My sleep study clinic did indeed provide the CPAP (which does not work for me sufficiently ) and I left with it on the morning after my night there. So it's just another profit center, in stock kind of thing for the people that do the studies.

There are a gazillion different mask styles to choose from as every face is slightly different in shape, and some fit better than others. So there is the fitting of that to deal with to when you find the right mask, as another reason that you just can't buy one off the shelf.

I don't think you can hurt yourself with a CPAP, but for sure getting the right machine features and the right mask fit takes a little bit of playing with different things. And after having one for a week, you may want to change it for something slightly different.

There are a variety of reasons for the apnea, and in some people there are some dental devices that can be custom made and worn at night to keep the tongue forward, and others that actually position the mandible slightly forward, both approaches keeping the airway more open.

For those of us that have this as a result of the heavy mucous, like charm and I, none of this stuff works.

If someone actually finds a solution for that cause, I would LOVE to hear about it.