Will CPAP help my acid reflux

Okay, so I have fairly severe GERD. It started to get really bad around the same time my OSA got really bad. I'm reading on these boards that many with OSA also have GERD. So what I'm curious about, and didn't find a good answer when I did a search, was if using CPAP will help with the GERD. I'd love to be able to get off this strong dose of PPI at some point.

KatyDidAgain wrote:Okay, so I have fairly severe GERD. It started to get really bad around the same time my OSA got really bad. I'm reading on these boards that many with OSA also have GERD. So what I'm curious about, and didn't find a good answer when I did a search, was if using CPAP will help with the GERD. I'd love to be able to get off this strong dose of PPI at some point.

There is research that indicates that CPAP helps GERD. And believe it or not, I even found research indicating that CPAP helps GERD even in the absence of OSA (although personally I'd take a PPI over CPAP any day)!

I either did not have GERD, or did not know I had GERD, before CPAP. So, in my case, it has not made it better, it's either created the problem or made it much worse.

Well....it may help you. Many have reported significant improvement with GERD symptoms after being on cpap for a while.

Sorry to say it hasn't seemed to help mine. I still have to take a Prilosec at least once a day. Let's hope you are in that other group.

This is going to be another of those cpap things that comes with the disclaimer YMMV. You will find that there are a lot of such disclaimers.

OutaSync wrote:I either did not have GERD, or did not know I had GERD, before CPAP. So, in my case, it has not made it better, it's either created the problem or made it much worse.

You have aerophagia, right? Your aerophagia may make your GERD worse, the way I understand it.

KatyDidAgain wrote:Okay, so I have fairly severe GERD. It started to get really bad around the same time my OSA got really bad. I'm reading on these boards that many with OSA also have GERD. So what I'm curious about, and didn't find a good answer when I did a search, was if using CPAP will help with the GERD. I'd love to be able to get off this strong dose of PPI at some point.

For me it made a huge difference. I went from waking up choking on acid and mucus to totally without a problem in bed. I still sleep elevated and if I eat to meat before bed then it is an issue but like at 10% level of what it was. BUT I still take the losec because it make a huge difference in comfort during the day.

SleepingUgly wrote:

OutaSync wrote:I either did not have GERD, or did not know I had GERD, before CPAP. So, in my case, it has not made it better, it's either created the problem or made it much worse.

You have aerophagia, right? Your aerophagia may make your GERD worse, the way I understand it.

No, I don't seem to have that particular problem thus far, thankfully!

Mine is very much helped by CPAP, BUT, I have to be using my CPAP at the time. If I fall asleep even sitting completely upright for just a few minutes without CPAP I will have reflux. So it has meant that I cannot stop taking the Prilosec.

The good news is that on CPAP I don't have any episodes of reflux. I was regularly waking up with reflux and aspirated into my lungs on occasion. None of that happens on CPAP.

Unfortunately, some people have an increased issue with GERD on CPAP, so it's hard to say for sure which category you will fall into--time will tell.

Yep, I'm surprised to read there is research supporting CPAP as alleviating GERD. My experience has been the opposite. Perhaps it has to do w/the needed PAP pressure to control your OSA.

I had no known problems w/reflux or GERD on PAP but as time progressed and my pressure needs increased due to COPD I began to encounter aerophagia - and reflux.

I thought I was going to die when I had my machine set wrong with a too low pressure. Symptoms were like GERD, but pills didn't help much. I think I was having "non-acid" reflux. Even if you neutralize the acid, the stuff in your stomach isn't good for the esophagus.

After I fixed the machine, it was like throwing a switch and my symptoms went away.

Slinky wrote:Yep, I'm surprised to read there is research supporting CPAP as alleviating GERD. My experience has been the opposite. Perhaps it has to do w/the needed PAP pressure to control your OSA.

I had no known problems w/reflux or GERD on PAP but as time progressed and my pressure needs increased due to COPD I began to encounter aerophagia - and reflux.

I suspect that the problems with apnea causing GERD happen if you get an obstructive sleep apnea and fight to get a breath and force some fluid out of the stomach as you struggle, put a vacuum on your esophagus and struggle with your chest and diaphragm. It would seem that everyone would have a different "choking" reaction and result, so some people would have it, some wouldn't.

Having CPAP cause GERD makes sense, too. Inflating the esophagus would seem to be likely to dilate the lower esophageal sphincter and cause a leak.

SleepingUgly wrote:

OutaSync wrote:I either did not have GERD, or did not know I had GERD, before CPAP. So, in my case, it has not made it better, it's either created the problem or made it much worse.

You have aerophagia, right? Your aerophagia may make your GERD worse, the way I understand it.

Yes, CPAP seems to blow the door open to allow stomach contents to go the wrong way. I do keep the head of my bed raised and try not to eat after 6:30, and if I do, I have to sleep with the dreaded wedge.

You have your bed elevated and you use a wedge? I've gotten so used to the wedge that I feel too flat without it, even though I'm sleeping on the lower part of it. It does make stomach sleeping more difficult though!

sure did for me, like a switch, gone and never returned, no more prilosec no more gaviscon, no more maloox.no more sore throat. i have a bipap 12>18

SleepingUgly wrote:You have your bed elevated and you use a wedge? I've gotten so used to the wedge that I feel too flat without it, even though I'm sleeping on the lower part of it. It does make stomach sleeping more difficult though!

Yes, the 2x4s under the head of the bed aren't high enough and I'm afraid I'll break the bed frame if I put a third 2x4 under it. I hate the wedge because I tend to slide down and my feet hang off the end of the bed.