Very strange Digestive problem for 9 years now please help

[Richie B]

Hello im a 25 year old male that has a very strange digestive problem that nobody else seems to have. This has been going on for 9 years now. The doctors I have been to are not giving me any answers for this. This is what happens, I almost all the time have this strange girgling sound that comes up to my throat when I eat or drink anything even just water. It is not at all like a reguler burping sound but it sounds and feels more like a air bubble which is so loud people around me can hear. It might be funny to say it sounds like a frog in my throat but thats really what it sounds like especially if my mouth is open when this happens. I can almost always feel when its coming up to my throat so I try and close my mouth and try to hide it although it is so loud now it is still very noticable. I remember the first time this started at the age of 16 sitting in front of the tv and I friend was sitting next to me and asked me what was wrong as it wouldnt stop and since then it never really has. I saw my primary doctor for this years ago and he told me nothing was wrong it was just gas and to live with it. The only time it does not happen is when my stomach is completly empty but as soon as I eat or drink anything it starts and does not end for hours. The only way to stop it is if I lye on my back. When doing this it stops everytime within 2 minutes at the most or until I get up again. That is why my doctors say it can not be acid reflux because I never have burning in my throat also been on medications that treat that with no help and when I lye on my back it goes away. I know with acid reflux it gets worse if you lye on your back, in my case it is just the opposite. I even have changed completly what I eat and I still have this problem. I am now getting very stressed out from this as nobody has any answers from me and now I believe it must be causing some damage to my body in one way or another since its been 9 years since it has started.  Please if you can help me in anyway I would be very grateful.  Thank You

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Erin, PA and surgeon has kindly address your concerns and I agree with their assessment.

I would agree that the first test should be some kind of imaging - either barium swallow or upper endoscopy.  

Another possibility would be a "globus sensation" which is the feeling of something in the throat.  GERD can cause this - although your previous doctors have said that this is not a possibility, you may want to consider a 24-hr pH study.  

If the GI evaluation is not revealing, you may want to consider an ENT referral for further evaluation.  

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.

[MEJ]

Do you have any other symptoms (changes in stool, back pain, abdominal pain, dizziness, etc)?  What tests have been taking? Have you seen anyone else besides your family doc? You may want to consider a specialist.  I certainly don't have an answer for you, but I can relate to your frustration.  Hang in there and don't settle for the "I don't know".

[Richie B]

No I do not have anything you mentioned. I do have many ear and sinus problems and have had 4 nasel operations and still cant breath out of my nose. I have been to another doctor besides my primary for this which was a specialist. I saw him years ago and he had no answer so I pretty much gave up and concentrated on my ear and nose problems thinking that this problem was no big deal but know that it is getting worse and I also read that digestive problems can cause sinus probles if left untreated I really need to find out what is going on here. I should also mention that even on a empty stomach if I get post nasel drip which I do alot I get this problem also. I have been to dozens of ENT doctors throughout the years and have mentioned this and they all tell me that that is not there field and to see a digestive doctor for this. At this point I dont know what to think anymore and if it is possibly causing other problems I would like to get this treated once and for all.   Thanks   Rich

[GI.PA]

You have to wonder if you have a pouch or diverticulum at the first part of your esophagus that traps food/air/liquid.  A barium swallow may be a useful test to get a better feel for what is happening when you swallow.  A modified barium swallow using barium coated foods of different textures may also be helpful in allowing one to "see" what you are describing.

GI.PA

[Babbs1]

I have the exact same thing.  If you were to lay down on your right side and then your left, does your left side always do it  and the right barely makes it happen?  My dad said laying on his left side does it too.  I, also, have never been able to make a burp sound like everyone else; just this frog sound.  When we were kids I always tried to learn but couldn't.  Do any of these sound familiar to you too?  I have no idea what it is and I chalk it up to stress - it seems to happen more under stress.  If you find out what it is, let me know. I say quit worrying about it and just laugh it off for now.  My friends have made fun of me for years because of this odd sound but now we all just crack up when it happens.

[yoshi]

when i lie in bed and turn to sleep on my left side kind of folding my heart inward,i will feel a pain.
but not on my right side,do you guys have the same problem??

[Richie B]

Wow thats really good to hear from someone else with this problem as I have never heard anyone have this before. I do noticed its at its worsed when I lye on my left side or when I get post nasel drip but it also happens when I lye on my right side but goes away with in a minute or two everytime I lye on my back until I get up again. What is really strange to me is you said you can never burp normal,since I was a child I could almost never burp normal either. To this day even when tring to burp I cant just this frog girgling type of sound which I get everytime I eat or drink anything and lasts until my stomach gets completly empty. Can I have your email so I can keep in touch. Maybe with the both of us we can find out whats going on once and for all. Im worried that after all this time its causing other problems I have or even damage to my digestive system so although it might not seem to be serious we should not just forget about it just because no doctor seems to know whats going on. I would like to keep in touch and also hear if you have any sinus or ear problems too.     Thanks    Rich

[surgeon]

I would second what was said above: whereas it may be nothing more than air-swallowing, it's a good idea to get an image of your esophagus to rule out a diverticulum, particularly one called Zenker's diverticulum. It's an out-pouching. Not dangerous; easily fixed.

[Richie B]

Thats what I thought it was at one point in time. I was swallowing to much air as for years I have not been able to breath clearly out my nose. This has caused me for to breathout my mouth when eating. Why would this girgling last all day or until my stomach gets empty though? Also why do I get it even just drinking water?          Thanks   Rich

[Babbs1]

How strange.  I mentioned something about finding this forun to a worker today and the first word out of their mouth was diverticwhatever the spelling.  Wow Richie B and surgeon, now you have given me something to ponder.  Thanks.  I'll look into it sometime.

[JVEE]

Hello: I too suffer from the exact same problem. Even if I drink water.  I am 38 yrs. old had my gallbladder removed may 2002. Symtoms appeared about 6-7 months after surgery. I have taken every acid reducer (protonix,prevacid, nexium etc.) with no relief.  Recently had h-pylori test, results were negative. Doc has me on 5mg. reglan and sucralfate... No improvement. Please e-mail me if you have any info. that might end this misery. Thanks, John V. e-mail: ***@****

[Isabelle R]

Hi every one, I do have the same problem as you.  I am a 50 years old female.  It first appears 2 years ago, in a stressfull period of time.  I do have the exact same symtoms as you do and it also stop when I lay down on my back.  I had my gall-blatter removed 25 years ago.  I talked to several person about it and nobody seams to have heard something like this before.  I'll bring these comments to my doctor as soon I see him.  I thing it might help.
Please let me know if you have any information.
Thanks! Isabelle

[Babbs1]

Richie,  I'm baaaack.  Well since I was on last, I have had an upper endoscope.  They looked at my esophagus and stomach.  I had been having really bad reflux for a few years now and my Doc said it's time to look.  Between your esophagus and stomach is a sphincter that is to close once food enters the stomach.  Mine stays open.  I am trying new medicine that works on that and will see the surgeon in 2 weeks.  I never got to ask him about the frog noises, but I will let you all know what he thinks.   Amy

[Richie B]

Babbs1 PLEASE contact me by email , ***@****. Maybe together we can help each other figure this out. Thanks  Rich

[Richie B]

I was just wondering if anyone has an update on this? Im seeing a digestive doctor in less then a week and will keep you all updated. I think it would be great if everyone with the same problem and symptoms would email me so we all can work on this problem together and keep everyone updated. I keep losing my post and it is now hard to find this topic I started on this board. Since there is only a handful of us it might be better that way. My email address is ***@****   Thank You   Rich