Aerophagia?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
KathyJL
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Aerophagia?

Post by KathyJL » Wed Jun 29, 2022 1:23 pm

For the past several months, I have been waking most mornings with stomach pain that radiates to my back. I have done multiple tests with doctors to find what’s wrong, to no avail. Could it be after 13 years of using my CPAP, I have developed Aerophagia? Is there a way to test for it or determine for sure?
Daily user of CPAP since 2009.
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ChicagoGranny
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Re: Aerophagia?

Post by ChicagoGranny » Wed Jun 29, 2022 3:01 pm

Do you feel bloated? Does burping or farting help relieve it?

KathyJL
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Re: Aerophagia?

Post by KathyJL » Wed Jun 29, 2022 4:09 pm

Yes, much of the time.
Daily user of CPAP since 2009.
Use very low humidity or pass through.
Slightly heated hose. Hose cozy.
Masks: Alternate between N30i, Aloha, Tap Pap, & occasional BleepSleep.

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ozij
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Re: Aerophagia?

Post by ozij » Wed Jun 29, 2022 6:08 pm

KathyJL wrote:
Wed Jun 29, 2022 1:23 pm
For the past several months, I have been waking most mornings with stomach pain that radiates to my back. I have done multiple tests with doctors to find what’s wrong, to no avail. Could it be after 13 years of using my CPAP, I have developed Aerophagia? Is there a way to test for it or determine for sure?
Have you changed your machine in those 13 years?
Have you changed settings?
Do you know what pressure is supposed to be supplied by your machine?

Have you lost weight? Sometimes weight loss means less pressure is needed.

Is your machine one that helps you track data?

Do you track your results?

Can you have your machine tested to make sure it's supplying the stated pressure, and hasn't gone off it's head?

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ChicagoGranny
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Re: Aerophagia?

Post by ChicagoGranny » Thu Jun 30, 2022 6:31 am

KathyJL wrote:
Wed Jun 29, 2022 4:09 pm
Yes, much of the time.
That certainly sounds like CPAP-induced aerophagia, but it was good to get your doctors involved to rule out other potentially dangerous conditions.

Ozij asks some good questions. In the meantime, you could be reviewing the cpaptalk wiki on aerophagia ----> wiki/index.php/Aerophagia Note the link in the wiki to some advice by Ozij.

KathyJL
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Re: Aerophagia?

Post by KathyJL » Thu Jun 30, 2022 1:56 pm

Ozij,
I don’t think it’s my machine as it’s happening with two different machines.
It might be my pressure (8) but I’ve actually gained weight, not lost it.
Yes I tracked my data but it’s on the machine that was stolen (unless on a cloud somewhere). I have the past four weeks data though with the machine I’m using and did an Oscar run yesterday and everything looked fine.

Thanks for info and link, ChicagoGranny!

Can Aerophagia develop years after starting cpap? I thought it was just a newbie thing.
Daily user of CPAP since 2009.
Use very low humidity or pass through.
Slightly heated hose. Hose cozy.
Masks: Alternate between N30i, Aloha, Tap Pap, & occasional BleepSleep.

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Pugsy
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Re: Aerophagia?

Post by Pugsy » Thu Jun 30, 2022 2:15 pm

KathyJL wrote:
Thu Jun 30, 2022 1:56 pm
Can Aerophagia develop years after starting cpap? I thought it was just a newbie thing.
It can certainly develop later when not present initially if the conditions that cause the air to leak into the stomach/gut happen to pop up later.

There is no specific "test" that I know of to tell someone if their symptoms are related to air in the stomach/gut or not.
What we have to do is try to limit the pressures a bit in an effort to
1...find out if cpap pressure is a potential culprit
2...if pressure is the culprit then we try to find a line where above so and so pressure causes a problem and below that line doesn't cause a problem and we hope that a lower pressure resolves the problem AND doesn't worsen cpap effective therapy.

Curious...have you been experiencing more heart burn related symptoms the last few years???

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KathyJL
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Re: Aerophagia?

Post by KathyJL » Thu Jun 30, 2022 9:07 pm

Pugsy, thank you for your reply! I will try to adjust the pressure a bit and see what happens.
I’ve always had heartburn, since teens. However, in the past few years, I had to start taking Nexium daily or else the heartburn is unbearable by evening. So, yes, it has gotten worse.
This stomach pain that radiates to back is new in past 4-6 months or so. Pain goes away after getting up and walking around, having breakfast, etc.
Daily user of CPAP since 2009.
Use very low humidity or pass through.
Slightly heated hose. Hose cozy.
Masks: Alternate between N30i, Aloha, Tap Pap, & occasional BleepSleep.

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Pugsy
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Re: Aerophagia?

Post by Pugsy » Thu Jun 30, 2022 9:51 pm

KathyJL wrote:
Thu Jun 30, 2022 9:07 pm
This stomach pain that radiates to back is new in past 4-6 months or so. Pain goes away after getting up and walking around, having breakfast, etc.
Sometimes the problems that causes heartburn or the acid getting into the lower esophagus can damage the LES which is the Lower Esophageal Sphincter and then the sphincter can't do a good job keeping the air that is in the esophagus from entering the stomach. I don't know that is your problem but it is entirely possible.

Now I will mention one thing just because it happened to me and it happened years before I ever heard of sleep apnea and it relates to stomach pain and back pain.
That also is a common symptom of a sick gallbladder. I had minor stomach or abdominal pain but major back pain up in the mid back area. If you haven't had the gallbladder checked out...might want to talk to your doctor about it.
Long shot I am sure but since I have first hand experience with that I just wanted to mention it. Not totally impossible.
For me the gallbladder itself was fine but the duct going from the gallbladder to the liver was essentially totally blocked by adhesions which in turn caused the gallbladder to not be able to empty properly and get sick.

Nothing stopping you from limiting your max pressure (if using auto adjusting mode) though and it might help your problem.
Might be just the ticket.

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ozij
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Re: Aerophagia?

Post by ozij » Thu Jun 30, 2022 11:14 pm

Are the doctors you consulted about the pain aware of you use of CPAP?
Pugsy wrote:
Thu Jun 30, 2022 9:51 pm
Sometimes the problems that causes heartburn or the acid getting into the lower esophagus can damage the LES which is the Lower Esophageal Sphincter and then the sphincter can't do a good job keeping the air that is in the esophagus from entering the stomach. I don't know that is your problem but it is entirely possible.
A healthy Lower Esophageal Sphincter stays properly closed unless you're eating and does not normally let acid flow from you stomach into your esophagus.

Your increasing heartburn, and aerophagia both indicate it's not closing properly.
When I had a bad case of aerphagia and heartburn the gastroenterologist I consulted gave me a pretty big dose of a nexium equivalent - for a number of weeks - and I limited my APAP's higher pressure. After the acute period, I lowered dosage very gradually, to avoid a rebound.

There are also recommendations to raise the head of your bed, and to prefer sleep on one side (I no longer remember which).

I no longer remember which side, because for me, years of heartburn and the need for PPI's on a nightly basis disappeared when I switched to a low carb, practically gluten free diet, with no seed oils.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Machine: Resmed AirSense10 for Her with Climateline heated hose ; alternating masks.
And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Good advice is compromised by missing data
Forum member Dog Slobber Nov. 2023

Architect
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Re: Aerophagia?

Post by Architect » Sat Jul 02, 2022 4:13 pm

Hi friend, don't know the cause, and hope you find relief soon, arophagia is the worst :x I certainly can relate.

Not solution for all, but worked extremely well for me in the past was Prune juice and dried prunes. I woke up, drank a glass of prune juice on empty stomach, ate dried prunes every 2-3 hours. Cleans digestive system.

Wish you well friend.