how do i know if CPAP working

[resmedsucks]

I was on CPAP 5 years ago and stopped after 6 months. I am trying again. i started on N30i mask 2 months ago and had pretty good myair scores. but i found myself tired during the day. I also found myself waking up without mask and not remembering taking it off. But my usage was on average 6 hours. Should i even care about getting good score? Is it possible if i sleep with mouse opened CPAP really not working? Is it possible if i am awake for hours with mask is on these scores are not reliable and i should try full face mask? i dont know if i sleep with mouth opened. It does not feel dry. But may be try with chin strap?

[khauser]

All of that is in theory possible.
As for a score, this isn't a test. Care more about how you feel than what the machine says.

You are probably not mouth breathing if your mouth is not a desert in the morning. At least not while the mask is on.

I'm going to suggest survival tape, for two purposes:
1) You can use the tape to close your mouth if you are concerned about that.
2) I'll suggest using tape to affix your mask to your face. If you then try to remove it you will probably wake up more than you were and in so doing you might remember what about it was bothering you.

Read about, install, and use Oscar. See the stickies at the top of the forum. That data will help people to help you.

[resmedsucks]

thank you. this is really good advice. I was going to post about struggles i have with my current mask. f30i. if i am able to sleep with it (very rare occurrence), i feel great next day. But most of the times i cant fall asleep and this mask starts to leak, machine starts to blow so much air and i have to take mask off. may be i should try to tape this kind of mask so it does not move when i cant fall asleep, keep turning and f30i gets unsealed.

[khauser]

thank you. this is really good advice. I was going to post about struggles i have with my current mask. f30i. if i am able to sleep with it (very rare occurrence), i feel great next day. But most of the times i cant fall asleep and this mask starts to leak, machine starts to blow so much air and i have to take mask off. may be i should try to tape this kind of mask so it does not move when i cant fall asleep, keep turning and f30i gets unsealed.

Ok you may not have the mask properly fitted. Unfortunately I don't have that mask so I can't offer specifics. It's pretty popular so I'm sure others will jump in.

[Pugsy]

Next time you wake up with the air blowing excessively just reach over and turn the machine off and then right back on again and see if you can go back to sleep....and still keep the mask on. Try to avoid the temptations of just taking it off.
It's also possible that if you need higher pressure and fit the mask at a lower pressure then once it get up to what you need then it leaks because it simply can't hold at a higher pressure.

Like if you fit it at 6 cm...and you go to 12 cm...what seals well at 6 won't seal so good at 12. You might need to fit the mask at a higher pressure and there is a setting on the machine that will allow you to do that. It blows at a higher pressure for about 3 minutes I think so you can adjust the fit for the higher pressure. Mask fit check feature or something like that. All explained in that manual I suggested you download and read. It has a lot more information in it than the typical user manual.

[resmedsucks]

thank you.

[chunkyfrog]

Try a mask liner, if you haven't already.
Air rushing on your face can wake you--a layer of cloth can reduce that sensation.
Pad a Cheek has liners for your mask; or you can cut one out of a clean old t-shirt.
Just trace around the cushion, and cut out a gasket.