Adjusting to Using a CPAP

Arguably, one of the worst parts of having sleep apnea is having to wear a CPAP every night for the rest of your life. The diagnosis itself, at least to me, wasn't that bad at all. It isn't a terminal illness or something that is going to kill me. If anything, it was a relief.

The hardest part of my diagnosis

I was able to get answers to questions about why I was so tired or how I could sleep so many hours and wake up tired. It was also a nice change for my wife. She no longer had to worry about me blowing out her eardrums all night with my excessive snoring.

The hardest part of the diagnosis was getting used to wearing a CPAP at night and getting a good night's sleep. I did a few things to help get used to it and make it an effortless and less annoying sleep accessory.

I knew I had to do it

Initially, it wasn't easy, but I knew I had to do it. There isn't any trick in getting used to a new habit other than to do it and find a way to deal with it. If you have a partner who is over your snoring, after that first night of not snoring, I no longer had a choice of not wearing it.

Over time, it became easier

It's not that I didn't want to use it, but I was so used to not wearing it that sometimes I would want to fall asleep without it hoping I would magically be cured. To everyone's surprise, it hasn't happened yet.

Therefore, with the encouragement of my wife, I wore it every night. Over time, it did become much easier. When you wake up feeling rested, it really helps motivate you to wear it more.

Finding the right sleep position

Another thing I had to do was find the right position to lie in and fall asleep. This didn't just involve my body and my head position; it also involved the equipment. The hose coming off the headpiece can pull on your mask and your head. I had to find a way to position myself along with the hose in a way that minimized any pulling to where it didn't feel like I was wearing anything.

I found that I had to get some slack in the hose and lay that on the pillow above my head and find a good position for everything. When I needed to move my head, I would also have to adjust the hose. It isn't the most ideal way to fall asleep, but those few extra seconds to make sure you are comfortable can make a huge difference.

Staying committed to make CPAP work

There is no magic trick to ensuring you get a good night's sleep with sleep apnea. You have to be dedicated to making the CPAP work and making the adjustments necessary to succeed.

No, it isn't going to be fun at first. There will be challenges like anything in life. If you want to keep from getting side effects of sleep apnea, you will find a way to use a CPAP.

Yes, it is possible to make it happen. You can overcome your issues and find a way to make it work. If you are having trouble, speak with others in the community and with your doctor. I have no doubt you can find a way to make a CPAP work for you, even if it takes a while.