-
Gas Pain from BiPap/Cpap?
When I was diagnosed with combined central and obstructive sleep apnea, I was first given a BiPap machine for at night and when I was feeling shortness of breath during the day. The machine helped, but unfortunately wasn’t enough for my respiration needs. I was upgraded to a noninvasive ventilator which looks similar to the Bipap and has the same mask. The difference is that, it is at a set rate and forces a breath that is timed for my ventilation needs.
When I use the machine during the day, I don’t get stomach pain or bloating. I am sitting in a chair or on the couch while using it during the day when I’m resting. At night, when I’m wearing it, I am laying down and my chest feels more restricted when I breathe. I have been waking up about three hours into sleep with a distended stomach and bad pains from gas that isn’t escaping.
Do you use bipap/cpap/ventilation? Do you exerience gas pain or bloating at night? What does you doctor suggest for this?
-
12 Replies
-
Sounds awful! I’m sorry you’re having this symptom. My stomach gets distended because of my gastroparesis (complication of transplant surgery) and my GI doctor recommended I lay on my right side since the stomach is on the left. I put a pillow between my legs and that position seems to help. Maybe laying on your right side at night will help you. Let me know!
-
Thanks for the tip Kathleen! I usually start out on my side and then end up all over the bed LOL! Most of the time when I wake up, I wake up sleeping on my back . This ONLY has happened when I’m wearing the mask for my machine. I have always been a side sleeper. I also just got diagnosed with gastroperesis. Delayed gastric emptying is what my doctors called it. But I feel the effects of that a few hours after eating when I get bad heartburn. I try to avoid eating after 6:00 at night for this reason. If I eat late at night my stomach certainly pays the price !
-
-
I have been able to eliminate most of the gas effect by taking a product called Good Belly found in the grocery store usually in the juice isle. It is a probiotic and works great.It has eliminated not only gas bloating but acid reflex also. My daughters doctor recomened it to her after her hysterectomy surgery to help restore the probiotics after surgery. The taste is good of the product and you only need to drink a small amount.
-
Jan,
Thank you so much for the recommendation. I recently had my remaining ovaries removed and I can say for certain that my gut has really taken a hit after that surgery. It is one of those side effects from surgery that the doctors don’t mention until you’re running to the bathroom every time you eat ! I will definitely be looking for this. Is it in a whole foods store or a regular grocery store? I’ll have to look into it !
-
-
I also have gastroparesis, and I’m on a CPAP machine. I try to fall asleep on my right side as was also suggested by my physicians, but due to previously having 3 spinal fusions,.. I kind of them all over the place as well. Seems the last 6 months the gas and bloating gets so bad during the night that I find myself waking up after about 4 hours, with severe heartburn, and belching that sound like a barking seal to just get that gas,and air out of my stomach.. many times the belching is so severe that I end up vomiting,.
-
Jeri,
That sounds awful! For you, does it seem to get worse when you are wearing the bipap or cpap that you have? I brought this up to my pulmonologist and it ended up being that air was going down my esophagus and was getting trapped in my stomach. Some adjustments had to be made to my settings. I would talk with your cpap provider about this too. Sometimes the specialists and therapists that are working there know about different settings that they can put your equipment at and they can contact your doctors and let them know so the doctor can put in the order for different settings. This helped me tremendously! Hopefully it can help you out to if you talk with your doctors about it. I was never aware of this side effect but it is actually something that can be common with cpap or bipap users so you aren’t alone !
-
-
I do not have gas pains but wear a BiPap machine. I fought wearing it for the longest time. Had it in my house and never used it. Finally pulmonologist said had to wear it. Hated it but I started not waking up with headaches and felt more rested so figured the BiPap was doing something. I hated the fact that I have to wear oxygen 24/7 and then a BiPap at night. I can never just “breathe” the fresh air or just walk from A to B without tubing. My doctor did tell me to stop eating and drinking for 2 hours prior to going to bed. That has helped. It is difficult because sometimes I don’t know when I am actually going to sleep but I try. Also, and I know a lot of people don’t like this, I have to take a small dose of Ambien. I cannot sleep with that mask on my face and dealing with my heart beating and everything else. It is a small dose and the doctor says it is fine. It helps a lot. Also, I sleep with about 5 pillows — I cannot lie flat. The BiPap was an adjustment but dealing with PH every day is an adjustment with something. I hope everyone keeps fighting the illness. We are in control; not PH!!! take care all and stay warm
-
Your positive attitude is contagious Margie! Thank you for sharing those words of encouragement. I know that it is so hard to adjust. I was doing really well with using my bipap but find it difficult to use after being in the hospital. Don’t be ashamed of taking medicine at night to help you sleep. It’s better to take what you have to in order to get some sleep vs none at all. I take Klonopin before bed and even take an extra one for nights when I am finding it hard to wear my mask because of the anxiety. I’m glad you are doing what you can for yourself and that you are taking control in the areas where you can! Keep the fight and the hope strong !
-
-
Brittney, I will be talking with my pH doctor’s and CPAP store to see if there is some adjustments that need to be made.. I will also be traveling to the Mayo clinic next month for surgical options for my gastroparesis..once I get that under control maybe everything else will calm down to.. fingers crossed anyway
-
Hi Jeri,
The Mayo Clinic is a great hospital to be at. Please keep us updated on how things go with discussing your surgical options! I’m hoping for the best outcome for you!
-
-
I had gas from mine but I think it was also from the old cancer issue (rectal). We expel about 1 quart of gas per day so I make up for those people who don’t!!!!!
-
WOW KAYE!!!
That’s a LOT OF GAS I bet ! I’m sorry that you had that too. How are things going with the “old cancer issue?” I hope they were able to help you quickly because I’m sure that type of cancer must be a literal pain in the BUTT!!!! I can’t even imagine !
-
Log in to reply.