Hi Mary, your ResMed Auto probably has a button or setting called EPR (ResMed's term for exhalation relief).  If you're not using it, or if it is set low, try putting the setting up to the highest.  It causes the machine to back off when it senses an exhale, that can help a lot with aerophagia in addition to position.  This setting is user-adjustable and is not part of your therapy prescription.

If you're already using it, please disregard...

Blessings,
--pseudonym

Thanks Pseudonym I'll check out the machine tonight. I'm a little bit leary about touching the buttons because I don't want to screw up the machine but I'll check it out tonight. I don't know if it's set for it or not. The technician set it up for me and he didn't show me how to adjust it or anything. It's funny you should mention this because I was just reading about it on Resmed's website. I'll keep you informed and thanks again. Have a great weekend.
MaryP

I did have a hiatal hernia and severe uncontroled GERD diagnosed as a weak upper spincter valve.  I had the recommended endoscopic hiatal hernia repair and nissen fundoplection surgery where they wrap the stromach around the valve.  The more food I eat, the tighter the valve gets (in theory).   Very unconfortable post-surgery but GERD related symptoms much improved after 1 year.  I hope I don't have a new hiatal hernia as the aerophagia seesm to be getting worse lately (see recent thread below).  I have severe TMJ and the bite splint I wear at night seems to be compounding the problem.  I think jaw position has much to do with the flap operating properly.........

I did have a hiatal hernia and severe uncontroled GERD diagnosed as a weak upper spincter valve.  I had the recommended endoscopic hiatal hernia repair and nissen fundoplection surgery where they wrap the stromach around the valve.  The more food I eat, the tighter the valve gets (in theory).   Very unconfortable post-surgery but GERD related symptoms much improved after 1 year.  I hope I don't have a new hiatal hernia as the aerophagia seesm to be getting worse lately (see recent thread below).  I have severe TMJ and the bite splint I wear at night seems to be compounding the problem.  I think jaw position has much to do with the flap operating properly.........

I also have a hiatal hernia , I find if I don't eat anything for several hours before I go to bed I have less problems with acid re flux and bloating Also I sleep in a reclining position with my upper body elevated quite a bit, this also seems to help alot although I sleep that way because of my back. I also find Gaviscon helps when I am having a really bad night. I am on BiPAP with settings of 16/12  Bloating  seemed to decrease alot just with time I guess your body just adapts to  the infusion of air! White Beard

This is my first post.  I replaced my Respironics CPAP with APAP two months ago, and it has not helped my aerophagia.  In fact, my doctor shut off the A-Flex portion of my program because she thinks that the difference between my respiration rate (14-16 per minute) and the APAP's programmed 18-20 per minute may contribute to the aerophagia.  I use an Opti-Life mask since I am a side-sleeper.  The nasal pillow didn't help my aerophagia.  

My info:  moderate OSA treated with APAP at 9.5 cm.  Also have idiopathic hypersomnia with long sleep and delayed sleep phase syndrome.

Hi Pseudonym,
The trouble with the Resmed is that you can only use the EPR in the CPAP mode and not the APAP mode. I got a new prescription from my doctor and went on Saturday and got the Respironics M series Auto which allows you to use Cflex in the auto mode. I used it the last two nights and the breathing is a lot better. I still had a little aerophagia but not much. I also raised the head of my bed a bit but I don't think that helped. What I don't like about this machine is that the readings aren't as good as the Resmed. With the Resmed I could tell how many hours I used it last night and how many apneas. This one only gives you an average for the week. Also it makes a little bit of a high pitched noise and I'm sensitive to noise, but I'm sure I'll get used to it. I do find with this machine I use it for much longer. The reason I was able to switch machines is because I was only renting the other one until I figured out if I liked it or not. Thanks for your advise and all the help. I'll let you know how things progress. If anyone has any answers to the reading of the machine or the noise could you please let me know. Thanks so much. You've all been a big help.
Mary

Hi Everyone,
I've was on the Resmed auto with humidifier for almost three months with the Swift Nasal II pillows and there were some mornings I woke up in severe pain that lasted a good part of the day. My tech supplier said that I was the first one that ever complained about aeorphagia! Go figure! Anyway, I got an appointment with my doctor and on Saturday I picked up the Respironics auto cpap with humidifier because it has Aflex (or Cflex). I have used it for two nights now and I must say I prefer this machine for the breathing. The aerophagia is much less and I am using the machine much longer during the night. The trouble with the Resmed auto was that EPR (or Cflex) was only an option when you were in straight CPAP not in the auto while with this machine it is an option in both. Since I was renting I didn't have a problem changing. I'm hoping it improves with each day. I had tried sleeping different ways with different pillows etc. but nothing helped that much. I must say that I've been making myself sleep on my side instead of my back and that has helped some. That is my story and my suggestions, also GASX does help some. Good luck.
Mary

That's interesting Mary, I'm not familiar with ResMeds and I didn't know you couldn't use EPR while in auto mode.  That's so odd to me... as you found, with the Respironics APAP the exhalation relief is still available.  Worked well for me too, glad you were able to switch and get some relief.

Blessings,
--pseudonym

I have had a lot of trouble with aerophagia. It can be really painful. I was on the Resmed Auto with the Swift Nasal II Pillows, humidifier and chin strap. It was getting really bad some days with waking up in severe pain. That machine does not offer the CFLEX in the auto so I got a new prescription from my doctor. I finally just switched to the Respironics Auto with AFLEX and I must say it's much better. Not 100% but a big difference. I get a bit of Aerophagia but nothing like on the other machine. I think the AFLEX makes a difference. One other thing try sleeping on your left side. That tends to make a difference. At least for me it does. I used to sleep on my back but that only makes it worse. Also GAS X helps some. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

I'm no doctor but here are my 2 cents:

I have been struggling with aerophagia for about a year.  I have a ResMed APAP with humidifier - the moisture helps.  I wear the mask.  Most nights I can only sleep until my gut won't expand any more, and I wake up  (very awake) and have to move around.   When I'm lucky just turning over works, other times I have to walk around.  In some cases, after the pressure is released, it can take a long time (hours) to get back to sleep.

I have tried a variety of head positions including thin/thick pillows, including no pillow.  Sleeping in a slouched position - lots of pillows approaching a sitting position - works sometimes.

Aerophagia is from the Greek meaning to 'eat air'.  Some people do swallow too much air for instance, when they are eating food - not necessarily while sleeping.  I suspect that my problem has to do with an inadequate seal in my throat on the path to my gut, and the machine pushes air down that path too.  I don't think the air goes down when I'm swallowing - rather I think I have a leak.  The humifier probably keeps the area moist, improving the seal.  My aerophagia is definitely worse when the humidifier runs out of water.

I find that eating late or too much really makes this worse - my gut has less room for air being pumped in by the APAP, so I feel full of air sooner, and wake up sooner.  Early, light meals help me get more hours of uninterrupted sleep.  And yes, having wine with dinner makes me more likely to wake up sooner.

I haven't researched hiatal hernias - I don't know if that applies to me.  I could have a 'taco tear' I suppose.  Or more likely a 'Dorito tear' (my exposure to Doritos has been excessive at times).

I don't remember my physics studies too well, but I suspect that my situation is causing the machine to work harder than it should.  Instead of seeing the volume of my head, throat and lungs, the machine 'sees' the volume of my stomach and intestines as well.  More volume means more work to maintain the minimum pressure, I guess.  Might be a factor...I don't know.

There were several months where 3 hours was my max asleep time.  I tried taking sleeping pills at bedtime to improve that - they made no difference (well, I felt a lot worse when I woke up anyway).  Contrary to instruction, I started taking 1/2 a sleeping pill when I woke up after 3 hours.  That got me another 3 hours of sleep.  What a big improvement!

After a few weeks of that regimen I stopped the sleeping pills, and since then have been able to get 5-6 hours of sleep before the inflation wakes me up.   I've had a couple of cases where I've slept 7-8 hours in one night.  I want more of those!!!!

I don't know how useful any of this is.  Any thoughts appreciated.

It's almost 4am here....I was woken up around 3 with GHASTLY pains in my stomach, which I see from the posts is quite common.  I used a new mask tonite:  The Activa and I Had to take it off and go take some Gas X.  I have never had such horrible pains in my life and my stomach is horribly distended.  Im afraid to keep using this if Im going to wake up in the middle of the night with horrific pains.  It's saturday morning so my RT isnt going to be in.....Im unsure of what to do - Im afraid to put that thing back on!
I use a VPAP Adapt SV.  Any thoughts?

Hi KSter, welcome.

Thoughts?  Yes.  Try the positional suggestions in this thread.  At least one of them is bound to reduce or eliminate the aerophagia.  And it can take some time, as your body becomes accustomed to breathing with the CPAP, it 'learns' how to direct the air down your windpipe more efficiently.  

Blessings,
--pseudonym