Kat,

I've been CPAP'ing for a decade or more. I think your plan of working into it gradually is a good plan. I get along with my nose mask pretty well (no chin strap). I noticed the improvement in sleep right away. And SPAW, get thee to a sleep clinic. The real danger of sleep apnea (besides falling asleep at any quiet moment) is strain on the old cadiovascular system. When I had my sleep test, I stopped breathing about every three minutes. The process described to me is: 1) throat collapses, blocking wind pipe, 2) you stop breathing, 3) Oxygen level in the brain drops, 4) brain cries out for more oxygen and initiates the "startle" reflex, 5) the "startle" gets the lungs working and the throat open.   The "startle" usually doesn't wake the sleeper, but as DWDITTY said, this constant "startle" keeps you from ever sinking into REM sleep. For me, the effect was waking up after 8 hours sleep feeling like I hadn't slept at all. I fell asleep during the day at inopportune times: driving the car, meetings at work, at conferences, and chatting with my girlfriend. All of these symptoms have disappeared since I have used the CPAP device. Surgery does seem to help for some cases, but not most.

Roger in Baltimore