Choices - Remstar or Resmed

It seems all that can be justified for my treatment is a CPAP machine. But anyway I still plan to get the software for whichever as well as unlock it if needed. I believe it will still get the job done.

Here is my scrip: CPAP, 11 cm H2O, 45 minute ramp time, humidifier, (EPR or C-flex box not checked).


I can pick a REMstar Pro M Series or Resmed S8 Elite. I cannot tell much difference in either. The Resmed software and cable together is a little more expensive it seems.


I do travel by air overnight sometimes. Have traveled over 800,000 miles in the last 7 years by air.

Either machine will do the trick. The Elite has (IMHO) easier access to your nightly average data. You just press and hold the left and right buttons on top of the machine and you have your 95% pressure, leak rate, AI HI and AHI. The Remstar is a bit trickier, but with the software and reader you can get a lot of detailed data. Many people here use it and like it. Do NOT get the Remstar Plus or the Resmed Compact or Escape. Perhaps of greater importance is getting the best possible mask fitting. Have the tech hook you up to your machine at your prescribed pressure and let you lay down and move around with it. If it feels painful or uncomfortable or leaks alot, try another. Good luck to you.

Two days ago I just received my new machine, I had the plus at first had it around a year, my Ins.co
ok for me to get a new machine, Remstar M Series Pro c-flex with humidifier, I love it, it is so
quiet, my pressure is 13, and c-flex is 3, I got them to turn off the ramp. and turn on all the stuff
needed for the software, Hope this helped good luck with your choice.

Why don't you go on cpap.com and compare the two machines, side by side? That should help you make your decision. I personally like the Resmed Elite, it's the quietest on the market, and I like the easy way you can get your information. Either one sounds like a good choice, you can't go wrong with a data capable machine.

At the settings you have described, both are going to be excellent choices. It may actually boil down to how cute one is vs the other

DSM

If insurance is paying I'd be smiling all the way to the bed (can't trust those bankers any more) with either one.

If I had to pay--which ever one was cheaper!

Thanks for the idea about comparing them on cpap.com! They are certainly quite similar. Somewhat leaning toward the Remstar. The cost to me is the same at about $20 for either.

Also called around and visited several covered DMEs. Found a local one that was really very helpful, took the extra time to explain in detail their services. There were even two CPAP users coming and going while I was there that gave them a recommendation. They have a 30 day mask return policy. Will go back tomorrow morning and get things started. I believe it was helpful calling around a couple of days ago to make a short list and then visiting those in person today.

The help I received from folks on here and the archives really helped me ask the right questions. What's funny is that it was sort of a circle of research. This DME ended up being my original referal from the sleep lab.

I'll probably order from cpap.com the appropriate software and card reader as soon as the machine type is confirmed. Wonder if it's worth going ahead and getting a hose cover in the same order as well or just wait for rainout?

Thanks again for all the help. Hope to be analyzing some numbers soon. Certainly looking forward to this therapy.

They're both good machines.
My feeling is that the Encore software (Respironics/REMstar) is easier to understand.....for me at least.

Den

Wulfman has a good point there.

The Software available for the Respironics is easier to obtain, easier to use, easier to read for a person not looking for intricate detail. It cab be a PITB to install & get working but once past that hurdle it is usually ok. Also it is cheaper all up to obtain the software & the reader needed.

The current Resmed software is really targeted at the professional practice & while it is very easy to install, it is not as easy to use. I personally do like it because I know how to use it and to get the most intricate data from my Reslink modules attached to my machines. But for someone with a std machine, the data can be confusing in the way it is presented.

Respironics, at the moment, win the vote for easiest software & charts.

DSM

If you want a lower AHI choose the remstar. Of course it doesn't mean you will actually be getting better treatment but you won't feel so bad when others on this site talk about having a low AHI if you get the remstar.. ..because yours will be less than half as much as it will be with the resmed...if your results are similar to mine. I have both.
I spent two years with my resmed trying to get my AHI below 5..averaged 5.5 over that two year period. If I had only known changing machines could have gotten me to a 2....would have saved a lot of unnecessary effort.

Excellent points here. And some more good points in another fairly recent thread on a similar topic:

viewtopic/t40900/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=39 ... 26#p343726

sheldons65 wrote:I can pick a REMstar Pro M Series or Resmed S8 Elite.

Either machine should do fine for you.

If I were going to use software, I'd choose the Respironics REMstar Pro M series machine. I'd get a separate Fisher & Paykel HC 150 heated humidifier for it, instead of the integrated humidifier (just my personal preference, and my dislike of M series humidifiers.)

If I preferred getting data off the LCD window of a machine and wasn't particularly interested in using software with a machine, I'd choose the ResMed S8 Elite II. I'd make sure it was the Elite II, not just an Elite without " II " at the end of its name. The integrated heated humidifier -- I'd insist on the H4i, not the older H3i humidifier.

If quietness was a major factor, I'd get the Elite II.

If I were going to travel frequently, I'd want the ResMed machine -- for the convenience of checking overnight data via the LCD while traveling, and the convenience of not lugging along the awkward power brick cord Respironics M machines use.

If pressure relief at for breathing out was an important comfort feature to me, I'd choose the Respironics machine for its C-Flex. I like that better than ResMed's EPR for ease in getting an exhalation started.

But again, either of those two CPAP machines should treat you fine. My choice would depend on which features were more important to me.