I am currently sleeping at the hospital about 2 out of every 3 nights, and, about a month ago, I finally got smart and went to REI and bought a $30 cot and a $10 egg crate foam mattress topper...best $40 I've ever spent (except for Tricia's engagement ring...haha, just kidding).
If the chair was a 3 out of 10 on the comfortable sleeping scale, the cot + foam is only about a 5, but the difference between a 3 and a 5 is incredible when you're basically living in a hospital.
Anyway, I just thought I'd share that, especially for those of you who may have a need for such information at some point.
Thanks.
Nate
PS. The cot is aluminum, so it's extremely light and very easy to set up and tear down every day.
Oh, the lovely "plastic" reclining hospital chairs. Everytime you try to "shift" or "move" they make lovely sounds, don't they?
ReplyDeleteCot & egg crate = SMART move!
What about an Aero bed or blow up mattress. My mom used to do that she she spent the night at the hospital with me.
ReplyDeleteI was going to suggest a blowup mattress, too. I bought one at Sam's (although it was a queen and might be a bit large for the hospital!) and it was not very expensive and blew itself up automatically. I'm glad that you are working on having a decent place for yourself to sleep as the caretaker needs to take care of himself, too.
ReplyDeleteOnce upon a time, when my daughter was nine, and in Children's hospital in Cols,. Oh, I spent a night or two in the hallway, on plastic molded chairs. You know, the kind molded to fit a butt. The side of each chair curves upward. NOt the best nights sleep!! I now know the glory of inflatables!!
ReplyDeleteLove the pics!!
Shari, NC
I have to agree. I found the cot quite comfortable. Leah prefers the chair, however. ;)
ReplyDeleteGenious!
ReplyDeleteMy hubby has a similar cot he always brings with him. Those venus fly trap chairs can be hazardous to your health.. You look very comfy btw!!
ReplyDeleteoh that stinks that you had to purchase it! Maybe soon the hospitals will realize the need for family comfort to assist with the patients needs and recovery.
ReplyDeletewhen my 75 year old dad had back surgery in November (2 hours away from their home) the hospital gave mom a cot type bed to sleep on...they were able to put them side by side so that my parents were able to at least hold hands at night. It was the quickest my dad has healed from ANY of his surgeries, illnesses....and he has had many over the years.
The cot is a great idea. If you are interested in "upgrading" I recommend an air mattress. I see that several others have had the same idea, too. When my daughter was in the hospital (which was a good portion of her short life) we had an air mattress. It was invaluable. I often slept in the crib with her, but my husband spent countless nights curled up on that mattress, and I, too, spent many nights on it while she was in the PICU.
ReplyDeleteI know you probably already know this and I know you don't do it for the compliments but I think you are one incredible husband and father!!! Both of your ladies are extremely lucky to have you in their lives:)
ReplyDeleteThat's brilliant! My husband had to sleep in those awful chairs for weeks when I was on bedrest with my daughter. Neither of us was happy for those 4 weeks...Nate, you are a genius.
ReplyDeleteAM
Wilmington
Oh, I never could have gone to sleep tonight without this information! ha ha!
ReplyDeleteThis picture of you reminds me of the Little Red Riding Hood story, the way you are peeking out from the covers like you're the disguised Wolf
Glad you have found a more comfy way to sleep!
Aspiemom
Those gassy-sounding chair beds are only good for a solid night's sleep when you hit the point of total exhaustion. Or so has been my experience. Glad you found a far better solution!
ReplyDeleteshould have got the $89 stowaway cot it looks comfortable
ReplyDeleteWhat about a hunk of that memory foam? You might lay down on that and disappear altogether.
ReplyDelete: D
LOL thanks for making me laugh when I really need a pick me up! Also tonight I was driving home from our Good Friday service and saw the Arby's sign....3 for $5! And thought about your earlier blog...praying for you and your family!
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter
H. Defoor
Decatur AL
Nice! I have slept on those chairs and you are so right they are horrible. I was so happy that the hospital we went to for my son's heart stuff let parents sometimes sleep in empty rooms and when we were out of the PICU they put us in double rooms with no roommate so there was an extra bed for the parents. Too bad that they don't do that for adult patients.
ReplyDeleteHow darling you look Nate.....LOL! The question is this...who takes take care of your Pug when you stay at the hospital?
ReplyDeleteWow, i don't think anyone ever forgets those lovely hospital chairs...thankfully i most of the time sleep in the bed with my daughter but obviously that isn't allowed on the vent...for that short time I also had a blow up mattress that blew up on its own, i once had a breakdown in the hospital after 7 days of sleeping on one of those chairs getting about 2 hours of sleep a night...the nurses were kind enough to sneak a bed in that night!!!! the people down the hall from us bought the queen size memory foam, cut it in half & slept on that..probably still not as comfy as your cot!!! you amaze me.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good suggestion as I prepare for my husbands lung transplant. I might need to add that to my list of things to have packed.
ReplyDeleteYou are a great husband and father! I know it is not easy to spend days on end in the hospital. You are a great example of unconditional love.
Sounds like a long camp trip. You could hang some pary lights around the room too! Make some smores. ..
ReplyDeleteWhat a husband! You are awesome! Tricia is very blessed to have someone as giving as you---y'all are both very blessed! Happy Easter to you all!!!! Sill praying!
ReplyDeleteAnnie-Nashville
I discovered quite by accident that adding a basic $3 air floatation lounger under the egg crate will ramp it up to about a 7. I hope your girls are doing well and that you all have a wonderful Easter. Will they be having chapel serives at the hospital?
ReplyDeleteI guess you know that c3 is having 3 services this weekend. one tonight and two tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteWe've spent many nights sleeping in hospitals too, with our special needs son (now 3 years old). We will have many more to come, but I never thought about bringing my own "sleeping quarters". Thank you very much for the suggestion...we will use it for our next visit! Continuing our prayers in NY for your girls and you!
ReplyDeleteCatherine Midgett Christiansen
i can only imagine that being the best 40 bucks you ever spent!
ReplyDeleteI guess my boyfriends family was blessed in that when their special needs child was in the hospital - mom or dad (depending on night rotation) always seemed to have a little trundle bed that appeared each evening and disappeared at night!
Happy easter
Pauline
Linda, you asked:
ReplyDeleteThe question is this...who takes take care of your Pug when you stay at the hospital?
Answer: My mom (I'm Tricia's sister), has been at Duke full-time, like Nathan, since early January. She's only been home to the OBX about 5 days over the past few months. She helps take care of Maeka, relieves Nathan during the day and also spends a few 1-2 nights a week with Tricia.
Nate,
ReplyDeleteI do not know how to email you, but Trish, Dale's (from Duke too, second double lung transplant, with CF)mom, asked me to email you. Please email me back. Beth.brayley@gmail.com
My mother-in-law has dermatomyositis, which means my father-in-law also spends a lot of time at the hospital as a visitor of a patient and he just discovered this trick himself! so much better than crowding his 6'2" body onto a 4' long chair or window pad!
ReplyDelete