Remstar Auto w/ C-flex vs. S8 Autoset Vantage [Need input]

I HAD the Remstar Plus M Series with C-flex (not the same animal but.....I liked C-Flex) and now I have the s8 Autoset Vantage by Resmed. It does not have c-flex but it does have EPR IF I was using CPAP mode. But I'm not. So, I'm not getting c-flex. At first I thought it wasn't necessary. And it's really not. But if the two machines were sitting side by side I would probably get the Remstar Auto for that extra feature.

Now, on Wednesday I decide whether or not to buy or rent. If I buy, I probably have to go through some compliance stuff with the insurance comapny to make sure I'm using it. I've used it every single day atleast 6 hours worth. Sometimes 8.

I know some of you have both machines and most of you love YOUR machine. I like this machine but like I said, if given the choice (which I wasn't) I would get a Remstar Auto with C-flex (even if the M series is or is not available. I like M series but it's going to cost more and why not save on the "older" model. It works pretty much the same.)

Part of me wants to just rent and later return the rented machine and buy the right one for me but that involves out of pocket expense. That's a shame really when I probably should, after 1 month of use, just return the s8 autoset vantage....and try to buy a Remstar Auto with C-flex through Billmysinsurance.com I don't know what they charge for them but I do know they can't work with me while I have something going on with another DME. I did contact billmysinsurance.com when I was in the initial stages after I got my Remstar Plus home. But they said they couldn't offer me anything while I was still working with another DME. If anyone has any input on that please feel free to give advice.

I do think my machine is a good machine. And while I like to join the legion of Resmed I just think I might be better served by the Remstar Auto. Also, I might just BUY this s8 and keep it as a back-up once I get the Remstar out of pocket. I don't know why I would need a back-up but many of you have discussed having one and I seem to recall something about that on my sleepdoc's website as well.

This s8 is GREAT machine. It just doesn't have c-flex or EPR in auto mode. That's the only drawback. And quite frankly, this whole business about finding the RIGHT machine and the RIGHT mask is next to impossible if you're not a "one-size fits all kind of person". Any input is much appreciated!!!!!!

well dude i have my remstar auto and i got to tell you it's a great machine, i'm glad my sleep doc chose it for me, the c-flex is great,

and i did try on a resmed autoset spirit while in the rt's office when i was being shown how to work my new machine, but it was just to show me the difference between having the c-flex, and not. i guess i didn't learn the first time cause i did change mine to auto with no c-flex once and i gotta tell you the next morning i put it right back on auto with c-flex,

what can i say, i had a bad night, won't be doing that again any time soon, lol, hindsite is always 20-20, now maybe for a backup or travel machine i'll be okay without the c-flex, but all the time, no.

bottom line, you really need to keep trying things to see if they help or hinder your progress, see if you can take a remstar auto on a test drive to see if you like it, i'm sure your dme would have one mothballed somewhere, and if you like it then you could do what you said, use the remstar at home and the s8 for travel.

Both auto machines have excellent algorithms but why do without C-flex if you like it? EPR is not as good as C-flex and as you said doesn't work in auto mode.

I also like the software from Respironics better. I have access to both machines and chose the Remstar Auto. Life without C-flex just wouldn't be worth living. Alright, I'm exaggerating, but I really like C-flex!

The M Series isn't going to cost me anymore than the traditional Remstar machines but maybe some dealers are paying more for it.

If you don't choose the Remstar, you will always wish you had.

What if:

DME gave me a Remstar Plus 1 month ago on Wednesday. Then last Wednesday she switched that out and charged me $35 for the water tray and gave me the s8 autoset vantage instead. Let's say I really really really want a Remstar Auto with C-flex. And they don't carry them. I asked. The only remstar's they have are the Plus M Series. Atleast for now.

What if I just say the lack of C-flex was more than I can deal with but I still want an auto and you don't carry it. So, I guess I'm going to buy one on the web. Can I give my S8 autoset vantage back since I've only been using it for 1 month? Obviously the DME only gets to sell me a mask at this point. And they probably would feel bad because they didn't get to sell me the original machine or the replacement. I asked for a Remstar Auto first btw but they didn't carry them. Argh!!!!

find out what they tell you, if they have the m series they can get the auto i would think, but see what they say.

[quote="RedThunder94"]find out what they tell you, if they have the m series they can get the auto i would think, but see what they say.

then i suggest giving them back the machine and going elsewhere unless you are locked into that particular dme by your insurance.

Why don't you just tell the DME that the Vantage isn't nearly as good for you as the cflex was -- but tell them that you will use the Vantage until the new M auto with cflex is available from them. You could hint that if they can't get it for you, that you are considering buying it online.

If they can buy the Remstar Plus, they can buy the Remstar Auto. All they have to do is call Respironics and ask for it. They don't want to sale it because the Remstar Auto cost a $100 more than the S8 Vantage. I just don't understand why so many DMEs aren't honest with their customers and give them the option to pay the difference.

I offered to pay the difference when I asked for the Remstar Auto. The DME charged me $35 for my "water chamber" and said "don't worry about it." when asked specifically about the exchange charge. Now, correct me if I'm wrong but the S8 autoset Vantage is the MOST expensive apap item on cpap.com It's $765.99 vs $709.99 for the non-m series Remstar Auto w/C-flex. So, you're probably right about about the M series edition that's not out yet costing more but the version I would be satisfied with is a regular Remstar Auto w/ C-flex.

I'm not locked into this DME with my insurance. I know the sleep doc (whom my regular doctor referred me to, highly recommended.) is IN network but that's about it.

At this point I see no reason to NOT return the S8 Autoset Vantage. I'm supposed to go in Wednesday and make a decision to buy or to rent. And instead I'm opting to return the unit and just request my prescription instead. I don't know how specific my prescription is currently. (I assume the in-house DME needed it to fill my prescription but I could be wrong.) Perhaps I'll have to ask for a new one specifically for APAP???

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap.com, C-FLEX, DME, Prescription, auto, APAP

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap.com, C-FLEX, DME, Prescription, auto, APAP

i would first ask for your script and shop around with the other in network dme's in your area before you return the s8, just make sure that they know that they will lose a sale if they can't find a way to get you a remstar auto. if not, then see if you can find one that does carry the remstar auto, that way you won't have to go too long without treatment. i'm almost sure that if they can get the m series they can still get an auto some way to avoid losing a client. but you never know, there's a difference between can't and won't.

Are you implying by just asking for my script they'll 'auto'matically assume I'm shopping around? I guess that's a good thing in this situation. But can I change DME's mid-stream?

The reason I ask is billmyinsurance.com said they can't work with me while I have a relationship going on with another dme

no, they won't assume that's the case, let them know that you want the script cause you really want an auto and since they can't seem to get you the one you want that you'll just go elsewhere.

[quote="RedThunder94"]no, they won't assume that's the case, let them know that you want the script cause you really want an auto and since they can't seem to get you the one you want that you'll just go elsewhere.