If you're struggling to adapt to a CPAP, believe me, I feel your frustration.

It took me six months to get a full night's sleep with a CPAP strapped to my head. I can't count the number of times I wanted to give up. Several times I actually did. More than once I flatly refused to try again, fed up with my apparent inability to get used to the apparatus on my face and the constant jet stream of pressurized air blasting into my nostrils.

Below is what eventually got me through it. First, a little about why I started.

Why I Got Tested

In my mid-twenties, friends and partners began telling me I was a very heavy snorer. I assumed it was normal, because my father and an older sibling were heavy snorers too.

It became a real issue when a girlfriend told me my snoring made it unbearable for her to sleep in the same room. Even then, I refused to accept that it mattered. I moved on from that relationship without considering that my snoring might be affecting my health, and not just my love life.

Several years later, after being diagnosed with elevated blood pressure, I finally took my doctor's advice (as well as that of my poor suffering wife) and visited a sleep clinic. Sure enough, I was diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

I hope this prompts anyone living with OSA, knowingly or not, to get checked. Talk to your doctor if you:

• snore
• wake up several times a night
• wake up still feeling unrested
• have been told by a partner that you stop breathing during the night

The First Few Nights

The first few nights were a complete disaster. I couldn't fall asleep with that thing on my face. Psychologically, it just felt wrong to have pressurized air pumped into my nose. How was I supposed to breathe? I found it hard to believe I could exhale against the airflow.

It helps to know that the mask has small vent holes that let your exhaled air escape, and that many machines have a pressure-relief setting that eases the pressure as you breathe out. Once I got past that mental barrier, the next challenge was finding the right type of mask.

Choosing a Mask

There are two basic designs:

1. Full face masks.
2. Smaller "nostril pillows," which sit at the base of your nose and are far less bulky.

Both have pluses and minuses. In the end, I chose the nostril pillows. The full face mask was too restrictive for me. The only comfortable position I could find with it was sleeping on my back, and even then the hose always felt like it was in the way. I kept waking up all night.

The nostril pillows took some getting used to as well, but they were much less cumbersome.

Finding a Sleeping Position

Once I had settled on a mask, I needed a comfortable position to sleep in while using it. I eventually found that sleeping on my side worked best, and I chose my right side. There was no particular reason, other than that it felt more comfortable.

All of these decisions come down to trial and error. What worked for me may not work best for you.

Two Features That Helped

1. The "soft start" option.

The air pressure builds slowly over the first few minutes instead of arriving at full pressure from the outset.

2. The humidifier.

This was especially important when traveling to colder climates, where it stops your nostrils from drying out.

Why It's Worth Persevering

The benefits I get from my CPAP are far greater than the inconveniences:

1. I feel much more refreshed.

That's true even when I only use it for part of the night. Many sleep clinics suggest aiming for at least four hours per night, and ideally more. If that's hard at first, build up slowly. Even one hour is fine to start. Trust me, if I can get used to it, almost anyone can.

2. Your partner will appreciate it.

They won't have to suffer through your snoring anymore, which can be a deal breaker in relationships.

3. It protects your health.

Repeatedly stopping breathing during the night is a serious risk over time, because you are depriving your brain of oxygen many times each night.

If You're Still Struggling

Don't beat yourself up. If after a couple of weeks you still can't sleep at all with your CPAP, contact the place where you bought it. They may suggest a different type of mask, or the settings on the machine may need adjusting.

Be as patient as you can while adjusting to life with a CPAP. It can meaningfully improve your health and your quality of life, and in my opinion that's worth any temporary frustration.

Has anything helped you get used to your CPAP? I'd love to hear about it in the comments.

This post reflects my personal experience and is not medical advice. Please talk to your doctor or sleep clinic about your own treatment.