The machine sends my results to a web page and gives me a score /100 depending on certain factors. The first three nights have been 88, 92 and 90, which it says are excellent. Where I lost most of my points is on mask fit (9, 13 & 10/20). In order to get the best fit, I have to have it uncomfortably tight. This is entirely down to Beard. I also had 8.7, 1.5 and 5.n apnoea events per hour on each night respectively which implies, quite logically, that the better the fit the fewer apnoea events I get.
I phoned the hospital to see if they would provide a nasal cushion mask, which bypasses facial hair. I have a feeling that they don't but I am prepared to buy one if necessary. The guy who conducted the presentation - was he NHS staff or a company rep? I think he was NHS staff, because he warned us against spending money - and this thing could become a money sink...
At the presentation, he asked for a volunteer. I offered my services, but he rejected me because of my beard, and when he handed me the mask he seemed fairly pessimistic that I would get good results with it. The guy he did use as a guinea pig had stubble and the seal on his face wasn't brilliant.
So I have two options, the second of which is the nuclear option of beard removal. I shall try the mask first. Either way involves spending money (I don't possess any shaving kit of any kind), but beard removal also involves lots of wasted time shaving every day.