swallowing air

Is their anyone out there that can help me? I am on my 3rd night of this cpap thing, and for the last 2 nights I awake after only a few hours of sleep doubling over with belly cramps. I have been up since 1:00 am this morning walking around in awful pain.
I have to be swallowing air, but I Know for a fact that while I am awake this is not happening, because I am very careful not to do so. So it must happen as soon as I fall asleep.
I use a chin strap b/c I am a mouth breather.
Help. I am only 49 yrs. old and feel like checking into a nursing home this morning. (Pity Party,,,,,pity party...))

Hi! Go to the top of this page and click on the word Search .

Enter the word: aerophagia, or the words: swallowing air. You have a lot of company!!!

Here's a good thread to read. Click on:

http://cpaptalk.com/viewtopic.php?t=265 ... aerophagia



Good luck!

thanks so much for providing me with the info.
I don't know much about the machines to lower the pressure, etc. but I am about to learn. I am going to call the sleep center at the hospital this afternoon. They gave me the respironics remstar plus w/ cflex last Friday when I started, but I now realize that I want to get a machine that will let me collect data and an auto cpap w/cflex with a (card ??)seems to be what I need.Do you know what the latest models of machines are? I am not sure that the sleep center is giving me the info I need.

First, I would look on cpap.com and check out all the auto (self-adjusting) cpaps. The 2 that I have read the most about on this forum in terms of sheer numbers, are the PB420E and the REMstar Auto with C-Flex. Different people like different ones for different reasons. Many people think C-Flex is invaluable to them because it is easier to exhale. C-Flex is only available on the REMstar. Many people think size and portability is important, which leads them to buy the much more compact PB420E.
Different manufacturers setup their machines with different algorithms. So the treatment you get in the APAP mode varies. Some people find the PB420E responds best to their breathing patterns, and some people find the REMstar Auto works best for them. The only way to know for sure is to try them both, IF you have a sleep doc/equipment provider/insurance company/bank account that allows you to do so.

Some people just use the Auto mode to evaluate the optimum pressure as it relates to the number of apnea events (self-titration), and then set it to CPAP mode at a set pressure.

In any case, you'll want a heated humidifier.

Both the PB420E and the REMstar Auto w/C-Flex have software you can purchase so you can monitor your nightly stats.

Hope this helps.

I like Neversleeps's recommendations. A trial on autopap at home might make all the difference in the world to getting comfortable treatment.

Mississippi, what is the pressure set at on your current machine?

Hi, thank ya'll for your advice.

My cpap is set at 12. I have c-flex on the machine and it starts out as a 4 and then seems (to me) to go to 12 too fast. I am still awake during the process and it feels like it is going to blow my head off.



Mississippi

Many people think size and portability is important, which leads them to buy the much more compact PB420E.

While compact size and portability is important, there is another factor that is worth thinking about: the PB 420E is the only unit that allows the user to adjust some of its parameters. While most users will get good treatment from all of the autopap machines, some will not. Trialing the different machines is a good way to find the machine that is best for you.

In the event that you have some difficulty with runaway pressure or, need a higher (or lower) pressure limit when the unit identifies what it believes is a central apnea, only the PB 420E will allow some tweaking of how the machine does what it does. This, along with its small size, makes the 420E a popular machine.

Some users find it hard to breath out against the pressure that the CPAP machine creates and place value on the C-Flex feature that comes on the RemStar units. C-Flex reduces pressure during exhalation and can be a significant comfort. While not everyone likes C-Flex, lots do, and see a C-Flex equiped machine as something that they want moreso than the ability to make adjustments to their CPAP machine.

For some, the ability to add a pulse/oximetry module to their CPAP machine is an important option -currently, this is only available on the ResMed Spirit or upgraded L7 Elite unit.

I purchased a RemStar Plus with C-Flex (not an auto machine) based on the recommendation of the RT at the equipment provider place. Sadly for me, I found that I hated C-Flex as it contributed to shallow, rapid breathing. I regretted spending my $ on the RemStar and decided that I wanted an Auto machine. So, I trialed three different auto machines.

I found that the RemStar Auto alogorithm delivered pressures that were too low overall -->my OSA was not well enough treated by RemStar and I was tired during the day after sleeping all night. I have read many postings from users who get good treatment from the RemStar auto machine and love C-Flex so, it is clearly a good machine, just not for me.

The ResMed AutoSet Spirit gave great treatment but I found it to be a bit big and bulky. Also, I found the integrated humidifier to be cumbersome to manage and clean. I've read many postings and know that lots of users like this machine. I was pretty close to buying a Spirit but fell in love with the 420E.

I ended up purchasing the 420E because it is small, gave great treatment, is compatable with every mask (except the Comfort Curve) and allows for adjustment of how it does what it does. Also, it's integrated humidifier is almost as easy to use as the RemStar humidifier.

Good luck with your decision.

Hi, WillSucceed. Great post!