How to reduce my events while using my Cpap

John, thanks so much for the link. I found it easily that way. Very thoughtful of you.

Colleen, to answer your question about how long did it take before I was feeling less tired, I think at least 3 weeks. And I do want to second the importance of getting the right mask. I went through 3 different designs over a several week period and finally settled on a low profile one - Dreamwear by Phillips. It just cradles my nose with no prongs poking in the nostrils. I mostly am a nose breather, so I was able to use this one - not the case with with some of my CPAP using friends, though.

Alrighty, she's all hooked up and tucked in. Looking rather Star Trek-ish but taking it in stride as she does most things. Your messages helped a lot. Mom was pretty amazed at how fast you all responded to the request for help and support. We'll report back in the morning. Happy Zzzz's all.

@colleenyoung- As a C-pap userfor over 20 years I can offer a few things to you Colleen. John is right about the fit of the mask. I too am a mouth breather and consequently was recommended a full face mask. I tried a half a dozen of them and could not find one that was a good fit. It was determined I have a "tweener" shaped face which simpley meant I was in between sizes? I didn't really like them anyway due to the somewhat claustrophobic feeling I got using them. I went to a nasal mask that with a chin strap was just right for me.
Chin straps are a bit of a pain, but once you find the right one that does not slip off your head in the middle of the night the results of a dry mouth and higher AHI scores go away. I wish you all the best in helping your mom with this device. Once she gets 7+ hrs. of sleep with good equipement she will wake up so refressed once again! Happy Zzzz's! Jim @thankful

@johnbishop- Did you say you also purchased that C-pap hose cleaning brush? I recently did and I'm having a terrible time pulling it through my hose? Jim @thankful

Hi Jim @thankful - I bought a hose stand but have never purchase a brush to clean the hose. I've just used the soap for my SoClean machine and washed the hose by filling it full of soapy water and lifting and lowering each end of the hose to slosh the water back and forth. Then rinsed it the same way. I hang it up over the shower door so it can air dry and not get water all of the regular floor ☺

So mom is doing pretty good. Thanks everyone for the great advice. The first night she wore it 4 hours, then 5 hours and last night for 9 hours! (including reading time). The report says she has a good mask fit, but she doesn't like the full mask either, @thankful, feeling claustrophobic like you mention. We'll soon compare apnea hypopnea index (AHI) scores from the early days to next week and the week after. But initial results are encouraging.

Thank you Colleen Young for the update. Your mother is doing great. It does feel claustrophobic at first, but in time it will feel strange to sleep without it. The fact that she went 9 hours with the mask on shows your mother can overcome that feeling. Thanks again for that wonderful report.

@colleenyoung- Sounds like mom had a promising week! Great to hear that and I'm sure your help and encouragement had a lot to do with it! Happy Zzzz's mom. Jim @thankful

John, I have been using the CPAP hose stand for 3 nights. It is a definite improvement over my moving the hose out of the way several times during the night. Thanks for suggesting it and I will be recommending it to my CPAP using family and friends.