Newbie Looking for 1st CPAP Machine (Apex or Philips)

Hi everyone.

To make the long story short, I have sleep apnea. I was diagnosed with moderate OSAS in 2010 but only decided to get a CPAP now in 2016 mainly because of my wife having trouble sleeping beside me and, of course, the effects getting serious. Tests done in 2016 says I now have severe OSAS.

Be that as it may, I am now looking to purchase my first CPAP machine. After much research and having tried for several nights, several brands which allowed me to do trials, I have decided its a toss between the Apex ICH and the Philips Respironics PR60 c-flex. A simple google would reveal that the ICH is auto while the other one is not. Price point is likewise somewhat an issue from our jurisdiction. Apex costs 1222USD while the Philips cost 1333USD. The Apex comes with the wizard mask while the Philips comes with the Wisp nasal variant mask.

Now, I am gearing towards Apex for the following reasons: Its quiter, more modern look, auto function (in case in the future my physician requires me to use an auto one), more portable (which is good for someone who travels a lot like me).

Any thoughts, comments, opinions and/or reactions?

Really confused which one to get but, one thing is for sure, during the trial periods, using CPAP for the first few times, I slept well, no more sleepiness during the day and absolutely NO MORE snoring. Really happy for the wife here.

Best,

egzbuen

If it matters, I've actually never heard of Apex... don't know anyone who uses it. The 'big 2' of machine manufacturers are Resmed and Phillips Respironics, and the many different models they make are all listed, with reviews and pix and lots more info on Cpap.com. You really want a) an auto, because if nothing else - should you at some point want to try plain Cpap - autos can be run as 'just' Cpaps, but not vice versa. And b) you want a machine that records lots of data (beyond 'compliance' for insce. purposes) so you can track your progress every night using e.g. Sleepyhead software (it's free and most here use it) and make possible adjustments. What you're looking at is not likely to help you start fresh, and may end up discouraging you all over again. And there's a slew of good masks out there too, find one (while lying down) that really suits you, not just one that comes with a machine (most don't).

Why not the newest Respironics CPAP, dreamstation? Before you choose look closely at the warranty and if there is an issue how or if it's repairable. Several manufactures units aren't repairable which can be ridiculous if the issue is just a keypad, seal, etc.

He's outside the US...That may make a difference

Egzbuen, it would be helpful to know where you live, because then people familiar with what is offered (and insurance to cover it) where you live may be able to give you useful advice.

egzbuen wrote: between the Apex ICH and the Philips Respironics PR60 c-flex. A simple google would reveal that the ICH is auto while the other one is not.

I haven't heard of the apex, but I can promise you it doesn't have as good a data collection ability as the philips.

also, ignore "cflex" it means nothing.

the prs1 60 series has a whole slew of models, some are auto, some are not. if you go with that old, outdated machine, you want the 560.

also, those prices are ridiculous, you can get much better deals from secondwindcpap.com, or someone here. (like, 1/3 to 1/4th the price you mentioned.

Here's a link for secondwindcpap.com
http://www.secondwindcpap.com/
They will ship overseas. You can get a brand new zero hour open box Respironics auto adjusting machine for about half the price you were seeing (wherever those prices came from). Gently used low hour machine for even less.
I wouldn't go with the APEX at all.

Thanks for the quick replies guys.

I'm located in the Philippines hence the astronomical cpap prices. I also checked out the dreamstation. I thought it would be smaller than the PR60 but it's not. Perhaps, at best, by 5 to 7 percent. A little lighter thkugh. The model I checked out is also not Auto.

If I go Auto with the PR60, it would set me back around 2111usd.

My current budget is the same as the PR60 and Apex ICH I initially posted. Insurance won't cover CPAP. Heck, it didn't even cover my sleep tests, both back in 2010 and now in 2016.

Thus, if budget is at that range, I'm stuck with the PR60 non Auto model or the Apex ICH which is Auto.

I also thought of getting it from the CONUS where it's much cheaper but the local distro won't cover warranty. Plus, should the unit fail, downtime would easily be a month to send it to CONUS and wait for it to come back.

By the way, the local distro gives 2yrs warranty on both brands and able to give a loaner unithe during warranty period in case it fails.

With that said, I'm thinking of the Apex ICH coupled with Philips Wisp mask. Thoughts?

Decisions decisions. ...




Sent from hell

As we've said, we know nothing about the Apex, so it's difficult to advise about it - can you give us a link? The important things are that your machine be an auto and that it reports a lot of different data beyond just compliance hours. Have you investigated what's involved in importing a machine from the US? If you can, someone else here also suggested ordering from e.g. Secondwindcpap.com who are very reputable and a lot less expensive than buying new or buying from a source you're otherwise not familiar with.

Look at what happens after the 2 year warranty and repairing it. For example Fisher & Paykel has the 2 year free replacement like almost all the rest of the manufactures. Up to 5 years they won't repair it but replace it for a flat fee. After 5 years there is no repairing it, you throw it in the trash.

Just to give everyone an idea what the Apex is and what it can do, here's a link:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/ich-au ... -apex.html


Yup. Investigated importing a machine from the CONUS already. Customs duties and taxes are exorbitant which makes it impractical. Another way of doing it is asking a friend or relative tof hand carry it for me. However, I go back to the same warranty issue. Local distro won't honor it.

The local distro of the Apex and the Philips only have a limited warranty. They will try to fix it but if it can't, they will replace. But during downtime, they lend you a loaner unit. As stated earlier, they both give 2 years.

Sent from hell

egzbuen wrote:After much research and having tried for several nights, several brands which allowed me to do trials, I have decided its a toss between the Apex ICH and the Philips Respironics PR60 c-flex.

WHICH Philips Respironics PR60?

The PR model 260 is the System One Series 60 RemStar CPAP Plus with C-Flex, and this machine is a brick: It records no useful data at all. No leak data. No AHI data. Just compliance data.

The PR model 460 is the System One Series 60 RemStar CPAP Pro with C-Flex Plus, and this machine is a nice, full data fixed pressure machine. It records every breath you take all night long, along with full leak data and a record of when every event happened.

So the answer to the question which machine is better cannot be answered until we know which PR model you're talking about.

you could purchase two and hand carry them (and have your own backup or travel machine) for less than one purchased there.

I asked the dealer about the PR60 and here's the reply I got:

Remstar Pro cflex+ not sure with the catalogue no.

I reckon since it has the "+" it's the 460.

I hope this helps you guys in knowing and determining more about the Philips being sold to me and how it compares with the Apex model feature wise.


Sent from hell

Looks like R2D2!