Do I have to drive Rolls Royce?

[Sergey45]

Year and a half ago when I was diagnosed with SA, Apria had supplied me (as I understand now) with machine, which (as I understand now) has the biggest profit margin for Apria.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage-advanced.php?PNum=3

Good. It is functioning well, basically it is meeting both major criterias – it is very quiet and it is delivering constant pressure of 10, which has been prescribed by my doctor.
And major thing – I feel better, much better, however not to the extend I would like to feel. Well, at least this machine had allowed me to see the light at the end of a tunnel. Lets call this basic machine a Chevy of all CPAP machines.
OK. At this point where should my treatment go? Perhaps I need to monitor my AHI-SHMAHI etc. and to analyze it on a (daily/weekly??) base. Having pressure set for min-max, say 8-15 would be also not a bad idea? So for that I need
https://www.cpap.com/productpage-advanced.php?PNum=1607

OK. Lets call it Acura of CPAP. Presumably it should give me better treatment (yes/no/not sure???)

But then I am doing more research and finding a lot of Lexuses and Jaguars of CPAP
And ultimately of course the Rolls Royce of CPAP
https://www.cpap.com/productpage-advanced.php?PNum=1870

And that leaves me in state of absolute confusion and frustration. I mean I am ready (almost) to buy this Rolls Royce if it will give me better treatment. Pardon my long post; I am just looking for valuable advice. From some one who already came thru all this.
Do I really have to drive Rolls Royce for best treatment possible, or Acura will be just fine?
Thanks in advance for any input.

[cflame1]

Unless you've got some other kind of pre-existing condition, or it's specifically prescribed for you for some reason other than you simply just want it... the Acura will do you just fine.

[Sergey45]

Unless you've got some other kind of pre-existing condition, or it's specifically prescribed for you for some reason other than you simply just want it... the Acura will do you just fine.

Then I see that my Acura will be a TL
https://www.cpap.com/productpage-advanced.php?PNum=1607

And you are having RL
https://www.cpap.com/productpage-advanced.php?PNum=2018
Which more than twice as much.

Can you please give me your thoughts on that? Do I need RL?
Thank you very much.

[cflame1]

I bought it used... for me at an auction... find it easier to breathe on it.

Don't ask me why it works for me, I don't have that answer... it just does.

[Sergey45]

I bought it used... for me at an auction... find it easier to breathe on it.

Don't ask me why it works for me, I don't have that answer... it just does.

Thanks

[Slinky]

Sergey, I'd suggest another step up from the Acura you are looking at to

https://www.cpap.com/productpage-advanced.php?PNum=2486

Only $11 more for just the machine or $20 more for the full bundle than your Acura.

A little ingenuity on your part will find the EncorePro v.1.8 software and I think the reader cable is still the 3500 from twofactors in HongKong for $24 plus about $8 shipping to the US.

[Sergey45]

Sergey, I'd suggest another step up from the Acura you are looking at to

https://www.cpap.com/productpage-advanced.php?PNum=2486

Only $11 more for just the machine or $20 more for the full bundle than your Acura.

A little ingenuity on your part will find the EncorePro v.1.8 software and I think the reader cable is still the 3500 from twofactors in HongKong for $24 plus about $8 shipping to the US.

Well, thanks.
You see, the thing is – there are a lot of complains about M machines been noisy.
I have narrowed my search down to machines which are using RemStar Plus as a base. I presume that all mechanical parts RepStar Auto are the same as in Plus machine, hence I can expect same level of quietness. So I will pay my attention only on advises about “Tanks” If I understood things correctly it is how people call RemStar Plus and all latest modifications of it.
But thanks anyway.

[Snoredog]

not me, I'm going for the motor home with the Weber BBQ on the back porch

[Slinky]

Giggle. Snicker. LOVE it SnoreDog!! I want one too! It looks to be in better condition than my old '76 Itasca w/the leaky roof and shot transmission!

[geoDoug]

I understand your situation, because my path has been similar. Four months ago, I got the same machine (Remstar Plus) also from Apria. Like you, I've since done a lot of independent research into various features. I settled on the Remstar M Series Pro w/Cflex. I jumped through all the hoops necessary and I'm preparing my notes for my meeting with Apria tomorrow to swap. So God willing, tomorrow at this time I'll have my new machine! (Woohoo! Wish me luck!)

Year and a half ago when I was diagnosed with SA, Apria had supplied me (as I understand now) with machine, which (as I understand now) has the biggest profit margin for Apria.

Can you tell me how you know? Do you have a source? I'm not alone on this board in my hatred for the fact that profit exists in the medical industry. If it's true, I'd love to be able to cite a source for that information.

Doug.

[Sergey45]

Well, there is no source in particular, just my intuition. Look – Apria had charged my insurance for RemStar Plus over one thousand dollars. Don’t remember exactly how much, but it was > 1000 for sure. This is the best business for any DME. Buying old outdated stuff from supplier on discount and selling it to us on inflated prices.

[adjusting]

Just my two cents, but I'd go with the Respironics BiPap AUTO with Biflex. You want an auto machine as you stated, and the bipap with the biflex will make it much easier on you for every breath. It's available in the tank model. It's the machine my doctor wanted me to have two years ago, but it wasn't on the market then. I have it on order now and expect to have it hopefully sometime this week. My doctor wrote me the prescription and thinks I'll be pleased with it. He said his patients told him they liked the tank model better too. I do have insurance (which helps a lot) and they have agreed to pay for it. I feel I need all the help and comfort I can get from this therapy to keep my blood pressure and diabetes under control. If you can afford it get the BiPap Auto with Biflex? At present I am using a RemStar Auto with C-flex. I'll give you an update when I get my new BiPap Auto with Biflex to let you know how it compares in my humble opinion.

[geoDoug]

Well, there is no source in particular, just my intuition. Look – Apria had charged my insurance for RemStar Plus over one thousand dollars. Don’t remember exactly how much, but it was > 1000 for sure. This is the best business for any DME. Buying old outdated stuff from supplier on discount and selling it to us on inflated prices.

Oh I agree. That's been my gut feeling for some time as well. I'm constantly amazed at the multipage bill that Apria submitted to Aetna, which included separate absurd charges for every last item--items that comes with the machine!

I'd love to add a source for this to my arsenal for when I go on a rant about "reasons why the medical system in our country sucks and HAS to change." Maybe I'll do a little digging around.

Doug.

[Sergey45]

[quote="adjusting"]Just my two cents, but I'd go with the Respironics BiPap AUTO with Biflex. You want an auto machine as you stated, and the bipap with the biflex will make it much easier on you for every breath. It's available in the tank model. It's the machine my doctor wanted me to have two years ago, but it wasn't on the market then. I have it on order now and expect to have it hopefully sometime this week. My doctor wrote me the prescription and thinks I'll be pleased with it. He said his patients told him they liked the tank model better too. I do have insurance (which helps a lot) and they have agreed to pay for it. I feel I need all the help and comfort I can get from this therapy to keep my blood pressure and diabetes under control. If you can afford it get the BiPap Auto with Biflex? At present I am using a RemStar Auto with C-flex. I'll give you an update when I get my new BiPap Auto with Biflex to let you know how it compares in my humble opinion.

[cwsanfor]

I started with a Respironics APAP, because I got my prescription from my doctor and ordered it from cpap.com, rather than use a local DME, or order a straight CPAP.

I later bought a BiPAP Auto, because I thought it would provide greater comfort. It has, and and I have also gotten better AHI readings the BiPAP than I did from the APAP. Both are good machines, and the difference in AHI's may be due to me getting better with maskcraft and being more familiar with best practices. I think, though, that the BiPAP provides me with better comfort and treatment than the APAP, although I haven't really revisited the APAP. The APAP is now my backup machine.

I'd prefer any Auto machine with data capability to any straight CPAP machine without data.