flatulence

[Guest]

same problem here. Wake up and fart continuously for about an hour. Stomach distended to the point I can't sit in the car until i have relieved the pressure a bit. As mentioned elsewhere I have gained the ability to fart the theme tune to the archers.

Not sure what can be done about this exactly, but i am only 2 and a bit weeks in to the treatment. maybe it will fade (no sign so far).

I'm new to this forum having found it through a search for "side effects of CPAP".

I am experiencing this same problem and it seems not to get better with time. I have been using my CPAP since 6th August and have really only just linked the excess gas to the machine. I need to speak to the Sleep Apnoea team at the hospital I think and see what they say.

The pressure on my machine starts at 4 for a 20 minute reduced pressure period while I drift off to sleep, then it builds up to 10. Since the wind problem seems to be increasing for me, I could possibly manage a lower pressure.

[veggie]

hi this is a bit embarrassing but does anybody suffer from extreme flatulence through using the mask. i am concerned as it seems to be a problem for me and im assuming it is through using the cpap machine

I previously had problems with air in my guts causing terrible pain. I think it's called aphagia. I have always had a humidifier. The pressure was set at 7cm. I have recently purchased an automatic CPAP device & haven't had any problems as yet, apart from belching! I can cope with that, but the gut pain was unbearable & eventually the air had move. Interestingly the pressure on my new machine goes up to around 9.2cm - 9.8cm so 7cm was obviously lower than what I needed.

[tallishbloke]

Wind in the hills!

As someone earlier suggested, all you perhaps need is some sheet (no pun intended haha) music and lots of practice and I see potential for assorted talent contests - errrrrrr..... I thought perhaps "Winds of Change" by the Scorpions xould be a good starter!

On a more serious note, excessive amounts of leak which causes the CPAP machine to blow with more force could also contribue to air in the gut, so check youer mask fit, or if you have a nasal mask, ask yourself/partner, are you perhaps breathing through your mouth, thereby creating a leak in the system. In this case, a change of mask or chin strap may be of use.

Good luck with the musical interludes

[dravidio]

Yes I had this problem big time. My APAP was set to a minimum of 5 - 15 - and thanks to help from James was advised to try a different setting of a higher bottom setting and a lower top one. The machine is now adjusted to 6.5 - 9 and the flatulence has almost completely gone away and the benefits of the therapy are really beginning to kick in....

[Daffyd]

eat beens that makes you fart loads

[sleepster]

friendly farts??

So sorry some of you have such terrible pain..I just get up in the morning and go "Poot,Poot" with every step I take..Or,just one big "Whooosh"..Never had the hard belly problem..but,really..just gas is ok..rather that than the alternative..Honey got mad at me this morning cuz I took it off for 30 minutes and of course"Jerked and gasped for air and scared the honey"..So,I just laugh it off and keep on pooting..LOL..women poot,men fart..LOL

[davekeep]

gas and pains

hi,
I have problems with rock hard stomach full of wind etc too. I also have horrible chest pains some mornings and wind build up in my back right up to between the shoulder blades. Very painful and quite scarey.
My pressure is capped at 16 on a variable machine (remstar) I have not found a way around this and have had cpap for 6 months now. Tried loads of different masks (none are leak free) snd have to make them very tight. Not sure if this makes the pressure higher than it says it is? Does anyone have any advice?

[johnbryson]

I too have probs with the windy dept, don't have a hard stomach tho, I tend to burp through the night with the mask on, and in the morn out it comes from the other end.My mask is leak free, but in order to do this I have it tight which digs into my nose, a way to avoid most of the marks it makes is to moisturise the sore bits a couple of times a day.lol.and I'm a man.

[carol112]

carol112

hello all, just like to say thank you for your support. i was online yesterday and posted a reply/question and it is not on the forum. not 100% on IT.! I too had a big problem with "AIR" on friday nite. I awoke at 4.00am and had been fighting to get my mask off. I did this and got out of bed for a wee, and was in agony. my whole abdomen down to below my belly button was as hard as rock and very painful. I honestly thought I was dying. I sat on the bed, walked round, and eventually found some relief leaning over the bed. I didn't know wether to ring the doctor or an ambulance, more fright than pain I suppose. If I had have had an arrow I would have pierced myself for relief!!!!! Needless to say, I did not use my CPAP M series Auto C Flex until yesterday, monday, after I had spoken to my homecare provider. She assured me it would be ok and after 3 hours sleep, I have my confidence back. I was told the air can seep through your body. I have been battling with CPAP for 4 weeks now and don't feel like I am getting anywhere. HELP!

Hi I have been on cpap since July and suffer the same. It last all day. Severe flatulance. Very embarrising. Have tried both nasal and full face mask but nothing working. Beginning to worry something else going on? Would appreciate any advise?

[symmit]

If you're using an autoset machine you may find it helpful to narrow its operating range, especially if it's set wide open!

[Guest]

Hi I have been on cpap since July and suffer the same. It last all day. Severe flatulance. Very embarrising. Have tried both nasal and full face mask but nothing working. Beginning to worry something else going on? Would appreciate any advise?

I never had this problem before using CPAP. I find that sometimes that I wake up feeling like there is pressure on the valve at the top of my stomach. Just after waking, I feel a gurgle, like "bloop, bloop" and the pressure is released. What is happening, of course, is that pressurised air from the CPAP is being forced down into my stomach, and beyond. I find the best course of action to avoid the air being forced that way is to use an extra pillow. This has been suggested before and it certainly works for me. I have got used to the extra gas and, like others, dispel it while walking, one poot/step at a time.

You should not worry too much but enjoy your new found sleep. Its also interesting how the medical profession suggest that you get better sleep with a mask on. Maybe so, but I find myself being woken by the tube falling on my face, the mask leaking at the side and, if I am hot at night and sweating, I can feel the seal sliding prior to leakage. I even wake up to turn over so I don't pull the hose off the mask accidentally (That sometimes happens too!). It's all part of a better nights sleep apparently, something I never had a problem with before CPAP

I tried to tell my consultant about the flatulence problem but he ignored it, wasn't even interested so I suppose its just one of those things we have to live with. At least my wife is getting a good nights sleep since I am now not snoring or ceasing to breath. She can rest, while the damned mask keeps waking me up!

[davekeep]

its leaks for sure

hi again all...it is the leaks on the mask that cause the machine to rise to its top pressure and keep forcing air down past your diaphragm. My machine is capped at 19 .. yes 19 ... and it very often gets up there and stays there until I eventually wake up in agony, spend the next hour lying on stomach and chuffing away to get rid of wind. Then fal lasleep through sheer exhaustion. I have now tried over 20 masks, and tried them loose, tight, every which way really. Have been on cpap for 15 months and still no good. James (intus) ...is there something you guys can do to help? - I am about to send my card back to the sleep unit in Bristol for analysis, and they should email me a copy of the figures. If I send them to you could you give me advise based on the readings? - I have asked them to send me a card with a max setting of 12 to give my stomach a rest, but they are not confident it will be high enough to deal with my appneas. I have lost nearly 3 stone in weight, but it doesnt seem to have helped much re appneas. But /i am wondering if I dont need the presure I had before. Also, even at that pressure it is very rare that I actually feel like I had a good nights sleep, sometimes I dont bothr with the machine and to be honest there is not a lot of difference the next morning - I do get a headache though, and feel hungover, but I feel hungover when I use the cpap anyway!!

[Tigers Fan]

You could try a HoseLift to get the hose up and out of your way. They are brilliant!

Swallowing air seems to go away of its own accord after a period on CPAP, allegedly - you just get used to the pressure, I guess.

TF

[veggie]

Flatulence

I have been using a CPAP for 11 years now & still, from time to time, suffer from trapped wind, which is total agony. It does disperse but can take a few hours to do so. I think this is just a hazard we CPAP users have to put up with. I have tried all the De-Gas remedies but none seem to work. I also have the problem of the hose waking me up when I turn over or slight leakage from the mask, however tight I fit it. Again, I think we have to put up with these things for the sake of a few hours of decent sleep. I don't have a partner any more to disturb as he moaned when I snored constantly or stopped breathing then moaned when the CPAP disturbed him or the cold air from the mask blew on him! Seems either way, we can't win! Maybe we should start an online dating site for CPAP users only!

[James @ Intus]

You should also check your exhalation relief settings have been enabled and cranked up. Indeed Auto-range adjustments can be the answer, without affecting therapeutic benefit. Others put a wedge under their mattress to prop up the head end, which also helps with GERD.