Can stomachs POP from Aerophagia?

Wistful · Post by **Wistful** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 8:01 am

My Aerophagia is getting worse.

I tape my mouth, sleep with my head raised and take phayzme. I lowered my base pressure on my auto and may lower it one more. After doing those things, it got better and I would wake up in the morning with a seriously distended stomach and pain - but the night was over and I made it.
Now, nothing is different, but I am waking up at 2 with the belly I used to wake up in the morning with. I can't keep going - there is no more room for the air and I am in too much pain. That what made me wonder if your stomach could pop

I do not have gerd (was checked), I swallow alot while on cpap so I know that's why, but my search of posts hasn't shown me anything else I can try. Treatment for daytime aerophagia do to air swallowing is behavioral so that can't work for sleeping.

I am lowering my base pressure to 7 on my auto - is there anything else I can try?

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 8:05 am

Do you use c-flex? Some find that using c-flex helps, some find it makes things worse. So..if you are using it, try turning it off. If you aren't using it, try turning it on.

Brenda

Wistful · Post by **Wistful** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 8:12 am

Ya, I use c-flex. I find it works really well and adjust very easily to my breathing. I keep it at the highest to avoid felling smothered. I can try without it and see if it makes a difference.

Thanks!

KimberlyinMN · Post by **KimberlyinMN** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 9:42 am

I had to switch to a Bi-PAP machine. Thankfully this all happened during my "rental phase" when I was just starting out so I basically just switched machines (although my three month rental started over).

Kimberly

RichCMH · Post by **RichCMH** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 10:47 am

Wistful... have you tried to keep your chin up and away from your chest? I have read that keeping "good posture" with the neck straight with head up/back may keep air from being swallowed.

I seem to swallow air when I am tucked into a more fetal position than with "good posture".

Just a thought.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 11:01 am

Wistful wrote:My Aerophagia is getting worse.

I tape my mouth, sleep with my head raised and take phayzme. I lowered my base pressure on my auto and may lower it one more. After doing those things, it got better and I would wake up in the morning with a seriously distended stomach and pain - but the night was over and I made it.
Now, nothing is different, but I am waking up at 2 with the belly I used to wake up in the morning with. I can't keep going - there is no more room for the air and I am in too much pain. That what made me wonder if your stomach could pop

I do not have gerd (was checked), I swallow alot while on cpap so I know that's why, but my search of posts hasn't shown me anything else I can try. Treatment for daytime aerophagia do to air swallowing is behavioral so that can't work for sleeping.

I am lowering my base pressure to 7 on my auto - is there anything else I can try?

Nah your belly won't pop ... just stay away from sharp objects and you will be fine ... and also, we all have a safety pressure relief valve at the rear end though it can be a bit noisy sometimes

Rich made a good suggestion and you may want to get checked out for GERD. As Kimberly mentioned, you can also discuss bipap options with your sleep doc.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 11:06 am

Wistful wrote:I am waking up at 2 with the belly I used to wake up in the morning with. I can't keep going - there is no more room for the air and I am in too much pain.

Wistful, I sure sympathize with you. The few times I had painful aerophagia it HURT. Hurt so badly that if it were going to be like that on a regular basis I would not continue using cpap at all. And that's saying a lot because I am a BIG believer in cpap treatment for OSA.

So.... if other machines, other pressures....if nothing gives relief, I think I'd start looking at other types of treatments for OSA. Something instead of cpap. Namely, a dental appliance like the TAP Titanium that Snork1 uses now instead of cpap.

To find his posts, do a "search" without any keyword typed in; just the author name... snork1

I'd try other types of cpap machine first, but if other types of cpap machine can't stop the painful bloating, I'd think very seriously about going the dental device route.

Wistful · Post by **Wistful** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 11:10 am

Funny, I swear I sound like an Irishman at a pub and Saint-Pats day....

I will say that while I do let out some embarrassing burps when I sit up (I am just getting sexier all the time with this cpap thing ) it doesn't all come out... I wish it did but the air seems to like it in my belly. I think one reason it may be worse is that some of that air made into my intestines so now there is air trapped in there, as well as more air making it in each night. No more room!

I have been tested for Gird for other reasons, so I know I am clear on that end. I will look into the Bi-pap thing and keep playing with my c-flex.

Think a pin will work?

Wistful · Post by **Wistful** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 11:13 am

My last post was in response to dream stalker...

Rested Gal, you have earned my respect through many of your other posts so thank you. I sincerely hope that something can be done so I will talk to my doc about the other PAPs and dental device.
It is exhausting sometimes.

W

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 11:18 am

I'd pursue getting the esophageal sphincter checked. If that opening is damaged or weak, that can be letting air get pushed down the wrong way...even without any swallowing taking place. There is a surgery to correct that.

A weak esophageal sphincter can also be letting acid seep up, which could very well be happening despite your having been checked for GERD in the past. I'd keep checking about that, too.

sleepngo · Post by **sleepngo** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:46 pm

Wistful, I am having the same problem, maybe not as bad but it is a problem with me also. Monday I will see a sleep dentist and be tested for a dental appliance, my sleep studies were pretty bad, so I don't know if I will be a good candidate for one. If that rout doesn't pan out I will go back to my sleep center and take another test to see if I can qualify for a bipap machine, but no mater what I will keep trying because cpap really does work for me. So don't give up, you will eventually find something that works for you, good luck.

Dan

SelfSeeker · Post by **SelfSeeker** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:52 pm

Wistful,

Once again sending hugs.

You got great suggestions.

Talk to your sleep doctor about a bi-pap.

I agree with getting the esophageal sphincter checked.

Also see a medical doctor about the air. Many years ago, I had strange abnominal pain. I went to a dr, they actually took x-rays. Gave me medicine, because the Dr said that my intestines were full of air. What ever medicine I was given really worked.

JimW · Post by **JimW** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 1:55 pm

Don't know if this has already been mentioned, but I (and some others) find that I swallow more air lying on my side than supine.

Wistful · Post by **Wistful** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 2:45 pm

I have put weakened esophageal sphincter onto the shopping list to bring to my doctor - it's getting pretty long and air stuck in the intestines.

I usually sleep on my side, I would have thought I'd have less air that way, but I'll try just about anything.

Thanks!
W

Carsonsmom · Post by **Carsonsmom** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:25 pm

I had the same problem. My doc ended up switching me to an APAP with C Flex. It helps a lot. I probably should be on a Bi-pap but my insurance won't pay for that unless I do a 3rd sleep study, etc. See if your doc will switch you to an APAP machine

Can stomachs POP from Aerophagia?

Can stomachs POP from Aerophagia?

Re: Can stomachs POP from Aerophagia?

Re: Can stomachs POP from Aerophagia?