CPAP and sex life

I know this is a pretty intimate question but how does having a CPAP affect your sex life and intimate time with your partner? even if it is just sleeping together?
It seems like a major nuisance to me.. actually makes me not want to deal with the whole situation.

Thanks!

It just requires some pre-planning...and sometimes some creativity.

A topic dear to the hearts of many folk here

I do find the mask intrusive. It does seem like that once it is put in place that is a sign that sleep is next on the agenda.

Will be interested to see other people's responses.

DSM

LinkC wrote:It just requires some pre-planning...and sometimes some creativity.

Handled with maturity it should be No Problem at ALL. If it is he doesn't love you.

Why are people always thinking that humans are perfect? We are not and this is a perfectly correctable healthcare problem.

Would you rather have something no one can see but is incurable? Go figure.

One person in your life will know how you look - the one who loves you.

I have told everyone who knows me - I have Sleep Apnea - yes, I wear a mask .

I am only a man. I can't multi anything much less sleep AND breath!

At the risk of giving away the goods...XPAP has meant my wife returned to the bedroom. Not much was happening when we slept in separate rooms, or were too exhausted due to my snoring and apnea induced arousals. Oddly enough, my throat was not the only thing that seemed to be inflated.

I can honestly say, the xpap is a non-issue in our bedroom, and is certainly no more cumbersome to remove than any other apparel when the moment seems right. Its entirely your attitude and your partner's whether this is a big turn-off, or if you will just get it on. Its very easy to turn off the machine and slip off the mask and cuddle in the morning, or wait to mask-up in the evening. Sex is better now, than it has been in over 20 years, and a lot easier since the kids grew up and left. Why let a small matter like a mask interfere with that?

If you see yourself or your partner as less attractive as a result of using xpap, you have to deal with that as an emotional or psychological issue. Get counseling, or whatever you have to do. Otherwise, don't create your own problem. Hopefully this therapy re-energizes your libido and you simply act on that. All the mental stuff will just mess you up.

anyone who i am intimate with or have been intimate with knows about my OSA, and what my CPap is for when they see it and ask about it. other than the initial questions, it is not talked about or brought up alot

Let me ask you..

Do you know that you can DIE from sleep apnea? So if your significant other has a problem with you wearing it, then you need to ask THEM if they would prefer you... Never mind. I'm getting worked up. Please forgive me. Let me shift gears, here.

I know that for my wife and I, yes the mask does effect intimacy, as when I'm sleeping next to her, the mask blows air on her. LOL She says I also sound like Darth Vader, but we try to make it fun, not a prohibiter to life. She is genuinely pleased that I'm breathing throughout the night. When we were first married, there were many times that she thought I was dying, as my breathing would stop for sooo long. She doesn't have to worry about that ANY MORE, which is a VERY good thing for BOTH of us. Now her only worry is whether I'm going to get to work on time, which is a much SMALLER worry, trust me!

I agree with the above post, that it does take a bit of planning, but if my wife and I want to be intimate, during the night, I just take off my mask, and turn off the machine. It isn't a big thing for me, or her, but planning is also a good thing. I guess that's all I have to say, so I'll close with I hope you have a great evening, and that things will turn out ok, in the end.

One would think the the return of your normal energy level not to mention the elimination of sleeping in separate rooms would be a big boost to intimacy. Anyone who has been together long enough is probably not that concerned with how the mask looks After all, its only on when you are sleeping. When I had a sore on my nose from having the mask too tight the first 3 nights I put a band aid on it before I put on the mask....that was lovely...but we both have a sense of humor and it turned into a funny conversation. I guess its hard to take someone seriously with a dot band aid in the middle of their nose.....LOL

What I do take the mask off go for it when all said and done, put the mask back on.

While xpap can be a bit of a pain, I have more energy later at night, wake feeling more refreshed in the morning and my snoring and tossing and turning (because its gone) no longer bothers my wife so she gets a better sleep too.

Just use some of that extra energy and make the effort to spend some quality time with your partner at night before you go to sleep and each morning before you get up to start your official day and it may improve your relationship in many ways.

When your partner is used to your barely making it through your work day and not having energy left over for them most of the time its surprising how having that energy and making that effort to talk or cuddle, or pamper, or share a hobby or interest can improve your relationship in many ways.

Put on your xPAP as the last thing you do before sleeping (after that quality time you make each night) and the first thing you do when you are awake (before you make that quality time each morning) ; keep in mind it only takes seconds to take off or put on in any case should the interest or need arrise, and it need not interfere with your love life at all.

I am only a man. I can't multi anything much less sleep AND breath!

Just wanted you to know that I love you GumbyCT........you're not only a man, but you realize you're limitations........... Now that's a turn on

Jodah wrote:I know this is a pretty intimate question but how does having a CPAP affect your sex life and intimate time with your partner? even if it is just sleeping together?
It seems like a major nuisance to me.. actually makes me not want to deal with the whole situation.

Thanks!
Jodi

When I first started xpap, I thought it would effect my sex life since my husband is 9 years YOUNGER than me, but in all honestly, it has probably increased it. Since I have more energy now!

Besides, on one of my first nights when I was standing beside the bed in a tank top and undies with my chinstrap, mask, and mouth taped, my husband made the comment that I looked like I belonged in one of kink.com's catagorys!

TMI, I know, but you did ask.

If I were young and single I would worry about this and I can see how it might be an issue. Being older and married it has not been a problem. I hardly ever have sex with the mask on ... LOL just kidding. The CPAP has not been an issue in this regard. In fact as some have pointed out it has helped since I sleep better and have more energy. The children staying up later than us old folks and the fact that my wife is an eraly to bed early to rise person is far more of an issue!

scrapper wrote:

I am only a man. I can't multi anything much less sleep AND breath!

Just wanted you to know that I love you GumbyCT........you're not only a man, but you realize you're limitations........... Now that's a turn on

A man's gotta know his limitations.

I know I can do one thing at a time ... and not very well!

I sleep alone, but if that situation were to change, at my age and weight, if they're still there when it's time to sleep, they've already passed the shock test!
Kathy