Never used one but as a medical professional I will tell you that having sleep apnea puts a tremendous strain on your heart over time and using a CPAP alleviates that. Chances are you knew that already but couldn't help but throw that in.

I have sleep apnea, use CPAP, and I strongly urge you, if you have sleep apnea or might have sleep apnea, to get that sorted out for sure and treated.  It can take a little while to get used to the mask, but no kidding, it's just not a big deal, and it can SAVE YOUR LIFE.

I try to breathe every day, AND every night.  I consider breathing important for my health.

I was racking up hundreds of episodes a night back in the day... Then I got a machine and actually slept. Doctors told me there isn't really any cure, but the CPAP is the way to go vs the other treatments.

However, I lost a good bit of weight, and the apnea subsided dramatically, to the point where I don't need a mask anymore. If you have a naturally narrow jaw, and 'get plump', your soft palate in the back of your throat also gets plump, making the airway even smaller.

Can't say it would work for everyone, but it definitely won't hurt.

As people have said.. I have/had this for several years. When through my first physical when I was 35 and EKG yielded a ERV (enlarged right ventricle). Fast forward to now, Im 42 and just went through another physical. I let the new cardiologist know I was diagnosed with an ERV several years before. He stated he could see a "hint of one" in the new EKG but "barely". He then asked if I has sleep apena. I afirmed, and stated I have been on a CPAP machine for ~2 years. He stated to continue to use the CPAP machine and it would be a good possibility my heart could completely rectify the ERV in a few more years...

Get a CPAP, live longer...maybe

I've been using one for over a decade.  It's made a huge difference for the better.

I just completed a home sleep study and am awaiting the results.    Hopefully CPAP will be soon      Tired of being tired

BJM2932 said:

As many have said before, if a CPAP is recommended you should use it.  Your heart will thank you.  Most of my patients who use CPAP say they love it after a minor getting used to period.  

Agreed, wish I would have had it at 16.  Minor inconvenience but well worth it!

dmchicago said:

Ditto what @HeavyG said.

I've been using a CPAP for about 10 years since my wife moved out of the bedroom due to my snoring. Did a sleep study and had really bad apnea.

I was in denial because I'm not overweight. But the facts were the facts.

Did take awhile and a few masks/nose pillows to find what works best.

It did give my hair a serious cowlick, though.

Since I went on a CPAP, I've also found out I have CAD... coronary artery disease.  Had a stent installed in 2012. So it's vital that I stay on the CPAP.

I even have a smaller travel machine.

It's become just a routine part of my life. At first I really complained, etc. Than I realized that many people have way more to deal with on a daily basis that a stupid CPAP.

In closing, a former co-worker died in his sleep of a heart attack that was brought on by sleep apnea. He had stopped using his machine.

Also, I believe Justice Antonin Scalia did not put his CPAP on the night he passed.

So, just do it and live to tell the tale!

Welcome to the machine!

Man, you might have convinced me to give a cpap another shot.

I was diagnosed 13 years ago at 30, hated the machine so I gave up in 10 minutes. Was in shape and exercised daily so I thought I could get by.

If I ever get a good nights sleep it's a miracle, wife booted me to the couch years ago. The minor inconvenience might be worth it.

I cannot sleep without my CPAP anymore.  I wake up once per night (sometimes I don't) instead of 4-5 times.  I fall asleep faster.   I wake up rested.  I can have meetings in the afternoon without feeling terribly tired.  Fewer migraines/headaches.  I could go one.  It was a life changer for me and SWMBO (I don't snore anymore, apparently it was bad).

I had a hard time finding a mask that was not invasive.  I highly recommend Brevida by Fisher & Paykel

https://www.fphcare.com/homecare/sleep-apnea/masks/brevida/

I am now using a newer model Philips respironics CPAP.  They are a lot more silent than previous versions.  SWMBO can barely hear it.

Be lost without mine....and sleeping in the garage if Ernie didn't have hers. During the sleep study I had 65 "incidents" in 30 minutes of monitoring. 
Try to get a heated hose...and a machine that the user can turn it on/off. During the winter months I have the heater on, warmer months off. 
I have had more than one late night freakout...hose wraps around my neck...

Yup, and get it if diagnosed.  If you have the benefits to pay for it get one that auto adjusts the pressure and make sure there is humidification

SWMBO has severe sleep apnea.  Her CPAP not only allows her to sleep through the night, but me too (snoring could wake the dead).  In her sleep study, they put her on it after only 30 minutes, it was so severe.  Also, I believe it helped me cut down on drinking, because I'd have to be completely hammered to sleep through that snoring.

I use one with the nose pillows. Love it, I hate dosing off for a nap without it because I wake up all sore in the throat area because of snoring. There's no doubt I could stand to lose a good 50-75 lbs...I currently fluctuate between 300-310 lbs...docs say I need to do Atkins or Mediterranean diets...tough to get serious about it but I know I need to. CPAP= Good Thing!

As many have said the mask is the biggest deal.  All of the major manufactures of PAP mask offer a 30day mask fit program, so you're not stuck with what you initially take home.  One thing I'd suggest is that you ask the DME company to provide you with a ResMed airsense unit.  This allows them to get compliance data remotely and adjust pressures from the office, so that you don't need to go to the office. for goodness sakes they all work bankers hours just like I do.  

Our practice recomends all of our patient's be setup on APAP this is a veritable pressure unit.  When you had your study, they picked a pressure that was best for that night; however, you may not always need that setting.   AutoPAP or APAP or Autoset will very based on your position and what's happening to you each and every night.  We generally order these set to a small range based on the titration reports.   So if you needed 10cmH2O to keep your airway splinted open, we'd order a range of 6-14cmH2O.  

Most of the PAP patient's we see select to use a Nasal App devise like a make or nasal pillows.  Many seem to like the new AirFit series by ResMed (P10 or N20) some have gone with a nasal seal made by a company called Reapironics (DreamWear) and a few use the Brevida by F&P.  

Good of luck and if you have any questions just send me a PM.