BLOATING

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Permalink Reply by Marion@As I Live and Breathe on October 13, 2011 at 11:15

The book isn't published til December 5th. It will be available from Kath's website.
There's another CPAP book on her website at the moment - it's written for children.

Susan Early said:

Where would I find that chapter?

Marion@As I Live and Breathe said:

"Petroleum-based creams and lotions should NOT be used when using Oxygen Therapy as there is a risk of burn damage to the skin"-  Chapter 4 Skin Care 'CPAP and Ventilator Secrets' (published Dec 2011).

Susan Early said:

Thanks for the tips.Funny thing is I only breath through my nose during the day as I tend to be a tension jaw clincher. I guess I have a few extra challenges to this whole thing.   I've been on an Oxygen machine and a C-pap  over night since Feb. But I wear a full set of dentures that must be removed every night too. It's weird but is very difficult to keep your mouth shut properly with no teeth in, so I think my jaw drops open easily. Because of the oxygen, I can not use Vicks or other greasy or oily products on my face, not sure why, but my O2 supplier told me not to.

I just really hate all this bloating in my gut, and hope it doesn't turn out to be just one more thing I have to live with.

 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on August 12, 2012 at 12:52

I'm just reviving this old discussion, as bloating is such a common problem and have found some very good advice on a website........

 

• If you feel bloated and full of gas after using your cpap machine, you are not alone.

• This is one of the many uncomfortable Cpap side effects – cpap machines and gas. The medical term for this is Aerophagia.

• The primary cause is – you are swallowing air when you are using your Cpap or Bipap machine.

---

• First and Foremost, there are no clear cut solutions. Irritatingly so. The following are suggested strategiesyou can consider using :

a) Use a CPAP Chinstrap regardless if you use a CPAP Nasal Pillows, CPAP Nasal Mask or a CPAP Full Face Mask. This will reduce the likelihood of you swallowing air through your mouth while in therapy.

 

b) Over the counter medication - Simethicone (generic name) chewable tablets, capsules or liquid. We have met a number of sleep doctors who advice this. “Use it before going to sleep with your cpap” and other doctors would advise to “use only when you wake up and if you feel bloated”. Fortunately for most people, this experience is temporary until they get acclimated to using the cpap machine. At any rate please check with your doctor.

c) Lower the cpap pressure settings temporarily. For example, someone is at a cpap pressure setting of 12cmH20. The pressures are dropped to 10 cmH20 for a month. Then raise the pressure up to 11 cmH20 the next month. And then raise it back to 12 cmH20 the third month. This way it gives your body time to gradually acclimate itself to the original prescribed cpap pressure. Your doctor must be willing to do this and write prescriptions to reflect these gradual changes.

d) Use an “Auto Cpap or Auto Bipap”. This way your cpap pressures are not on the high side through out the night.

 

e) Use a Cpap or Bipap machine with EPR or C-Flex feature.

 

f) Raise the EPR or C-Flex setting. Have the Respiratory Therapist from the home medical Equipment Company show you how to do it.

 

g) Lengthen the ramp time. The Respiratory Therapist can easily do that for you.

 

h) Elevate the head. By raising the front of the mattress to make it incline.

 

i) Try a totally different position of sleeping than you have been doing since using the cpap. We know this is horrible advice. But it does work. For instance side sleepers have a lesser incidence of bloating. The question to be figured out is which side is better for you?

 

j) Do you currently use a Cpap Full Face Mask? Do you feel you are swallowing down a lot of air? Example, your mouth puffs up with air all the time when using the full face mask, and you wake up feeling bloated. At this point you either use a chin strap with your full face mask to control how wide your jaw opens. Or switch to using Chin Strap & Cpap Nasal Pillows or using Chin Strap & Cpap Nasal Mask. k) Try a different type of cpap mask. Different mask makes how you feel and respond to your cpap pressurevery differently.

k) If you are a Cpap user and have tried all the above suggestions, the doctor might just prescribe a Bipap machine.

Source - http://www.cpaphelpdesk.com/cpap-machines-and-gas.html

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Permalink Reply by 99 on August 12, 2012 at 20:55

can flatulence smell be disguised to a fragrant smell

Kath Hope said:

I'm just reviving this old discussion, as bloating is such a common problem and have found some very good advice on a website........

 

• If you feel bloated and full of gas after using your cpap machine, you are not alone.

• This is one of the many uncomfortable Cpap side effects – cpap machines and gas. The medical term for this is Aerophagia.

• The primary cause is – you are swallowing air when you are using your Cpap or Bipap machine.

---

• First and Foremost, there are no clear cut solutions. Irritatingly so. The following are suggested strategiesyou can consider using :

a) Use a CPAP Chinstrap regardless if you use a CPAP Nasal Pillows, CPAP Nasal Mask or a CPAP Full Face Mask. This will reduce the likelihood of you swallowing air through your mouth while in therapy.

 

b) Over the counter medication - Simethicone (generic name) chewable tablets, capsules or liquid. We have met a number of sleep doctors who advice this. “Use it before going to sleep with your cpap” and other doctors would advise to “use only when you wake up and if you feel bloated”. Fortunately for most people, this experience is temporary until they get acclimated to using the cpap machine. At any rate please check with your doctor.

c) Lower the cpap pressure settings temporarily. For example, someone is at a cpap pressure setting of 12cmH20. The pressures are dropped to 10 cmH20 for a month. Then raise the pressure up to 11 cmH20 the next month. And then raise it back to 12 cmH20 the third month. This way it gives your body time to gradually acclimate itself to the original prescribed cpap pressure. Your doctor must be willing to do this and write prescriptions to reflect these gradual changes.

d) Use an “Auto Cpap or Auto Bipap”. This way your cpap pressures are not on the high side through out the night.

 

e) Use a Cpap or Bipap machine with EPR or C-Flex feature.

 

f) Raise the EPR or C-Flex setting. Have the Respiratory Therapist from the home medical Equipment Company show you how to do it.

 

g) Lengthen the ramp time. The Respiratory Therapist can easily do that for you.

 

h) Elevate the head. By raising the front of the mattress to make it incline.

 

i) Try a totally different position of sleeping than you have been doing since using the cpap. We know this is horrible advice. But it does work. For instance side sleepers have a lesser incidence of bloating. The question to be figured out is which side is better for you?

 

j) Do you currently use a Cpap Full Face Mask? Do you feel you are swallowing down a lot of air? Example, your mouth puffs up with air all the time when using the full face mask, and you wake up feeling bloated. At this point you either use a chin strap with your full face mask to control how wide your jaw opens. Or switch to using Chin Strap & Cpap Nasal Pillows or using Chin Strap & Cpap Nasal Mask. k) Try a different type of cpap mask. Different mask makes how you feel and respond to your cpap pressurevery differently.

k) If you are a Cpap user and have tried all the above suggestions, the doctor might just prescribe a Bipap machine.

Source - http://www.cpaphelpdesk.com/cpap-machines-and-gas.html

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Isla Deuchar on August 17, 2012 at 16:13

I am definately bloated and have put on quite a lot of weight since starting cpap.  I have tried to diet  but am not sure dieting is the answer which I told the dietician and the doctor lol.  I'm quite good at telling them what I think it isn't  :( but still too tired to go back to gym which I used to do at least 3 times week :(.  My stomach definately looks as if I am pregnant and I feel terrible about it so don't go out much now, not that, that is any problem lol I still go out during day to day events so its not as if I am not going out at all.  I have tried nearly all these except the chin strap, haven't used anything like that.  Got the consultant on the 28th of this month so will see what he says then.  Thank you for all the suggestions :)

Isla xx

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Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on August 17, 2012 at 17:07

I would guess that the weight you've put on since starting CPAP is due to even worse sleep deprivation that you're suffering (as per the other post you've replied to today).  I certainly wouldn't even be thinking of dieting until I was getting some sleep Isla, so the sooner your clinic help you the better.  Good luck for the 28th!

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Permalink Reply by Isla Deuchar on August 17, 2012 at 18:23

Thank you Kath :) I really hope they can do something about this, if not I am going to harass my GP to send me through to Edinburgh to see if they can help.

Isla x

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on August 17, 2012 at 21:19

Great attitude there Isla ;)  This is your body and your health that's at stake!

Isla Deuchar said:

Thank you Kath :) I really hope they can do something about this, if not I am going to harass my GP to send me through to Edinburgh to see if they can help.

Isla x

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