I hear ya. It was hard to get used to using one but after I did I never wanted to sleep without it again.
I stayed tired for decades before finding out I needed to use one. They may not have been available during the early years of my sleep apnea. I get tired now but only if I exert myself enough because I’m an old fart now too. ;) I just wish I would known much sooner.
This was my experience too. I was admitted to the hospital with acute respiratory failure and they put me on a mask with o2 and I slept through the night for the first time in ten years. I was used to getting up to pee five times per night. Thought it was the prostate, but that first night in the hospital on a ventilator with oxygen convenced me that I was fine. I have been on it for over a year now and my activity is improving slowly even though age is another factor (76).
Doctors should be looking for this at an early age and in my case while I was over weight, I did not gag or snore. My OSA manisted itself in simply not being able to fall asleep. I would wake up when my O2 sat was below 90% and then I felt that I probably had to get up and pee. If this sounds familiar, get a sleep study. It is worth it if they find SA.