Bathroom breaks - unplug hose or turn machine off?

Denial Dave · Post by **Denial Dave** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:15 am

Wish I could help, but I have not needed a single bathroom break since starting CPAP therapy 5+ months ago.

but if I did, I'd shut the machine off and disconnect the hose.

Dave

cosmo · Post by **cosmo** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 10:43 am

Hawthorne wrote:I have a number of "quick connects" (see cpap.com)

Those are life savers and everyone should have them.

MyIdaho · Post by **MyIdaho** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 10:54 am

cosmo wrote:
Hawthorne wrote:I have a number of "quick connects" (see cpap.com)
Those are life savers and everyone should have them.

Lifesavers? My hose disconnects very easily at the mask. I don't see how a quick connect device would be helpful but perhaps other masks/hose combination are more difficult?

quietmorning · Post by **quietmorning** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:06 am

Hawthorne wrote:I have a number of "quick connects" (see cpap.com), I have 1 on each end of my hose - the end that attaches to the machine and the end that attaches to the mask. This saves wear and tear on the hose end as well as making bathroom trips easier. I have my machine set to "auto off" because it is difficult to reach it during the night to shut it off because of my Rheumatoid Arthritis (I get stiffer during the night). When I get up for a bathroom break, I just pull the short mask hose off the "quick connect" that is on the end of the main hose all the time and leave the mask on (I use nasal pillows). With my headrest mask, which I use most of the time, the short mask hose is on top and back so it is no problem (doesn't hang in front). Other masks I just let the short hose hang down. My machine goes off in a matter of seconds. When I come back to bed, I just pop the mask hose onto the "quick connect" and the machine does its auto on and I'm back to sleep.

Does the quick connect have an end that pops off or something? It looks like the piece that comes with my mask - but it has to be pushed into the hose just like the hose has to be pushed onto the humidifier.

PST · Post by **PST** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:22 am

Lugnut wrote:... But I've noticed I don't get up to go the bathroom much. My doctor said that would be normal, but sometimes my body finds reasons to wake up to get oxygen.. and sometimes getting up going to the bathroom is a good one. haha.

Come to think of it, it think I've only got up in the 4 weeks I've been on it. Which for me is sometimes once a night. So.. maybe he was telling the truth!

That's very good news. Sleap apnea can cause frequent nighttime urination. The whole cascade of events that leads to this is interesting and has been described here before, so you can search if you are interested. The short version is that reductions in oxygen saturation lead to an increase in blood pressure on the side of the heart that feeds the lungs, and this generates a bodily response to dump fluid (go kidneys, go) as a defense against the possibility of congestive heart failure. Middle aged men often think they are getting up frequently because of prostate symptoms and are amazed when CPAP changes this so quickly and radically. I was. It is a great sign that CPAP is accomplishing what it's supposed to.

cosmo · Post by **cosmo** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 12:07 pm

The Quattro mask has some sort of quick connect already but these things make it easier to remove. I get up often so I like that I can disconnect it easily and not mess up the mask position. Thats why its a life saver. Saves me from frustration and leaks.

StuUnderPressure · Post by **StuUnderPressure** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 12:09 pm

Sir NoddinOff wrote:Since you're a guy I've got two words for you: "Pee Jug". Use a old tight sealing water bottle or whatever seems appropriate. I just leave my machine on, roll out of bed and get 'er done, then roll back into bed. No lights, no walking down the hall and no fuss, plus it's all over in three minutes. Give it a try

OR, you could just get 1 of these
http://www.walmart.com/ip/4346737?wmlsp ... la&veh=sem

Hawthorne · Post by **Hawthorne** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 1:01 pm

The quick connects do allow you to just "pop off" the mask. It seems like a suction thing but not really I guess. The quick connect stays on the hose (I have one at the humidifer end as well).

MyIdaho -Re - the hose coming off and going on "just fine"- over time, the rubber end of the hose will wear out or split from constant pulling off and putting on. Unless you get a hose or buy a hose a lot, you don't really care about this. I use the quick connect and have hoses that have lasted for several years and are still going fine because of the quick connect. Do what you want. For a small price, I get many years out of my hose.

Sir NoddinOff · Post by **Sir NoddinOff** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 1:58 pm

PST wrote: Middle aged men often think they are getting up frequently because of prostate symptoms and are amazed when CPAP changes this so quickly and radically. I was. It is a great sign that CPAP is accomplishing what it's supposed to.

I can testify to this: I went from 3-5 times a night pre-CPAP TO ONCE A NIGHT IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THERAPY. This is just one of my huge benefits of being a hosehead, and pretty unexpected one.

MyIdaho · Post by **MyIdaho** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 2:06 pm

Hawthorne wrote:The quick connects do allow you to just "pop off" the mask. It seems like a suction thing but not really I guess. The quick connect stays on the hose (I have one at the humidifer end as well).

MyIdaho -Re - the hose coming off and going on "just fine"- over time, the rubber end of the hose will wear out or split from constant pulling off and putting on. Unless you get a hose or buy a hose a lot, you don't really care about this. I use the quick connect and have hoses that have lasted for several years and are still going fine because of the quick connect. Do what you want. For a small price, I get many years out of my hose.

I'm still a newbie with only 3 months as a hosehead and still operating on original equipment. Perhaps my view will change over time, hard saying.... Have a great day!

PST · Post by **PST** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 2:15 pm

Sir NoddinOff wrote:
PST wrote: Middle aged men often think they are getting up frequently because of prostate symptoms and are amazed when CPAP changes this so quickly and radically. I was. It is a great sign that CPAP is accomplishing what it's supposed to.
I can testify to this: I went from 3-5 times a night pre-CPAP TO ONCE A NIGHT IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THERAPY. This is just one of my huge benefits of being a hosehead, and pretty unexpected one.

Highly convenient in itself, and even better for what it says about no more deep repeated oxygen desaturations every night.

cosmo · Post by **cosmo** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 3:17 pm

PST wrote: Middle aged men often think they are getting up frequently because of prostate symptoms and are amazed when CPAP changes this so quickly and radically.

But if cpap doesn't ease it up, there is cheap meds for that, oxybutynin. Its part of $5 generic plans at most places.

jzap · Post by **jzap** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 4:56 pm

I have a 460, which I believe is very similar to your 560.

It has an automatic start feature that comes in handy for this process. i set the auto start to "ON". You only have to do it once, and its set unless you change it. When I need to get up, I leave the mask on my face, disconnect the hose from the mask, and hit the knob to turn off the air flow. When I get back to bed, I plug the hose back onto the mask connection, take two breaths, and the machine starts up again.

Cavmdc · Post by **Cavmdc** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 4:56 pm

Only fours days on machine thus far and I only go once a night now. Love my machine.

NateS · Post by **NateS** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:32 pm

PST wrote:
Sir NoddinOff wrote:
PST wrote: Middle aged men often think they are getting up frequently because of prostate symptoms and are amazed when CPAP changes this so quickly and radically. I was. It is a great sign that CPAP is accomplishing what it's supposed to.
I can testify to this: I went from 3-5 times a night pre-CPAP TO ONCE A NIGHT IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THERAPY. This is just one of my huge benefits of being a hosehead, and pretty unexpected one.
Highly convenient in itself, and even better for what it says about no more deep repeated oxygen desaturations every night.

My experience has been the same. Very few nights do I have to get up even once to urinate. Only seems to happen when I have post-nasal drip (sticky throat tickle) which requires me to drink 8 oz of water with a Guaifenesin tablet at bedtime.

Regards, Nate

Bathroom breaks - unplug hose or turn machine off?

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Re: Bathroom breaks - unplug hose or turn machine off?

Re: Bathroom breaks - unplug hose or turn machine off?

Re: Bathroom breaks - unplug hose or turn machine off?

Re: Bathroom breaks - unplug hose or turn machine off?

Re: Bathroom breaks - unplug hose or turn machine off?

Re: Bathroom breaks - unplug hose or turn machine off?

Re: Bathroom breaks - unplug hose or turn machine off?

Re: Bathroom breaks - unplug hose or turn machine off?

Re: Bathroom breaks - unplug hose or turn machine off?

Re: Bathroom breaks - unplug hose or turn machine off?

Re: Bathroom breaks - unplug hose or turn machine off?

Re: Bathroom breaks - unplug hose or turn machine off?

Re: Bathroom breaks - unplug hose or turn machine off?

Re: Bathroom breaks - unplug hose or turn machine off?