Sorry if this is too long, but I am really not sure what questions I need to be asking, and feel a full history of my experience over the past few weeks will be helpful.  

After struggling with insomnia most of my life, and after finally getting a job with good benefits, I had my doctor refer me for a sleep study.  I a deviated septum which makes it very difficult for me to breath through my nose while on my back.  I also have mild asthma which is very well controlled with steroid inhalers.  But...the only way I can really breath through my nose is to lay on my left side.  The sleep study itself was awful as I simply was unable to fall asleep for several hours because they asked me to fall asleep on my back, and I was having trouble breathing.  I was also supposed to be given an ambien, but when I got to the study they were "out."  So finally about 3 am I fell asleep for about 3 hours.

 I had a follow-up appointment about 4 days later where I was told they would go over my sleep study results.  I arrived on time, but was told that the doctor was running behind and it would be about half an hour.  I finally met with the doctor who spent 10 minutes with me, and told me that i had "moderate sleep apnea" and told me a little bit about what that meant.  He said I was being prescribed a CPAP machine, and another sleep study would be necessary to determine how I responded.  In all he met with me for about 10 minutes, told me I needed to do cognitive sleep therapy, and scheduled another sleep study.

Again, the night of the study was awful.  Still no ambien.  But this time I brought my own.  However, I still had an awful time falling asleep as the full face mask they put me on put tremendous pressure on my nose while I was on my back.  They adjusted it several times, telling me that it shouldn't hurt because it was a "perfect fit.'  After several adjustments, and when the ambien kicked in, I was able to fall asleep on my side.  I then had a follow-up appointment with someone...I'm not sure their exact role.  They went over the cpap machine with me, and gave me a mirage liberty full face mask.  They told me my prescribed pressure was 7.  They showed me how to use the machine, and the humidifier, and sent me on my way.  

The first night using the machine went fine.  It was a weird adjustment, but I slept as well as I usually do (waking up once every couple hours or so), and woke up feeling ok.  I was excited for this as I thought I might be finally able to get some sleep.

The next couple nights were rough as I am sure I was adjusting to everything.  One thing I discovered was that there was supposed to be a valve in the hose where it attached to the mask, and it wasn't there.  (It was in the bag.  No one showed or told me about it.)  I put that in, and had an ok night.

But then the next two nights I would wake up with a completely dry mouth and nose, and pain in my sinuses.  The water container was bone dry.  On the second night I woke up about two hours before I had to get up, refilled the water container, and went back to sleep for about 1.5 hours.  I woke up to the water container totally dry.  So I called the sleep center that day and was told to bring in the cpap machine.  (By the way, it's a fisher/paskel hc234).  They gave me a new machine, set it to the proper settings, and I used it last night.  I woke up to a half full container, but awful, awful asthma.  I thought it was related to the machine, but then discovered that under the place I had the previous machine was a wet spot on our carpet and a strong smell of mold (which I am highly allergic to).  i put the new machine up on the night stand, put a towel under it, and had no problems with the towel being wet.  Because of the mold, I decided to thoroughly clean the hose, mask, and water containers.  I will try again tonight.

So I think I need a new visit to this office, but I am not sure what I should be asking them.  My friend with sleep apnea had such success with this group, that I didn't really ask many questions, just accepted waht they gave me.  I am close to giving up using CPAP because I feel so cruddy the next day, and am not sleeping better.  Why keep going on it if I am getting as much sleep as I did before?  But I am willing to try.  

So...what questions should I be asking?  Can anyone help give me what I need to have covered with this sleep center?  He (the doctor) seems well respected both by my own physician (who I totally trust) and by my friend who has had such good success.  But I am leary.  Can you give me some questions to determine if I should stick with him, or try to find someone new?  Can you give me the questions I need to have answered?  

I hope this makes sense.  I'm really quite tired and not functioning at a high level.  Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give me.