How do you know if its working

Basically the post says it all how do you..
Know if the amount of air blowing around the exhausts is normal, should it be a steady stream??
Know if it is working, I feel better one day then crappy the next??
I haver a heavy Gel mask that pulls on one side from the hose..
How do you know what to try next..
This stuff costs a considerable amount of money and to keep buying a new mask to try is not realistic..

I am new, cant you tell, have 5 nights under my belt..
Have the Rem Pro 2

Steve K.

I often wonder the same thing. Sometimes I just open my mouth to feel the air rush out to make sure air is going in.
It took me about a month to notice the difference in not falling asleep during the day. I guess I had alot of sleeping to make up! I have had my machine for about 3 months.
My biggest way to tell is that I thought for years I had insomnia. I watched the clock all night. I never snored, or jumped awake. I just NEVER slept, (except at work or when driving). I was shocked when I had a sleep test and they said apnea. Now I sleep almost all night, and that has never ever happened before. I can tell you that if I pull it off, or don't use it one night, I am awake all that night, like before. I cannot sleep without it.

Since none of the "cpap vets" have jumped in - let me put my little bit in.

You've got a Respironics Machine. You can switch masks 10 times at $100 bucks a mask until one works or you think you feel good. People on this board, however, opt to buy a card reader and software. They download their machine daily and it tells them how they slept last night, if there were any leeks, if their AHI (click the autolink for a definition) was as it is on average.

In this way, you can run diagnostics on your treatment and really figure out whats going on.

https://www.cpap.com/find-cpap-products/SOFTWARE

Most people want the "Encore Pro Software & Smart Card Reader ( USB )"

Basically, you know it's working if you start feeling better. It may take a while, and it may only improve a little bit at a time. Take a few minutes now to write down any problems you had before cpap - falling asleep in meetings, theaters, watching movies; naps during the day; multi cups of coffee - whatever your symptoms were. Then refer back to it after a period of time, like every couple of week. You should see improvement, although it might be slow. For instance, before cpap you might have needed a nap every day. After two weeks, you might be able to get by without a nap once in a while. After a month, you might need a nap only one or two days a week, and so on.
Also, the software only works with specific machines. The Encore pro software works with some (not all) RemStar machines. The Puritan Bennett 420E and 420S use the Silverlining software. Resmed uses the Autoscan for some of its machines. The software is only compatable with certain machines, so make sure your machine can use software (and if you have a straight cpap, it probably can't) before thinking about purchasing any.
If you got your machine through a DME (durable medical equipment) supplier, they SHOULD have different masks for you to try. Call them and see if they do. If they have other masks, try them on lying down, even if you have to do it on the floor of the store. Your face will be different lying down than when sitting or standing. Make sure the mask fits well before buying.
Hope this helps.
Debbie

Hi stevek,

You asked:

how do you..
Know if the amount of air blowing around the exhausts is normal, should it be a steady stream??

Feel around the outside perimeter of the mask with your finger just an inch or so away from it. If the only air you feel is definitely coming only from the exhaust port, you're not having leaks from the mask. A steady stream of air is normal from the exhaust. It can feel like a LOT of air coming out of the exhaust in a steady stream. That's normal.

I haver a heavy Gel mask that pulls on one side from the hose..

There are ways to arrange the main air hose so that the hose is not as likely to pull on any mask. Many people rig up a hook, bungee, fabric covered elastic pony tail scrunchy...something, anything...to run the main air hose through, suspended over head. Some way to hang the main air hose from your headboard or the wall above your bed.

When trying to figure out a creative way to hang the hose above your head, think of being a fish on the end of a slack line. That will let you toss and turn without the hose tugging on the mask.

One of the simplest ways to get the hose up and out of the way that I've read recently is a fellow who ties two socks around the hose to make a ball...a "sock ball". He wedges that between the head of his bed and wall to hold the hose up.