At least a few of us Cpap users get air in the stomach.  I have seen this already posted on this message board.  Bloating is very uncomfortable to say the least.  I have had to walk the floor at night to try to relieve the painful pressure or cramps.  That is not great for a full nights sleep.  Some nights it is less severe, but I have concerns about the damage that may be done in time by air pressure in places it was not intended.  I have always thought I "slept well" though the night (not knowing I had apnea).  But when you are already tired, it is difficult to deal with something that makes you wide wake during the night feeling worse.  I will not wear Cpap because of the bloating.  

I have tried lower pressures and Cflex.  What are the alternatives?  On other posts they say the bipap does not alleviate the problem.  After reviewing my sleep study charts, I have tried not sleeping on my back without Cpap and that has helped my apnea... as best I can judge by maybe 50% (I only get up once instead of twice to urinate which I have read is a physicological side effect of apnea and I do feel a bit less tired).

My experience with my sleep clinic is that no one understands or believes the problem, or they assume it is something you can work through.  Those who have not experienced it seem to think you will get used to it.  Those who have a Cpap bloating problem may be few in number, but the problem is serious if you can not use the machine.

I am told sleep studies mention bloating, but no specific studies on bloating have been done.  I am told that it goes to my stomach because I "swallow" air.  I consiously try not to when I am awake, and can I swallow air when I am asleep???  I wear the chin strap always, so I don't think my mouth is open.  There must be a reason that I have this problem and most others don't, but no one has been able to supply the answer.  I want to get a good nights sleep and I would gladly wear the mask, but I am concerned and annoyed by the bloating.

Are there any other Cpap users with stomach bloating who have found an answer?

looking for answers wrote:

At least a few of us Cpap users get air in the stomach.  I have seen this already posted on this message board.  Bloating is very uncomfortable to say the least.  I have had to walk the floor at night to try to relieve the painful pressure or cramps.  That is not great for a full nights sleep.  Some nights it is less severe, but I have concerns about the damage that may be done in time by air pressure in places it was not intended.  I have always thought I "slept well" though the night (not knowing I had apnea).  But when you are already tired, it is difficult to deal with something that makes you wide wake during the night feeling worse.  I will not wear Cpap because of the bloating.  

I have tried lower pressures and Cflex.  What are the alternatives?  On other posts they say the bipap does not alleviate the problem.  After reviewing my sleep study charts, I have tried not sleeping on my back without Cpap and that has helped my apnea... as best I can judge by maybe 50% (I only get up once instead of twice to urinate which I have read is a physicological side effect of apnea and I do feel a bit less tired).

My experience with my sleep clinic is that no one understands or believes the problem, or they assume it is something you can work through.  Those who have not experienced it seem to think you will get used to it.  Those who have a Cpap bloating problem may be few in number, but the problem is serious if you can not use the machine.

I am told sleep studies mention bloating, but no specific studies on bloating have been done.  I am told that it goes to my stomach because I "swallow" air.  I consiously try not to when I am awake, and can I swallow air when I am asleep???  I wear the chin strap always, so I don't think my mouth is open.  There must be a reason that I have this problem and most others don't, but no one has been able to supply the answer.  I want to get a good nights sleep and I would gladly wear the mask, but I am concerned and annoyed by the bloating.

Are there any other Cpap users with stomach bloating who have found an answer?

Hi,

I assume you are using a nasal mask ?

Bloating and farting in the morning are associated with swallowing air. It is a lot more common than you think and even seasoned cpap users can go through 'bouts' of it.

Personally, I had a short bout of it some years ago but it just seemed to go away. It obviously wasn't a huge problem for me as I didn't feel the need to do anything.

I suggest that you may be gulping air while asleep. Even with the chin strap. While asleep it's amazing what you will do, without any recollection. The swallowing of air might even be caused by your nervousness with cpap therapy.

I don't have an easy answer, maybe your DME supplier may have an answer as they deal with most cpap problems every day. In the interim, I would be reluctant to stop using cpap if at all possible.

Kind regards,

Daniel.


_________________
The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

Thank you, Daniel.  So what you are saying is that from your experience bloating will not last long?  You think most Cpap people experience it occasionally or to some degree?  

I read other posts about people having bloating problems for over 2 months.  In your situation, did it wake you at night?  I wake up in the night and can not go back to sleep until I relieve the tightness and painful pressure in my stomach.  I sometimes feel bubbles in my throat when I am lying down with mask and pressure.  This bloating problem occurs sometimes in only half an hour, sometimes after 3 hours.  I have never worn the mask more than 4 hours a night.  Sometimes I am consciously awake, haven't even gone to sleep before it happens.  I do my best not to consciously swallow air.  It has never happened to me without the air pressure.  Could it happen without swallowing?  My local respiratory tech says she has experienced this on occasion with CPR.

Yes, I use a nasal mask.  Would something else work better?  Does anyone know if sleeping position, etc makes bloating worse?  

Thanks for your comments and suggestions.  My sleep experts here are nice and helpful, but can not answer many of my questions.  I understand that each situation is unique, but having a central place to share information is so important.

looking for answers wrote:

Thank you, Daniel.  So what you are saying is that from your experience bloating will not last long?  You think most Cpap people experience it occasionally or to some degree?  

I read other posts about people having bloating problems for over 2 months.  In your situation, did it wake you at night?  I wake up in the night and can not go back to sleep until I relieve the tightness and painful pressure in my stomach.  I sometimes feel bubbles in my throat when I am lying down with mask and pressure.  This bloating problem occurs sometimes in only half an hour, sometimes after 3 hours.  I have never worn the mask more than 4 hours a night.  Sometimes I am consciously awake, haven't even gone to sleep before it happens.  I do my best not to consciously swallow air.  It has never happened to me without the air pressure.  Could it happen without swallowing?  My local respiratory tech says she has experienced this on occasion with CPR.

Yes, I use a nasal mask.  Would something else work better?  Does anyone know if sleeping position, etc makes bloating worse?  

Thanks for your comments and suggestions.  My sleep experts here are nice and helpful, but can not answer many of my questions.  I understand that each situation is unique, but having a central place to share information is so important.

My experience was that it didn't last long, maybe a few weeks and it certainly didn't wake me up at night. The side effects usually hit me first thing in the morning. Mainly a sore, extended stomach.

If your mouth opens, or you gulp air while using a nasal mask you will not get the benefits of cpap. If it continues you might need to look at a full face mask, however I would only suggest that if you are a natural mouth breather. It is really impossible to know exactly what you do while asleep, so it is usually the side effects or problems which point in a particular direction.

Daniel.


_________________
The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

Thanks again Daniel.

I will keep trying and if I find a solution or have changes regarding the bloating, I will post it so that others might benefit.

I do have doubts about the validity of my sleep study.  I was told by my sleep professionals that my results were skewed because of the short sleep time.  Well, I guess that I am learning that this is an imperfect science.

I hope a lot of you out there get a good nights sleep tonight.

Hi Looking,

I have experienced this recently with a change in bipap settings but I don't know of a remedy. You said that your friend mentioned it in connection with CPR. When administering the breaths during CPR, if the chin isn't lifted enough so that the head is tilted back with the airway open, the air goes into the stomach instead of the lungs. Do you sleep with your chin tucked? I don't sleep with my mouth open so I know I'm not taking air in that way. I'll try to pay attention to my head position with the bloating wakes me. In my case, I suspect my machine settings are too high and are forcing more air than I can handle.

SnoozeHunter

Hi Looking,
  I have had my CPAP about two weeks and I too have 'extreme' bloating, a full, distended abdomen that is actually painful. I use a chin strap and a nasal mask with full headgear. I sleep on my side. Yet I wake up (after an hour or two) uncomfortably bloated then I walk the floor praying for relief from the pain. Even when the bloating passes, the abdominal muscles are sore and my stomach is queasy most of the day.
  When I asked for help, the docs office staff said it would pass. I took that as a play on words. And I am irritated that they look upon so casually. Without CPAP I slept (somewhat) thru the night. Now with CPAP, I sleep for 2-3 hours per night. NOT an improvement.
  I have given up trying the past two nights and slept wonderfully. I'm sure I had apneic episodes but compared to only being in bed for a few hours, any rest is better than none. We have to find answers and a solution.
  How do you sleep? Just on your back? I'm a side sleeper and natural mouth breather which is why I wear a chin strap. I do tend to curl up and burrow into my pillow.
  Experienced people ... PLEASE help.
     Heidi


_________________
Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "Holy !@#! .... What a ride!"

Heidi,

I haven't found an answer, but I  have gotten some helpful suggestions from others on this forum.  I, like you, would rather sleep through the night with my apnea than wake up at 3 am and pace the floor.  I haven't been using Cpap, but intend to begin again and try some different things and document each nights rest.  

First I was told by my sleep clinic that air in the stomach can't happen.  What I have been told most often is that the problem is swallowing air and/or you have you mouth open.  I don't believe that either of these is the case for me.  I can have the stomach problem with the mask on before I even fall asleep when I know my mouth is shut and I'm making every effort not to swallow air.  Most people have the attitude that you will get over it.  I hope that happens.

I wish you luck.  If anything works for me I will certainly share it.

LFA

Hi All,

Just found this forum.  I'm using a Bipap machine and am suspecting "air in stomach" problems.  I have terrible bloating.  I am using the Bipap due to respiratory inefficiency as a result of a neuromuscular disease.  In fact at times I feel my bloating is making my breathing problems worse.  

I'm getting discouraged as I'm reading all over the place that there is not much that can be done to relieve the bloating.  I really don't have the option of not using my Bipap.

I will continue to watch these posts, in hopes of some relief.

I just started my third time around with a CPAP.  I had every problem that you can mention:  Headaches, bloating, mask leaks, general discomfort, less sleep than Apnea presented.  The first time, I tried for about a month with no improvement.  A year later, I tried again, this time for about 3 nights.  About a month ago, my apnea symptoms got so uncomfortable that I vowed to try again.  This time I asked for a full face mask.  This was the ticket.  I sometimes breath through my mouth; therefore, with a nasal mask, I gulped air, woke up, and was miserable.  If I needed to talk during the night for any reason, I gulped air.  If I yawned, I gulped air.  With the full face mask, I have slept wonderfully every single night.  I can talk, yawn, sleep with my mouth open, etc.  This might not solve your problem, but it certainly solved mine.

less-engineer

I am glad to hear about your success, and I hope it works for others.  I tried taping my mouth shut to solve the air problem, but it didn't help a bit.  So, thought a full face mask would be the same.  I have been thinking about trying a full face mask anyway, but now with your comments, I will get one.

I have had relief with GasX helping me to sleep through the night without the bloating keeping me awake.

Good luck PainInTheButt.  Let us know if either of these works for you.

LFA