How do you deal with swallowing air?

RoyalNose · Post by **RoyalNose** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 11:11 am

I was diagnosed with apnea in late August and bought a Remstar M-Series APAP and began using it on Sep 1. Everything is going well, except that I have a big problem with aerophagia (swallowing air, with uncomfortable morning bloating). I've tried various methods to prevent this, and thus far have only had success (moderate success) by allowing mask leaks. In other words, I purposely adjust my mask so that it leaks a little. My aerophagia is less after nights that my my Encore Pro software indicates an average leak rate of over 45. Problem with that is I get more large leaks, with such a leak rate. One night I used nasal pillows with my ComfortLite2 mask, and got a real good seal (avg leak rate of 38). But the bloating the next morning was terrible. I'd like to know if there is a different method for reducing or eliminating aerophagia. I'm also trying Gas-X with some success, but that just treats it---does not prevent air-swallowing in the first place. I'm thinking of reducing my minimum pressure, to see if that will help prevent this problem.

RoyalNose · Post by **RoyalNose** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 11:16 am

Correction: The avg leak rate with the nasal pillows was 38.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 11:50 am

Getting a mask system that allows good treatment with the minium CM, and the use of APAP, set for the same minium treatment pressures, helps. Jim