New member with question

[CrazyCrow]

and long winded explanation Hurray!
So here goes. After the first night using my CPAP machine I had woken up repetitively. I kept drooling in my mask creating a puddle thus waking me up. I woke up exhausted. Not really new, but still I'm supposed to feel better on it. I also had such bad heart burn that I was in excruciating pain. I tried taking another one of my pills in case I maybe forgot to take it..which I didn't. Tried to eat something breaded..then choked on it and threw up -_-;
Threw up several more times until my stomach was empty...then threw up a hour or so later..When I threw up the acid was so strong at that time that I felt like I burned my throat it really hurt. I'm surprised with the way it felt that I didn't melt the tile as well..since I didn't make it to the bathroom because I was choking initially.
Sorry about the long message, but I went back to bed and used the machine again only to wake up with this blood blister like rash on my cheek bones, below my lip, and on my eyelids. I've thrown up many times before and never got that so I'm not sure if it was the mask.

I finally got a hold of my doctor only for her advice to be...eat 3-4 hours before bed and don't eat anything spicy or greasy...
Umm..one I don't know what my problem is but if I don't eat right before bed I wake up with my stomach growling. And of course non-greasy or spicy foods..that don't contain chocolate or tomatoes comes down to pretty much sandwiches and salad
No. Just no. Also, I've been having issues gagging on my food for the past couple days...I had to stop typing mid way through this because I gagged on my cereal to the point of throwing up.
Sorry for the reallllly long message, but I had lots to explain. Thus, I must ask...what should I do about the acid? I can't use my machine because of it. I'm on a pressure of 8 and apparently allergic to silicone ;-;

[chunkyfrog]

Sounds like swallowed air (aerophagia).
You could have puked up some acid, which didn't get washed off your face.--or your mask is too tight.
It does get better, but in the meantime you may need to make a mask liner out of an old T-shirt.
A mask liner goes between the mask and your face and can make a world's worth of difference.
If you HAVE to eat late, keep it very small and bland.
Save the spicy or sweet stuff for another time. Your tummy will thank you.
Heavy meals at bedtime kill people! TRUTH!
A rumbly tumbly in the morning is not a bad thing--Have a good breakfast.
Note: breakfast means break-FAST. You have to fast first. It won't harm you.

[Suzjohnson]

I can't sleep when hungry either so I have a low fat, low carb yogurt and a hard boiled egg about 30 minutes before going to bed. Buys enough time to get solidly asleep before the munchies arrive.

Suz

[zoocrewphoto]

For acid reflux at night, I take a Zantac before bed. Ideally, a couple hours before bed so that it has time to work, since usually the first hour is the worst if I am going to have problems. I used to take the Zantac 75 and stepped up to Zantac 150. Now that I am using a machine, I will go back to 75s when I buy my next bottle. I have had a few problems during the day with acid reflux, but nothing at night.

As for eating, since I have had acid reflux at night for years, I have two things I can eat that will help acid reflux faster than a pill (doesn't last as long, but helps the feeling go away). Dry cereal (I usually eat mini wheats since they work well and the same cereal can sit by my bed for weeks without tasting stale). And almonds. NO idea why, but these help very well. I use them at work too. Just plain, raw almonds. 2-4 almonds will help my acid reflux.

I am a severe night owl, so I get home from work and eat dinner around 11pm or midnight. I usually go to bed between 4 and 6am, but sometimes I go to bed around 2am, which is pretty soon if I ate at midnight. So, I do violate the rule of eating before bed. But I don't eat spicy food anyway, and it is not hard to avoid tomato type products. It could be a salad, bowl of cereal, stew, casserole, etc. Today, I am sick, so I had some soup and went back to bed. I am now eating stew, and will probably go back to bed.

I have learned that if I eat something such as bacon (even a breakfast sandwich with bacon), pepperoni, or pizza, then I better go ahead and take my zantac now as they are sure to set off acid reflux. Chocolate milk will give me relief but cause it more later, so I must take a zantac if I drink it at night. I have never liked plain milk. Right now, I have a sore throat, and chocolate milk is the only hot drink I like. So, that is what I use for relief, so zantac is my friend today.

I do have a strong gag reflex, so once i start choking, I tend to bring stuff up. For years, I thought it was caused by acid reflux, but I now that I understand sleep apnea better, I believe I was waking up with gasping fits that brought up my stomach contents which include acid. I have been using my machine for 5 weeks now, and I haven't had any acid reflux problems while asleep since I started with the machine. No gasping fits, no bringing up acid. ANd what I have had during the day has been reduced in frequency and severity.

[Julie]

A lot of people have raised the head of their beds onto blocks by 6-8 inches (more is not necessary) and find that helps with the acid... plus caffeine (coffee, chocolate, cola) is bad, certainly after noon (I quit years ago and it made a big difference), as would be spices, etc. Try taking a tums before bed if nothing else...

[Suzjohnson]

What about one of those foam sleeping wedges? Most medical supply stores carry them. I believe they come thick enough at the wide end to elevate your head at least six inches.

Suz

[CrazyCrow]

Nice ideas. I especially like the dry cereal idea. I've got a lot of health problems that cause solving one to cause a problem for another.
Hmm..if I can remember them all...
Acid reflux, sleep apnea, headaches and migranes, TMJ, fibromyalgia, hypermobility syndrome, depression and anxiety, ocd, osteopenia and osteoporosis in my neck, and kyphosis and scoliosis.
The osteopenia is from my doctor putting me on nexium for 11 years (started in grade school) and never telling me that it could cause a loss of calcium. /face palm
I don't trust doctors period after that.
I take 300 mg of xantac twice a day >.> Helps if I don't miss a dose or miss behave..such as me having pizza last night..boggles my mind the doctor didn't say stay away from tomatoes and chocolate -__-
but if we are being real technical...milk, fruit, tomatoes, chocolate, spicy food, and greasy food cause acid. I cooked every day for a long period of time. I'm well aware that with my SUPER picky taste buds that puts me at nothing -_-
Hate sandwiches, allergic to fresh fruits and vegetables, scared for life by baby chickens (was around too many; the cuteness was overwhelming) so no chicken for me, and I gag up wheat bread. Or anything I don't like the taste of..which is mostly healthy food go figure.
Oh..and steak..meat especially beef has a tendency to taste highly metallic to me. I have rich taste buds :/

So...we have the thing of elevating the bed...that would cause my spine problems to sleep like that...I've tried.
I hate american food...it's just plain nasty. International food is always greasy or spicy though, but that's call flavor My parents could never make me eat food I didn't like..cause I'd just gag it up involuntarily.

BTW I keep running to sugar like it's my life source. If I don't eat for over 5 hours while awake I usually have some sort of low blood sugar attack.

I am now going to bed at 6 am. Because I'm always tired I can't get a normal sleep schedule let alone a sleep schedule of any sort period. It's sporatic. I get tired very easily, so I eventually give up due to usually getting a headache from being too tired and go to sleep again.

Plus, my neck, back and shoulder are finally recovering so I may be able to drive again since I can move around without shocked gasps of pain

I am 23 years old..24 on the 17th though. I was diagnosed with the osteopenia at 17 years old, so who knows if it's still there. had to stop taking calcium pills cause I was choking on them..yes choking as in it's stuck in my throat and I can't breathe. Happens with my meds often. It's like my throat spasms..So I choke on pills, gag on food, and have sleep apnea..sounds like something is wrong with my throat.

Wow..long again..I suppose I can't shut up :/
My sleeping all the time causes me to have no friends ;-; My only friend I gave up trying to hang out with. I couldn't wake up. I also had to withdrawl from 2 classes last semester because I couldn't wake up.
If it weren't for my boyfriend living with me I would have no one to talk to.

[Sheriff Buford]

I have read that going on cpap therapy can increase or cause acid reflux. The studies are new and it hasn't been proven, but it happened to me. Lots of folks here have acid reflux issues. I also read that a quick and healthy snack... that provides a "full-feeling" is a banana. Just sayin"

Sheriff

[Breathing]

CrazyCrow. it sounds like you are pretty maxed out on stress at the moment. First, you should know that a lot of your symptoms and diagnoses could be related to your sleep apnea, so if you will be able to tough it out and use the CPAP for a few months, you might find that a lot of your chronic pain and anxiety problems go away, or become MUCH more manageable.

With that said, I don't want to sound like I am judging you, please take this bit of advice like you would from a dear friend who loves you. This is not meant to start an argument, it is just an observation from many years of life: If you keep doing what you have been doing, you are going to keep having the problems you are having. I know it seems impossible or overwhelming to change your diet or your sleeping conditions, but give it a try just on an experimental basis. If you give it a real, honest try for a month, and you see no difference, then by all means, go back to what you are comfortable with. If you can force yourself out of your comfort zone for just one month, I think you will notice a big difference.

Over the counter proton pump inhibitors (prilosec, prevacid, zegerid, and their generic equivalents) work great for stopping acid production, and reflux at night. You must take it one hour after eating, and several hours before bed. You can even take it in the middle of the day, and it will work for 24 hours. You might have to take it for a couple of days before you see the difference in acid.

Please post your successes and failures here and you will find lots of very nice people who will be more than willing to help you out.

[ekubaskie]

I have read that going on cpap therapy can increase or cause acid reflux. The studies are new and it hasn't been proven, but it happened to me. Lots of folks here have acid reflux issues. I also read that a quick and healthy snack... that provides a "full-feeling" is a banana. Just sayin"

Sheriff

Reasonably OK on the health issue, lots of potassium (great if you tend to night cramps in your legs) - but brush your teeth. Bananas leave a sugary film behind that the tooth decay bacteria truly dig out on. A friend of mine was allergic to so many foods that bananas were most of her diet. She wore dentures at the age of 25.

[CrazyCrow]

Hmm...well I wrote a post earlier hit send then exited and ran off to the store. Didn't go through I see.
The sleep apnea is my most recent diagnosis. Almost all of my other health issues are 7 years old or older.
I had a sleep study last year and it didn't come back positive for sleep apnea, so it really is recent.
I'm not sure how to go about changing my diet because of the very large array of foods I can't even get down due to taste. I'm pretty darn allergic to bananas last I checked..Plus, I tried eating one a few months ago..gagged it up. Didn't taste as good as I had remembered.
I'm eating a nectarine >.> bad me..I'm probably gonna have an allergic reaction to it..I haven't had one before but fresh fruits and vegetables seem to be a big problem.
My sister is a dietitian so...maybe I can have her help me.

Getting off topic though..is there anyway to stop the aerophagia? That's what I need to know..besides the obvious..don't use it.
I can't use a chin strap or it would break my jaw to have my mouth pushed shut ;0;
I breathe out of my mouth a lot when I sleep I was told. I wake up with a stuffy nose as well.
When I used the cpap machine for the first time at the sleep study I woke up later and went to blow my nose because it hurt and had blood come out -__-;
The pain the aerophagia causes me is so great it isn't something I can ride out. And I know a lot about pain seeing how it greets me everyday.

I forgot to say I already told my doctor about it and the swallowing of air. Asked about a Bipap. I got a flat no it won't benefit you for your treatment. then the diet advice. yep..that'll stop me from swallowing air. I used the ramp feature every time. That air pressure of 8 seems really intense even though it is only 8 -_-
also I wanted to add.....tums don't help me what so ever. at all. zilch. though otter pops seem to reeeaaaallllly help. ah the mysteries of life.

[nanwilson]

Hmm...well I wrote a post earlier hit send then exited and ran off to the store. Didn't go through I see.
The sleep apnea is my most recent diagnosis. Almost all of my other health issues are 7 years old or older.
I had a sleep study last year and it didn't come back positive for sleep apnea, so it really is recent.
I'm not sure how to go about changing my diet because of the very large array of foods I can't even get down due to taste. I'm pretty darn allergic to bananas last I checked..Plus, I tried eating one a few months ago..gagged it up. Didn't taste as good as I had remembered.
I'm eating a nectarine >.> bad me..I'm probably gonna have an allergic reaction to it..I haven't had one before but fresh fruits and vegetables seem to be a big problem.
My sister is a dietitian so...maybe I can have her help me.

Getting off topic though..is there anyway to stop the aerophagia? That's what I need to know..besides the obvious..don't use it.
I can't use a chin strap or it would break my jaw to have my mouth pushed shut ;0;
I breathe out of my mouth a lot when I sleep I was told. I wake up with a stuffy nose as well.
When I used the cpap machine for the first time at the sleep study I woke up later and went to blow my nose because it hurt and had blood come out -__-;
The pain the aerophagia causes me is so great it isn't something I can ride out. And I know a lot about pain seeing how it greets me everyday.

I have basically the same food allergies you do, can't eat a banana...and of course I love them, If I have anything raw today, can't have anymore for several days to a week. You live with it, work around it, mouth gets all raw and swelling, don't eat any offending food. Can't crab or rant about it, it doesn't do any good.....just deal with it. So you can't eat anything raw, then cook it or steam it, you are still getting the food value of that fruit or veg, even if you puree it. As to your breathing out of your mouth, use a full face mask, that is what they are for, I mouth breath too. If you want to use a chin strap, they are not supposed to be so tight they hurt....and they won't break your jaw. As to a bloody nose, did you not use your humidifier, if you did then crank it up a notch.
I get the rant and you are feeling sorry for yourself, but guess what....it doesn't do one iota of good, change your attitude as Breathing told you.....do it for a month, if it is still the same...see your doctor.
I wish you the best of luck in your journey to better sleep......you have been given the right stuff to fix it, all you have to do now is accept it and go forward.

[chunkyfrog]

A the risk of sounding like a broken record,
EVERY time I have tummy problems at night is when I should have skipped a snack--but didn't.
--Just saying!

[CrazyCrow]

wow...just wow...guess asking on here was a wrong move didn't mean to have people...okay never mind I can't even finish that sentence without breaking the forum rules.
people obviously aren't reading what I'm typing. If I DON'T eat before bed I WILL wake up with my stomach growling. If I use a chin strap it is going to put my top and bottom teeth together or I will still breathe out of my mouth I am NOT supposed to have my top and bottom teeth touch it clenches my jaw.
I DO use a full face mask. Shutting my mouth would probably make me unable to breathe eventually since my nose stuffs up easily.
I've used the heck out of the humidifier.
I just wanted to know if there is a way to stop it from happening given I can't do certain things like use a chin strap.
oh. btw. im glad i did try the nectarine. turns out that fruit doesn't cause allergies in me.

[zoocrewphoto]

wow...just wow...guess asking on here was a wrong move didn't mean to have people...okay never mind I can't even finish that sentence without breaking the forum rules.
people obviously aren't reading what I'm typing. If I DON'T eat before bed I WILL wake up with my stomach growling. If I use a chin strap it is going to put my top and bottom teeth together or I will still breathe out of my mouth I am NOT supposed to have my top and bottom teeth touch it clenches my jaw.
I DO use a full face mask. Shutting my mouth would probably make me unable to breathe eventually since my nose stuffs up easily.
I've used the heck out of the humidifier.
I just wanted to know if there is a way to stop it from happening given I can't do certain things like use a chin strap.
oh. btw. im glad i did try the nectarine. turns out that fruit doesn't cause allergies in me.

I think the problem is that you posted a ton of things you can't do and basically rule out everything before we have a chance to help you. We can't tell you to quit as that would be unethical. It would do you more harm.

As for mouth breathing, teeth, jaw, etc. It sounds like you need to have your mouth open to breath, so using a chin strap would not be good anyway. I sleep with my mouth open, but not wide open. Just slightly loose, and that works for me.

You need to find foods that you can eat that do not cause acid reflux and/or help reduce acid reflux.

Tums may not work, but there are lots of different medications. You may need to try several until you find the one that works best for you. Please don't dismiss them all because one does not work. I didn't like Tums either. I use zantac, and I also have good luck with almonds and bland foods like crackers and dry cereal. I keep them next to my bed in case I wake up with acid reflux. Since those work for me, I have never even tried other acid reducing medications, let alone prescription meds. So, there are a lot more options available to try.

Are you finding that you have new problems with acid reflux, or has this been an ongoing issue for you? It sounds like a new problem, so what were you eating before bed before. Do you have any idea why that doesn't work okay now? I frequently eat within an hour of going to bed, and only certain things really set me off bad. And most anything is okay if I took my zantac early enough. I do not see a problem with eating a snack before bed as long as you pick something that works for you. It may take some experimentation, but you should be able to find some options.

Keep in mind that dealing with sleep apnea and sleeping with a machine at night is losing something important to you (freedom of sleeping normally). Becuase of this huge change, we end up dealing with the normal 5 stages of grief - denial, bargaining, depression, anger, and acceptance. The order may vary, but we all get stuck dealing with it, and some stages last a lot longer than others.

I know I tried to ignore it (denial) for years before I bothered to get tested for it. It was only when I realized that it was the cause of my high blood pressure (and the main thing causing my high risk of stroke at the age of 39), that I decided to face my fears and get the study and machine. I found that it was not nearly as bad as I had feared. And only 5 weeks in, I am starting to feel better. And my blood pressure is improving. My nights are still good and bad, so my blood pressure is also up and down. I have spent many nights swearing at my mask. Yet, I also think this machine is an awesome personal battery recharger. Even with the bad nights, my energy is better than it used to be.

Shortly after I joined this forum, I read this statement (sorry, I don't know who to give credit to). "I suggest that you introduce yourself to your new best friends, Optimism and Sense of Humor." I try to remind myself of this when I have a bad night.

I know this is a tough road to go. I am also a very picky eater. I have a hard time with textures and certain smells, so some things automatically set off the gag reflex. And I can't eat spicy at all. My face gets very hot, and I feel faint after only one lick. I have a really hard time at restaurants, and I get teased a lot. My own sister calls me a coward on a regular basis. I know what it is like to do my best to hide it. At restaurants, I often pick something that is boring and not ideal because it looks safe. And sometimes, I am sorely disappointed. Recently, I ordered fries that were described as cheese and garlic. Sounded great. They were covered in some red spicy sauce that was not mentioned on the menu. I know what it feels like to feel very different from everybody else. But I have found that with patience and a good attitude, most people accept me with my quirks. As long as I don't make a big deal out of it, nobody else does either (except my sister).

I know you have had a rough start here, but I hope you will give it some time. The people here are awesome and really helpful, and they will really guide you in the right direction to solve the various problems you are currently experiencing and will come across in the future. Try to break up the problems into smaller ones so that they are easier to solve. It will get better with time.