Mouth too tightly taped?

Good morning! I've been in compliance with my CPAP therapy since around mid-June. I am still not used to having the "thing" glommed to my face and sleeping only on my right side is taking a bit of a toll on my right hip/knee (and the consequent insomnia as I try to get comfy), but I'm committed to doing what needs to be done. But, there's one issue that is driving me bonkers: I have a bit of a bloated belly. I did a search on this site (thanks, ChicagoGranny, for the link) and read about aerophagia, but I couldn't find my answers. So, here are the questions, if any one can answer them: 1) I read online somewhere that some air needs to escape from the mouth in order not to pass completely to the stomach/bowels. Since I tape my mouth tightly - one long horizontal strip and a shorter vertical one - is it possible that I'm causing the bloating? I am not a mouth breather by day, but I am by night b/c of some sort of floppy/loose thing in my throat (sorry, forget the medical term from my doctor) that causes me to breathe via my mouth. A chin strap is too uncomfortable - have tried it. 2) Will the bloating be persistent? As in, am I "doomed" to a bloated belly forever? I am not overly gassy (although somewhat) and, as long as I eat 4 or 5 prunes each day, the constipation has all but disappeared (although the air in my bowels has definitely affected the way my movements look). Anyhow, I've taken up a lot of space here - apologies - but I'm trying to figure out how long this belly will last... perhaps forever? Best.

laprof wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 30, 2018 8:37 am

1) I read online somewhere that some air needs to escape from the mouth in order not to pass completely to the stomach/bowels.

Strictly my opinion, but that was written by someone that doesn't know what the hell they are talking about.

laprof wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 30, 2018 8:37 am

2) Will the bloating be persistent? As in, am I "doomed" to a bloated belly forever?

Can't say. After about 7 years, I still have a minor problem. On my back, I get very little aerophagia. Sometimes early in the morning, I will roll onto my side. Then, I often get some bad aerophagia. The good news is I have less of a problem than when first starting out.

laprof wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 30, 2018 8:37 am

as long as I eat 4 or 5 prunes

Kellogg's All-Bran Buds contain psyllium fiber which is water soluble. Prunes contain mostly insoluble fiber. I have tried several things, but the buds work best for me. A water-soluble fiber is very mild but effective. I measure out a 3-ounce cup every morning. It seems to work better if a consistent amount is eaten every day. Sometimes I eat it in 2% milk (Fairlife). Sometimes I just munch on them while drinking coffee or an orange spritzer (low carb).

laprof wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 30, 2018 8:37 am

sleeping only on my right side is taking a bit of a toll on my right hip/knee (and the consequent insomnia as I try to get comfy)

Is there a reason for not sleeping on your back? When sleeping on your sides, do you place a pillow between your knees?

If you sleep on your side, a firm pillow between your knees will prevent your upper leg from pulling your spine out of alignment and reduce stress on your hips and lower back. Pull your knees up slightly toward your chest. The pillow for your head should keep your spine straight. A rolled towel or small pillow under your waist may also help support your spine. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclop ... entID=4460

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

laprof wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 30, 2018 8:37 am

Anyhow, I've taken up a lot of space here - apologies -

It's nice to have a place where we can talk about our intestinal gas and our poop, and no one is offended.

There's no easy answer for this, but personally I can say that my aerophagia was really bad when I first started taping, but it went mostly away after the first week. Now I'm just a little extra farty in the morning. it helps if I get some walking in so that I pass any extra gas I may have. Hopefully you'll have a similar experience, but I have heard of people who continue to struggle with aerophagia.

Also I don't know if this is coincidence but for me upping my minimum pressure actually reduced the aerophagia... I believe this is because it reduced my apneas (from like .9 to 0)... thus my airway was open more often... at a lower pressure I had more OSA's... so there was more time that the air wanted to find someplace else to go... in this case my stomach. Of course you'd have to look at your numbers to know if upping your pressure was safe and YMMV.

laprof wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 30, 2018 8:37 am

1) I read online somewhere that some air needs to escape from the mouth in order not to pass completely to the stomach/bowels.

As with most everything else, if you read enough, you can find someone saying anything... but the trick is to know what to listen to.

This is one of those things not to listen to. It's completely stupid, and shows total ignorance of basic anatomy.

laprof wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 30, 2018 8:37 am

. 2) Will the bloating be persistent?

Not once your body learns to quit swallowing air.

laprof wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 30, 2018 8:37 am

Anyhow, I've taken up a lot of space here - apologies

Not at all.

Thank you to all of you! Why do I sleep on my right side? Since it seems that my PSVT is positional, it most often happens when I'm on my left side. I'm trying pillows, thin foam pads, etc.between my knees to ease the hip/knee pain, but they're a "sometimes" help. The gassiness doesn't really bother me too, too much - just the bigger belly (pride!) and the change in bowel habits without using prunes. (Not to be graphic, but my mornings used to find me at a quick sprint to the bathroom! Now I can stroll...) I was told that if poop floats, there's a malabsorption issue -or, there's too much air in them. Guess whose floats now? Anyhow, I hope that the bloating will end - although I read a thread here somewhere about a woman whose bloating has never stopped - or that it will only be a morning bloating and not a 24/7 event! Best.