Miserable with bloating - new to CPAP and ready to QUIT!

bfmanning · Post by **bfmanning** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:17 pm

Been on CPAP for 4 nights. Feel like someone has put a tire pump on my body and pumped me full of air. I am absolutely miserable! Hit the Internet, searched for this problem, and sure enough, it's a common problem for CPAP users. No one bothers to tell you all the side effects.

Have tried sleeping with a pillow, without a pillow, head raised, head flat, in every way possible...though I've only been struggling for 4 nights. But I just cannot stop the terrible, painful bloating. It isn't getting better...only getting worse, and has now triggered Irritable Bowel Syndrome, that I have not had a major problem with for several years.

I have gotten up and exercised both yesterday morning and this morning, trying to get the air moving and out of my body. But it did absolutely NOTHING for releasing all the bloating. I'm a mess!

I'm so frustrated, and in such physical pain from the bloating that I am ready to throw the machine OUT THE WINDOW!!

See ENT doctor about this tomorrow. I so hope I can find a viable solution. Otherwise, I just don't know what I can do??

Machine is causing earaches, problems with already nasty sinuses, can't exhale worth a hoot...and on and on...the complaining goes.

Feel discouraged. This whole thing is absolutely BARBARIC!

bfmanning · Post by **bfmanning** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:28 pm

Guess I should have asked in my original post: Has ANYONE successfully gotten past the painful abdominal bloating? Why is my body taking so much air in?? Isn't one's stomach supposed to be closed when breathing???

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:29 pm

Your pressure is obviously too high for you to exhale properly. Lots depends on your machine. Does it have cflex or exhale relief?

You may have to go with a Bi-Level. Meaning that it has one pressure for inhale, and another one for exhale. It helps to reduce aerophagia - swallowing air.

If you do have to get a Bi-Level, a very good one is the Respironics Auto Bi-Pap. I would call it the cadillac of Bilevels.

Yes, definitely see your doctor.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:31 pm

BF, please fill in the bottom section of your profile with your equipment. Also, list your pressure in comments - kinda like mine at the bottom of this post. That info will help the forum to help you.

bfmanning · Post by **bfmanning** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:37 pm

Have a Resprionics REMstar Plus...it's a bare-bones machine. It does have a ramping feature, which is a god-send. But no humidifier, no nothing else!

My insurance is a real pain about all of this stuff. It seems like they aren't really treating sleep apnea as a real problem. They are just awful--making me have to prove medical necessity for every, single thing.

When you feel so lousy already, it is very hard to have the energy to fight the fight. And it is going to take a fight, I'm afraid, to make them do what I need.

If I don't find my way through the bloating problem, well, I won't be able to stay on this treatment and get better.

It's all so very overwhelming right now...and I just feel so very awful. I can't even stand myself anymore! I'm whining all the dang time!!

tooly125 · Post by **tooly125** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:38 pm

Do a search on this forum for aerophagia.
You will find lots of helpful advise and some things that have helped others.
Fill out your profile so we all can see what equipment you are using and also list your pressure.
Your health depends on you getting this right!
Also I agree see your doctor!

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:41 pm

The aerophagia is usually self limiting and goes away.
Mylanta and/or Gas-X is useless since it is air, not metabolic gas.

This is a prime example of using an APAP.

You should have insisted on one.

It may take some time to adapt to any PAP.
A positive attitude is also essential.

Do Not give up

bfmanning · Post by **bfmanning** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:52 pm

What is APAP??

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:54 pm

Well, a pressure of 11 isn't really high, so you probably aren't a candidate for bi-level. But you probably need a machine that has cflex. And as Tomjax said, an Auto machine would work great for you. Because an auto will run at a much lower pressure than your titrated one for most of the night --- thereby your wouldn't be swallowing as much air.

If you are renting instead of buying, or especially if you are buying your current machine, try to get a Remstar Auto with cflex and HUMIDIFIER. Without a humidifier, you will be even more miserable and probably get a bloody nose on a regular basis.

I know you don't feel like fighting to get what you need now, but it won't get any better.

chdurie2 · Post by **chdurie2** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:01 pm

i don't know about bloating, but when i first started cpap, i got really bad cold symptoms. this is not to start a debate about cpap and cold symptoms, only to tell you that the first week or so, cpap can give you some unexpected side effects that are no fun. they should subside. it's just you getting used to the machine, pressure, etc. -- now you have a doc's appt tomorrow to find out whether this is something more. but rest assured, cpap can be an adjustment process. try not to get overwhelmed by your symptoms and hang in there.

you're getting lots of good advice, it seems, from people here on aerophogia, or whatever it's called.

caroline

unclebob · Post by **unclebob** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:02 pm

Hi bfmanning,

There is a trick some of us old timers use, but it's not for everyone. What you need to do is create pressure in your abdominal cavity so the air pressure from the CPAP will go into your lungs like it's supposed to instead of your stomach and giving you that bloated feeling.

It actually takes about three days but if you can get through it, there should be no more problems. It does entail a slight diet change but not a lot of cost. What you do is eat a large portion of bean and cabbage casserole along with several beers for three nights in a row. This should get the ol gasses flowing one way or the other.

Hope this helps!

Bob F

P.S. - Just trying to lighten you up a little, I know it's not fun.

bfmanning · Post by **bfmanning** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:15 pm

Linda3032 - hope I got that right...what is a CFLEX? I feel like a fish out of water with all of these new terms.

My insurance sent me to a DME company, (they were very unhelpful), and they issued me what I was "allowed" to have. Don't know if it is rented or purchased by my insurance? So far, I haven't had to put out any money. And I wouldn't mind putting out some $$$ if I got some choices about what I'm getting. Just haven't figured much out yet about any of this. Don't know what I should be trying to achieve, (except sleep)!

I think I have finally convinced the DME people that I need a humidifier. Already having nosebleeds in just 4 days. They are going to "allow" me a cold air humidifier. They said I would have to prove medical necessity for each improvement or change in the "bare bones" equipment that we are allowed.

I am usually a fighter...and if I can get some peaceful, (not painful) sleep, I'll fight the fight. But right now, I feel like "they've" got me between a rock and a hard place.

Searched for Aerophagia as was suggested. Whenever I choose a message to read through for information about it, I don't seem to be able to go back to the index of the Aerophagia search and continue reading for information about it. Have to keep starting all over with the "search". Anybody know what I'm doing wrong??

Thanks for all the help and support tonight. I very much appreciate it!

bfmanning · Post by **bfmanning** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:20 pm

unclebob - you were serious about creating abdominal pressure to block the intake of air from the CPAP, weren't you??

How do you do it??

If I could fart, I wouldn't be having this problem.... Eating is only making the problem much worse. So far, it's the best diet I've ever seen. Eating makes me sick as a dog!! Good way to lose weight, but the hard way for sure!

And yes...I have to be able to laugh!!! And this would be very funny, if it wasn't so darn painful!!!!

I'll get there... just pretty down in the dumps with all these adjustments. Life has been just one pretty significant adjustment right after another for me for the last 8 years... Before that, I had a body that would go and go...and NEVER gave me much trouble. Not so now!

Fromaginator · Post by **Fromaginator** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:44 pm

Bfmanning - hang in there!

I'm in my third week of XPap therapy - though I'm on bi-level, my pressures are set fairly high, and I had the SAME issues you've mentioned during my first two weeks - IT DOES GET BETTER IF YOU GIVE IT A CHANCE!

For the first two weeks, it felt like my left ear was going to pop, and I'd get pain in my side/left diaphragm.

I discussed it with my doc at checkup - two things came out of the discussion:
- it could be a pressure intolerance - she called the sleep center, in my case, the pressure couldn't be adjusted w/out compromising the treatment
- it could also be that I'm sleeping with only my neck elevated, rather than my torso - the air going "up" instead of "down" - so a 30-degree wedge was ordered for me to put under my mattress (still waiting on it)

But all that aside - it's actually gotten better - I don't have the side pain anymore, and the pressure isn't affecting my ears as much.

I think it's just a matter of finding out what you need to make yourself comfortable. The body has a learning curve it has to get through after being "used" to OSA if you've had it for any length of time. The breathing muscles have to be "retrained" to know what it feels like to breathe fully in a prone position. The sinuses aren't used to dealing with "inflow" - but they get used to it.

Definitely discuss it with your doctor - you might need to adjust the pressure if you're still having such a hard time after a couple of weeks, or there may be simpler things that can be done.

But it needs to be something you can live with - no matter what!

Best of luck to you!

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:49 pm

BF - I think UncleBob was joking - at least I hope he was.

You said, "Before that, I had a body that would go and go." I think you should rename your ID to the "Energizer Bunny". ... Yes, we have to keep a sense of humor.

I remember one guy (Robert, where are you?) who battled with his Swift mask every night. We finally had to name his mask "Chuckie".

Mask

Additional Comments: Large mask collection

Mask

Miserable with bloating - new to CPAP and ready to QUIT!

Miserable with bloating - new to CPAP and ready to QUIT!

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Re: Miserable with bloating - new to CPAP and ready to QUIT!