I am now a human bagpipe

[incitatus]

Two weeks in to the CPAP experience, lots of energy, feeling good (especially once I taped down the straps on the mask to prevent sleep removal).....But..........

The machine has an unfortunate side effect. It blows air into my gastro intestinal tract at the top end causing bloating and near continuous killer flatulence This morning I managed to fart along to the theme tune to the archers.

Does anyone have any idea how to deal with this? I am using a resmed machine with a full face mask and the pressure i am at (13.6) is the lowest one that stops apnoeas (using the sophisticated Insomniac Wife Monitoring System). The side effects are now causing the IWMS to threaten strike action.

[DevonBound]

Fine Fellow Farter!

Hi Incitatus,
No good news for you on this problem...I am 4mths into therapy and wake up every morning with a bloated abdomen, sore lungs and the Killer Farts!....the pain in the abdomen will only pass once I have released the gas (Top & Bottom end)...which might I add, I am a demon at now! much to the distaste of my wife in the early days...although I am now so controlled that I purposely wait until she leaves the room...how couteous of me!
Not sure what the answer is here - personally I have simply resigned myself to this issue being a symptom of the APAP....If anyone else has an answer I would be most grateful to hear it.
I'm a Fiddler now...my settings are at 15.5 & 17.5cm2 with 90% still at 17.5cm2 and AHI @ 10.8 phr...
Cheers DB

[threewheelweave]

I always was - but now.../... !!!!

Hi Incitatus

Here here I say that's a good point raised .../...

Me - I always suffered (or made others suffer ) with the wind!

Now - sometimes my backside is like a hand grenade! Violent wind or what! If I lived near a factory they'd be clocking off at 3am in the morning!

Just got to laugh - one advantage with a FF mask everyone else suffers - but me I can't be touched by the rising heat !!! nothing gets through my filter - wow what a result. . Nothing gets teenagers out of your bedroom quicker!

I may now be competing with the cows at Milton Keynes!

Good to laugh keep um coming - the posts I meant!

Cheers

TWW
UK

[James @ Intus]

Are you guys sure you have the hose connected to the right end?

It would be handy to know whether you guys use a fixed or auto pressure machine and whether you have any exhalation relief options enabled.

Sometimes what happens is that with fixed pressure CPAP machines, people struggle to breathe out fully, causing air to back up. From that pont of view, it would be interesting to know what machines you have.

[threewheelweave]

Suffering with Back Up! You bet!

James

Glad you enjoyed that - hose connected to the wrong end LOL!

The "exhalation relief options enabled" are lift the left leg!!!!

I'm on fixed pressure CPAP Remstar Series M from Respronics (brilliant) and a fairly low pressure (8cmH2O) so really its not too bad but sometime I certainly am suffering with "back-up" ask my better half!

Keep it positive and post your embarassments here - we UNDERSTAND!

Cheers

TWW
UK

[paulbooth6]

Air back up (feeling like i have been badly winded)

James

I have a fixed output machine set at 10.0 and the exhalation relief options enabled.

If the wind was releasable I wouldnt complain (I sleep alone most of the time). My problem appears to be a reflex action by my diaphragm so when i try to sit on the side of the bed or lie on my back and inhale my diaphragm revolts and pushes my breath out (I thought it was back spam but I have experienced diaphragm reflex before when i was about 13 , I used to wake up and couldnt catch my breath).

I wanted the pressure turned down but my aps appear at 10 so it appears a no no.

I can fall asleep easily enough and sleep for about 4/5 hours before I wake with this awful pain in my chest. When i breath the effect is like I have been badly winded ie cannot catch my breath. It is then down to the kitchen, cup of tea, sit over the computer for an hour until it releaves.

Can you or anyone else help/enlighten me.

Paul

[James @ Intus]

Sounds like your problem is more the field of lung function or ENT experts, as oppose to "just OSA".

The only idea I can think of is that a fixed pressure machine of course always blows at 10, whether you need it at that moment or not. OSA tends to be worst during REM sleep, later at night. Some hardly need CPAP until this stage. But you've been getting it at 10 already until you really need it.

An Auto-CPAP would sit quietly at 4 or 5 until it sees reason to move up. Based on snroing, a hypopnoea or apnoea event it may rise to 7 and then reduce back to 4. At certain times it may reach 10, or perhaps even 12 when you really need it but overall, you can expect the average pressure to level out below that of a fixed pressure machine. So perhaps an Auto-CPAP (APAP for short) is a better bet for you. Over time, it would also give you a much better idea of whether 10 is indeed your optimum pressure or not.

[paulbooth6]

Human bagpipe

James

Thanks for the posting, this site is a lifesaver. After I posted I did a search (I know why didnt I do that first) and found a tip about the humidifier.

Well I switched it off last night and had 6 hours of sleep (slight discomfort in stomach but nothing like previous) so I am at my computer at 4 in the morning wide awake!!. Do you know why the humidifier is so negatively effective in this way as i only thought it would change the 'quality' of the air not the apparent quantity??

Paul

[James @ Intus]

No idea Paul, never heard of anyone feeling that much better physically without the humidifier. Some people prefer it cold but your findings seems to be on a different level altogether. Let us know if it's a sustained success, glad to hear it works immediately though!

[sleepster]

pooting's(oops!) I mean postings!!

I have been on CPAP 9 cm for almost a year now and still have the poots..(Women poot,Men fart)..Usually worse right after I get up and start moving around..I say"Let it go"..I have the c-flex and a humidifier but still gassy!.I've just accepted it..Actually feels good letting a big one out.otherwise sits in your gut and hurts.."Let er rip".

[threewheelweave]

Sleepster You Are a STAR!

Hi sleepster

Poot Poot - brilliant - always knew you were a special lady - one that has a great sense of humour and gives as good as she gets - Go Girl let um rip!

Interesting post from Paul about cool humidifier settings - exactly what I'm doing and I too find it means slightly less "back-up" (WIND).

Take care of yourselves - cheers

TWW
UK

[sleepster]

Ha!!HA!!..I'm considering getting a reality show..If you don't "Lift left leg" as you say..A person can levitate off of just about anything!! Ought to be a "blast"..LOL..

[Tricia]

Pooting!!!

OK, being a lady I'm afraid I have to admit to being another victim of wind. So much so that my "pooting" wakes me up in the morning. No pain, just noise. I can't believe that I can now beat my hubby with this.

At the moment I'm on the APAP that adjusts the pressure as and when needed. I mentioned it to the nurse at the hospital, and she said that it wasn't a major problem with patients that she's seen.

I've Googled flatulence and the charcoal tablets sound good, but I don't know if taking them before I go to sleep would help or not.

I know there are side effects with most medications, and this one I suppose is better than some I've had, but how do I explain it to my friend when we have sleep overs and share a room???!!!!

Any suggestions/help/advice would be most welcome.

[threewheelweave]

Does it Make a Difference?

Hi All

Long-time no speak - sorry to my fans! Re pooting / wind / back-up; does it make any difference if you are on a CPAP (constant pressure) or APAP (fluctuating pressure) to the incidence and capacity for wind?

If you have experienced both CPAP & APAP then any comments / experiences much appreciated.

Recently I've increased my pressure to 8.5 but I find that I'm more likely to be a set of bag-pipes in the morning if I get over-tired or stressed out. As I've just had almost six weeks between a career change and had lots of physical exercise then I've had much less wind issues (or issuing if you like!)

Anyway thanks James & team for extra capacity on this brilliant forum

Take care and enjoy all forms of pooting!!!

Cheers

TWW
Cambs UK

[cheryl4andy]

poot poot pooting

I have only had my machine fixed pressure at 10 for two weeks now.Before this i would say that me and the queen never poot!!!nor do we poop but thats another story.Has anyone tried peppermint tea?,thats meant to be good for wind