[int_19h]

Speaking as someone who has spent several months trying to adjust to a CPAP machine before finally giving up, it's not because it's annoying, it's because I literally can't sleep with the damn thing strapped onto my face. I'm well aware of the benefits, and I would love it if I could have them... but between sleep apnea and no sleep at all, the choice is obvious.

[binoct]

Everyone has a unique situation, but wanted to share my experience because improving apnea can have such a huge impact. I have a relatively mild case, so CPAP was borderline but I tried it. Like you spent 4 months and never got past 3 hours in one night, even trying several masks. Gave up for a year, worked on sleep hygiene in general and tried again. After about 2 weeks of a new mask and adjusting settings slept through the night. 5 years on I still wish I didn’t need it, but the improved quality of life means I basically never go to sleep without it. Can’t imagine how big a deal it is to someone with severe apnea.

You don’t need to completely throw in the towel if you don’t want to. Take breaks, try different masks as much as you can, get your dr to help adjust pressures. At least for some of us it does eventually click.

Good luck!

[int_19h]

I have a friend who got a CPAP and was happily sleeping with it on the first day, 5 minutes in. I'm very envious, but... I've already tried several different masks, went to the supplier to have them adjust that stuff to fit me etc.

At the end of the day, we are all different, and the threshold for what physical sensations a person can tolerate is highly variable. Everyone understands that about pain (I hope!), but this goes just as much for all these other things that are not necessarily painful as such, but are still physical.