I hear that. My wife used to get upset with me because I would fall asleep in a chair watching television, straining my bad neck, and waking often from the apnea. When I went to bed and put the mask on, I couldn't get back to sleep. So we moved the machine downstairs, and I used it while awake, sitting in a recliner & watching the tube. It helped me get used to it, and if I fell asleep, it was ok, and better sleep because the machine was already on. Eventually we were able to move the machine back upstairs, and while I may still wake up from the pain, it's not from the machine.

Doc