air into stomach

I have become more and more uncomfortable using my CPAP. The chip checks out ok, however, my stomach is distended and feels like it's full of air. I read this is possibly a side effect of the machine and I believe it is true. I didn't use the machine last night, first time in 4 months, and this morning my stomach is ok. Therefore I believe some air is escaping into my stomach!! What to do, breath and have pain in stomach, don't breath and have a comfortable stomach?!

Please take the time to formally register at the forum. Then you can go to the User Control Panel, your profile then the equipment tab, and list your equipment in text please (pictures all look alike).

Then post back with what your pressure is and with the additional information someone can help you better.

Otherwise all we can say is google aerophagia or use the forum search function and search for aerophagia (lots of discussions about it) and it explains what you are experiencing, it is common and there are ways to lessen its impact.

There are self-help measures you can take to minimize aerophagia (air in stomach) while on CPAP.

1) Google GERD and read up on the self-help guidelines for GERD. Apparently many CPAPers who suffer aerophagia also have GERD --- and possibly asymptomatic GERD. But even if you don't have GERD, the GERD-management guidelines of not eating heavy meals for supper, not eating just before bedtime, and watching what you eat can help take the edge off aerophagia.

2) Try to teach yourself to keep your tongue parked up on the roof of your mouth and touching the back of your upper front teeth while you are trying to get to sleep and while you sleep. When your tongue is in this position, it seems to help prevent the air from getting into your mouth and hence reduces the tendency to swallow the excess air.

3) Since you say your stomach is actually distended from the air AND since you've felt obligated to sleep without the CPAP due to the pain of the aerophagia, I'd say it is time to call the sleep doctor's office and REPORT the problem. Be sure to tell the receptionist who answers the phone that your stomach is visibly distended AND that you could NOT slep with the CPAP. And tell her that you need to speak to a PA, nurse, or doctor about what kinds of measures you can take to minimize the aerophagia. If the aerophagia has been a constant problem or if it it getting worse (instead of better), then it may also be reasonable to ask whether a switch to a bi-level machine might help with aerophagia. My own problems with aerophagia were finally solved by moving to a BiPAP instead of an APAP.

Best of luck