If you wake up bloated, burping or with a tight, gassy stomach after a night on CPAP, you may be swallowing air. It has a name: aerophagia. The pressurised air can find its way down your food pipe instead of your windpipe, and it builds up in your stomach.
Signs it's happening
- Bloating or a swollen-feeling belly in the morning
- Burping, gas or a gurgling stomach
- Stomach discomfort or pain
It's most common when you're new to CPAP, and often settles as you get used to it.
What can make it worse
- Pressure higher than you need
- Sleeping flat on your back
- Reflux (heartburn)
- Fizzy drinks, chewing gum and eating quickly, especially before bed
What helps
- Talk to your clinician about your pressure. An automatic machine that only rises when needed, a pressure change, or a bilevel machine can help. Don't lower the pressure yourself: too little pressure lets your apnea back.
- Raise your head and chest slightly, or try sleeping on your side.
- Ask about mask type. Some people do better with a nasal mask than a full face mask.
- Treat reflux if you have it, and skip fizzy drinks and big meals late in the evening.
What your data can show
In CPAPGeeks, check your Pressure, 95th percentile on bloated mornings against good ones, and the pressure chart through the night. If the bad nights are the high-pressure nights, bring that to your clinician: it's exactly the evidence they need. The Trends view makes the pattern easy to spot.