stomach herniating

[Alienbaby]

I have been using a CPAP machine for about 8 months regularly now. I've simply dealt with the extra gas and bloating as it started from the first week. However, about three months ago I noticed my upper abdomen getting hard and distended and I'm now told that my stomach is herniating through my abdominal wall. The surgery to correct it will be "messy" according to the doctor. I've had the upper GI, the wonderful CT scan and next is the colonoscopy. I have to wonder if there is a correlation here. Anyone else reporting similar symptoms? I've read about the aerophagia, but my symptoms have went well beyond simple bloating. I did not have GI symptoms prior to the CPAP machine. Right now I joke with my family regarding my Alien baby as that is what it looks like (for those who saw the movie Alien). However, the surgery is serious if I must have it and I look 5 months pregnant and carrying the baby very high. It could be a coincidence, but I'm wondering if others have experienced similar GI issues after using the CPAP machines.

[Julie]

Oh, what an awful experience, and not a great way to be starting off your Cpap life! Unfortunately what you've been feeling is called aerophagia, and some people do have it when starting out, but find that if they lower their prescribed pressure just a bit, the problem lessens or goes away. In your case, not knowing what your pressure was, whether particularly high or not, it's hard to comment, but what I think might have happened is that you were either on your way to the herniation to begin with and didn't realize it, or just that your diaphragm was weak to begin with (though you were unaware) and the Cpap put it over the edge, which is too bad! I don't know if you're still using Cpap, but if you can lower the pressure by a couple of notches to see if it helps, even if only while awaiting your surgery, it might be an idea. Please get back and let us know how you're doing.

[mars]

Hi Alienbaby

I was diagnosed with a hernia recently, and found a lot of good information on

http://www.hernia.org/

cheers

Mars

[Portageegal]

YES .... I've had surgery twice on a hiatal hernia and that weakened the muscles. After the second surgery a little over a year ago I started on apap. This is my once flat belly.

[tattooyu]

You know, I fluctuate between annoying bloating and sometimes excruciating awakens with gastric insufflation (air in the intestines as opposed to swallowing air). In my case, I believe it to be related to my LES (lower esophageal sphincter) being too relaxed at times. I've tried lowering the pressure a bit, and it helps. However, I cannot go too low because my therapy begins to suffer.

[OldLincoln]

Look folks, this stuff is simply not normal and to be tolerated. Aerophagia is the swallowing of air like when you eat fast or chew gum. This is NOT Aerophagia but IS Gastric Insufflation defined as "pushing air into the stomach." It is potentially dangerous and definitely not normal.

Many (most?) of us get a little air nightly, the kind that is not painful and toots out without difficulty. This is normal by experience. Gastric Insufflation is way beyond that and if you have it, you need to educate yourself on what it is and what to do about it. Start by reading this post from a while back - Gastric Insufflation.

[LSAT]

Generall the surgery for HH repair is done in conjunction with repair of the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES). The proceedure is called Nissen Fundoplication. It is done laporoscopically. Many people that have a HH also have acid reflux problems. It is rare to find a surgeon that will do only the HH unless the HH is very large. I had the Nissen proceedure done in 2002...It's 1 overnight in the hospital.

[roster]

I have been using a CPAP machine for about 8 months regularly now. I've simply dealt with the extra gas and bloating as it started from the first week. However, about three months ago I noticed my upper abdomen getting hard and distended and I'm now told that my stomach is herniating through my abdominal wall. The surgery to correct it will be "messy" according to the doctor. I've had the upper GI, the wonderful CT scan and next is the colonoscopy. I have to wonder if there is a correlation here. Anyone else reporting similar symptoms? I've read about the aerophagia, but my symptoms have went well beyond simple bloating. I did not have GI symptoms prior to the CPAP machine. Right now I joke with my family regarding my Alien baby as that is what it looks like (for those who saw the movie Alien). However, the surgery is serious if I must have it and I look 5 months pregnant and carrying the baby very high. It could be a coincidence, but I'm wondering if others have experienced similar GI issues after using the CPAP machines.

What is your CPAP pressure setting(s)?

Here is what I had to do to solve my aerophagia problem: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=43663

[roster]

Look folks, this stuff is simply not normal and to be tolerated. Aerophagia is the swallowing of air like when you eat fast or chew gum. This is NOT Aerophagia but IS Gastric Insufflation defined as "pushing air into the stomach." It is potentially dangerous and definitely not normal.

Many (most?) of us get a little air nightly, the kind that is not painful and toots out without difficulty. This is normal by experience. Gastric Insufflation is way beyond that and if you have it, you need to educate yourself on what it is and what to do about it. Start by reading this post from a while back - Gastric Insufflation.

Maybe we would just be arguing semantics, but aerophagia has different causes and different levels of severity. I like the Wikipedia article which states in part,

Aerophagia is a dangerous side effect of noninvasive ventilation (NIV), commonly used in treatments of respiratory problems and cardiovascular critical care or in surgery when a general anaesthetic is required.

[Alienbaby]

Thanks to everyone for your advice and assistance. For Portageegal - My stomach is now similar to yours and it wasn't this way 8 months ago. I did not have a six-pack, but I did not look 5 months pregnant either. People literally think I'm pregnant when they see me. Heck, I think I'm pregnant sometimes, it is that bad. I find myself resting my hand on my upper stomach. How sad is that. If I sit up and scrunch forward everything sort of moves to the middle and really sticks out/raises up (the alien baby affect).

I use the nasal mask sleepweaver/circadence and my pressure is 10 and I have a straight cpap machine. Looks like I need to look into the apap machine or other alternatives. OldLincoln gives hope for the apap machine and I'll try it, but Portageegal uses the apap machine. Portageegal - can you tell me your pressures as OldLincoln did? Regarding the stomach sleeping position, it sounds very strange but I'll make the attempt. I'll do more research into the gastric insufflation. I looked out there in pubmed and medhelp before my first post but could find no connection between cpap machines and the severity of what I'm experiencing.

Anyone try the dentist's mouth pieces or chin straps that I've seen? I know that the doctors are pretty hooked on the cpap machine, but I really can't say that I feel much better. The rest of my household sleeps better, but I haven't noticed a major difference and now I have more major problems. My goal was to help my morning migraines as I knew that I was not breathing correctly in my sleep and it was adding to my migraines. (Slightly less frequent migraines now, but not enough to endure the GI issues.) I'm not giving up yet, but I'm concerned about continuing as I have. Thanks again. I'll keep my eye out for more posts and I'll let you know how things go.

[roster]

Oral devices (Mandibular Advancement Devices) do work for some people. Here is some information on them:

http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/message-b ... m.php?f=10

http://www.aadsm.org/

http://www.ihatecpap.com/index.html

http://www.quietsleep.com/

[OldLincoln]

Maybe we would just be arguing semantics, but aerophagia has different causes and different levels of severity. I like the Wikipedia article which states in part,

Aerophagia is a dangerous side effect of noninvasive ventilation (NIV), commonly used in treatments of respiratory problems and cardiovascular critical care or in surgery when a general anaesthetic is required.

The terms have distinctly different meaning in medical literature and in the manner in which doctors consider their importance. Wikipedia is fun but not very precise as anybody could add that Aerophagia can be cured by massive doses of ExLax.

I know I am a PITA on this subject and beg patience, but like a "reformed" person, I don't want others to give up treatment as I almost did because of the pain.

EDIT: I just came across the linked article and hope everybody reads it.
empowher.com article

[roster]

EDIT: I just came across the linked article and hope everybody reads it.
empowher.com article

One interesting post, but I don't see resolution of any of the problems. My doctors could not offer any helpful advice.

[thewetlizard]

I also have a hernia and have a cpap. Two weeks ago I was in the hospital because I over did it. The plan was that the hospital was going to fix the hernia but the hernia went down so hospital then told me it would be an eltive(sp?) surgery and would be repaired after midnight and cost $5000-$10000! I told them no thank you I let the V.A. repair my hernia. So as of today (Nov. 18) I will be going to have a CAT scan tomorrow.

[tattooyu]

First, let me say that my numbers aren't that bad. However, my ResMed isn't responding to some of my apneas because I am over 10 cm in pressure AND I am probably not snoring (I never have). That said, if I lower my pressure too much, in order to deal with the bloating, I really, really feel bad the next day and my AHI goes up. However, I seem to be doing better after increasing my pressure AND my EPR setting the same amount.

It seems having a lower pressure on exhale, while keeping the same average pressure, prevents too much air from entering my gut. Yes I'm still farting and burping, but I haven't had any pain since doing making the switch.