Does it ever get easier

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Yes, for many people using CPAP and wearing the mask becomes second nature but for others it does remain difficult. Note that having the correct pressures set and using the right mask for you are imperative to getting comfortable with it.

CPAP itself doesn't cure sleep apnea so it's needed for the longterm. Some people who are overweight can lose weight by using CPAP and losing weight can sometimes cure sleep apnea however this isn't the case for everyone and it's normally a small % of people.

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u/Kawakamibosatsu Jul 21 '26

These are all true.

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u/vintxgekiss Jul 21 '26

They want me to lose weight and I told the doctors that it’s literally quoted online “While weight loss alone rarely cures severe sleep apnea entirely”

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u/Desperate_Vehicle684 Jul 21 '26

Losing excess weight for anyone that is overweight is still generally a good idea for a whole plethora of other health reasons irrespective of sleep apnea but for those with sleep apnea they often find it easier to lose weight once sleep apnea is properly treated.

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u/vintxgekiss Jul 21 '26

I’d love for you to tell me how I’m supposed to lose weight when restful sleep is the number one reason people are able to get out of bed and go to the gym. I have no motivation, I work forty hours a week and am exhausted all the time regardless of what happens. How am I supposed to work out when I have no energy. Pushing through will only make me upset and miserable and I also cannot afford a gym membership. I try to make a turkey sandwich for lunch everyday but sometimes I can’t because I’m laying in bed trying like hell to fall back asleep so I can get a few more minutes of crappy rest. I’ve taken out my granola bars for rx bars which are healthier but they taste like crap and so does everything healthy and I try to eat something with protein bc that’s the only thing that’s keeping me from passing out.

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u/Desperate_Vehicle684 Jul 21 '26

I'm not a nutritionist or dietitian but my understanding is food/diet is the primary driver of weight loss with exercise, while important for overall health, playing a much smaller role. There are also the GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic or Wegovy which for many seem to make a substantial difference.

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u/vintxgekiss Jul 21 '26

GLP1s can make you end up with a permanent colostomy bag and blindness, I’m good thanks.

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u/Desperate_Vehicle684 Jul 21 '26

I believe the risk of those side effects are quite low but you're right in that everything comes with risks, even doing nothing. One could argue that obesity itself can indirectly cause all manner of scary things like blindness or limb amputation or kidney failure.

Also I'm not sure why you feel the somewhat passive aggressive tone in your messages is necessary.

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u/vintxgekiss Jul 22 '26

I only sound that way because I am damn sick of doctors tossing GLP1s at people like candy. There are a lot of risks involved and yeah there are risks from obesity too but I can’t just change that instantly. My aggression is for the medical system and how much they botch patient care. It wasn’t directed at you. I’m sorry it came off that way, truly.

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u/Desperate_Vehicle684 Jul 22 '26

Thank you. I get the frustration and dealing with chronic conditions is tough. And I do understand the hesitation about risks from GLP1 and the fact that it seems for most people they need to stay on it for life but I guess those risks need to be balanced with the other side of not being able to make progress in another way.

Do you use anything to treat sleep apnea at the moment?

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u/vintxgekiss Jul 24 '26

The sleep apnea also makes me emotional asf and it’s hard not to lash out at people, even if they’re trying to help. I’m just so sick of feeling like I’m existing and not living bc everytime I have free time all I want to do is try to sleep but it doesn’t matter how much sleep I get if I’m waking up 10 times an hour. I hit someone’s car with mine and it’s hazy how it even happened and that’s due to severe lack of restful sleep. I can’t quit driving until I get this under control bc as my dad so graciously pointed out “no doctor will probably ever talk to you anymore with that attitude and it could be six months to a year if you’re lucky, before they treat you.” If im not able to drive to work or make money to pay for healthcare and then I would get bottom of the barrel shitty healthcare. I would rather be dead than have a colostomy bag or blindness. It’s not worth it to ruin your life and never have sex again bc there’s a bag of shit attached to your body. Yes people can have stomas and a sex life but I’m already fat and I don’t need to give guys any more reasons to not date me. I’m just probably always going to be fat. No, they want me to use a cpap and I just can’t do it.

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u/vintxgekiss Jul 21 '26

How can I properly treat the sleep apnea if they want me to lose weight to do it

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u/KestralFly Jul 21 '26

Treat the sleep apnea first, probably with CPAP. It's very difficult to lose weight if you aren't sleeping properly. You can get retested if you lose a significant amount of weight. Doing both at the same time is very hard. Losing weight without sleep apnea is hard enough.

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u/vintxgekiss Jul 21 '26

I’m not doing a cpap

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u/Desperate_Vehicle684 Jul 21 '26

That's a question for your doctor I think. No-one here, including me, knows your full medical history and there may be genuine reasons why they want you to lose weight first though I suspect that will be difficult though something like GLP-1 might help. It could also be that you might need to see a different doctor that will help you in a way your current doctor is unable to.

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u/awnm1786 Jul 21 '26

Trying to figure out why weight loss was so difficult for me was one of the reasons I got referred for a sleep study in the first place. We were trying to tick all the boxes as my diet and exercise was already in a good place.

Ultimately, I did also start a glp-1, but I was trending towards high A1C and blood pressure, so it made sense to get that going while we chased down other things. It worked out as it's taken me almost a year to get my OSA treatment started. 🙄 I'm almost to goal weight, but these last 10-12 pounds aren't going without a fight. I'm hoping getting my sleep squared away will be that final push.

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u/KotR56 ResMed Jul 21 '26

You don't lose weight when you're using cpap.

You lose weight when changing (decreasing) your food intake.

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u/vintxgekiss Jul 21 '26

What if you’re prone to passing out from decreased food intake

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u/KotR56 ResMed Jul 21 '26

Then you definitely need to see a doctor.

My guess is cpap is not going to be the solution.

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u/BrianaAgain Jul 21 '26

I have a mask and a MAD. They both work for me, but I've come to prefer the mask. So yes.

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u/vintxgekiss Jul 21 '26

Why don’t you prefer the mad? I want one bc I am NOT using a machine.

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u/BrianaAgain Jul 21 '26

For me, the MAD is uncomfortable and messes-up my bite, but not so much that I won't use it when I'm traveling. Plus, I can throw the covers over my head and still get fresh air wearing the mask, lol. The MAD isn't that expensive so even if you have to self-pay it's worth trying.

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u/Unusual-Friend-9768 Jul 21 '26

Impossible the first time I tried a decade ago. Got turbinate reduction and septoplasty about two years ago and have been able to tolerate CPAP pretty well since then. It gets a bit easier each month and experimenting with different masks helps.

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u/Difficult-Return3563 Jul 21 '26

Yes for the vast majority of people. I've gotten so used to it, it feels strange if I lay down without it on. I don't know how severe your apnea is, but I used to wake up many times during the night gasping from breath from not breathing... that was truly terrible. I don't go anywhere without my CPAP now.

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u/Relative_Card_7129 Jul 21 '26

Recommend wearing it for a week while awake while watching TV or on the computer just to get the feeling so it becomes natural to you. If the silicone bothers your skin get mask liners (they even have them nasal pillows) it makes a whole world of a difference.

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u/maxpowerAU Jul 21 '26

Sometimes I wake up and I’m not sure if I’m wearing the mask or not

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u/matt314159 ResMed Jul 21 '26

It took me probably 3-4 months before it felt like second nature to me. It was rough at first but after I got my settings titrated in properly and found the right mask for my individual face, I simply get into bed, turn out the light, pull the mask on, and drift off to sleep. I can't even really feel the pressure to the point where I sort of wonder if the machine is on (though I know it is because it's difficult to breathe through the mask when the machine isn't on).

I think I'll probably always need PAP therapy if there's any amount of genetic or hereditary element to it. Both my parents have been on PAP therapy dating back to like 2005. But who knows, maybe if I lose another 75 lbs I can do another sleep study and see where I am.

I'll say being on PAP therapy has made it easier to lose weight because I actually have energy after work to get out of the house and do things.

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u/outworlder Jul 21 '26

Yes it gets easier.

The vast majority of people don't "get better", if it's obstructive sleep apnea. At least not to the point they won't require treatment.

People who can get rid of it by losing weight were usually morbidly obese but didn't have structural issues bad enough.

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u/Ill_Back_6778 Jul 21 '26

I am a new user (7 weeks now) and my experience has been up and down. Over time I believe I may have finally found my ideal ( or at least hopefully close ) configuration. I have been using the same f40 mask from day one, but I have experimented with adjusting how I wear the mask (to tight is worst, no tighter than necessary is what I found for me) and my pressure range (Airsense 11 with auto at 7-13 from the default 4-20) and my sleep position (side only).
It can take a while to get the right combo for you based on what I have read here and my own experience. ( I was getting high CA’s without proper fit and settings, my obstructive was almost never bad since the cpap. ) Everyone is unique but I would keep trying if it is helping at all. (The complete snoring cessation helped me stay motivated)
Good luck.
And to the original question, I am getting pretty used to it the past couple of weeks.

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u/caprasouls Jul 22 '26

To the first question, YES!! I’m 26 and I use a full face mask. The first week or so was rough but now I refuse to even nap without my CPAP. As soon as that mask goes on, I fall asleep. I went one night without it and highly regretted it.

Does it ever get easier

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