Finally slept for 7 hrs. but aerophagia is unbearable

[dlr0212]

Hi all. Just wanted to share my excitement. I slept last night for 7 hours straight without waking up. I started using CPAP 6 weeks ago and thought I would never be able to adjust to it. It took night after night of whipping it off my head only after 2 hours. Then by week 3, I noticed I was sleeping 3 hours, then 4 and so on. It has made quite a difference in my life. I am no longer falling asleep during the day, I now have energy and it's a wonderful feeling. I am grateful.

BUT...here's the thing....I cannot for the life of me get rid of the stomach bloat. I have tried 3 different masks, including full. Full was just not going to happen, as I felt too confined. Sleeping in different positions, had my Dr. set it on auto (6 to 13), etc. I have been trying to just live with it, popping X-Gas pills daily. I can't imagine falling asleep with my mouth taped shut, the thought alone scares me. My nose stays pretty clear...I wear Breathe Strips. My husband said it's like night and day...I no longer snore. He says I sleep peacefully, so I don't think I am getting air through my mouth, but I must be?? I've read hear that it does eventually go away. Can someone that has dealt with it tell me if that's true? I've read a few other posts here regarding the subject. Should I just keep doing what I'm doing? When it first started happening, before I came to this forum, I actually went to the doctors and got x-rayed. I thought it was a horrible medical condition....crazy huh? I'm in love with my machine, but hate bloat. Ironically, I am losing weight, but I feel like I've gained 15 lbs. in the stomach. The bloat keeps me full feeling. Not the diet I was looking for...lol

[Drowsy Dancer]

Hi, dlr, that's generally great news.

If you edit your post title to include the word "aerophagia," you will probably get some very knowledgeable people to come by. My experience is with aerophagia is that it does come and go. Do you sleep on your back a lot? I seem to have it more when I sleep on my back. I think it's also associated more with higher pressures, but I see you're already working with your doctor on that one.

That's all I got.

[MagsterMile]

I usually only get the bloat sleeping on my left side. No where near as bad on the right side.

[Pugsy]

The aerophagia (bloat) may or may not go away. I would think after this length of time...more likely the "not go away".

What is your average pressure running in APAP mode? Wonder if you could get by with a little less pressure on that high side if it is going up there very much??
Sometimes there's a fine line where if you stay below such and such pressure the aerophagia doesn't raise its ugly head and if you go above it you end up feeling like a puffer fish.

I have known people with extreme aerophagia even with 10 cm pressure or less and they ended up on a bilevel pressure machine so that they aren't constantly receiving the higher pressure.

If you haven't read this..there are some additional hints you might try
wiki/index.php/Aerophagia

I am fortunate that I can count on 1 hand the number of times I have ever had it to the point I was ill.
I know it is a miserable feeling and it is unacceptable to be expected to "live with it" when there are options available.

[Pugsy]

Do you have the software so you can actually see the pressure changes on your machine and the reports?
If not...get it...I have links in my signature.
Maybe let us see what a typical night looks like and maybe we can come up with some ideas you can talk to your doctor about.
Don't know how to post an image of a report? Check out this thread.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=81072&p=737779#p737779

[chunkyfrog]

Sleeping position may help. My sweet side was my left.
It went away in 2 or 3 weeks.

[khauser]

Hi!
Overall, great news!

Your machine has a form of expiration relief called AFlex ... are you using it? It doesn't matter whether you use AFlex 1, 2 or 3 .. pick the one that is most comfortable. Pugsy describes it as a timing thing, but you should find that one makes breathing feel more natural than the others.

This *might* help with the bloating. Simethicone (like Gas-X) can be useful too, but only in helping to eliminate the air you've swallowed, not in preventing it.

I checked some of your other posts. I don't think Flonase can cause this ... in fact the medicine is absorbed in the nasal cavity. It is a local corticosteroid that reduces inflammation. It may even help you breathe through your nose on CPAP therapy. It is interesting that you stopped use of the machine and the bloating continued. You've probably already been told not to stop using the machine, but really, don't. Yes, we need to find you a solution to the bloating, but we all think death is a poor solution.

Anyway, the fact that the bloating lasted so long tells me one of two things:
1) The problem isn't related to xPAP at all
2) Or it is, but the air is getting past the stomach and in to the intestines. In fact, this is what happens with me. Aflex made this MUCH less. It's probably the single most useful change I've made of late, and how stupid of me to wait so long! I've been living with the bloating. And sorry to say, it still happens, just less.

So you'll get better hints than what I am about to give you on dealing with bloating, but:
1) Try Simethicone preparations that are meant to go in to the intestines. Phazyme was one. Gas-X may come in a similar form. The big tip off, other than they say it on the package, is it won't be in a chewable form.
2) Some recommend different yoga positions. I just "manipulate" my belly. I've gotten pretty good at it, and can coax the extra air out most of the time. But if you can't, see step 1!!!

Good luck! Remember, xPAP for life. Yeah, side effects suck, but death is a major (and sudden) side effect from not using your xPAP. The fact that you survived this long isn't a good reason to risk not using it further.

[Pugsy]

This is the one situation I wish a person had the S9 and EPR....
The AFlex on the Respironics machine is good...but it just doesn't drop the pressure like EPR at 3 does.
But do play around with the AFlex setting it might just do the trick and be super comfortable to boot.

[dlr0212]

I'm going to print this out and bring to my doctor. I'm not on Aflex. I think?? I am in the 3 month trial phase and I have not got any readings as to how I am doing. I have to get them from the doctor, right? He did adjust to an auto setting but perhaps I should go lower. I will mention Aflex. I will continue to try different sleeping positions and get a pillow. Try to keep propped up. Think I should try the chin strap? It's a bit overwhelming, but I am determined to stay on the machine and lick the bloat. How are you all reading your own nights sleep? Did you start out like me in the trial phase with your doctor overseeing it? I'm calling the office right now to see if I can get Aflex. It's getting hard to conceal my upper stomach! I'm overweight as it is...I surely don't need this! My brother has been with CPAP for 8 years and can't sleep without it, but has never experienced bloat. Thank you so much for all your advice.

Khauser..i will try the Simethicone. Thank you.

[Pugsy]

You don't have to wait for the doctor to look at the software reports.
Check out my signature line for PR S1 software options and see some examples.

If AFlex is not available to you then it needs to be turned on in the clinical setup menu.
This is considered a comfort feature and you should be allowed to access it and change it.
If you want to do it yourself...this link tells you how to get into the clinical menu area. It isn't difficult.
http://www.apneaboard.com/pr-system-one ... structions
If you aren't comfortable doing it yourself...get the DME to do it for you.

I loved AFlex ....never any aerophagia but one night I turned it off just to see what would happen. Horrible night...lots of aerophagia...minimal sleep...miserable the next day..nausea...never wanted to turn it off again after that.

[dlr0212]

Ok, so maybe Aflex is the answer to my problem. I unfortunately cannot change my settings. It's as if they are locked, until I make it through the 3 month phase (Insurance thing). I will contact my doctor. Can't thank you enough for this information.

[khauser]

This is the one situation I wish a person had the S9 and EPR....
The AFlex on the Respironics machine is good...but it just doesn't drop the pressure like EPR at 3 does.
But do play around with the AFlex setting it might just do the trick and be super comfortable to boot.

He could use CFlex, which I believe DOES drop the pressure more like EPR (but I don't have EPR to try, so that's a bit of a guess).

I found CFlex to cause my airway to collapse while AFlex does a great job of letting me exhale without the collapse.

[Jason2483]

GasX won't help aerophagia, so save your money. You could have something else going on as well.

I'm pretty good at aerophagia. I wake up occasionally and unleash cartoon quality burps. In the morning, I can produce cartoon quality burps AND farts. The point being, you should be able to eliminate the air. Everyone's mileage will vary, of course. So my advice is, try being shameless for a few days and see if it gets better. Also, try the other settings as suggested to see if that helps. Finally, you might have to get checked out and see if something else is going on.

[Always tired]

You don't have to wait for the doctor to look at the software reports.
Check out my signature line for PR S1 software options and see some examples.

If AFlex is not available to you then it needs to be turned on in the clinical setup menu.
This is considered a comfort feature and you should be allowed to access it and change it.
If you want to do it yourself...this link tells you how to get into the clinical menu area. It isn't difficult.
http://www.apneaboard.com/pr-system-one ... structions
If you aren't comfortable doing it yourself...get the DME to do it for you.

I loved AFlex ....never any aerophagia but one night I turned it off just to see what would happen. Horrible night...lots of aerophagia...minimal sleep...miserable the next day..nausea...never wanted to turn it off again after that.

Pugsy,
Quick question re flex 1,2,3 and my PRSQ 1
In my provider manual it shows me how to adjust flex--no problem and the current setting is 2, but unless it's just massive sleep debt I could swear that I read, maybe in another manual, that pressure had to be a min of 6 to use flex.
My pressure is 5-8 and I have been burping, passing gas since starting PAP. I always thought it just came with the territory. Does flex mean that it's easier to exhale? Just bump it to 3 and see what happens?

Thanks A T

[Always tired]

My apologies to the OP, for the hijack.
I thought I was sending a PM.
A T