Can CPAP casue stomach to bloat out?

[dawill4]

I logged in for the first time in a year and saw tags about bloating. Made me take notice because my stomach has ballooned out in the last year and I haven't been able to figure out why. Thought it was a med but I stopped it and the problem still exits. Kinda feels like a balloon inside sometimes. It could be a combination of reasons but was wondering how CPAP may be the cause or part of the cause??

Thanks

[bdp522]

Aerophasia will cause bloating. But the trapped air will find a way out and the bloating will go away. If your stomach is bloated all the time you should see a doctor. There are many things that cause a distended abdomen, some require medical treatment.

Brenda

[Wulfman]

If you want to read more about it, go up to the Search line and put in "aerophagia" and you will have LOTS of reading.
Different things work for different folks.

Den

[freepostg]

Aerophasia will cause bloating. But the trapped air will find a way out and the bloating will go away. If your stomach is bloated all the time you should see a doctor. There are many things that cause a distended abdomen, some require medical treatment.

Brenda

Very good point...aerophasia will normally subside by the end of the morning the latest. I would certainly see a Doctor for continuous bloating all day and night.

[dawill4]

Thanks. I was hoping maybe my CPAP was part of the problem and maybe set to high or something. Because the problem seems to have crept up since I increased the setting. But the problem is chronic and remains.
I don't know, I year into this and I still don't have it worked out perfectly yet.

[OutaSync]

I am a year and a half into this. My pressure is set Auto from 13-23 and goes up and down all night, averaging 16, sometimes 17. I have had aerophagia from day one, through 3 different machines and dozens of experimental pressure changes. My belly stays swollen all day long, making me look like I did when I was 6 months pregnant. Air blows through me all night long. I can feel the air move along and loudly escape. Last night I dreamed that I was in the ER with doctors trying to deflate my intestines. Some nights it's more uncomfortable than other nights. When I first sit up in the morning, I belch a lot to clear the air out of my stomach. The rest of the day the intestines continue to release the air. It most certainly is NOT finished by early morning. It is an all day, all night thing. Having been thin all my life (I'm 54),I've also gained 20 pounds since I started CPAP. I know that air does not weigh 20 pounds, so I have a theory about this. I think that the air passing through my intestines all night dries me out causing constipation. I think that when all that stuff sits in your intestines for 3 or 4 days instead of passing through, you continue to absorb from it and gain weight.

What I'm trying to say is that your experience may be different from others. There is no norm. What has worked for others may or may not work for you. Keep trying the different suggestions that people give you. Hopefully, you will find a solution, and come back and let me know!

Rooster, I tried your All Bran Bud diet and no difference.

Bev

[srose]

My doctor said that the wait gain is due to the body finally being able to rest rather than passively burning calories each night as you you struggle ti breath. I too have gained 20 lbs and if I get off of the CPAP, I can lose it in 2 weeks. I've experimented with it have done this.

Scott

[ericthomas]

Having been thin all my life (I'm 54),I've also gained 20 pounds since I started CPAP. I know that air does not weigh 20 pounds, so I have a theory about this. I think that the air passing through my intestines all night dries me out causing constipation. I think that when all that stuff sits in your intestines for 3 or 4 days instead of passing through, you continue to absorb from it and gain weight.

Bev

I've been on CPAP for about fours months and I have the same experience. I've been thin all my life too and I've already gained 10 pounds. I also use to be very regular, but I don't have to go to the bathroom every day anymore. There is definitely a side effect for me which has not been good. I also use to have a very flat stomach, but with the bloating, I've got a belly now. It sucks!

[Jason S.]

I was thin, even skinny my whole life, until last year. Been on CPAP for 6 months and gained 15 pounds, almost all in the stomach. If you look at me you wouldn't say I'm fat (6'3" 195#), but I'm "skinny fat". Been exercising 3 days/week the last month but so far no change.

[roster]

My doctor said that the wait gain is due to the body finally being able to rest rather than passively burning calories each night as you you struggle ti breath. I too have gained 20 lbs and if I get off of the CPAP, I can lose it in 2 weeks. I've experimented with it have done this.

Scott

This is contrary to popular hypothesis that sleep deprivation causes hormone changes and increases appetite; and that good CPAP therapy/good sleep returns hormones to normal levels and high appetite subsides.

[Jason S.]

[quote="rooster]This is contrary to popular hypothesis that sleep deprivation causes hormone changes and increases appetite; and that good CPAP therapy/good sleep returns hormones to normal levels and high appetite subsides.[/quote]

It may be contrary, but from my own experience, Scott's explanation makes sense. My appetite has if anything INCREASED since I started CPAP. I'm trying to eat smarter and exercise. Even if I don't drop the needed 15 lbs, I'll be more aerobically fit.

[ericthomas]

Not only have I've gained weight, but my blood pressure is now very high. It was pretty low before I started CPAP. I'm not sure whether sleep apnea is worst than the side effects of weight gain and high blood pressure.

[Pattsie]

My stomach bloated up a couple of years ago and still is. Had bunch of medical tests and doctors come up with nothing.

[dsm]

In empathy with you, since the really cold weather hit this part of the world, am finding aerophagia to be a bigger problem. e.g. spend quite a bit of time belching during the night but this was only a minor issue before the weather change.

One additional factor is that with the cold weather am getting constant sinus congestion & it could well be that mouth breathing as a result of sinus side effects, is the real reason for the increased aerophagia.

Good luck

DSM

[Chris61]

I had the same problem with the CPAP machine, and I also I had weight loss surgery(banded) at the same time. I was allway burping and felt I had extra air all the time. The doctor did say that this can be aproblem and he adjusted the pressure to the lowest and used the ramp on the machine and I did a lot better after the setting had been changed

Chris