Remstar Plus M Series -- lots of false starts, getting worse

About 1-2 years ago, my 2009-era Respironics Remstar Plus M Series CPAP machine started exhibiting a problem. When I'd turn it on at night, it would start blowing but then within a 1/2 second, it'd die. Then a few seconds later, it'd beep, then a few seconds later, it'd try to start blowing, and either work, or die again.

This pattern has worsened over time. It used to take 2-5 restarts and then it would have the "confidence" to blow all night. But NOW, it's up to 15-20 false starts typically.

LAST NIGHT was the worst ever: it took 27 attempts for it to begin functioning correctly.

So yeah, I'm worried the machine is dying.

Is this user-serviceable, in any way? I bought this machine outright from the "home care provider" ripoff company the doctor sent me to to get the machine originally. Now the machine is obsolete, and I can't get support.

Thought I'd ask around here. Thanks in advance to any folks who might know what options I have.

notafanofcpaps wrote: ↑

Thu May 15, 2025 9:02 am

Is this user-serviceable, in any way?

Possibly but chances of success are slim and it will be very pricey to get done.

Call acbio.com
https://acbio.com/

See if it is even doable and if it is the cost involved.

I suspect that you can get a new or gently used machine for the same money.

Thanks for the reply. As for trying to get a new machine -- yes it is the obvious thing to do.

Only one catch: the very large metropolitan hospital's sleep center/doctor office I originally had the apnea test done for, back in 2009, and got the prescription for the CPAP, has purged its 2009-era medical records. AND, since they simply passed on the prescription directly to the "home care provider" company, I never saw the prescription, the home care company just showed up, set me up with the CPAP, and that was that.

All these years later, the hospital's sleep center is like, nah we don't have a copy of the original prescription or apnea diagnosis anymore. Same for the home care company.

So the ONLY way it appears I could get a new CPAP machine is to go through another sleep test overnight at a sleep center, just because ... bureacracy.

So I'm trying to find a way to fix my existing machine before having to resort to such stupid measures that only make money for the medical profession but are entirely unnecessary.

Have you checked with your insurance company yourself to see what they might require?
What insurance do you have?
If they do require another sleep study ask if a home sleep study would be sufficient. There are several levels of data gathering available on home studies now. It's a lot different now than it was back in 2009.

Don't rely on what the doc or DME says that your insurance says....get it straight from the horses mouth.

Check out secondwindcpap.com. They don't require a RX for international buyers and sometimes they let the requirement for US buyers without a RX, to slide. Meaning you might check the box for "I will send RX copy" and then forget to but they still ship the machine..

Finally private purchase from an individual is an option.
Down side is you don't get warranty protection at all but upside is you don't have to deal with all the red tape.