Are you doing holiday or birthday shopping for someone who has everything? And when you beg them for suggestions, they just shrug and say “I don’t know.” If they are a CPAP, APAP or BiPAP user, you are in luck.
There are a wide variety of gifts in all price ranges that cover a CPAP user’s every need. You can find most of these products either at Amazon, at an online CPAP supplier, or at the links provided below near the item description.
Hoses/Tubing
CPAP hoses are pretty boring in and of themselves, and they can be a hassle in a few ways. The hose connects the CPAP machine to the patient’s mask. If a person has a humidifier attached to their CPAP, condensation may develop inside the hose as a result of the warm air in the humidifier clashing with the cooler air in the hose. This condensation is called rainout.
One way to eliminate this rainout is to use a heated hose. A few of the major CPAP supply manufacturers have created heated hoses for their more popular CPAP devices. Different machine models require specific heated hose configurations, so be sure to find out the make and model of the CPAP machine before purchasing a heated hose.
Roscoe Medical’s Hybernite Rainout Control System is a stand-alone option for reducing rainout or condensation in the CPAP tube. The Hybernite can be used with any CPAP or BiPAP machine that uses standard tubing (19 mm in diameter). The tubing has its own power source and heats wires inside the tube to provide uniform heat which maintains the temperature, thus eliminating rainout and condensation. (www.roscoemedical.com)
Hose Lifting Systems
If your CPAP user complains of, or you observe, the hose lying across his/her neck or body when he/she rolls over away from the side where the CPAP sits, or if the tubing pulls at the mask, sometimes breaking the mask seal, a CPAP hose lifting system is the perfect gift.
The purpose of a hose lifting system is to place the hose above the person’s head, which eliminates the hose dragging over the skin or tugging at the mask.
These hose lifting items run from $8 to $50 +. A very simple hose lifting item attaches to the wall and has two wires which suspend down holding the hose above the person.
The more elaborate hose lift system will either have a pole that sits on the floor or attaches to the bed which will hold the hose above the head to position it over the mask.
Convenient Cleaning System
Bacteria will grow on CPAP masks, even with daily washing with warm soapy water. For a more complete and convenient cleaning option, The SoClean sanitizer system will destroy 99.9% of CPAP bacteria, viruses, and mold.
There is no need to take the mask or humidifier apart when using the SoClean system. Just place the mask, hose and water reservoir into t
he machine and activated oxygen sanitizes the equipment without water or chemicals. (https://www.soclean.com/)
It’s a Cover Up!
CPAP Machine Cover
Some people find it bothersome to have a medically-looking CPAP machine on their nightstand. It is not at all appealing to them. If your friend or relative has a Resmed S9 CPAP machine, you can purchase a spiffy looking CPAP cover to match their likes and personality and which cheers up their bedroom. The covers offer a wide category of themes, from animals, sports teams, super heroes, unique designs, AND you can even use one of your own photos for a custom-designed Resmed skin cover.
Hose Cover
Another option to deal with the rainout problem mentioned above is to purchase a hose cover. There are several types of hose covers you can purchase, in many different colors, that keep the air inside the hose warm. They are usually made of fleece, flannel or some other type of insulating material. The price will range from $8.00 to $22.00 depending on the quality of the workmanship. Further in this article, there are instructions for sewing and knitting a hose cover.
Mask Strap Covers
The straps which hold the mask on the face sometimes leave red marks or impressions on the face when the mask is pressed into the face during side-sleeping. Some people refuse to wear CPAP for that reason. One person I knew woke two hours early every day to give her facial skin time to return to its natural state.
Mask strap covers were invented to alleviate this face-changing situation. These simple straps fit over the mask straps and are made of soft, breathable polyester fleece materials which cushion the mask straps. Be sure that you purchase the strap covers that fit the particular mask.
Pillows
When a person lays their head against a pillow while wearing a mask, the pillow may press against the mask, breaking the seal and causing a leak. Leaks may wake the person and will reduce the effectiveness of treatment.
A specially shaped bed pillow has been created by Contour Living. The CPAP Max, a new contoured pillow that creates a pressure-free sleeping experience, is shaped to contour to the mask and eliminate the locations on the pillow where pressure on the mask would normally exist. This pillow shape is especially useful for people who are easily awakened by leaks and who find it difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position with a standard pillow. (www.contourliving.com/cpapmax-pillow/)
CPAP-Laptop Combination Case
CPAP machines normally come with a case when purchased or rented through a durable medical equipment company (DME). These standard cases are usually made of canvas and will hold up with normal use. Traveling with a standard case provides a minimum of protection for equipment if it is handled roughly. The canvas material just does not provide the protection that your sensitive CPAP equipment needs.
For ingenious, organized traveling, Philips Respironics has created a combination laptop-CPAP travel case combination which is sure to make traveling convenient. The combination case is designed to be FAA compliant and is exempt as an airline carry-on item. This means you can carry-on this case as a medical equipment item, as well as an additional carry-on item and a personal item.
The laptop-CPAP travel case is designed as two bags, attached with a zipper. Each has room for all necessary equipment, as well as space for books, paper, and other items you would carry in a laptop case. The inside is padded to protect its valuable cargo and is lightweight for easy portability. It is designed to attach easily to rolling luggage for easy movement. (http://www.usa.philips.com/healthcare/product/HC1114784/pap-travel-briefcase)
CPAP Machine Holder
One way of saving space in the bedroom is to use a CPAP holder, a handy device that fits in the unused space between the bed and nightstand. This frees up the space on your nightstand where your CPAP would be sitting.
The stabilizing part of the CPAP holder is inserted between the mattress and box springs. The platform the CPAP sits on juts out from the side of the bed. The device provides optimum hose length for freedom of movement and places the CPAP in easy reach of the sleeper for turning it on/off and adjusting the machine features. Here are two types of CPAP holders.
Custom Made Nightstand for CPAP
Available from Perdue Woodworks is a very nice American-made nightstand made especially to hold up to two CPAP or BiPAP machines, other needed therapy items, and personal items. The nightstand comes in mahogany, oak or pine. It can be used on the right or left side of the bed, or between two beds. The CPAP sits on a rolling shelf which makes it easy to access for turning it on/off, selecting features and cleaning. (http://perduesinc.com/chests/)
Aromatherapy for CPAP
Aromatherapy can be relaxing and help a person fall asleep. An aromatherapy basic starter pack from PurSleep (www.pur-sleep.com) is made specifically for CPAP machines. The diffuser is placed in front of the CPAP filter, with a few drops of essential oil on the diffusion pad. The diffuser scents the air with one of several pleasant fragrances, improving the person’s emotion, comfort and compliance.
The starter kit includes three 5 ml bottles of essential oils, several sample fragrances for you to try, diffuser pads, diffuser tray stands, and mini zip lock bags for storage. For someone who enjoys fragrance, this would be a very nice gift.
Stocking Stuffers!
Proper cleaning and maintenance is essential for optimum performance of a CPAP device and accessories.
Control III disinfectant is used in homes and sleep laboratories to disinfect respiratory and sleep equipment. It kills a broad range of pathogens, such as HIV, hepatitis, MRSA, E coli, herpes simplex, influenza, and more, with 10 minutes of soaking. (www.controlthree.com)
Unscented CPAP mask wipes remove dirt, sweat, oil and grease from the CPAP mask. It’s gentle formula will not harm the mask or your hands.
Homemade Hand-Crafted Gifts
If you like to sew and want to make a heartwarming present for your relative or friend, you can always sew a hose cover for them. Making the hose will enable you to make it a very personal gift, using an appealing material color or pattern that the person is sure to enjoy.
To sew a hose cover, you “Measure the length of the hose and the diameter of the hose, add 1” to the diameter and sew into a tube. Turn inside out and slip hose into tube.” Sounds like something I could even make!
To knit a hose cover, follow this link to download specific directions by Anthony Watson on how to knit a hose cover: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cpap-hose-cozy
If you are a woodworker and would like to build a wooden CPAP holder that attaches to the wall (to save space on the nightstand) like the one in this image, check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oip6DTFnW2g
Summary
Holiday shopping for a CPAP user can be easier than you think. With a wide variety of gifts and a wide price range to fit everyone's budget, there is just the right gift for the CPAP user on your list that will help that person gain more restful, comfortable sleep, giving them the gift of life.
Sources:
www.contourliving.com/cpapmax-pillow/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oip6DTFnW2g
Image Sources:
www.contourliving.com/cpapmax-pillow/
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