My positive CPAP Experience

I just wanted to offer my experience for anybody who might be wondering whether they want to get started with a CPAP (or other PAP) machine. I'll be brief.

My wife got a CPAP machine 11 y ears ago. She snored like a trucker. But she didn't use the machine for long and there was a lot of anger on my part for being awakened by her snoring year after year. Finally I told her she had to use the machine or I was moving to another room to sleep. It took her a couple of weeks to get adjusted to it but she did. And I slept better.

She said she thought I also had sleep apnea and I finally agreed to get tested. Mine was terrible. Something like 52 episodes an hour. The two sleep studies did not go well as I'm a light sleeper and find it hard to get to sleep. Getting used to the pressure (11) and mask was not easy. But I persevered and took it a day at a time. It's still not easy to get to sleep but I do, and then I sleep like a baby ALL NIGHT. So the benefit is well worth the little trouble I have. We recently went on a cruise and I didn't bring a critical part of the machine with me. I slept horribly.

It's not very romantic looking either. But my wife and I have gotten into the habit of chucking the masks in the morning and doing some old-school snuggling for a half hour or so.

It's definitely an adjustment but well worth it. I originally had the nasal pillow mask which I hated. Now I use a small mask over my nose and keep it adjusted as loose as I can witrhout leaks. This took about a month. If you want to make it work it will work for you.

I also recommend being sure you're comfortable for the sleep study. If it's too warm in the room - complain. Take your own pillow. This seemed like a 'teddy bear' to me so I didnt' bring my pillow. But doing so would have made it easier to sleep.

I think I have a CFLEX machine and recommend the pressure ramp up. I use a humidifier only in the winter.

I also wear headphones when I sleep because otherwise my mind races and I can't fall asleep. ADD ? I've always been this way. The sleep tech said I could have used them if I had wanted to.

That's about it. Good luck.

Thanks for sharing that Don. There are so many out there who are not aware that they have OSA, and also so many who simply feel like their therapy is too "uncomfortable" or "not worth it." It is good for those people to see success stories and know they can make it work for them too. Most people I have encountered that needed a sleep study or sounded like they had OSA said they had heard numerous stories of people who could not stand their xPAP and told horror stories about it. But you rarely see the same emphasis on people sharing the "successes" of xPAP, and we have to further that end. I know that it personally changed my life to be able to actually get recuperative, restful sleep. Since being diagnosed and getting my machine, I have not skipped my therapy at all (with the tiny exception of 4 or 5 nights where I slept upright in a recliner after having a facial cancer removed that prohibited my mask for it to heal.) Keep up the good work and keep reaping the enormous benefits!

some masks send the air exhaust upwards, making cuddles easier

All I can say is... Why did I wait so long to have a sleep study done! lol

I am 28 yrs old, and I have known that I had OSA without being diagnosed, for probably 15 years or so. I was always afraid of it, and because of it, I led a very EXHAUSTED life. My health has also gone down hill, with high blood pressure. I finally gave in after not wanting to go to bed at all, and I had my sleep study on May 21st... Started CPAP 4 weeks ago, and I LOVE it... It's been such a huge positive experience and I won't even consider going to bed without it... I wake up every morning earlier then my alarm and I am awake and ready to get ready for work... I used to want to dose off while at work and would struggle to stay awake, or keep a snack on my desk so I was doing something that would not make me fall asleep. Which led to a lot of weight gain. Now I may yawn a couple times but it's probably 95% different then ever before. People have noticed a change in me, my attitude my energy.

My sister said to me the other night "Have you been using the machine, I don't hear you snoring anymore and it made me nervous" LOL... I have waited 15+ years to hear someone say "I didn't hear you snoring"

It's giving me the motivation to start losing weight, and excel in getting my health back to good...