Bloating

[jeresoph]

HI friends:
I am a newbie and have been on CPAP therapy for merely 5 days. Right now I am concentrating on staying the course and maintaining calm throughout the night. I have had some increase in energy and some continued tiredness but I know after 5 days n pattern has obviously emerged. My question is that I have woken up with a bloating feeling most mornings and it seems like I want to pass gas. My stomach feels distended much of the day and although not painful it is uncomfortable. I have nasal pillows and I am fairly good at keeping my mouth shut and only breathing in though the nose. I have an AHI of 11. Mainly sleep on the side. Rather than suck Tums is this something that will go away, or should I consider switching to a APAP machine unlike the CPAP machine I have. I am sure I am leaving out some pertinent information but I wanted to know if bloating is something often found or is there something unusual about my situation. I am due to see the doctor on Wednesday for my first week review so is there anything I should know in advance of this meeting? Very grateful to you for your time.

[Pugsy]

The bloating is called aerophagia and it is common complaint. Sometimes minor complaint and sometimes major complaint.
Use the forum search feature and you will find lots of discussions about it.

For sure talk to your doctor about it at the up coming visit. Sometimes just a little reduction in pressure is enough to reduce the bloating to acceptable levels and not cause an increase in sleep apnea events.

[kmiller81]

Try sleeping only on your back. I too suffer from bloating but only when I sleep on my side.

[SleepingUgly]

And for me sleeping on my back with definitely make it worse. Also, supine sleeping is not great for apnea.

[chunkyfrog]

Sleeping on the left side is said to align the "internal plumbing" to help assuage gas build-up.
It works for me. And it aims the "result" in DH's general direction.