bloating and hernia ughhh

[mtn aire]

a re-Noob here- wondering if the biPap therapy (mixed apnea) is adding to my gastro problems? painful swelling in part due to current colon infection(antibiotic issue) and other gastro conditions. i rem from my orig. attempt with b-pap therapy i was constantly belching, cramping and belly big after machine use. care to hear of others experiences and possible solutions.

[Goofproof]

No doubt it has a bearing on the problem, but what are you going to do about it,

Get the problem fixed, or quit pap treatment (Not a option for me) Use the lowest pressure that provides good treatment. Raise the head of the bed. Support the hernia as best you can, if things get too bad, a OP may be in your future, Jim

[SleepDepraved2]

If you have a hiatal hernia, then yes, the aerophagia you experience with BiPAP can be totally inadvertent and hard to control. I know that I have a hiatal hernia and have experienced air being pushed down through the hernia and into my stomach without any swallowing on my part.

There are exercises you can try to help keep your stomach where it belongs instead of having it creep up into your esophagus.

Drink about a glass of either room temperature or slightly warm water when you get out of bed first thing in the morning (No coffee, no tea, no juice, no cold water—just warm water). While standing, bring your arms straight out from your sides and bend your elbows so your hands are touching your chest. Then stand up on your toes as high as possible and drop. You should get a pretty good jolt. Drop down like this 10 times in a row. Then, while standing with your arms up, pant short quick breaths for about 15 seconds.

The weight of the water helps weight your stomach down and putting your arms up allows the hole in your diaphragm that normally keeps your stomach in place where your esophagus passes through to relax. Dropping down will help the stomach go back down through the hole. The panting helps firm up the diaphragm so that your stomach stays in place. You have to keep doing it to keep it from recurring.

You can also have a chiropractor put the stomach back in place, but I've found that the hernia will simply recur at some point. The above exercise does help, but you have to do it every day.

I think surgery would be a last resort...it doesn't always work and can cause other problems after it "solves" your hernia.

[lliann]

You can also have a chiropractor put the stomach back in place, but I've found that the hernia will simply recur at some point. The above exercise does help, but you have to do it every day.

I think surgery would be a last resort...it doesn't always work and can cause other problems after it "solves" your hernia.

Really? How does that work? (the chiro thing)

[SleepDepraved2]

They essentially massage it back into place. They press in a certain spot and push down until they feel it go back in place. You can do this yourself (google "Self-massage for hiatal hernia" and you should turn it up) or ask your chiropractor to do it.