Newbie questions: 1) c-flex vs EPR, S8 Escape II vs S8 Elite

[mfbower]

These are all sorted of related:

Background. I've had (as posted earlier) a basic Remstar machine with no c-flex, no auto. I've still not gotten used to it.

My respiration therapist recommended that I get a new prescription and get a machine with c-flex or better yet the S8 Elite from Resmed.

Got the Rx. Turned it it. Insurance says no. They bought my machine in July so I have to wait 2 years. So I'm on my own nickel.

Now the questions:

1) is c-flex a medical type term (like CPAP is) or just a particular companies marketing term (Remstar)?

2) How does c-flex compare to EPR from Resmed? I heard good things about the smoothness of EPR over c-flex.

3) This is the biggie. I see that I can get the S8 Escape II (second generation) with EPR cheaper than the S8 Elite (first generation). The first generation of the Escape didn't have EPR, the second generation does.

Has anybody done a comparison between these two machines? Is getting a second generation Escape (that apparently has EPR) going to be as good as the first generation Elite that also had EPR?

Sorry for the questions - there are so many bewildering things to think about.

Thank you all in advance. Great group here. Lots of knowledge.

Michael in Ashburn

[2girlsmom]

I know it's more costly, but after going for a year with a machine that was not data capable I regret not fighting harder to get one that was from the beginning. That said, the Resmed Elite is $449.00 on cpap.com. Here is a link: https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/resme ... -cpap.html

It has EPR, and you could also get the software/reader down the road to really be able to look at your data. You could view AI, HI, AHI and leak data from the screen without the software. To me it would be worth the extra money to get EPR and the capability to get the full data from a machine.

Good luck!

[dsm]

These are all sorted of related:

Background. I've had (as posted earlier) a basic Remstar machine with no c-flex, no auto. I've still not gotten used to it.

My respiration therapist recommended that I get a new prescription and get a machine with c-flex or better yet the S8 Elite from Resmed.

Got the Rx. Turned it it. Insurance says no. They bought my machine in July so I have to wait 2 years. So I'm on my own nickel.

Now the questions:

1) is c-flex a medical type term (like CPAP is) or just a particular companies marketing term (Remstar)?

2) How does c-flex compare to EPR from Resmed? I heard good things about the smoothness of EPR over c-flex.

3) This is the biggie. I see that I can get the S8 Escape II (second generation) with EPR cheaper than the S8 Elite (first generation). The first generation of the Escape didn't have EPR, the second generation does.

Has anybody done a comparison between these two machines? Is getting a second generation Escape (that apparently has EPR) going to be as good as the first generation Elite that also had EPR?

Sorry for the questions - there are so many bewildering things to think about.

Thank you all in advance. Great group here. Lots of knowledge.

Michael in Ashburn

I've used C-Flex on a Remstar AUTO - not bad (C-Flex is a Respironics proprietary term)
Used an Escape with no EPR then a Vantage Auto that ran EPR in Cpap mode (which suited me fine).

The 2nd Gen machine is even quieter than the 1st gen so all-in-all the 2nd Gen S8 with EPR is an excellent machine. The thing about EPR is that it comes close to emulating a bilevel (in fact it runs just like a bilevel but with less values to set). Nice machine.

DSM

[rested gal]

If you want to see overnight data in the machine's LCD window, the Escape can't give you that. The Escape records only hours of use. The Elite can show you data the next morning without needing any software. The machine will show data like the AHI (apnea/hypopnea index...the average of how many apneas and hypopneas per hour sneaked through despite treatment), and what the leak rate was. Leak rate is especially good to know about. Lets you know if treatment is being compromised by a mask leaks and/or mouth air leaks.

I'd get an Elite over an Escape every time. I want to see information about my treatment.

[mfbower]

Rested Gal, further question:

I looked at the manual for the Elite (not Elite II) and saw that it only had two usage displays. I then did a search of the forum and didn't get this answered:

How do I change the display so it shows more info and what new info will I be seeing?

I see your point about knowing your own usage and I agree with a lot of that. (I'm an engineer so one of the first things I'll probably do if I get a data card ready machine is try to read the data myself rather than buying the software.)

There are a couple of other issues to add to the equation:

1) Escape II (or any II machine) says it is 60-75% quieter. My wife will LOVE that.

2) I can get the Escape II WITH humidifier for a LOT less than even the S8 Elite without humidifier. (But you get what you pay for, I understand that.)

3) EPR is supposed improved. (S8 Escape didn't have EPR, S8 Escape II does. S8 Elite does)

If I had just won the lottery, this all would be a moot point. I'd buy the best.

Thanks, rested gal and every one else for their thoughts. Keep them coming.

Michael

[boston]

Just a thought, you say your insurance wont buy another machine, could you switch insurance and have the new one buy it??
Just wondering because I know a lot of companies are doing hteir insurance enrollment right now.

[rested gal]

Rested Gal, further question:

I looked at the manual for the Elite (not Elite II) and saw that it only had two usage displays. I then did a search of the forum and didn't get this answered:

How do I change the display so it shows more info and what new info will I be seeing?

I'm not sure which two "usage displays" are mentioned in the manual you looked at.. presumably you saw a "User" manual, not a "Clinical" manual. As far as I know both the Elite and the Elite II would have the same menu items and would display the same information...the "Smart Data."

Here are a couple of threads about the clinical menu of the Elite. It's probably the same menu for the Elite II. Perhaps an Elite "II" user who is able to go into the clinical menu of the machine will post a reply if the menu items are different:

viewtopic.php?t=22776
Allowing the user to see "Smart Data" is turned on/off is in the "Options" part of the clinical menu.

viewtopic.php?p=226375#226375

[mfbower]

Good thought but no. We sign up for insurance in June of each year.

[alnhwrd]

Mfbower,

Basically, C-flex is the equivalent of EPR, and A-flex is the equivalent of Easy Breath. C-flex and A-flex are the terms Respironics uses to describe it's exhalation relief, and EPR, or Exhalation Pressure Relief and Easy Breath are terms for the same function in a Resmed machine.

I would not have an Escape as my primary machine. Nothing wrong with them, they deliver the same pressurized air as an Elite, but I believe that everyone should have a machine that is capable of providing at least the nightly average pressure, Leak Rate, AI and AHI. The Elite (my machine) and Elite II provide this information through the "Efficiency Menu", also called the Advanced Patient Menu. You can also get the same info from the Clinician's menu, but its easier to bring up the Efficiency menu. I believe that you have to turn Smart Data on from the Clinician's menu first to get the Efficiency Menu to come up.

If a person wants to access the Clinician's Menu (not saying anyone should or shouldn't), they can do so by pressing and holding the Right and Down buttons for a few seconds. Scroll through the options and write down all initial settings so that if you change something and don't like it you can change it back again. To access the Efficiency Menu press and hold the Left and Right buttons for a few seconds and scroll through it to see your nightly data. Remember that the machine will wipe all data at noon and roll it into the weekly, monthly, annual averages, so be sure to check before then.

It is good that are taking charge of your therapy, and ultimately the choice of machine that you make is up to you. I would suggest again that data is, in the long run, more important than EPR, though in a perfect world you would not have to choose between the two. I turned off my EPR months ago, and I have adapted to where it feels like I am breathing out against nothing, but I still check my data every night. Best of luck to you.