I'm glad that you're improving, @
Tart Cherry Jam!
I've been pushing through the tiredness I feel in the early evening, getting a "second wind" and then going to bed later than usual, like at 11pm. Then, I might wake up alert at about 5am and either get up, or get another 90 minutes of sleep and get up at 6:30am. I seem to do well either way. Six or 7.5 hours of sleep seem right.
CPAP-wise, the new mask fits better, too, and the new machine has upgraded algorithms that seem to make exhaling a little easier. It also has an auto-start mode -- it starts up whenever I put the mask on and start breathing. This is helpful on the days when I sleep on the other side of the bed.
Hope all of you folks are practicing good sleep hygiene!