Aerophagia!!! I need advice Please....

[FatiguedMe]

I am having a horrible time, I am bloated all day everyday. It is to the point it is VERY uncomfortable all day! How do I make this go away? I am 2 years in and this has just started to become a problem.
Any ideas as to why this would change like this? I use c-flex on 1, my pressure is 11. My apneas are around 1.8, I am having more hypopneas, and my Vibratory snore has gone between 25.8 to 54.9
Please any advice would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Susan

[KatieW]

Have you had heartburn/acid reflux in the past? I had it occasionally, but when I 1st started cpap, I got it much worse. I would wake up with it, aerophagia, or experience dry cough. I think (for me anyway), they are all related. These are the things that worked for me:

- cut out foods that are associated with acid reflux: for me, they are caffeine (tea or coffee), spicy foods, tomatoes, citrus fruits or juices

- no food 3 hours before bedtime, only water to drink. Eat a light dinner, with a small apple for dessert.

- sleeping on my left side to start. I usually wake up a few hours later, then move to the right side, and then alternate during the night.

- fixed pressure cpap rather than apap. EPR of 3.

Others have raised the head of their bed, and that has helped them.

Good luck, I know it's miserable. Mine is totally gone now.

[HerbyPeg]

For immediate relief I have used gas-x wafers. Then evaluated diet, etc.,

[Slinky]

Yup, yup. I've been on PAP 4 1/2 years. Bi-level since March 2008. Never had a problem w/aerophagia as they raised my pressure. Then last spring I began developing mild symptoms at my usual pressure THEN they decided to UP my pressure. Long story short I eventually actually HAD to quit PAP entirely for about a month or so and then start back on it gradually from my initial CPAP setting of 8 cms to my current IPAP 15, EPAP 10 and Pressure Support 4.

Whilst I was "off" PAP entirely I was put on Dexilant daily PLUS an antibiotic in case it was bacterial overgrowth which I can be prone to due to a high grade partial obstruction in the mid-ileum.

I am NOT suggesting that you stop using PAP. Absolutely NOT! But, it MAY be necessary to reduce your pressure slightly, check out and medicate for reflux then move back up gradually to your current titrated pressure. The relief may well come w/even just .5 cm reduction in therapy setting IF that should become necessary to try.

Silent reflux IS the most likely cause of aerophagia in your situation would be my guess but I'm not a medical professional, just a patient who HATES nausea, the queasies and air swallowing w/a passion.

[KimberlyM]

I have just started having Aerophagia also, five months into CPAP. I will be watching this thread for ideas. I empathize with you on how miserable this is.

[FatiguedMe]

Thank you all for the replies. I look like I am very pregnant, stomach is distended ALL day. I know I burp and pass gas some during the day but it is not helping. LOL I am waiting to let out a really LONG burp sometime.
I will try your suggestions, some I already do. I wonder if a bedwedge would work for elevation? I am already cutting back on spicy food, I love onion and it has turned on me. That was my first experience with heartburn ever, and I don't want to go there again! Oh the joys of growing older.
Again, Thank you and please keep the suggestions coming.
Susan

[M.D.Hosehead]

Some get relief from simethicone (Mylicon).

[FatiguedMe]

Thank you. I will be picking up something this evening to see if it helps.
Susan

[Sireneh]

What's your humidity set to? My RT told me to increase the humidity when this happened to me. She said if you are dry you may be swallowing more frequently while you sleep. Worth a try? (It solved the problem for me.)

[Slinky]

When you are bloated like that it sometimes can help to get on the bed on your knees and chest w/your butt elevated in the air. Stay that way a minute or two and then roll over to your left side w/left leg stretched out and right leg curled up, then roll to the right side, right leg straight out, left leg curled up. That often really releases lower gas.

Hey, we get uncomfortable enough who cares which end the gas exits as long as it exits and gives us some relief?

[Sireneh]

When you are bloated like that it sometimes can help to get on the bed on your knees and chest w/your butt elevated in the air. Stay that way a minute or two and then roll over to your left side w/left leg stretched out and right leg curled up, then roll to the right side, right leg straight out, left leg curled up. That often really releases lower gas.

Trust someone called "Slinky" to have figured this out!

[Slinky]

Hey, when you have Crohn's disease you learn helpful things like this. Besides it is such a glamorous position if your hubby walks in the bedroom at the time.

Do I wanna WHAT? Get the heck outta here!!!!

[archangle]

I sleep in a recliner most of the time. If I get up and go sleep or lie in the bed for a half hour or so, and be sure to straighten myself out, lying on my side, or partially on my stomach with my legs out, I will often get rid of some more lower gas. Sleeping positions might help for you.

Walking, moving around, stretching, bending may also help.

Going to the restroom before I really feel the need may help. I presume that it's removing/rearranging the obstructions that are blocking the gas pipeline. I'll often get more "relief events" for a while after the bathroom session. More fiber in the diet might help too, by softening the obstructions. (or make them worse, too.)

[fuzzy96]

burp and fart
haven't found anything that actually helps yet
and if i did i wouldnt do it anyways (keeps my coworkers away from me)

[Sireneh]

"Relief events"! Love it!