Trouble with air in stomach/gas

Caffy · Post by **Caffy** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 11:52 am

Hi I am new here.

I'm a newish CPAP user still trying to sleep with it on.
I am having trouble with slot of air in my stomach
and the gas from it. Have any of you experienced this?
I also can't fall asleep with it on. I literally lay for 4-5 hours
before I finally take it off. Thanks for any help.

brackstone · Post by **brackstone** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 12:12 pm

Caffy wrote:Hi I am new here.

I'm a newish CPAP user still trying to sleep with it on.
I am having trouble with slot of air in my stomach
and the gas from it. Have any of you experienced this?
I also can't fall asleep with it on. I literally lay for 4-5 hours
before I finally take it off. Thanks for any help.

Hi Caffy,

What you are experiencing is called "Aerophagia" it's when the body ingests the air and swallows it.

I suffered from it and I had the exact same machine as you. My problem was it took a lot of effort to exhale, so I ended up taking much shorter breaths and sometimes swallowing air.

I also ended up switching to a full face mask and I don't have those problems anymore though I'm still not getting as much sleep as you.

Do you have difficulty exhaling or any other sort of discomfort?

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 12:29 pm

Do search on aerophagia.

If you have cflex, that may lessen it.

You show a plan cpap.
I had aerophagia much worse until I got an apap.

jimbassett · Post by **jimbassett** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 12:42 pm

I have on several occasions found my machine was pumping air directly into my stomach. It was not that I was swallowing air. It didn't take long for that to get uncomfortable quickly. Could this also be your situation? I don't have a clue for a cure other than to try different positions. Jim

octaldave · Post by **octaldave** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 1:18 pm

I have trouble with this from time to time as well, and find that it is (for me) almost entirely dependent on my sleep position. For instance, I have little trouble on my back, somewhat more when sleeping on my right side, and ALWAYS have trouble with this when sleeping on my left side.

bluegrassmandolin · Post by **bluegrassmandolin** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 1:27 pm

I'm about a month into my therapy and I've been having the same problems. I also have acid reflux so I get a little outside help from my pills. It's very uncomfortable to feel like there's all this air inside and not many options for getting it out. I've noticed a few positions that helped me before I was on CPAP that you might try. If you elevate your pillow it allows the air to naturally slide up and out. The same works with elevating the head of the bed itself. We used to use this trick for my son when he was an infant so he wouldn't have any problems too. Of course, I'm not a doctor in any way so I can't tell you if this affects your therapy or not. Good luck!

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jjposey · Post by **jjposey** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 1:30 pm

I also have this problem. I've had my CPAP about 2 months. Some nights I have terrible problems swallowing air - other nights no problems.
My Sleep doc said it is because I'm "Out of Sync" with my machine. I don't use CFLEX so I don't see how that could be.
She told me to take Phazyme or Gas-X.

Caffy · Post by **Caffy** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 2:06 pm

brackstone wrote: Hi Caffy,

What you are experiencing is called "Aerophagia" it's when the body ingests the air and swallows it.

I suffered from it and I had the exact same machine as you. My problem was it took a lot of effort to exhale, so I ended up taking much shorter breaths and sometimes swallowing air.

I also ended up switching to a full face mask and I don't have those problems anymore though I'm still not getting as much sleep as you.

Do you have difficulty exhaling or any other sort of discomfort?

I think I am having a problem exhaling. My sister has had the same set-up as I have for a couple years. She has the same problem.

I really hope I won't have to go to a full face mask. I am a side sleeper.

I am comfortable with the mask on and seem to be relaxed most of the time.

I do have a reflux/gas problem and this was way beyond what I normally have. Gas X wouldn't even help it.

Going to look-up Aerophagia now....

Thanks for all the great responses.

brackstone · Post by **brackstone** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 2:25 pm

Sorry Caffy I'm a bit tired. Where I said "I also" there was a paragraph before that explaining how I switch to Bi-PaP, I put an explanation below.

The Full Face Mask wasn't the solution to the whole problem, rather it was my Auto Bi-PaP.

If you have problems with your expiatory pressure then you should see about getting a Bi-PaP. It has two pressures, one for when you inhale, and the other for when you exhale.

This makes sleeping MUCH easier. I couldn't sleep at all with the CFLEX.

Caffy · Post by **Caffy** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 2:39 pm

Thank You Brackstone. I think I will call my
support and check into it.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 2:48 pm

A bi-pap or bi-level can definitely help relieve aerophagia.

Also, you need to find the correct C-flex relief for you. Some people run their cflex on 3, others on 1 or 2, and some of us turn it off completely. Improper cflex relief can cause aerophagia (I've read).

I've also read that Gas-x, etc. will not help the pain -- because it's not gas that is causing it. However, I would think that anything that helps you to belch would be good.

Sleepy-eyes · Post by **Sleepy-eyes** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 2:48 pm

Cathy,

I had the same machine as you and suffered terribly from Aerophagia. I tried every suggestion people made and nothing seemed to help. I finally took the most difficult suggestion and switched to the REMStar Auto with C-Flex. My problem with Aerophagia is no more! I've been on the machine since the 22nd of March and I think I belched once, one night..........as apposed to all night long every night. What a relief! But remember, what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another.

brackstone · Post by **brackstone** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 3:13 pm

Sleepy-eyes wrote:Cathy,

I had the same machine as you and suffered terribly from Aerophagia. I tried every suggestion people made and nothing seemed to help. I finally took the most difficult suggestion and switched to the REMStar Auto with C-Flex. My problem with Aerophagia is no more! I've been on the machine since the 22nd of March and I think I belched once, one night..........as apposed to all night long every night. What a relief! But remember, what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another.

That's interesting Sleepy Eyes, maybe it was the Auto that made the difference for me and not the CFLEX then.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:32 pm

I am so glad I found this Message Board. It's
so great hearing about everyones experiences.
Keep them coming.

Caffy · Post by **Caffy** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:34 pm

Oops... forgot to log-in on the above post.

Trouble with air in stomach/gas

Trouble with air in stomach/gas

Re: Trouble with air in stomach/gas

aerophagi

Re: Trouble with air in stomach/gas