Egg/Sulphur burps, vomiting, what works for me

I've had problems with this my whole life, literally since I was a little girl. Starting with sulphur-like "eggburps" and leading to intense gas pain, vomiting and diarrhea that lasts for anywhere from a few hours to all day, until my system is completely empty. If I don't have a "toast and tea" day the next day it tends to recur, and it comes and goes in clusters, sometimes happening more than once a week and sometimes not recurring for a year or two. It usually starts first thing in the morning but rarely can develop later in the day, it seems to be sensitive to eating things like chocolate, very greasy foods, very spicy foods or very starchy foods. I also had every test in the world tossed at it since it's literally an all-day debilitating thing, an upper GI, a couple of different tests where you swallow barium and they track it through your system, nutritionists, tests for bacteria, parasites, everything. Nothing panned out. I've tried treatments with antacids, anti-gas pills, lactose-intolerance aids, antianxiety/antidepressants, just about everything.

I've heard it described as "Female IBS" before and it definitely gets worse with stress, anxiety and life changes. It seems like what happens is that something in my digestive tract is getting inflamed due to diet and stress, and when that happens it basically shuts down until I'm on "empty" again but that's just a guess at what might be happening.

Anyway, pretty recently I've actually been having a lot of success with psyllium husk caplets. It's a concentrated dose of fiber, basically, Metamucil makes a commercial brand and sometimes you can find a generic version too. I take one or two with water nightly just before bed preventatively or with the first sulphury-tasting burp, when I'm still feeling well enough to swallow anything, and it seriously cut the ordeal down from a full day in bed to feeling better within the hour. I still had noxious gas but I wasn't having foul burps, pain or an urge to vomit at all and it went from being debilitating to an inconvenience. After nothing working or affecting it at all it's kind of surprising.

YMMV, but it's something to try - at least until they figure out what this is and how to stop it from happening completely.


This discussion is related to Sulphuric/ Eggy burps and stomach cramps.

[snoopy4sl]

Well, it is definitely a relief to find that I am not alone.  pookish- I have been through a lot of the same tests you have.  Unfortunately I have been suffering these attacks since I was around 7, and I thought I had my last one when I was 27, because I went to the ER once AGAIN, but this time they decided it was my appendix instead of blaming it on the flu like usual.  I didn't have another sulfur burp or attack until today.  I have gone about 2 1/2 years without an attack, so I thought for sure it was behind me with the removal of my appendix.  Now I am wondering if my appendix grew back, or I have another issue...gallbladder, pyloric valve, etc.  I am SO UPSET and SCARED!  I can't take this disgusting burping, gut-bursting bloating, excruciating pain, diarrhea and vomiting anymore!  :-(  WHAT IS WRONG WITH ALL OF US?!

[nbnicelady]

Consider your ileo-secal valve.  It can get stuck open and stuck closed.  Closed means all things come back up.  Open means diarhea (diarrhea) because food goes straight through.  Closed can also meann diarhea (diarrhea) as things can leak past, but not be open fully.

Both means sulphuric/eggy burps, nausea, excessive bloating and distention.  Sometimes there is fever too.  Exhaustion and fatigue are normal as well.  

Triggers can vary, but my husband calls it my "popcorn valve" as popcorn is a trigger.  So are nuts.  You might need to give up popcorn and grind nuts down into a meal and put them on things.  Viruses can also trigger it.  If you have this, you have a weak ileo-secal valve.  If something triggers it, a virus, stress, certain foods, you will become more sick and differently than say, the rest of your family.

If you catch it early, you can massage a tender point to the left (your left) of your lower right hip bone.   Nux vomica (homeopathic medicince) can help in the early stages as well.  Even if you don't catch it early, massaging that point will temporarily bring the bloating down (lie on your stomach also if you can bear it), and I've found it brings a great deal of comfort/relief.

A chiropractor diagosed mine and gave me literature on the condition.  I was in for a routine visit, had just taken a shower and was pretty much over my issue, with bloating and all outwards signs gone besides a little nausea.  As he was adjusting me, he asked me if I had any "bowel involvement" recently.  I said, yes, how can you tell?  His answer was really complicated, but he could tell by the adjustmets that he had to give me,  and I don't remember it exactly, but he pressed on this point with his elbow.  I learned that I could also press on or massage it if I felt an attack coming on.

I just had a virus go through our house and was stupid and ate popcorn yesterday while it was in a weakened state or I think I would be fine.  I have not had an issue for years prior to this due to regular monthly chiro. adjustments (different chiro, different state that doesn't even know about my issue specifically).  I used to have this occur at least 1-2 x monthly.

I do think a healthy diet makes a huge difference too.  I had excessive sugar lately contributing to my weakness. MSG is another trigger of mine.