I have worn contact lenses for well over 40 years. From memory perhaps 25 years of hard lenses, then gas permeable. Again from memory, there was a six week "running in" period. At the very start it was quite tricky to effectively make as if you are stabbing your eye with your finger (the lens sitting on its tip) but it soon became "normal". You are initially quite conscious of the lenses in the eyes but I recall the first time I couldn't feel them. I was driving home at the end of the day and realised I couldn't feel it - I had lost it (something that is distinctly possible with hard lenses, less so with soft), I was convinced. Later that evening I was in the bathroom and angry with myself I stared into the mirror and looked for the difference between they eyes - couldn't see it. I then touched the front of the eye with my finger - there was something in between ! The lens was still there and I simply could not feel it at all - I was nearly ecstatic.
Two of three sons of mine wore hard contact lenses but one of them went to a different optician and never was happy with them so gave up after maybe eight years or so. the third doesn't need correction (normal eyesight), the rest of us are near sighted. In the past 10 years or so, I had the correction halved (was never enormous) and in the last years have only worn them for driving and in the cinema. My eyesight has improved a great deal and I do not need reading glasses at all. My wife also wore hard lenses for 15-20 years but then had a growth of sorts at the edge of the eye together with astigmatism and had to give them up, much to her annoyance.
It is very important to ensure you get a good fit. As you will understand, I favour hard lenses over soft ones and never was seriously interested in the latter although they are apparently much easier to get used to and there are soft ones that are said to be safe for weeks at a time, even overnight. There was a period when soft lens users suffered infections due to pathogens colonising the material, that is much less likely. My optician told me that there were claims that hard lenses had a tendency to shape the eye and therefore halt deterioration. If so then I would be one of the beneficiaries of this effect.
I have used the same pair of lenses without renewal for many many years although this is frowned upon by the opticians and manufacturers - I have had a very low cost over this time and both optician and manufacturers have consequently made less money.
In short, I would encourage you to try contact lenses, but if you have difficulty please make certain it is not because you have a bad fit. Good luck.