Aerophagia - afraid to use CPAP again

After a 6 month battle of using CPAP: Resmed Autoset, Remstar CFLEX and Auto, I had to abandon my use. The Aerophagia was so bad that it continuously further prevented me from sleeping. In fact, it also aggrevated my GERD (Reflux) and now I have even more digestive problems: Irritable Bowel Disease/ Ulcerative Colitis. I even tried lowering the pressure to 6cm and I still swallowed air but not as much as, say, 10 cm. I have been off it for over 8 months as well. My sleep apnea can be categorized as mild-severe with 16 episodes/hour. My best stats with A-CPAP was AHI: 9.4, AI: 3.1 and HI: 6.3. Although these numbers may seem low, they are not to me because they are still having an effect on me: tiredness, GERD, fast pulse, increased blood pressure, and night sweats. And yes, several docs have routinely examined other possible causes of these symptoms.

My GP who is on a bi-level machine hasn't met anyone who has had so many issues in trying to use CPAP. I am extremely sensitive to noise while sleeping. I use earplugs and I never really got used to the noise. I am at a real loss here.

Anyhow, my GP suggest I try a dental appliance, but I don't feel it will be effective. My sleep apnea is in the form of hypopneas. I noticed that I had to keep the pressure at 10-12 cm (varies by weight and if I take any beer and/or tiredness). These numbers are confirmed by sleep study. The Resmed I used could not adequately respond to my hypopneas. As a result, I had to disable the auto feature on the Resmed and go with straight CPAP but I really love Resmed's LCD panel where it exactly tells me what happened last night as far as AHI and HI stats. This tells me or in fact, confirms how i am feeling.

I really think I should take the plunge to try CPAP again since I have been on Nexium for the last 6 months. I am eager to try some new machines, perhaps the PB Goodknight 420E that can react, so I have been told to hypopneas better than the rest?

A family relative is suggesting that I shouldnt go with CPAP because it's still a new "thing" and who knows what negative side-effects it really has and what consequences down the road I will have to endure.

One issue is that I am Vancouver Canada. I dont know anyone that carries the PB line. I am willing to go to Bellingham or Seattle to find a DME that carrys one so I can perhaps rent one?

What do you all think?

Eliminating the following foods can help a lot with Gerd.

Reflux - How to Improve

Avoid fatty foods, caffeinated beverages (colas, coffee, etc.), chocolate, mint, spicy foods, tomato-based foods, garlic and onions, ketchup, mustard, vinegar,
Aspirin and most pain medicines (other than acetaminophen).
Fruit peels contain linonin - an irritant substance, considered to be tart & spicy.

Chew gum as it boosts saliva production & allows quicker & more efficient neutralazation & acid in the esophagus.

Don't eat for 3 hours before sleep.

lose weight if overweight
Elevate the head of the bed by placing 4- to 8-inch blocks under the bed posts at the head of the bed (adding additional pillows is insufficient)
Eat smaller meals
Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes
Avoid eating within four hours of bedtime
Avoid recumbency within three hours of meals
Avoid medications that decrease the lower esophageal sphincter pressure (theophylline, anticholinergic agents, alpha-adrenergic antagonists, beta-adrenergic agonists, calcium channel blockers, nitrates)

Pulmonary complications of GERD include the following: aspiration; chronic cough; apnea; recurrent pneumonia, bronchitis and croup; asthma; tracheal stenosis; stridor; apparent life-threatening events; hiccups; and sudden infant death syndrome.

International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD)
Heartburn Helpline: 888-964-2001

If you could find an accupuncturist who studied in China, you might get help via diet, herbs, and accupuncture for your ulcerative colitis. I know someone who lives in Denver, CO who was successful doing this. Also, Dr. Andrew Weil recommends the above.

Cpap is not all that new. I have used a cpap since 1983.
The consequences of not using cpap when it is needed are all bad, and eventually fatal. Of course life is fatal, just the when to be determined.

Keep trying to find the machine and mask for you. When one recovers from sleep deprivation, and sometimes it can take quite a while, you are amazed at how much clearer life is. Keep trying!

I have Barretts Esophagus which is what happens after years of acid reflux and am now seeking alternitave ways to deal with it. I have been on nexium for over 4 years with no heatburn but now all of a sudden my heartburn has returned. I do not feel it is related to my CPAP though, i just get very gassy and crampy from to much air going into my stomach and esophagus. After a couple of hours in the morning that freeling goes away. I went to see a local herbalist today and got some herbs to see if I can control the reflux and maybe even heal my damaged esophagus. I wish you well but it is a fact that us people with apnea must use our CPAP every day. Good luck in finding what works for you.

Paul