I am currently trying an auto CPAP. Last night I woke up and the pressure had obviously increased. I couldn't get back to sleep because I'd have to burp every few breaths. Does anyone know if this could have been the machine trying to correct a central apnea, or would the machine overcompensate a bit to get my airway to open? If it's giving me gas I would think my airway would have to be open. When I was trying different pressures on straight CPAP 11 was the highest I found I could tolerate without getting gas. 12 was OK but I would get a bit of gas still. With CPAP on 10 I was still having about 20 events a night (cause unknown at this point). My auto is set between 10-15. I know this is lame as I am still pre-polysomnography, but just trying to manage in the meantime and have lots of questions.

Hosehead wrote:

If it's giving me gas I would think my airway would have to be open.

I could be completely wrong, but I would think if you are getting a lot of gas it would mean your airway is not open. When the airway is open, the air goes through the trachea and into the lungs. When it's not open, air can go through the esophagus and into the stomach.

It sounds to me as though the machine is increasing pressure to try to open your airway. Is it possible you are sleeping with your chin tucked, partially closing the airway? Sometimes a pillow can cause the head and chin to tuck. Try to keep your chin lifted more when you sleep and see if that helps.

I logged on to this site to see if others were dealing with the gas problem as much as I.   I've found that food is a problem.  If you haven't digested your food and it's still sitting in your stomach at bedtime, upper gas is a problem after all your CPAP air sits on top of it.  It carries into the morning, and you have a distended stomach, full of air.  I've learned to cut myself off from eating, nothing after 7:00 p.m., and it really lessens the problem.  As far as changing your air pressure yourself, it should have been determined during your sleep evaluation what your air pressure should be.  I wouldn't think changing it is a good idea, since you're not being monitored to know how your pressure change is affecting your sleep.