Person stands at the foot of a path that leads to the moon in the sky which has an image of a person's face wearing a CPAP mask. The path is actually the tubing for the mask. CPAP therapy, sleep

My Experience with CPAP After 5 Years of Use

My life was a lot different before my continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. I was tired all the time, cranky, worn out, and didn’t feel very good. I thought it was a mid-life age thing, but I had undiagnosed sleep apnea.

Since my diagnosis and CPAP therapy, my life has changed for the better. Here’s my adjusting to CPAP experience and why I believe it can help you, too.

My initial thoughts

When I first saw the CPAP and tried on the mask at the sleep clinic, I was not impressed. The mask felt so restrictive, and I couldn’t see myself wearing it night after night. I thought that CPAP therapy was something I didn’t want to do.

By providing your email address, you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Despite my initial fears, I decided to give it a try and see if it improved my health. The lack of good sleep was starting to catch up on me.

The first few nights

I didn’t have a great time the first few nights. The mask came off, it wasn’t comfortable, and I got frustrated. I was still learning about CPAP therapy, and I needed time to adjust to this new way of sleeping.

No snoring and happy wife

After a few more days, I noticed that pillows weren’t being thrown at me and I wasn’t banished to our couch. My wife slept peacefully at night because I wasn’t snoring like a freight train. I also noticed I has less acid reflux and was waking up feeling refreshed.

Headaches gone

After a couple of weeks, I also noticed that the frequent headaches I had in the morning were a thing of the past. To this day, after 5 years I’ve had no morning headaches, except when sickness is involved. Now, I seep all night and wake up feeling great.

No chair sleeping

As a writer, I used to fall asleep in my chair all the time, even after breakfast. I was that tired and didn’t know it. Now, I breeze through my daily work without any sleepiness whatsoever. I go through my day with good energy and go to sleep at a normal time. My daily life has vastly improved with CPAP therapy.

Brain fog is gone

Sleep apnea left me so tired I could barely concentrate at times, and this left me with brain fog. I would forget what I was doing or even have the energy to accomplish a task. Now, I feel energized without that fuzzy feeling I had before sleep therapy.

CPAP: a part of my life now

My CPAP machine is now a part of my life. I feel so much better when I’m using it. I encourage you to give it a try. It does take getting used to, but the results are well worth those initial bad days.

From time to time, I do curse my mask or throw it on the floor, but I always go back to it. My daily life is normal now thanks to my machine. I couldn’t imagine not using it now.

Conclusion

Give CPAP therapy time. You will adjust to it as I have. It’s well worth the struggle. Use your mask and reap the benefits of better sleep and a higher quality of life.

How much time did it take to adjust to using your CPAP machine? Please share a comment below.

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The SleepApnea.Sleep-Disorders.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

Join the conversation

Please read our rules before commenting.