Best solutions for reducing aerophagia?

hyperlexis wrote:but it has an SD card for data,

DiverCTHunter wrote: it's not a brick,

Yeah it has a SD card. The model 150 only collects hours of use....that's it. It's a brick.
Doesn't even have exhale relief..

It's the basic entry level bottom dollar cpap machine.
From the product page. When they only mention compliance that means only hours of use.

"This machine only tracks and shows compliance data through the on machine display or through the Encore Software. "

Regardless of the efficacy data (which is pretty darned important) the lack of exhale relief is just a deal breaker.
This type of thing is why people quit using these machines and goes on untreated.
"I can't use it" "doesn't help" "makes me feel worse". Can't say I would blame someone in that situation. Those of you who have never had aerophagia...you have no idea just how bad it can be. It can make a person so physically ill that the untreated OSA crappy feeling looks pretty darn good.

Pugsy wrote:

hyperlexis wrote:but it has an SD card for data,

DiverCTHunter wrote: it's not a brick,

Yeah it has a SD card. The model 150 only collects hours of use....that's it. It's a brick.
Doesn't even have exhale relief..

It's the basic entry level bottom dollar cpap machine.
From the product page. When they only mention compliance that means only hours of use.

"This machine only tracks and shows compliance data through the on machine display or through the Encore Software. "

Regardless of the efficacy data (which is pretty darned important) the lack of exhale relief is just a deal breaker.
This type of thing is why people quit using these machines and goes on untreated.
"I can't use it" "doesn't help" "makes me feel worse". Can't say I would blame someone in that situation. Those of you who have never had aerophagia...you have no idea just how bad it can be. It can make a person so physically ill that the untreated OSA crappy feeling looks pretty darn good.

Yes -- I think we all get that. It's not as fancy as the higher end machines and doesn't show full data.

However: 1) She may have no insurance or any money to spend on a fancier machine; and 2.) If her titration study got her near the right pressure, an APAP may not be needed; and 3.) APAP may have no significant benefit in terms of reducing aerophagia, any more than would free things like changing the way she sleeps in bed, or, perhaps returning her mask for a different one. and 4.) If these base model CPAPs are really so dangerous, then perhaps they should be outlawed by the FDA?

We shouldn't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

hyperlexis wrote: If these base model CPAPs are really so dangerous, then perhaps they should be outlawed by the FDA?

Geez, get off it. I never said it was dangerous. I never said she needed APAP. I actually mentioned just at least the model 450 which is straight cpap machine which has exhale relief and full data.

this machine has it all and is less than hundred dollars more from cpap.com
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... utoiq.html
and it does everything.

You were giving the impression that just because the 150 had a SD card it offered full data. It doesn't.
If the 150 is so great...wonder how you would like being stuck with it?

If OP is destitute....well, we cross that bridge when we come. Right now I don't see any sense in telling someone it is okay to have a bare bottom of the barrel machine when there are alternatives available. She might have the best insurance in the world for all we know and just a cheap assed DME.

rainydaywoman wrote: Should I ask for an autopap or bipap?

It depends on your pressure needs and just how bad the aerophagia is.
What pressure is being used?

Pugsy wrote:

rainydaywoman wrote: Should I ask for an autopap or bipap?

It depends on your pressure needs and just how bad the aerophagia is.
What pressure is being used?

Hey, all. Thank you so much for all your replies!!! Makes me feel like I"m not so alone in figuring all this out. I do have insurance, it is CIGNA. I did call my DME this morning and got nowhere with him. He suggested I go back my doctor - and and have them write a prescription for a lower pressure to start off ( I am at 9cm). ON the same machine. He implied that the Autopap may not be covered by CiGna (I don't think this is true). I don't know if I need Autopap or just straight CPAP with exhalation relief.

The thing is I don't have a regular doctor. the Physician's Assistant at the clinic associated with my husband's job is the one who I've been seeing. She of course, was not in today and will be back Monday.

I feel like maybe I should either make an appointment with a General Practitioner, or maybe with the Pulmonary Doc who actually read the results and made the recommendation. Frankly, I don't see how they could've gotten a huge amount of data considering the report said I never reached REM sleep and only slept 2 hours or less.
Last night I took the damn thing off in frustration and my husband left to go sleep in the other bedroom shortly thereafter so I must've started snoring!!

Did you read this
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/what-y ... me-part-i/
I know you have already got your machine but you may need to shop for another DME. Wouldn't hurt to be a little better prepared. Your DME doesn't sound like he is willing to work very hard for you and only wants to give you the cheapest machine available....I would be looking for a new DME if it were me but only you can decide on what you want to accept or not.
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/ read down at the bottom about what to do when you have found out your machine is a brick.

A pressure of 9 isn't considered all that high but you aren't the only one to have problems with aerophagia at relatively mediocre pressures.
Can you read this thread? It will save me a lot of typing. It explains how aerophagia becomes a problem from the physical side of things. The LES sphincter not being able to keep the air out of the stomach.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=37517&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

To be honest...I don't know if exhale relief would be enough relief...especially with the PR System One machines because the reduction in pressure during exhale is based on flow and there may not be enough reduction to give you the relief you need.
Respironics has Flex relief...explained here
http://aflex.respironics.com/

Likewise I don't know if APAP would help with any certainty. It might and it might not. It all depends on where your pressure threshold is.... where below it you don't have aerophagia and above it you do. APAP might let you get by with a lower pressure part of the night and only get up to 9 cm maybe for a short time.

You could try reducing your pressure to see if it helps the aerophagia but with the machine's lack of useful data we don't have any way to know if the lower pressure allows a truck load of events to happen or not.

There are people who do need a bipap at relatively lower pressures due to aerophagia. You wouldn't be the first.
RobySue, one of our forum members, ended up with a bipap auto with pressures that never got over 9. Couldn't tolerate even an APAP machine at 8 cm pressure.

If you had a ResMed machine their exhale relief is more pronounced than Respironics. The ResMed S9 EPR (their exhale relief) allows for as much as a 3 cm pressure reduction during exhale. It might be enough relief for you and it might not. It wasn't enough for RobySue. While EPR is good exhale relief it isn't exactly the same as what a bilevel machine (bipap) offers. It's hard to describe but the timing is just a bit different.

You really need a DME willing to work with you and your issues.
For sure talk to the PA who you have been working with. See what he/she suggests. Call your insurance company and find out exactly what they cover...they will pay for APAPs....its the same billing code as the brick cpap you got. Your current DME is trying to make the most money he can by supplying the cheapest machine he can. Simple as that. Your insurance pays by billing code and not by model name.

Pugsy wrote:Did you read this
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/what-y ... me-part-i/
I know you have already got your machine but you may need to shop for another DME. Wouldn't hurt to be a little better prepared. Your DME doesn't sound like he is willing to work very hard for you and only wants to give you the cheapest machine available....I would be looking for a new DME if it were me but only you can decide on what you want to accept or not.
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/ read down at the bottom about what to do when you have found out your machine is a brick.

A pressure of 9 isn't considered all that high but you aren't the only one to have problems with aerophagia at relatively mediocre pressures.
Can you read this thread? It will save me a lot of typing. It explains how aerophagia becomes a problem from the physical side of things. The LES sphincter not being able to keep the air out of the stomach.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=37517&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

To be honest...I don't know if exhale relief would be enough relief...especially with the PR System One machines because the reduction in pressure during exhale is based on flow and there may not be enough reduction to give you the relief you need.
Respironics has Flex relief...explained here
http://aflex.respironics.com/

Likewise I don't know if APAP would help with any certainty. It might and it might not. It all depends on where your pressure threshold is.... where below it you don't have aerophagia and above it you do. APAP might let you get by with a lower pressure part of the night and only get up to 9 cm maybe for a short time.

You could try reducing your pressure to see if it helps the aerophagia but with the machine's lack of useful data we don't have any way to know if the lower pressure allows a truck load of events to happen or not.

There are people who do need a bipap at relatively lower pressures due to aerophagia. You wouldn't be the first.
RobySue, one of our forum members, ended up with a bipap auto with pressures that never got over 9. Couldn't tolerate even an APAP machine at 8 cm pressure.

If you had a ResMed machine their exhale relief is more pronounced than Respironics. The ResMed S9 EPR (their exhale relief) allows for as much as a 3 cm pressure reduction during exhale. It might be enough relief for you and it might not. It wasn't enough for RobySue. While EPR is good exhale relief it isn't exactly the same as what a bilevel machine (bipap) offers. It's hard to describe but the timing is just a bit different.

You really need a DME willing to work with you and your issues.
For sure talk to the PA who you have been working with. See what he/she suggests. Call your insurance company and find out exactly what they cover...they will pay for APAPs....its the same billing code as the brick cpap you got. Your current DME is trying to make the most money he can by supplying the cheapest machine he can. Simple as that. Your insurance pays by billing code and not by model name.

yES, THE DME guy was no help at all. Even said. as much about them needing to make a profit. How do I get rid of him? I only got the machine less than a week ago. Can I just go in and return the equipment and maybe tell them I am not doing the therapy right now (even though I am going to pursue another DME in town) Has he already sent my stuff in to Cigna? How do I go about this? I wish I had one of you guys knowledge and know how.l I feel somewhat intimidated by the whole process.

Can you call Cigna and find out what their usual procedure is?
Often it is a rent to own thing. Pay so many months and if you are proving that you are using it (that's where compliance hours of use comes in) then then you own it or they make a final big payment.
Sometimes it is an outright purchase.
They may not have even submitted the paper work yet. If they have you can alert Cigna that you aren't happy with the situation and are likely going to change. Ask them if they need anything special.

Yes, you can return the machine. Make sure you get a signed receipt from them. They may ask you to sign something about refusing treatment. Don't do it. Their receipt of the return of the machine has nothing to do with you refusing treatment.

DMEs can be fired and you can go elsewhere. If your new prospective DME knows the situation then ask them what is the best way to proceed.

Boy, does the LES get a bad wrap around here! Can anyone point me to any articles by gastroenterologists that suggest that the LES is really the culprit in aerophagia? (Note: Orr and Watson are not gastroenterologists)

I like to root for the underdog, and clearly the LES is the underdog on this site. So once a year I like to throw this in. Everyone can just ignore this post.

rainydaywoman wrote:THE DME guy was no help at all

Please check your private message box.

Pugsy wrote: DMEs can be fired and you can go elsewhere. If your new prospective DME knows the situation then ask them what is the best way to proceed.

Also, if your policy requires a rent-to-own period, it may be cheaper in the long run to buy the machine at an out of network DME like our host instead of being nickel and dimed with co-pays and deductibles.

Yeah, it really sounds like a slight reduction in pressure, and a pressure exhalation relief would benefit you.

Oh my, I am so happy to stumble upon this site. I too have only been using the CPAP for 2.5 weeks now. Pressure is at 13. I will say that I am more energetic during the day, however, I only seem to be able to keep in on for about 4 hours a night before tearing it off. I do not have the full mask. I have been scared trying to figure out what the heck was going on with my stomach. It is so bloated and painful. Gas X only help minimally. My doctor said he would have reduce the pressure because according to my study, that is what I need. I told my husband, I am ready to throw in the towel and not use it because I just can't stand the bloat. Do you think it will clear up if I lay off the machine for a few days? Sorry...hate to rant and rave, but I am at my wits end.

sorry...meant to say my doctor "would not" reduce the pressure.

dlr0212 wrote: Do you think it will clear up if I lay off the machine for a few days? Sorry...hate to rant and rave, but I am at my wits end.

It will clear up while you would be off the machine but very likely come right back when you go back on it.
If you lower the pressure a little and get relief and the number of events increase a little...which is worse ..... a few more events at a lower more comfortable pressure or not using the machine and having a truck load of events from no treatment?

There are things that can be tried to reduce the aerophagia. Giving up the machine is not one of them.
If you will register and add your equipment to your profile someone could maybe offer some ideas based on your equipment that might help reduce or eliminate the discomfort.

You might need a bilevel pressure machine.