Aerophagia and C/A flex

I recently switched machines( month ago) from a Resmed autoset spirt (apap) with no exhale relief to a remstar M series with A/C flex. With the resmed any pressure above 8 just blew my stomach up like a gorged tick..the higher the number the more air went in the stomach. Since I switched to the M series I have noticed little to no aerophagia even at pressures of 16 when I have it on A flex or C flex...3. Is there really that much difference or did my little valve suddenly heal.

Track,

I don't have an answer to your question, but I'm just GLAD TO HEAR that you're not experiencing much aerophagia anymore

I have GERD and my M Series APAP pressure ranges from 12 to 15 . . . yet I've never had a problem with aerophagia, knock on wood

Glad the M Series APAP is working well for you too!!

Joy

Thanks Joy....that A flex is the jam. I love it....c flex not as much but it still beats no exhale relief all to heck.

From everything that I've read with regard to aerophagia and GERD, the "workarounds" with XPAP, is a very individualistic thing. For various people it may be straight pressure, or ranges of pressure, or exhale relief, and some need to go to Bi-Level therapy......then, there's also surgery as a last resort.


Den

Thanks den...makes sense. Just for future reference....some other differences between the two machines. The remstar actually seems to make an attempt to deal with apneas above 10. I get some feedback so I can more accurately adjust my pressure to what is needed. Unlike most I have been seeking two numbers...one for side sleeping and one for sleeping any way I want. The remstar is far more helpful....especially giving me feedback on the higher numbers required for when I get on my back.
My ahi has been running between 1.6 and 2.6 on the remstar whereas it ran 5.5 or higher on all pressures with the resmed...there was no ideal pressure on that machine to get the numbers consistently below 5. The remstar registers a few more total apneas but WAY less hypoapneas. Typically the HI with the resmed was 4 -4.5 no matter where the pressure. I just couldn't get rid of them. On the remstar I can virtually eliminate them if I adjust the pressure up to an ideal pressure. The resmed kept me around 1-1.3 on apneas...the remstar runs typically closer to 1.3-2.0.

After suffering from aerophagia for over a year and getting no relief from any of the "medical remedies" suggested I put pressure on my HMO for a different machine. I was originally prescribed a RemStar M Series straight CPAP (pressure set to 11.0) with a heated humidifier. I requested a RemStar M Series Auto with A-Flex - that seemed to be the one that most people online had recommended. My request was denied (not a "formulary" item). My next step was to go through the complaint process. To resolve the complaint the HMO had me work with the Sleep Lab to retest. Fortunately the folks in the newly expanded department worked closely with me. I tested using several Resmed machines and at the end a Resmed S8 Autoset II was prescribed. Again, since this was not "formulary" I was given a RemStar M Series Auto with C-Flex. This did not totally solve the aerophagia problem as there was no exhalation relief.

Again, to their credit, the Sleep Lab stepped up and pushed the HMO to getting the machine that had been prescribed for me.

I have to say that since I have been using the Resmed S8 Autoset II I have not had ANY aerophagia. There is one fly in the ointment, however, and others may have been bitten by it. The successful Resmed machine was the second I had received. The first apparently had a sensor problem. I used it for two nights and the pressures went totally haywire on me, causing my stomach to fill with gas.

Of all the machines I used along the way both to test and to use at home I would say that the Resmed Autoset is the best. Leaks are nonexistent as the auto titrating process keeps the pressures low when apneas are not present. The EPR also creates an easier exhalation. It's great going to sleep and knowing I won't be wakened by gas pains.

One last thing --- the actual term for what is going on is "gastric insufflation". Aerophagia is "swallowing" gas - certainly not what happens to us.
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