Aerophagia

[ephraimh]

I have had it for the past 5 nights. I emailed my doctor this morning and should hear from him tomorrow at the latest. Apria said they would contact me to send someone to check the machine in a day or two. (for what Apria is worth.)

In the meantime, what have you heard of that might cause this problem and what tests are often performed to find what is causing what is going on? I'm looking for questions to ask, not for advice.

Far too often doctors don't consider some possible causes or treatments of problems because "they don't happen or work very often" Am looking for information, not your advice.

Thanks

[Pugsy]

wiki/index.php/Aerophagia

Pay particular attention to number 8 at the above link. The most common culprit is the LES...lower espophageal sphincter is weakened and lets air into the stomach and from there on down there is hell to pay.

[RonS]

I have had it for the past 5 nights. I emailed my doctor this morning and should hear from him tomorrow at the latest. Apria said they would contact me to send someone to check the machine in a day or two. (for what Apria is worth.)

In the meantime, what have you heard of that might cause this problem and what tests are often performed to find what is causing what is going on? I'm looking for questions to ask, not for advice.

Far too often doctors don't consider some possible causes or treatments of problems because "they don't happen or work very often" Am looking for information, not your advice.

Thanks

I had aerophagia, and for me it is directly related to pressure. I could feel bubbles being pushed into my stomach at when I was resting between breaths at 14.5cm or above. I'd guess your threshold is different.

What worked for me was having another in lab sleep study specifically looking to find the lowest pressure to successfully treat while sleeping in my side, as I had trained myself to stay on my side all night. In the lab, 10cm was sufficient but I felt more comfortable at 12cm at home. Since that is below my aerophagia threshold it was "a cure" for that problem.

Edited to add:
The bilevel PAP probably helped as well, since that resting time between breaths is at the Exhale pressure on the resmed. On my old machine a respironics, the waiting period between breaths was at the full pressure, but I can't recall if that was just my old CPAP respironics or also the BiPAP respironics. It was a long journey to success.

I wish you good luck

[ephraimh]

1) Thanks for the link to the LES article.

2) I can sleep only on my back because my muscles are too weak to allow me to roll around in bed. https://www.cmtausa.org/understanding-cmt/what-is-cmt/

3) I have had GERD for quite awhile for which I take Omeprazole. I also take Keppra, Lamictal, Terazosin, a probiotic, and use Miralax.

4) I will put another pillow under my head tonight.

5) What have you heard of for relieving the bloated feeling after an episode?

6) My doctor's response and my initial question follow. He says "prevent" not "treat" after an episode. Probably just got the words mixed up but doctors can be an interesting bunch. The degree to which so many of my systems have been messed up argues for a more aggressive approach at the outset, i.e., testing by gastroenterology. I will ask my pcp for feedback and contact the sleep services grunts. Thanks

Him:
"Yes, elevating head of bed at least 6 inches would be helpful. I am not sure tums/rolainds and certainly not backing soda would be helpful to prevent aerophagia. I am also forwarding your situation to one of our outpatient sleep apnea service staff for additional input if they have any additional thoughts - you may receive a call from one of them for troubleshooting over the phone.

As we discussed at the time of our initial visit, pharyngeal muscle weakness is one of the potential mechanisms, and there may thus be a role for speech therapy evaluation if you wishes to consider/proceed now. Please feel free to call our scheduler at 206-326-3200 to request a phone visit with me if you have additional questions or concerns."
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Me:
I've had aerophagia for the last five nights. Would elevating my head by adding an extra pillow help? The ramp time is 25 minutes. What do you recommend I take immediately following an episode? Tums, rolaids, baking soda? Are there any tests I should take? As for the leak, the cushion last night was brand new and the "run mask fit" shows the fit is good and I don't feel any leaking. The RR still drops to 9, sometimes.

Please don't rule out a possible cause just because "it doesn't happen very often."

[Pugsy]

Always better to prevent something from happening then to try to fix it after the fact but sometimes that's our only options.
Sometimes despite bilevel pressures and all the other usually noted stuff to try to reduce the problem just don't help that much.

I am sorry but I really don't know much about how to deal with it after the fact. I have been fortunate and never really had to deal with it more than a couple of good belches or farts. I think I only had it really so bad that it made me ill just a couple of times in 10 years now.
So I don't have a lot of experience to draw upon. I have read where some people have decent relief with one of the gas relieving products like Gas X or similar. I suppose someone would just have to try various things and see what helps bring on relief or not.
It is simply excess air in the gut...call it gas or whatever but the results end up being the same and maybe if you search for what to do to try to minimize excess gas in the gut might lead you to something useful to try.

[LSAT]

When you add extra pillows you are bending more at the waist. When you raise the head of the bed, you are still lying flat, but your upper body is elevated.

[ephraimh]

Sorry, LSAT . I meant bed wedge not pillows.

[ephraimh]

Gastroenterology appt is this Friday, 5-24. Thanks Pugsy and everyone else

from md
" That sounds very uncomfortable. I hav sent the referral to Gastroenterology for you to be evaluated for gastro insufflation. Your symptoms are very suggestive of this disorder.

[Dan_McD]

Gastroenterology appt is this Friday, 5-24. Thanks Pugsy and everyone else

from md
" That sounds very uncomfortable. I hav sent the referral to Gastroenterology for you to be evaluated for gastro insufflation. Your symptoms are very suggestive of this disorder.

I didn't see Gaviscon mentioned in the thread. I know most of these products are a crap shoot, but it might be worth a try.

My wife has terrible acid reflux and it is one of the few over the counter products that gives her consistent relief. I don't usually have any stomach problems, but a dinner of tamales and spicy chilli can bring on stomach bloating and belching. Gaviscon has relieved that feeling fairly quick. I know it is a temporary fix, but you never know, it might be of some help for you. FWIW.