FINALLY. 

My SharePost is being written to show the process taken when beginning to use a breathing machine at night.  It is called a CPAP.  Last night was my fifth night of using the machine, and it was the first night I slept through the entire night without waking up.! (The first night I was able to sleep for some time, but it was interrupted everytime I moved.) Here is what I think made the difference:

The headgear felt itchy. 

SOLUTION: I pulled back all my hair, put a bandaid near a small sore which was being irritated by the strap, readjusted the straps to a better fit, untwisted the strap (best not to try to put the headgear on in the dark!).

The air was too dry.  It resulted in my awakening with a dry mouth and choking with an accumulation of post nasal drip.

SOLUTION: Called doctor to get him to order a heated humidifier to be attached to my machine.  In the meantime, I am running a humidifier in the bedroom.  I have been told I might not need the humidifier during the summer...we'll see...

I had been told it may take up to a month.  I went into this period with no great expectations of adjusting to CPAP use with ease.  I knew it would take patience.  Getting upset with it would only add anxiety to the mix.  Frustration probably would have set in, though, if it had taken weeks to get used to it. Thankfully, I didn't have to wait even a week. 

I do know that every night might not be as good as last night...but even if I do have an "off" night once in awhile, that is far better than the way I had been living.