Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Sulfur burps, vomiting, diarrhea

"Sulfur burps" are the first indication that I have a fun day ahead of me.  There is excessive gas, which is all coming up, not in the form of flatulence.  The burps are so foul that I can only blow them out of my face as fast as possible.  I know that within 4 to 16 hours I will begin a cycle of vomiting and diarrhea.  This will last about 8 hours, and will be accompanied by chills and possibly leg and foot cramps.  Obviously my body is trying to clean everything out, top to bottom.  The vomiting will continue, even though my stomach is empty.  Once this cycle is over, the burps are gone, and I face another day of recuperation.

When this all began, 6 or 7 years ago, I had it only twice a year.  The first time, the burps went on several days before my system finally purged itself.  Over the years, the time between attacks has lessened, so that I may face 4 or 5 episodes a year.  From December of last year into March, it hit me 5 times, but has not come back since then.  Also, since the initial episode several years ago, the period of time from the beginning of the burps to the beginning of the system purge has gone from days to hours.

Anti-gas medications are useless.  I don't generally take anything for the diarrhea, because the sooner the "evil spirits" are out of me, the sooner I can begin to recover.  Also, I cannot associate this condition with any physical triggers, such as eating a particular food.

Naturally, no one can tell me what is going on.  I have been a type I diabetic for almost 25 years.  I have other, more chronic intestinal problems, particularly irritable bowel syndrome.  My gastroenterologist recently diagnosed me with gastroparesis, though I think I have a mild case.

Guesses are welcome, but I'd really like to hear from someone who has had the problem and had it properly diagnosed.
14 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
I have diagnosed myself and I feel that I am correct, because I have had no trouble since I figured it out.  I have been lactose intolerant from age 7.  Over the years, the sulfurous burping and vomiting had waned but I continued to have diarrhea and painful gas.  Lately though, I began suffering from cyclical vomiting episodes, about once a month, preceeded by about 12 hours of sulfurous burps that gained intensity.  Horrible, not to mention the diarrhea!  Prescription anti-nausea drugs, immodium, gas-x--all useless in its path.  Anyway, I vaguely remembered the burping and vomiting when I was 7 years old and decided that the LI had returned with a vengence.  So, I cut out all dairy and voila! no more problems.  Every once in a while I take a chance and give dairy a shot to see if it has miraculously gone away, and everytime I am wrong.  Soon after I will have burping and gas, but if I only ate a tiny bit of dairy, it never progresses into full-on vomiting and diarrhea.  Good luck!  If it's not LI for you, perhaps it is some other thing that you are unable to process.  I think, in my personal opinion, we are dealing with something that does not want to digest; something our bodies cannot get through in the normal way and it sits in there and rots.  For me, it's dairy.  Perhaps it's dairy for you, perhaps something else.  Good luck finding that offending food.  
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
i also have these symptoms.  mine starts with back pain, stomach pain and pressure under my ribs.  I then start belching sulfer smelling gas.  I don't vomit, but I do spit up bad smelling, and foamy regurgitation.  This usually starts late evening and may progress to middle of the night or morning diarrhea and gas.  I was diagnosed with Irritable bowel syndrome and told to take fiber and watch what I eat.  I don't believe this is an accurate diagnosis.  Sorry I am not much help.  I would appreciate any suggestions, too!
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
A related discussion, sulfer burgs/vomitting/diarrhea was started.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have this too and was told it is a protozoa I picked up somewhere.  Please get yourself checked for this protozoa.  I was almost better but realised I took my meds wrong...it was nearly gone for months and just came back with a vingance.  I do not want to go to the ER but always forget about it untill it comes back and I am faced with a long night of nastiness.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have had the exact same problem for almost 7 years now.When it first began it was very frequent, but now only happens 2-3 times a year.I am a fit 26  year old female with a clean health record other than this crap.The dr put me on dycyclomine and that just made it worse.I have had them inject dye and check my gallbladder,twice.It was in perfect shape.It doesnt seem to matter what I eat to onset this issue.I have tried every antacid on the market with no luck.My dr wasnt able to diagnose my condition, so they said I just have irritable bowel syndrome.I honestly think this was just a cop out.I was in and out of the dr office for 6 years over this, and still dont have it cured.It usually starts as bloating, then sulfur burps and farts which are so disgusting I usually end up throwing up for a couple hours.This continues until the burps are gone.I can't even go out in public when this begins.If I even felt like moving, which I usually dont.Laid up for the day and usually better by day 2.Although I have had this last up to 4 days.Would appreciate any input, email me@***@**** you and good luck.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
A related discussion, Vomiting & diarrhea was started.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
A related discussion, sulfur burps was started.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am NOT LI, but I am very sensitive to the AGE of dairy!!! This may explain to others why they are having issues.
Take milk---- I can drink it by the quart with no isues if it is 10+ days before experation/sell by date, but as it gets older I start to react and heven help me if I drink expired milk.  Three days ago I ate a lettece only salid with butermilk dressing.  Foolishly I dis not look at the date.  BOOM DIAREEA ALL DAY YESTERDAY ALONG WITH SULFUR BURPS AND FARTS THAT COULD CLEAR A HOURSE STABLE!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
A related discussion, I'm with the gals with the burping sulfer and being ill was started.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
A related discussion, sulfur burps stomach pain was started.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
A related discussion, sulfur burps and vomiting - continued was started.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
A related discussion, sulfur burps, vomiting was started.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
A related discussion, sulfur burps was started.
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the Digestive Disorders / Gastroenterology Forum

Popular Resources
Learn which OTC medications can help relieve your digestive troubles.
Is a gluten-free diet right for you?
Discover common causes of and remedies for heartburn.
This common yet mysterious bowel condition plagues millions of Americans
Don't get burned again. Banish nighttime heartburn with these quick tips
Get answers to your top questions about this pervasive digestive problem