Sticking With CPAP

By Mike Noon

2 min read

I’m 1 of the moderators on SleepApnea.Sleep-Disorders.net. Often, I come across quite a few comments from individuals saying they gave up on CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy. This becomes a tricky subject for me because I gave up on CPAP therapy when I first started.

My sleep apnea diagnosis came when I was 17. This diagnosis is on top of the spinal muscular atrophy diagnosis that I was born with. Living with spinal muscular atrophy was already a challenge. Adding another diagnosis at that age wasn’t something I really wanted to deal with.

Why I stuck with CPAP therapy

Starting CPAP therapy can be difficult for some people, but not everyone. I fell into the difficult category. That reason coupled with being a teenager who didn’t want to use it in college delayed my CPAP usage for years.

Delaying CPAP usage has been a huge regret of mine. The regret stems from the fact that I wasn’t operating at my best. Sleep apnea caused a lot of issues for me when I wasn’t using CPAP. I would imagine the same holds true for those of you who also gave up on CPAP. I’m here to tell you why I recommitted to CPAP therapy and have stuck with it for over 20 years.

This or That

Are you more of an:

Health

The number 1 reason is my overall health. Sleep is 1 of those funny things that most people don’t consciously associate with good health.

Motivation

This statement recently caught my attention:

When you don't get enough sleep, your brain begins to feed on its own neurons.

I don’t know about you but when I hear statements like that it gives me the motivation to use my CPAP religiously. After experiencing years of daytime drowsiness and not being able to fully concentrate I knew it was time to take my sleep apnea diagnosis seriously.

CPAP therapy takes time

There are learning curves when it comes to anything in life. Think about everything that you excel at in your own life. Now try to remember back to the beginning. Maybe it’s a job, driving a car, playing a sport, or an exercise regime. No one starts out being the best at something right off the bat. It takes time and practice. The same can be said for CPAP therapy.

Making a mental committment

When starting anything new we need to mentally prepare. If you are like me and were resistant to CPAP from the get-go, then most likely you will fail. That philosophy translates to all aspects of our lives.

Making healthy choices isn’t always easy. However for me once I mentally committed to using CPAP it became easier. It’s just like exercising on a daily basis or choosing to eat healthier. The hardest part is always starting.

Don't give up

Becoming comfortable with CPAP is a different timeline for each of us. For some of us, it can happen easily and others struggle for months. CPAP has been a part of my nightly routine for well over 20 years. I can’t remember exactly how long it took me but it was about 3 months before it became comfortable.

There were a lot of restless nights in the beginning; however, every night I kept putting it on. Eventually, that worked for me. Don’t give up!

Did you struggle to stick with your CPAP therapy too? 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.

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CommunityMember510 Member
Hello, I have been on CPAP for 25 years , and I have to say that the machines were different back then also, and I was horrified that I had to use a machine to sleep with, I was young and couldn’t think of anything worse. BUT having severe Sleep Apnea I ended up giving into the mask every night, it’s a must really, and I think if you start off for a few hours and take it off and try to go a bit longer each week work your way up. Finding the correct mask is a DEFINITE! You have to be comfortable and believe it or not it will grow on you .Remember that at first it’s going to seem not doable , having something on your face and head isn’t going to work, you will get past that feeling , persistence is the key , they are improving on equipment all the time and it will become your best mate , I cannot not wear mine, I feel lost without it ! Good luck 🤞
CommunityMember260 Member
The first time I tried using a CPAP was in 2015. Every night I would have it on for about 1 hour and not be able to sleep until I took it off. The pressure seemed too much. The mask not comfortable. I tried full mask and nasal. I gave up. Recently I had a sleep study again and found out I have severe sleep apnea (before it was mild). The machine and mask are much better than the one I had before. Some nights I can keep it on all night and others I end up taking it off. But that's an improvement from last time. I have a more positive attitude about it and know it'll only get easier.
1. kailahholmes Community Admin
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMember260" user-id="4814555"/>, so happy to hear your hope for things getting easier for you. Wishing you the very best in your journey! Warmly, Kailah, SA Team Member
ChroniKat Member
Hi <inline-mention username="Mike Noon" user-id="4118265"/> , I'm at the 3 month point right now. I'm compliant, but it's hard going sometimes. The hose and machine haven't been giving me any issues so far, but the mask is difficult to get used to. I don't think I've found the right mask for me, if there is one. But like you say, I keep putting it on anyway!
1. Lisa Bond, RPSGT, RST, FAAST Member
 <inline-mention username="ChroniKat" user-id="4141870"/> Hang in there and if you continue to have issues with your mask, consider trying a different one. Warmly, Lisa (SleepApnea.Sleep-Disorders.net/subscribe (Newsletter) Team Member and Advocate)