Forced to belch!!!!!

Sleepy-eyes · Post by **Sleepy-eyes** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 2:56 pm

I think I asked this question "within" another thread I was involved in, but never received an answer..............that I can remember. (but my memory isn't so great any more!)

Do you remember, as kids, how we used to "swallow" air to be able to belch for the hilarious effect. (Yes, I said "as kids"!) I've mentioned before that my titrantic (sp?) pressure is supposed to be 15. At that pressure, the forced air does the same thing we used to do as kids, so all through the night I have this spot of pressure in my chest that requires belching to relieve. I can actually feel the air being forced to that place.

Has anyone else experienced this problem or am I just nuts? (probably the latter!)

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 3:03 pm

Hi Chris.

Did you experience it last night at the lower pressure?

Den

Sleepy-eyes · Post by **Sleepy-eyes** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 4:11 pm

Yes, but to a lesser degree.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 4:21 pm

Lots of people have experienced and commented on this situation. From my recollection, they experimented with the C-Flex and pressure settings.....OR went to using an Auto.

In the end, I think it's different variables for each person. I don't want some "Guest" accusing me of practicing medicine, but since you know how to change the settings.....see what works for you.....

Good luck.

Den

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 4:28 pm

Here's some links in Mile High Sleepers website about aerophagia that might help.

http://search.blogger.com/?as_q=aeropha ... m&x=33&y=4

Den

Sleepy-eyes · Post by **Sleepy-eyes** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 4:47 pm

Aerophagia! Wow, Den, thanks. I thought maybe I was nuts.

Hey, don't make so many disclaimers. Anyone with any intelligence knows this site isn't full of Doctors, but fellow "hoseheads" who just want to help. I've already learned a ton more than my PCP shared with me! Thanks.

Oh, another question: Does my CPAP machine change titrantic pressure during the night or remain constant?

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): aerophagia

cflame1 · Post by **cflame1** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 5:10 pm

Sleepy... you've got a Pro2... that's a constant pressure machine.

Sleepy-eyes · Post by **Sleepy-eyes** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 9:30 pm

Oh, okay. Shows ya what I know!

Born Tired · Post by **Born Tired** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 10:42 pm

Aerophagia can be miserable. On straight CPAP it got so bad for me that I couldn't finish out the night on my machine. With advice and encouragement from folks here, I discussed it with my Dr. and she allowed me to get an AutoPAP. That helped alot, but I still had to decrease my pressure by one. Some go to a BiPap I believe.
Esther
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wabmorgan · Post by **wabmorgan** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 6:34 am

I had this problem. Went to an AutoPap with C-flex. Also, reduced presure to 90% at dr advice. Rarely have the problem now:)

Sleepy-eyes · Post by **Sleepy-eyes** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 8:31 am

A NIGHT FROM HELL!!!!!!!

Last night the aerophagia darned near drove me nuts. (not that it's that far!) I had a terrible time with my mask leaking, which keeps me constantly on the edge of good sleep but not quite there. And then I woke up about two hours after turning out the lights and I had so much air in me that when I got up to go to the bathroom, I belched one solid belch the entire trip!!!! Did the same thing 3 hours later. Needless to say, I'm not very rested this morning.

Is there anything I can do to help this problem..........other than changing machines? (which isn't an option for me)

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): aerophagia

Maryb · Post by **Maryb** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 11:14 am

I have problems with aerophagia too.
Lucky for me I have a machine that can do either CPAP or APAP mode so I have had plenty to experiment with. I was titrated on an auto to a pressure of 8 to 14.
First thing I did to battle aerophagia was drop the pressure. I seem to have way less aerophagia at max pressures below 12 (and I monitored my AHI and it is still below 5 at this setting).
Your titrated pressure is 15, you might try dropping it a point or two and see if that helps. However, I don't know if your machine allows you to monitor what your AHI is--you really need to know how your AHI is affected when you change your pressure settings. If you can't track your AHI with your machine, you could try to drop your pressure a little anyway and see if it helps and also how you feel (an indirect measure of your AHI).

Maryb

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 11:20 am

Sleepy-eyes,
Maybe changing the machine isn't an option for you, but the VA should be giving you the best machine for your condition. Severe aerophagia (air swallowing) can be made better with bi-level machines, and your pressure is high enough to justify that. They may have to start you out with straight cpap just to see if you can handle the simpler machine, but if you can't tolerate it, they should change your machine. A bi-level (bi-pap) is different from an automatic, it even has a different insurance code, and should not be confused with an automatic machine. Listen to Handgunner45:

viewtopic.php?p=126502#126502

Handgunner45 wrote:Sleepy-eyes,

Contact the RT dept at the VA center where you had your sleep study. Ask him/her about the possibility of a Bipap machine. I know that I was told by them to contact them direct with any issues. They told me that if the CPAP was a problem they would be happy to let me try a Bipap. The night that I had my study, there were 2 of us, and the other patient was sent home with a Bipap with settings of IPAP 8/ EPAP 4. They were concerned with his ability to adjust to CPAP. I had tolerated the CPAP at 8 quite well so they felt comfortable with a CPAP for me but indicated that switching to a Bipap would not be a problem. The issue of an APAP was not even a consideration as they only had 2 at the hospital for use in the occasional home titration.

O.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): bipap, Titration, CPAP, APAP, aerophagia

Sleepy-eyes · Post by **Sleepy-eyes** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 7:44 am

Thanks for all the help, folks. I'm still waiting on a return call from my Primary Care Physician from the VA.

I dropped my pressure to 10 last night and still had some areophagia, though not excessive. Ended up with a lot of rainout, which is a first for me. Also, since my pressure was going to be lower, I loosened the straps on my mask a little so they didn't decapitate me................but I had a lot of leak problems. I'm really ready for a good nights sleep.................