Thoughts on Using a CPAP After Several Years

As we move into 2022, I wanted to reflect on the past several years of using my CPAP after my diagnosis. I hope my experiences will help those unsure about CPAP or struggle day-to-day with using your mask. So here’s what I have learned.

It’s OK to be anxious

When you first get diagnosed, you’ll probably feel some anxiety. I know that I did, and I also felt a little scared. The thought of hooking myself up to a bunch of hoses and a mask seemed terrifying. After all, they do this to you in the hospital. So my initial thoughts were not on the positive side.

The thing to remember is that despite your anxiety, the mask is one of the best solutions for controlling your sleep apnea and making you feel better. Once I discovered how good I felt using my mask, my anxiety dropped by several notches.

Research and read everything

Another thing that helped me through the initial stages of using my CPAP machine was understanding sleep apnea and researching the condition. So naturally, I wanted to know more than what my sleep provider told me.

So I spent a lot of time on sleep apnea sites learning about this new condition I would have to live with. This included reading all the materials that came with my machine and understanding how the parts worked. The more information you know, the easier it is to manage your condition.

Dealing with bad days

I have had some bad days along the way, as I’m sure most sleep apnea patients do. There were times I tore my mask off and sighed in frustration. Some nights the mask is so hot I can’t stand it! On the other hand, there were times when I would get comfortable in bed and realized I needed to get up to refill the water tank. I recently had one leak, so they can be a real curse at times!

Despite these issues, I still know that my CPAP and mask are my best bet to wake up refreshed and feeling great in the morning. My life has changed dramatically. I have no more headaches. I don’t fall asleep writing in my chair at 1 PM. I have more energy than ever before. All the little annoyances are small setbacks compared to feeling and sleeping well.

Find community

One aspect of dealing with your sleep apnea that is critical is community. Talking about your problems with others is very helpful. As a result, you’ll find a wide range of forums and sites organized around providing support for those suffering from sleep apnea.

Make community a part of your daily life with sleep apnea. These areas allow you to vent your frustrations or a place to ask questions when you need answers the most. Your health care provider may not always be there to answer a question, but you can often find answers to common issues through a community.

We are in this together

I’ve come to terms with my sleep apnea over the years. I try to do my best, but I have difficult days; we all do. I make an effort to wear my mask, ask questions, and stay involved with the community. My main focus now is writing articles about this condition to help others deal with the same issues that I do. We are in this together.