CPAP and kidney damage

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 4 years ago, and since then have used a CPAP S8 model everynight. I have noticed over the last year that i am suffering from aerophagia, caused by the CPAP. While i may have bloating, tummy pains and rumbling of gas moving in my intestines etc, i have also been diagnosed with high protein in the urine, doctors say is caused by damage to the kidney, letting more albumin out than usual. They attribute this damage to the high blood pressure i am suffering. My question is: could the increased gas pressure from aerophagia enter the kidney and cause this physical internal damage, and/or augment the increased BP.
Thank you for any info, reports, papers etc on this- i am trying to decided whether to stop CPAP and suffer the affects of sleep apnea [stop breathing 40 times an hour].
sincerely yours
stephen  

[willy856]

Cpap lowers your blood pressure.
I don't understand the connection between aerophagia and kidney problems.
You should just let the air out. Did you talk to the doc about adjusting the Cpap or getting a different mask?
I had 120 events an hour and haven't started treatment yet. The doc says he needs to get yet another test.

[stephenroe]

I have seen the sleep clinic at Oxford University who set the pressure, and the sleep clinic in Dunedin, New Zealand who adjusted the pressure in attempt to reduce the aerophagia. I have been using it 'long term', and after 3-4 hours at night with it on, i get the symptoms of aerophagia, but also pain in the area of my kidneys. Concurrently i have high BP due to stress, other medications, incorrect diet and overweight, which is being treated with yet another pill. However, while CPAP may lower BP during the night [preventing the adrenalin rush to breath by forcing you to breath], my high BP was attributed as the cause for my kidney misfunction of leaking too much protein into the urine. Here inlies the issue. Is the excess protein leakage being really caused by the high BP, or is it being caused by, or augmented by increased gas pressure that is caused by the aerophagia? Is there a physical link from the intestines etc to the kidney such that the kidney can 'inflate' and expand such that leakage occurs? Is high BP from other causes wrongly being attributed to this excess protein loss? To say, just let the air out is problematical,  the air intake and 'inflation' must occur before you think 'better burp or fart', but i have difficulty in doing both on command. My overriding concern is:
is there any evidence elsewhere that answers my question 'why are my kidneys in pain when i get aerophagia, and is it inflating this organ, is it helping with the excess protein loss, before i make a decision to stop using the cpap'
Thank you for your comment, but is there any medical evidence, tests, reports, that have recorded similar occurences.

[willy856]

There is no link. The only thing that it causes is excess gas. I would find another sleep clinic to adjust the differential pressure. You should be exhaling more.
There is another problem.  with your kidney.
You should be spending more time on the Cpap.  7 to 8 hrs a night.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

The kidney problems are not related to the aerophagia. You could try Bi PAP, which is a bi level ventilation, which could help with aerophagia.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[maryc839]

I have been diagnosed with extremely severe sleep apnea and am on a bi-pap. I get lots of gas from it.  But my problem is that I have such a high air pressure.  Right now 19/22 but expect it to go up to 19/25 where I started from. All of this and I'm no better.

[hava]

To improve your breathing, follow the anulom vilom and ujjayi pranayam techniques. You will find that sleep apnea condition improves and the need for a machine will reduce gradually over the months.The benefit is gradual, so allow 3 to 6 months to feel the effect. When you notice a difference, post your feedback.
Anulom Vilom pranayam –
Build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after one minute.
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril  
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril  
then -keeping the left nostril closed  deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 15 to 30  minutes twice a day.
Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.

Ujjayi pranayam
Procedure: While breathing in, tighten throat(contract glotis) and there will be sound from back of throat, then drop chin(rest chin on chest), hold breath as long as possible.Then  chin up, close right nostril and slowly breath out through left nostril.
Duration: 5 – 21 times

How to do Ujjayi
When you clear your throat, you tighten your throat and breath out, twice, with a pause in between. . Now if you reverse this, that is, tighten the throat and breath in continuously for abour 8 to 12 seconds, then hold your breath for 4 seconds with the chin down, then  chin up, close right nostril and slowly breath out through left nostril, you have just done Ujjayi pranayam.You will feel like coughing initially.
--
January 12 ,2012

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Please don't venture to discontinue CPAP therapy. Ensure to use the CPAP machine regularly. Only go for regular follow ups with your doctor to check to see if the apneas are under control and if your sleep is adequate. Inadequately controlled sleep apneas can cause hypertension and other complications. If you are having problems with CPAP therapy then discuss with your doctor for Bi PAP therapy.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[IGRPSGT]

Use a full head support chin strap whether you are on a full or nasal mask this will help greatly with problems of aerophagia.

RPSGT