XPAP and Stomach Churning

[seeker of good sleep]

My Number have resolved to being quite low. For about 2 weeks now. Leakage is close to the quattro mask baseline at a given pressure. AHI below 3. However, I continue to have stomach issues. I asked the doctor and she said that when cpap users have air in the digestive tract, it usually only bothers them during the hours just after getting up. Mine bothers me off and on all day.
It is a churning feeling. Anyone experience this?

[Janknitz]

"churning" is a bit vague.

Is it aerophagia--you are full of gas, perhaps with mild lower abdominal cramping? If so, search aerophagia in the search box at the top and you will see suggestions including positioning, dealing with ramping and EPR to reduce taking so much air into your digestive track.

Or is it a churning in your upper digestive system--possibly heartburn? Obstructive apnea and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) go hand in hand. It may be that you are having gastroesophageal reflex. In my case, CPAP has helped GERD immensely, but others report that their CPAP exacerbates GERD. You need to check in with your doctor about possible GERD and treatments if that's what it turns out to be.

[seeker of good dreams]

It is upper GI. And I do have reflux disease. Does anybody know a way to lessen the churning or make it go away.
I use a wedge pillow to elevate my upper body. How would sleep apnea contribute to this problem?

[roster]

It is upper GI. And I do have reflux disease. Does anybody know a way to lessen the churning or make it go away.
I use a wedge pillow to elevate my upper body. How would sleep apnea contribute to this problem?

When you have an obstructive apnea your diaphragm and chest muscles struggle violently to breathe. This struggle can expel stomach contents into the esophagus.

A wedge pillow which elevates the upper body can worsen GERD (reflux disease). The wedge causes you body to bend in the abdominal area. A better solution is to elevate the head of the bed four to eight inches. Eight is better but many people find it uncomfortable to sleep if the elevation is much about four inches.

You can buy bed risers inexpensively at Bed, Bath and Beyond or make your own from instructions found with googling.

[Janknitz]

In addition to Rooster's suggestion, you should try to avoid eating within 3 hours or so of going to bed.

I have certain foods that are sure to produce reflux--for me it's dairy products which I love. Something about the milk sugars. I can drink milk earlier in the day, but not after lunch time.

Further, you need to check in with your doctor about medications to reduce the acid reflux. Unchecked GERD can lead to very serious esophageal disease.