Excessive Belching

I have had gastritis and a hiatal hernia for around 10 years.  I had stomach ulcers that have healed.  In the past 10 years I have had 3 endoscopies to find out this information. I have been on Tagament for these past 10 years. This past September I had another endoscopy (the last was 8 years ago) and a colonoscopy (I am 52).  Everything was fine.  Since then I have excessive belching at all times, except when I lay down.  My doctor tells me it is from swallowing excessive air but I didn't have a problem before the last endoscopy.  My doctor changed my prescription to Prevacid saying the belching could be from my system being immuned to the Tagament.  He also told me to try taking the drops for babies for gas (Milacid).  Nothing works.  I am worried about wearing away of the lining of my esaphogus from the excessive belching.  What can I do.  I am in a professional position and constant belching is not professional.  I get the impression that my doctor thinks it is no big deal.  Well it is.  Should I look for a different physician?  Are there any herbal solutions to my problem?  Are there any solutions at all?  Would another endoscopy help to find out what the problem is?  Is just seems strange to me that I had no problem until the last endoscopy when a sample was taken and sent for testing.  It almost appears like the sample stirred up something in my stomach that needs tamed down.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Certainly if you are not comfortable with the physician's recommendation, a second opinion is reasonable.

If the endoscopy is negative, you may want to consider a 24-hr pH study to determine if GERD is causing your symptoms.  If GERD is present and not improving with Prevacid and Tagamet, possible surgical opinion should be considered.

Irritable bowel syndrome can result in excessive bloating or belching.  Optimal treatment for this can be discussed with a gastroenterologist - but the first step is normally increasing the amount of fiber in your diet.

Air swallow is certainly a plausible explaination.  Foods such as carbonated beverages, chewing gum and smoking can increase this.  You may want to inquire about anti-anxiety medication as this has been shown to improve some cases.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[yoshi]

i would like to know why some of us fart and some of us belch??
exercise makes one fart.why?

[typeone]

I read with great interest Blackknight69's message. I am 51 and about a year ago I began to belch excessively. I've tried to think what I may have been doing at the time that could have started this and all I can come up with is that I was taking Paxil, drinking a lot of coffee and eating too many sweets. (I have no idea if these things could have caused it--I've just tried to think of possibilities.) I've had tests run (stomach is OK), had my gall bladder removed, and I've lost 20 pounds, but I continue to belch hundreds of times a day. I seem to be the first case for both my surgeon and primary physician and they have no suggestions for me. Initially, they treated me for acid reflux, but medications (Aciphex, Nexium) had no affect so I stopped taking them. I'm now somewhat improved and am hoping that with time I'll improve more. I've read everything I can find (which is not much) and I agree with others who have this problem that it does not appear to be caused by the usual things that cause gas (certain foods, gum, hard candy, swallowed air, etc.). I'm hoping that if enough people who have this speak about it  someone will figure out the cause. Or if there is someone who has had the problem and is now over it could share that, I'll know there is some hope. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated and good luck on getting better to blackknight69.

[MegHE]

A related discussion, Excessive belching was started.