Where Do You Put Your Cpap?

[gabbiesjabo]

For anyone who is struggling with where to put their cpap. If you're like me and my husband, there isn't a lot of room on top of the nightstand(s). There are a couple of web sites you can go to and get a nightstand made for cpaps: ergodevices.com and caphideaway.com. We got ours from ergodevices.com and we are very satisfied. But everyone has a preference, so I thought I would post both sites so you could have a choice!

[Poppy56]

Unfortunately they are extremely expensive.

[Tricia]

I just have mine on the floor at the side of my bed, which works fine for me.

[Biggles]

Must be honest I'm much happier with the machine on the floor and I'm even happier that I now have a wood floor. I have tried it at various levels and find the floor the best for me.

[John B]

Fluff and Dust

On the floor? Never again!

I stayed at Mother in Law's home recently and, as there were a lot of us staying, I was given a camp-bed in the 'spare-room'. No side table / night stand so I put the machine on the floor.

After ten minutes of 'blow' from the CPAP machine I realised that I was coughing and feeling grim. Reason - stale dust and fluff! I collected a chair from the Dining Room and propped the machine on that - and (after letting the machine clear itself of the stale air by running it for a while) I put the mask back on and slept well all night.

Maybe the filter didn't filter like it should but, for me, not on the floor!

[Tricia]

On the floor? Never again!

I stayed at Mother in Law's home recently and, as there were a lot of us staying, I was given a camp-bed in the 'spare-room'. No side table/night stand so I put the machine on the floor.

After ten minutes of 'blow' from the CPAP machine I realised that I was coughing and feeling grim. Reason - stale dust and fluff! I collected a chair from the Dining Room and propped the machine on that - and (after letting the machine clear itself of the stale air by running it for a while) I put the mask back on and slept well all night.

Maybe the filter didn't filter like it should but, for me, not on the floor!

I take it that your MiL doesn't vacuum then? Mine sits on the carpet and works fine.

[taswulf]

I use a $15.00 camping stool for my machine. Sits right alongside me by the bed.
It's compact enough to stay there all the while, but can be folded up and slid under the bed if necessary.

Paul

[jackyk]

mines on laminate flooring next to bed and not had a problem with dust? or is that because it's a new machine therefore a new filter?

[EwanJon]

Mine is also on the laminate floor next to my bed. Never had a problem with dust or anything. Mind you, my other half is amazing at keeping things clean so there's never dust around anyway.

I used to have it on my bedside table but find it much better this way.

:-)

[edwar368]

Mines on a small table (was the smallest table of a nest of 3) next to the bed. My bed is a divan with a large matress and so quite high. The table makes it the perfect hight to be able to reach the machine, whilst it is still below actual bed hight, so no problems with blowing.

[davejwhite]

I made a sound-damping box for mine

by lining a shoe box with polystyrene tiles. Cut input air holes and an outlet for the hose and for the panelon top. It sits in my wardrobe, which is next to the bed, and my wife, who is an extremely light sleeper, now can't hear it at all.

[MrsDanvers]

Cross-post from CPAP Machines

First of all I must apologise if there is a thread on this , but the search box keeps telling me my query is too short despite putting in the above title.

I got my CPAP machine on 27th April 2009, so I've just turned my first year on CPAP, and it has been an interesting year. But I'm now on my third mask type and most nights I get a few hours of decent sleep.

I travel on business and spend a minimum of 1 night every week away from home. Last week it was 4 and every night a different location.

When I first got my CPAP and at every check-up the technician tells me it must be positioned below my head, and the FAQ here says "Make sure that you set up your CPAP machine on a firm ground or floor. Look for a place accessible from your bed. The area should always be clean to avoid dust from accumulating into your CPAP machine. "

In the average hotel this means on the floor, as a lot of bedside units are level with or higher than the pillows. At home I use a stack of large books to get that "in between the bed and the floor" effect.

The major drawback is that even with the coarse sponge filter and a fine filter (I have asthma and allergic rhinitis) I still experience "other people's dust" - a smell that isn't your own! I wash and change my filters regularly, stay in reasonable quality hotels and B&Bs, but it isn't very pleasant.

So, can anyone explain why the machine has to be below my head, particularly when all the manufacturers' videos and images online show machines level with the user? Is it to do with having to use a humidifier?

And, has anyone any suggestions for tackling the smell of other people's dust - I'm presuming as the air is being forced into my lungs that adding Olbas oil or essential oils to the water or the filters is a no no.

[gabbiesjabo]

Where do you put your CPAP

My husband has a cabinet specifically made for a cpap machine. It looks like a typical bedside table, but the unit sits in the cabinet below the level of the bed. It is enclosed which helps with the "sucking in" of the air around it. But it does have vents on the side and a hole in the back for the plug to exit, so that gives him ventilation for the unit. I'm afraid I don't know what to offer for hotels, etc. Maybe try putting the unit in the top drawer and closing it part of the way? Maybe wipe out the drawer (with a clean damp cloth) to rid it of dust? I don't know why you were told to have it below your head. My husband's is below his head because of the design of the cabinet. Maybe that is a good thing and we got more bang in our cabinet than we realized. You can get the cabinet I'm talking about at the website: ergodevices.com. Good luck.

[ElleCee]

My machine is on my bedside table, level with my head.
The technician, that gave me my unit while I was in hospital, didn't mention it had to be lower and in fact, when they gave it to me they put it on the table that goes over the bed, higher than a bedside unit and higher than mine at home so I don't understand where this height thing came in. I have not seen it in any manuals.

Just adding my 2d worth
Lorraine

[silvercarper]

And, has anyone any suggestions for tackling the smell of other people's dust - I'm presuming as the air is being forced into my lungs that adding Olbas oil or essential oils to the water or the filters is a no no.[/QUOTE]

DONT add any oils to the water or the filters. Just add a few drops of oil of your choice to a cotton wool ball and stand it near the filter.