Cpap location

[Deloach1]

Hello I'm look at class c motorhomes with no slide and the bed in the corner. Does anyone use a Cpap machine with this setup and where do you put your machine? I was under the Assumption you cannot put the machine higher than your bed.

 

[Dan_Frisbie]

I've never heard "not higher than your bed". I put mine in the overhead cabinet above my bed. It works fine. I did google this...
The best placement for your CPAP is on a sturdy surface level or lower than the head of your bed. If the CPAP is above your head it can be a potential hazard since you may unintentionally pull it down on your head during your sleep and water can accumulate in the tubing if it is directed down toward your mask.

My overhead has a lip and the door closes on the hose, so not much chance of me pulling down on top of me. I don't use water in mine, either.

 

[Deloach1]

I've never heard "not higher than your bed". I put mine in the overhead cabinet above my bed. It works fine. I did google this...
The best placement for your CPAP is on a sturdy surface level or lower than the head of your bed. If the CPAP is above your head it can be a potential hazard since you may unintentionally pull it down on your head during your sleep and water can accumulate in the tubing if it is directed down toward your mask.

My overhead has a lip and the door closes on the hose, so not much chance of me pulling down on top of me. I don't use water in mine, either.

Thanks for the information i do use water n mine but I could try without water when camping

 

[Rene T]

I couldn’t go without humidity. Mine is on a shelf I built about 2’ above my head. Never had any issues at all.

 

[Tom]

I couldn’t go without humidity. Mine is on a shelf I built about 2’ above my head. Never had any issues at all.

If it fell off the shelf, you'd be alerted to it

 

[Rene T]

Yes it would let me know right away

 

[Tulecreeper]

This brings up an interesting topic I broached last year. I see a lot of the newer models of TT and 5th-wheel advertising a cubby hole for a CPAP machine. Since out of the general population only a small minority of people use one, why would they consider it a selling point?

 

[Wasillaguy]

Since out of the general population only a small minority of people use one, why would they consider it a selling point?

Maybe they are normalizing the idea that CPAPs are common, and it isn't a marketing idea at all.

 

[Laura & Charles]

Maybe they are normalizing the idea that CPAPs are common, and it isn't a marketing idea at all.

It’s the next “thing” and they’re becoming VERY common. Physicians (pulmonologists) figured out that most adults have apneic episodes during sleep. They built sleep labs and documented the frequency of these episodes. Wasn’t that long ago that there weren’t billing codes for sleep labs and monthly monitoring of CPAP results. (CPAP machines are cell enabled and call daily reports.).

“They” aren’t just pulmonologists, but pulmonologists are the direct patient care providers benefiting from this. There are DME suppliers of in-home equipment and support staff and others. But today it’s near impossible to find a pulmonologist who isn’t also a sleep specialist… that’s where their most, and most easy, money is.

Point being, at least in our (US) healthcare system, providers are incentivized to find the next “thing” insurance will be willing to pay for. If you think back, there’s been many. And I’m not saying Asthma and ADHD aren’t real and don’t benefit from treatment. Just that, it wasn’t that long ago that hearing of someone with asthma was rare and ADHD wasn’t even a thing.

Maybe I’m just a jaded cynic, I’ve spent most of my professional career sniffing out fraudulent billing practices of healthcare providers. But it’s VERY lucrative to identify a health problem along with a treatment for the symptoms of that problem, and then get insurance companies, Medicare, and Medicaid to pay for those treatments. And NOTE: what makes it especially lucrative is those treatments address the symptoms… they’re not a cure, so they never end.
Sounds like I’m antiCPAP… I’m not. Read on:
Sorry for the thread drift. To the OP: build a shelf. Some people tolerate unhumidifed better than others. My wife does not. And I’m told unheated humidified is miserable. I can tell you from experience, the heated humidifier is a power hog. I’ve read there are 12 volt CPAP machines.. those may be less power hungry. But the 120 volt unit Laura has takes our 4 6-volt GC batteries (via inverter) down to their knees by morning.

 

[Larry N.]

12-15 years ago DW went through the sleep tests and was strongly recommended to get a CPAP. She had one for several years (well beyond the Medicare paid-for-and-it's-yours period), but had trouble sleeping through the night, especially because when she'd settle in to a "current setting" (remotely supplied) that worked great, a couple more days would see them increase the pressure so that she'd throw it off after 3-4 hours. They were constantly adjusting the pressure, it seems.

After several years of fighting this, she quit using it, and has been sleeping well in the years since.

 

[Skookum]

This brings up an interesting topic I broached last year. I see a lot of the newer models of TT and 5th-wheel advertising a cubby hole for a CPAP machine. Since out of the general population only a small minority of people use one, why would they consider it a selling point?

Because RV buyers likely represent that little area of the Venn-diagram where CPAP's are more common than the rest of the general public.
Older
Larger
On Medicare or have access to healthcare

Laura & Charles nailed the billing portion. But also it's come to light what a huge impact obstructive sleep apnea has on overall health and wellness, and the treatment is seen as a preventive measure for other comorbidities.

 

[Laura & Charles]

Because RV buyers likely represent that little area of the Venn-diagram where CPAP's are more common than the rest of the general public.
Older
Larger
On Medicare or have access to healthcare

Laura & Charles nailed the billing portion. But also it's come to light what a huge impact obstructive sleep apnea has on overall health and wellness, and the treatment is seen as a preventive measure for other comorbidities.

I didn’t mean to make it sound like I thought the CPAP book of business was fraudulent or unnecessary. Yes, they built sleep labs and documented and made their case; deservedly so.

But, now that they’ve done that, there’s hardly a pulmonologist who you want to see for your CHF, COPD, asthma, and number of other lung issues won’t want to have you do a sleep study.

I’m a perfect example: my left diaphragm is paralyzed, Sudden onset, unknown cause. I explored neurosurgery options.. issue was discovered too late, phrenic nerve was not recoverable. Only option was with a thoracic surgeon. May, 2022 I had a diaphragmatic plication via thoracotomy (let me just say, “ouch”… closer to that date, my words would’ve been x-rated…. And still hurts sometimes.)

So we recently changed our residence state to Florida and EVERY pulmonologist I tried to become my primary lung guy/gal wants me to spend a night in their sleep lab.

Point is, they’ve got to pay for that facility and its staff. They’re going to utilize it to the max. Using a home-worn measuring device, they will easily qualify anyone for an overnight sleep study.

I know this is a serious hijack of this thread (apologies to OP). If anybody else wants to discuss healthcare coverage and economics, we should probably start its own thread. Spent most of my life digging in this flowerbed. It would be fun to dig deeper, ESPECIALLY with those on our forum who reside with single payer… I’m a huge proponent. .. but alas… not to be in my lifetime

 

[Tulecreeper]

Maybe they are normalizing the idea that CPAPs are common, and it isn't a marketing idea at all.

Because RV buyers likely represent that little area of the Venn-diagram where CPAP's are more common than the rest of the general public.
Older
Larger
On Medicare or have access to healthcare

Laura & Charles nailed the billing portion. But also it's come to light what a huge impact obstructive sleep apnea has on overall health and wellness, and the treatment is seen as a preventive measure for other comorbidities.

I'm in my mid-60's, as is my wife and 90% of the people I associate with. No one I know uses one.

In 2020 I was having issues sleeping and after several months of testing I did a sleep test where I stayed overnight at the lab. Results: no sleep apnea, no snoring, no other issues found. So my doctor just said, "Here's a script for Ambien. Use it if you need it." I haven't had a problem sleeping since.

And my wife went through the sleep test also last year. Also no issues found.

 

[Skookum]

I'm in my mid-60's, as is my wife and 90% of the people I associate with. No one I know uses one.

In 2020 I was having issues sleeping and after several months of testing I did a sleep test where I stayed overnight at the lab. Results: no sleep apnea, no snoring, no other issues found. So my doctor just said, "Here's a script for Ambien. Use it if you need it." I haven't had a problem sleeping since.

And my wife went through the sleep test also last year. Also no issues found.

Look at the number of people on this forum who use CPAP. Appears much more common than the general population.

I'm glad they ruled out other sleep issues for you.

Whether you mean it or not, saying it doesn't affect you and you don't know anyone with the issue, and therefore doesn't seem to be a big issue doesn't mean that's true for others.

 

[Tulecreeper]

Look at the number of people on this forum who use CPAP. Appears much more common than the general population.

I'm glad they ruled out other sleep issues for you.

Whether you mean it or not, saying it doesn't affect you and you don't know anyone with the issue, and therefore doesn't seem to be a big issue doesn't mean that's true for others.

It doesn't affect me, but I only said I didn't understand why the trailer makers thought it was a selling point as they seem to mention it a lot and I don't know anyone who uses one. I've heard that it's a real PITA to have to use one, and I'm glad I don't.