Severe obstructive and central apnea here. I’m all of 5’8” and 170#…so it’s just genetics for me.
I have been living with a CPAP for the last 15 years - it’s a GodSend. I have two units - one bedside (large, quiet, heaven) and a second travel CPAP (small, light weight).
I’ve gone to Alaska on hunts three times and packed the CPAP with me. I call ahead to find out what kind of car my PH drives and source a large car battery that goes on the plane with us for a back-country drop off. The car battery becomes part of my tip to him.
I’ve also found that I can do a night or two without the CPAP if I plan a bit for it. A shot of Afrin up each nostril and a half a Benadryl and I do well enough on sleep to make it through two nights on the trail. This was important given a goat hunt I was on required us to spend a night on the mountain. It’s not perfect but it’s enough.
Anyway, I don’t consider a CPAP the kiss of death at all. For me, it’s heaven.