Ashamed of needing a cpap, don't want wife to see me.

[Sleepster]

I feel like a cripple.

Like you're handicapped? Or disabled? Because you need a medical device.

I get it, but the thing is, there's nothing you can do to alter the fact that you need this device. The only thing you're in control of is how you react to that need.

Your wife doesn't care and neither does anyone else. You're the only one!

[Swisssleeper]

I know where you're coming from, not that age has any bearing but I am a similar age and felt self conscious about it also. Even though I am a relative noob at this it does get easier and my partner is way more concerned that I am healthy. You only require it for sleeping  so don't worry about what you look like. I am active and fairly fit but snore like a freight train, the machine helps with my sleep and my wife's sleep so we are both happier people and in the long run hopefully it will help with my health, I have already had lower blood pressure readings which is great.

I sleep facing away from my wife as she doesnt like the air blowing on her (hopefully there will be a FFM that disperses air like the P10 pillows) but she has grown to take it as part of the nightly routine and I am sure you are way more concerned than she is.

Good luck with it and I hope you start to settle in soon.

[AlanE]

My wife has seen far more scarier things than my CPAP mask. For example: me, naked.  

Enough to traumatize any human - and some animals.


Seriously though, we've been together for so long that recently we were in the exam room together at the doctor's office, the doctor said I'm due for my prostrate exam. She didn't even leave the room and I didn't care. CPAP mask? You got this...

[NotADr]

I think my wife secretly enjoys that time of night when I'm in bed, strapped to my hose and my mouth is taped shut.  Now she can chit-chat all she wants with no escape or possible response from me.  

[Walla Walla]

Masks are sexy!

[AlanE]

TBH I did feel a little embarrassed after I started wearing the mask and my wife wasn't thrilled with it either. One week later she loved it. Mainly because I wasn't shaking the house apart with my snoring.

[zzzZorro]

But just think how proud of you she will be when a nightime home invader runs away screaming after YOU have confronted him in full-mask regalia snorting thru the air hose you are dragging behind ..

[Homerec130]

My wife has no problems with my mask, although some nights she does tell me to roll over as the exhale blows on her. BTW, I get to tell her the same thing as she as one also and should be back using it shortly. (But that is another horror story). 

As to unscheduled nocturnal activities - no problem - hit the button and off comes the mask. 

Homer

[Spy Car]

I will admit there was a feeling of an ego-blow when I first got the device. The bulky Eson mask the machine came with didn't help.

And it was less my wife I was concerned with (we have solid history) but how I'd appear to my (then) twelve-year-old son. I was an old dad already, I didn't like adding another layer of decrepitude.

But instead of shrinking from it, I involved him. When new masks arrived, he helped to unpack them.

"Ooh Dad, you got the P10s? Cool!"

I think it isn't a close call between any hit top my vanity vs getting back to being a functioning father and husband. No contest.

I'm embracing my therapy and am very grateful to have the technology at my disposal.

Bill

[ajack]

I don't know why you guys are putting up with feeling like this..Tell her to go sleep on the couch, so you can relax.