Help! Best machine? Kaiser Jerkin me around

Hello Ya'll,

What are your thought on a Respironics M Series Auto CPAP with A-Flex? Is the C or A better? Apria giving me a hard time about upgrading saying I need a doctors prescription to order an Auto CPAP which I hear is WAY better that a CPAP set to a specific number?

I spoke with Apria today and was trying to figure out the best machine for me. Even though I am willing to pay the difference they said I have to have doctors orders to upgrade?!?! Thoughts?

The AFLEX gives you the opportunity to try both the C and the A (seperately not together). The CFLEX only lets you try the C.

How much are they wanting to charge you to "upgrade" to the APAP with AFlex? It is available online from cpap.com right now for less than 600 with the humidifier. What would be your total out of pocket costs? Do the math. Is there a deductible involved? Is this rent to own where deductible starts over in January?

I have both auto machines, the AFlex and the CFlex and I do like the AFlex better. It is a personal choice and more of a comfort choice as well. I also seem to be doing a wee bit better with my AHI and how I feel using AFlex but it has only been a couple of weeks so can't say for sure.

The APAP machines are like 2 machines in one. They will run in auto mode with pressure variations or they will run in straight Cpap mode with one set pressure.

The APAPs are data capable and most of the time when straight cpaps are given they only offer compliance data or hours of usage to satisfy insurance requirements. If you get a straight cpap must make sure it is fully data capable.

Auto adjusting pressures may or may not be best suited for you. But it is nice to have the option to see if you need some changes made. The Encore Viewer software also shows additional information from the apap units as opposed to cpap mode. So even a lot of people run in auto mode with tight window of pressure ranges simulating cpap mode so they can get the additional information.

Do you know the exact model that Apria was willing to give you? Was it M series Plus or M series Pro? Both are straight cpap but only the Pro is fully data capable.

You can buy an APAP machine from cpap.com with a cpap prescription.....

The APAP/A-flex is what I have and I love it.

Pugsy pretty much ran down the features of both. Your DME gets paid the same whether they supply an APAP/A or a CPAP Plus. Naturally, they will try to lowball you. If you go thru them, they'll probably require a 'script specifying "Auto". Cpap.com will not, as she said.

Incidentally, I use CPAP mode (I get better numbers) but run APAP for a few nights every 6 mos just to verify nothing has changed. It works for me...

Pugsy wrote:I have both auto machines, the AFlex and the CFlex and I do like the AFlex better. It is a personal choice and more of a comfort choice as well.

Same here. I have both machines, too. I love using A-Flex. With that machine, in auto mode you can use either A-Flex or C-Flex, or have both turned off if that feels better.