Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Daniel Quarberg on July 21, 2011 at 10:48am

Don't sleep on your side. That is what I noticed. Other than that, you may wish to see your doc.

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Permalink Reply by Joe Radosevich on July 21, 2011 at 11:28am

I notice this pretty often, but mostly when I don't use my pap regularly. If I miss a day or two, when I use again I notice this. The longer it's been, the worse it gets and longer it takes until it doesn't happen again.  I've also noticed that turning onto your other side... "promotes release of the pressure."

 

Note: I really don't know if this may be a "setting too high" type of a situation - personally I haven't checked, though feel it *may* contribute to the problem.  As per above, may want to double check with the Doc.

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Permalink Reply by Gloria J Ketter on July 21, 2011 at 11:38am

Yes, I have noticed this too and didn't 4 years ago when I started on CPAP.  Feel bloated all the time and stomach seems distended some.  Not sure what to do about it either. Haven't talked to dr. yet about it.  Would appreciate comments.  Thanks. Gloria

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Permalink Reply by Karen Schoen on July 21, 2011 at 12:21pm

I have also had this problem.  It is called "aerophagia."  The discomfort sometimes lasted all day.

I am a side sleeper, too.  I have an autopap and the doc lowered my pressure settings which helped immensely.  I also noticed that if I use a nasal mask that it tends to be worse. 

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Permalink Reply by Ricardo Lopez on July 21, 2011 at 12:43pm

Swallowing air is not uncommon.  It happens to me all the time because I use a full face mask and breathe through my mouth.  The key is to train yourself to keep your mouth closed and breath through the nose.  It is not a faulty machine and it does get better over time because you learn how to breath correctly.  Decreasing the pressure DOES alleviate the problem but you do not get the right pressure.  When I started I had a lot of problems with swallowing air and was waking up in a lot of pain (and a very big and hard belly!); my doctor did decrease the pressure for a few months to give me a chance to get used to the machine.  As to sleeping on the side; I also sleep on the side and cannot sleep otherwise.  I now find myself noticing when I am swallowing air and moving to another position while sleeping; this usually helps a lot.

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Permalink Reply by Mary Regan on July 21, 2011 at 1:25pm

I stopped using the CPAP because of this and set out to find out what was going on.  It turns out, for me, that my jaw was recessed, creating a small airway and soft tissue hanging from my jaw further blocked my airway.  This is the cause of my sleep apnea, and the reason why air went into my stomach - it had nowhere else to go. 

In May, I had surgery to move my jaws forward.  It's a big deal - a 6 hour surgery - but I can breathe and sleep so much better already, even as my face still recovers.  After my face "settles", sometime in December or January, I'll have a sleep study to confirm whether I am completely cured of sleep apnea or whether I still need a CPAP.  Even If I do still need a CPAP, at least it will be able to work better, because my airway is wider!

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Permalink Reply by Gayle on July 21, 2011 at 8:48pm

I've had this severe pain periodically (not too often) over the last 6 years.  My family doctor prescribed hyoscyamine s/l (.125 mg) which I put under my tongue.  While it dissolves, I keep a heating pad on my stomach.  By the time the pill is dissolved, usually the pain is gone.  The first time it happened it frightened me, but now I just keep a few pills and a heating pad near my bedside in case I have the pain.  When I've described this to other doctors, including sleep doctors, they say it isn't possible.  I can guarantee, it does happen and it is painful.  This works for me.

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Permalink Reply by wayne fleming on July 21, 2011 at 10:32pm

Hi Gloria 

Thanks for the comments, i looked up a link in sleep guide about trapped gas and a sleep tech said to double up your pillow and sleep with your neck in a downward 45 degree angle either on your side or on your back. 
I tried this last night and it appeard to work  so im gonna try that again tonight.

PS I Bought a new pillow before this happened and before that i had two pillows so that could have contributed 

sleep well

Wayne 
Gloria J Ketter said:

Yes, I have noticed this too and didn't 4 years ago when I started on CPAP.  Feel bloated all the time and stomach seems distended some.  Not sure what to do about it either. Haven't talked to dr. yet about it.  Would appreciate comments.  Thanks. Gloria

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Permalink Reply by wayne fleming on July 21, 2011 at 10:34pm

Hi Daniel,

Thanks for the comments, i looked up a link in sleep guide about trapped gas and a sleep tech said to double up your pillow and sleep with your neck in a downward 45 degree angle either on your side or on your back. 
I tried this last night and it appeard to work  so im gonna try that again tonight.

PS I Bought a new pillow before this happened and before that i had two pillows so that could have contributed 

Wayne 

Daniel Quarberg said:

Don't sleep on your side. That is what I noticed. Other than that, you may wish to see your doc.

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Permalink Reply by wayne fleming on July 21, 2011 at 10:36pm

Hey Joe 

Thanks for the comments, i looked up a link in sleep guide about trapped gas and a sleep tech said to double up your pillow and sleep with your neck in a downward 45 degree angle either on your side or on your back. 
I tried this last night and it appeard to work  so im gonna try that again tonight.

PS I Bought a new pillow before this happened and before that i had two pillows so that could have contributed. 

thanks Wayne

 

Joe Radosevich said:

I notice this pretty often, but mostly when I don't use my pap regularly. If I miss a day or two, when I use again I notice this. The longer it's been, the worse it gets and longer it takes until it doesn't happen again.  I've also noticed that turning onto your other side... "promotes release of the pressure."

 

Note: I really don't know if this may be a "setting too high" type of a situation - personally I haven't checked, though feel it *may* contribute to the problem.  As per above, may want to double check with the Doc.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by wayne fleming on July 21, 2011 at 10:37pm

Hi Karen.

Thanks for the comments, i looked up a link in sleep guide about trapped gas and a sleep tech said to double up your pillow and sleep with your neck in a downward 45 degree angle either on your side or on your back. 
I tried this last night and it appeard to work  so im gonna try that again tonight.

PS I Bought a new pillow before this happened and before that i had two pillows so that could have contributed.

 Many Thanks

     Wayne

 

Karen Schoen said:

I have also had this problem.  It is called "aerophagia."  The discomfort sometimes lasted all day.

I am a side sleeper, too.  I have an autopap and the doc lowered my pressure settings which helped immensely.  I also noticed that if I use a nasal mask that it tends to be worse. 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by wayne fleming on July 21, 2011 at 10:44pm

Hi Ricardo,

Thanks for the advice however i have problems breathing through my nose due to a inner  nose/mucus membrain allergy condition so sometime's i cannot breath at all through my nose.   I  looked up a link in sleep guide about trapped gas and a sleep tech said to double up your pillow and sleep with your neck in a downward 45 degree angle either on your side or on your back. 

I tried this last night and it appeard to work  so im gonna try that again tonight.

PS I Bought a new pillow before this happened and before that i had two pillows so that could have contributed 

Wayne.

Ricardo Lopez said:

Swallowing air is not uncommon.  It happens to me all the time because I use a full face mask and breathe through my mouth.  The key is to train yourself to keep your mouth closed and breath through the nose.  It is not a faulty machine and it does get better over time because you learn how to breath correctly.  Decreasing the pressure DOES alleviate the problem but you do not get the right pressure.  When I started I had a lot of problems with swallowing air and was waking up in a lot of pain (and a very big and hard belly!); my doctor did decrease the pressure for a few months to give me a chance to get used to the machine.  As to sleeping on the side; I also sleep on the side and cannot sleep otherwise.  I now find myself noticing when I am swallowing air and moving to another position while sleeping; this usually helps a lot.

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