CPAPtalk.com

I don't know if you will take this as consolation or it will scare you, but it took me a good 45 days to finally sleep through the night with CPAP on.

MOST people don't take this long--and, at the end of those 45 days I knew it was totally worth the struggle because I sleep so well on CPAP and wake up calm and relaxed instead of in that fight or flight mode with heart pounding and every negative thought in the world screaming in my brain.

Hopefully you will be like MOST people, and not like me.

So thinking "Let the machine breathe for me" is not comforting in the least.

okay, well nix that idea.. Im sorry you have had such bad memories with that.. I too have had take several dear friends and
family off ventilators, but what I meant was, letting the machine do its job, and making the distinction that it wasnt a ventilator,
but I did not explain it very well, sorry..

Like anything else, youll get used to it little by little.. dont expect too much, in fact dont expect anything, and whatever progress you make
will be a very pleasant surprise

I don't know if you will take this as consolation or it will scare you, but it took me a good 45 days to finally sleep through the night with CPAP on.

As a mathematician, I know that 45 is a small, finite number. I can handle small finite numbers.

I'm finding that between the support here and the fact that I've got data from the machine that says it really is keeping my AHI down to really good levels, that I'm willing to fight and put up with this CPAP stuff until I do get used to it. I'll use every ounce of stubbornness I've got in my body to do it too. And (realistically) even if I'm an outlier, getting used to CPAP shouldn't take any longer than carrying a baby to term, and I did that twice. All things considered, CPAP is not really any more unpleasant than being pregnant physically, although there won't be the obvious visible result at the end to love and hold and cherish and there obviously isn't the crowd of family cheerleaders looking forward to the big event.

Your family will certainly appreciate the "new, better functioning" you when you are finally able to get past all the issues and acheive true rest. Hang in there!

Rolf
PS: Your students may notice the difference too.