suspect they were more curious about the cpap equipment, than intending to cause you harm.

A few alternatives might have been: "Hey guys, that's a really important medical appliance for my health. It's set precisely to fit my medical needs. Please don't pick it up." That way you've expressed yourself directly with them without going into huge rage.

Interesting thread.

I admit on reading the first post, I thought the OP (Original Poster) was SEVERELY SLEEP DEPRIVED and seriously overreacting.

But reading some of the other posts, and knowing some of the other posters better, I am reconsidering that thought.

It's never come up with me. I do worry about motel maids touching my machine, and I'm fanatical about not letting housekeeping come in when I'm there, to the point that my roomates whine about not getting fresh towels and a made-up bed...

I don't mess with TSA. I take the machine out of it's bag - whichever bag I take it in - and lay it in the bin all by itself. I don't try to tell TSA what to do, other than request gloves, if I see they aren't wearing gloves.

I sleep alone, and my BF knows it's an important electronic device, and I just trust he'd never mess with it. I've never said anything to him, but I just presume he's smart enough not to mess with it.

Some day, I hope we'll buy a king sized bed and sleep together. And then I'll teach him that just picking up and moving the machine is BAD, because the humidfier can slosh and get water into the electronics, which is BAD. I think he'll be okay with this. Since he got the brunt of my fury when my humidifier blew it's gasket one night and leaked all over my machine. He learned first hand that Sleep Deprived Barbie is NOT his fun-loving Girlfriend Babs. I can safely say he NEVER WANTS TO GO THERE AGAIN.

Some people just don't feel that boundaries need to be respected. I can see how this can become a bone of contention, particularly in a marital relationship. Remember all the posts of "wife turns off my machine while I'm asleep?" Curiously, we never hear back from those folks. Think they died in their sleep?

Anyway, maybe it behooves us all to be cognizant of other people's boundaries, and to quietly and civilly and privately inform our significant others of OUR boundaries, and OUR machine rules.

And then get some more sleep, so it doesn't irritate us so much.

Good luck!
Barbara

Of the 2 people who have access to my machine, 1 (DH) doesn't want to touch it. He knows what it does,that tilting it is bad for the electronics because of the humidifier, and knows I know a lot more about it than he does. He could move it if he needed to, he wouldn't be afraid to touch it, he just has no reason to and knows it's too important to fiddle with for no reason.

The 3 year old, on the other hand... She wants to know EVERYTHING about it. And touch it. And play with it. And drink from the humidifier. And swing the hose around her head. And who knows what else. She is the reason for the new household rule: "Mama's night stand is MAMA's. No one touches it but MAMA."

Reminds me of my father. He tried to train the Mormon grandchildren that "Poppa's Pop" was off limits. Never did work. They ended up swilling beer like the rest of us. Not that they liked it at 2 years old, mind you.

LOL,
B.

I often fly and TSA normally has me take it out like a laptop and then swabs it for explosives. They always seem very familiar with CPAP and handle it carefully. I do wipe the machine off with a CPAP wipe after each trip, it's not the hands, it's those bins that bothers me. At home I keep the machine in a drawer in my nightstand, so I've never had anyone bother it. I trust my husband with it, but wouldn't want anyone else "messing" with it.

I wouldn't have a problem with somebody who was invited to be in my bedroom to look at my CPAP to pick it up (I don't use a humidifier). I would think it somewhat odd for somebody to open up a case, but I wouldn't worry about it.

I don't care if the TSA person takes my CPAP to swab it while I wait in line.

Yes, I am touchy about people touching my machine. In fact I don't like anyone handling while I am travelling...especially cab drivers and security personnel.

I don't think they will care or realize that the unit is sensitive medical equipment. So I jump out of the cab as quick as I can and go around to the trunk and often pick it up myself...in fact I place it in the trunk too at the beginning of the ride.