Increasing Gastro Probs

[Doubtful Tom]

Four nights on cpap and gastro-aerophagia problems have gone from annoying to severe.
First night on my official AP setting of 14 (after 2 nights on interim apap), I barely slept, maybe an hour, due to increasing cramping, etc, and had increased loose bowels in morning.
Yesterday, rep returned to say my AP was actually supposed to be 16, and made the change.
The resulting increase led to worse gut pain, couldln't sleep. Got up to walk around for relief after 2 hours, and suddenly got hit with severe diarhhea, requiring mulitple trips to bathroom. Now I've never had D in middle of night for any reason, including the flu. I'm almost certain it wasn't food related, as I consistently eat the world's blandest diet (gluten free, dairy free, etc). And the progression of symptoms accompaning increase in air pressure would seem to suggest therein lies the connection. When I called my home care rep, he said he was baffled, had no experience with such a severe reaction. I plan to investigate Gas-X and chin strap, but in meantime, I'm wondering if anyone else has had such severe gastro reaction to cpap. Just how strange or rare is it? Frankly, I'm afraid to hook up tonight, though I'm so "empty," it probably wouldn't matter.
thanks, tom

[Hawthorne]

You case sounds severe but some of this is not uncommon when starting cpap. I got bad stomach pain and gas pain early on in my therapy. It was not as extreme as yours is and I would suggest you see your GP about it.

I have no problems like that as long as I set a very narrow pressure range on my autoap but I see your machine is straight cpap. I also use the A-Flex (it would EPR on your machine) at a setting of 1 and sometimes 2.

I have used Gas-x when I did have some problems in straight cpap mode. It helped a lot. I also don't eat anything heavy or drink anything for about 2 1/2 to 3 hours before bedtime ( except on rare occasions - like being our for an evening).

You do need to see you GP though to rule out any other problems you may be developing un related to cpap.

[Jman2010]

I had horrendous gas, from both ends, when I used a FFM. The higher the pressure, the more gas I had. I was a mouth breather, so I went from nasal pillows to FFM. I didn't think to try a chin strap.

Anyway, I don't have this with the nasal pillows and chin strap I'm using now, so a nose mask or pillows might be worth looking into.

[Janknitz]

Try keeping your tongue up on the roof of your mouth, behind your top teeth on that ridge of gum. That will help seal off your mouth from the air pressure and may reduce swallowing air. Over time, this will become a habit.