Re: Belching Spasms

Posted By Ari on July 15, 1999 at 09:21:51
I wasn't sure of the subject to use, so here goes...

A few months ago, I suddenly started burping/belching continuously. I had seen a gastroenterologist, he didn't find anything abnormal--I had XRays taken and had a Upper GI done; everything came back normal. At the time, I attributed the symptoms to stress, as I was in the process of college graduation.
Skip ahead to now. I am currently in the process of jobhunting, and I just spent a month travelling around Europe, so everything HERE is different from how it was there--climate, food, etc. There is a definite corrolation with my nerves, stress, and these belching spasms I have. I can wake up in the morning and start belching. When it happens, its like I can feel my vocal chords vibrate. When I take GasX, the belches diminish. So, there's also alot of gas pressure, sometimes around the border of my ribs and my stomach. I also get semi-bloated, but I don't know if thats attributable to my gut which has become a "beer belly" which I need to get back into shape.
Any help appreciated. Thanks.

[Graham__0]

Posted By Graham on August 02, 1999 at 16:37:56
Following long myotomy for diffuse oesophagel spasm (complication from fundoplication) in Jan 1999, I have been subject to serious attacks of oesophageal belching - worse in the early hours of the morning - painful and some reflux - also attacks during the day.
Saw Gastroenterologist last week - she tells me it because I have gotten into a habit - and cannot stop.  Suggest hypno-therapy, yoga, relaxation.  No medicine offered.  Any suggestions?
Graham, London, England

[emayo]

Posted By emayo on August 03, 1999 at 22:37:12
I started belching 4 months ago, and it is usually a major problem 5 days out of 7.  Had upper GI and endoscopy test . . . everything normal except for esophogitis.  Doctor, after extensive quizzing by me, said yes, the esophogitis was probably due to the excessive belching (some reflux was bound to happen when someone belches 150-200 times a day).  His diagnosis of the real culprit:  I swallow air that then is expelled (eructation).  My question to him:  Why after 59 year of breathing normally have I begun to swallow air?  His answer:  it just happens.  
Have explored psychological/stress component and have used hypnosis -- but to no avail.  Doctor suggests biofeedback, for which I have an appointment in two days.  Question #2:  do people get over this?  I can't imagine continuing to live with this long-term.  The pain and discomfort is all-consuming  
Third question:  The esophogeal spasm that immediately precedes a belch. . Literature suggests this is part of process of expelling air trapped in the esophegus.  Is it possible that the esophogeal spasm is caused by something else (a tic?  a nearological condition?  a heart situation?), the spasm causes a sucking in of air into the esophogus, which is then belched out?
Thank you to anyone who can help.    ed  

[emayo]

Posted By emayo on August 08, 1999 at 10:56:02
P.S. to previous note:   Further web research seems to suggest that excessive belching is caused by the lower esophogeal sphincter malfunctioning;  that is, not enough pressure to stay closed and thus keep air/gas from continually escaping.  GI doctor has had me on 20 mg of Prilosec for almost a month, and it seems to have no effect whatsoever (and I've told him this).  Prilosec, as I understand it, acts to reduce the amount of acid allowed into the stomach for digestive purposes.  I told doc, however, that I do not think I suffer from too much stomach acid;  belching occurs no matter what I eat or don't eat(although my diet is, and always has been, on the bland side), and, again, I only experience acid reflux after belching continuously for an hour or two or more.
Question: Is Prilosec the right medication for what I am experiencing?  Isn't there a medication that treats not excessive acid but rather the tone/functioning of the lower esophageal sphincter?  Or would a medication such as Reglin be more appropriate?  Reglin, as I understand it, promotes faster emptying of the stomach after eating, no?
Thanks much.

[Msenergy]

Posted By Msenergy on August 13, 1999 at 22:02:09
I have been belching off and on for a week now. I have tried to inspect my diet and figure out what is wrong. I cannot come up with an answer. I have tried Yoga and relaxing and not as much acid intake or dairy and nothing is working. I also have this white "cheese-like" substance on the back of my throat in the mornings.
Question: Please give me any suggestions that will stop the spasmatic belching.
Thanks,
"Msenergy"










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