New to cpap and swallowing air help!!

[Jewels109]

Ok so I sed my cpap for a nap first time today and I'm swallowing air. At least that's what I'm guessing bc my tummy feels full of air! Is there anything I can do? Should I try to sleep more propped up on my back? I'm at a loss but this tummy hurt is for the birds!!!!! Please give me some direction bc I'm at a loss !!!!

[Pugsy]

Bringing this over from your other post because people will wonder pressure setting and EPR setting

Pressure 7.0
Leak 14L/min
Total AI 2.1
Central AI 1.4
Per full time
Per level 3

I think this is EPR setting

Your pressures are relatively low already....with EPR at 3 and your regular pressure at 7 cm...You are inhaling at 7 cm and exhaling at 4 cm.

Aerophagia...check out things you can do to limit the effects.
wiki/index.php/Aerophagia
plus any ideas that the members come up with.

I only have one at the moment and it comes strictly from my own past experience with a full face mask. The only time I ever had any really bad aerophagia was when I used a full face mask. I don't know why but maybe my brain said "it's okay to mouth breath because you have a FFM mask" and I did some major mouth breathing..
Do you absolutely have to use a FFM? Can you breathe through your nose well enough to use an alternate mask type and maybe do something to keep mouth shut?

You may need a bilevel machine...you wouldn't be the first to need one even at relatively low pressures.
If you were using higher pressures sometimes reducing the pressure brings the pressure down to a level where the air doesn't go into the stomach so much but you don't have much room to reduce things.
Just saying it to alert you. There may be some ideas that help you enough to get past this. Some people have the aerophagia fade away with time...so it does happen but no guarantee that it will for you.

[Chikorita]

I had the same problem when I first started. It eased up after a while. I find if occasionally comes back after day sleeps but rarely at night. Sorry I can't offer any other suggestions. Others may have some tips. The most important thing I can say is not to give up because chances are it will ease up.

[hyperlexis]

Don't blame yourself. You are likely not 'swallowing' gulps of air. At higher CPAP pressures, the air can press past weak sphincters in the esophagus and down into the stomach, causing painful bloating. You can try sleeping at a better position to help prevent the problem. See this> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-65JWNBttnE

[cosmo]

I wouldn't worry about it yet. You've only had 2.5 hours on the machine. Let your body adjust to treatment for a few days. Start to worry if it continues.

[Jewels109]

Thanks for all the suggestions!!!! I tried to sleep more propped up and with my head tilted back (that was mentioned in the link Pugsy sent me) and I don't think I had the air problem..... Hmmmm