Technically you can be on CPAP for the rest of your life, but this primarily depends on the cause of your sleep apnea. Central Sleep Apnea is often the result of some underlying condition. If this applies to your, treatment of such ailments may lead to a complete reversal of your sleep apnea. Similarly, if your Obstructive Sleep Apnea is caused by enlarged tonsils, you may not require CPAP after undergoing surgery to remove your tonsils. That said, most cases of sleep apnea are considered to be long-term, without any permanent solutions.