Just because you snore, you don't necessarily have sleep apnea

At the beginning it was quite difficult. I had to get used to sleeping with the machine. It felt strange to have something on my head. I couldn’t move around in bed the way I used to. But the doctors saw that I didn’t have any breathing pauses when I used the machine. So it was clear to me that I had to get used to it.

I did find it very hard to use the machine at first. The mask would sometimes slip off when I turned around so that it lost its seal and made whistling noises. Sometimes I took off the mask after a short time, but then I felt awful in the morning.

I was also checked at a dental clinic to find out whether a mandibular splint could help me. But it wasn’t possible because I wear dentures.

I was very unwell several months later because I was having cancer treatment, so I didn’t use the machine during that time. After the treatment I went to the sleep laboratory again. I had lost a lot of weight and they wanted to see whether the machine was still necessary and, if so, what the best level to adjust it to would be. From then on I used it very regularly. And over time I got used to it, too. In fact, I’ve even gotten so used to it that I can’t sleep without it now. I take the machine everywhere, even on vacation or to the hospital.

When I’ve spent the night with a breathing therapy machine, I feel a lot better the next day. My morning headaches have improved a lot and I’m not so tired anymore since I’ve been using the machine. Sometimes I don’t use it if I have a bad cold. But the next day I feel very tired and exhausted again, and often have a headache.

It’s part of my life. But you also need a partner who accepts that the person lying next to him is wearing a mask. That’s very important.

If you do it properly, it’s quite a lot of work to clean and maintain the machine. My machine has a humidifier and I change the water every day. I clean the machine thoroughly once a week. Our water is very hard and often leaves some limescale. I also clean the mask cushion every day, and the tube twice a week. That sounds like quite a lot of hassle, but it has now become a routine. When I get up, I take the things straight into the bathroom with me. It has become part of my daily routine.

It is important to me that my partner accepts my sleep apnea and living with a breathing therapy machine. I am sure this is not always easy, but it is very important. And thankfully the machines you get today are very quiet and can hardly be heard.

I think it’s very important to make sure you see a doctor if you think you might have sleep apnea. For example if you snore and are very tired for a longer period of time and have difficulties concentrating at the same time, and maybe a headache in the morning, too. But it is important to know that just because you snore, you don't necessarily have sleep apnea! And I also think it’s important, if you do end up needing a breathing therapy machine, not to be discouraged by the difficulties you might have at first. If you keep on using it you’ll see that you get more practice, and that using the machine gets easier from day to day.