i am physically unable to burp.

All my life i have been unable to burp. I have these awful embarrassing involuntary gurgles that are sometimes loud and others not as loud. As long as i could remember, i have felt bloated after i eat too much or drink anything. Many people have tried to teach me how to burp but i simply cant. Almost everytime i yawn though, i always seem to let out a tiny burp or maybe a gurgle and i feel a little relief. i have noticed i yawn a lot more than other people, maybe this is a way my body tries to get out the access air. I hardly throw up or get sick. I have thrown up maybe seven or eight times in my life and i am 17 now. I do remember everytime i throw up i belch really loud before doing so. It sounds horrific and i have never heard anyone burp the way i do when i am sick. No one believes i cant burp, even the people who have heard my gurgles. My mothier thinks i am weird and refuses to take me to any kind of docter because she thinks i am making this up. i am afraid that if i dont get help soon i might just blow up. Recently, i was curious if i was the only one with this problem so i did some research online. I have come to find that many people have experienced what i have but i have heard nothing about a cure or a name for this problem. If someone has an answer or the same or similar problem, please let me know (:


thank you so much,
paige.

[jmh987]

I have also had this problem, all of the symptoms you have mentioned, all 36 years of my life. I also belch quite loudly when I vomit, which I, too, have never heard anyone else do that. Often, I feel nauseas and it has also led to anxiety for me, as it does many. To date, I have not heard of a solution, except to have an upper GI series completed (endoscopy). Don't worry, you are fully knocked out when they do this. I had heard that a sphincter-like muscle near the stomach and esophagus  (Schatzki ring) may not be fully extended, causing some to not have the ability to burp. Again, this can be corrected, with the only drawback being that it only lasts for a year or so. It does have a name, called Schatzki Syndrome. So, Paige, you are not alone. I've come to the conclusion that it is a physiological problem.

[Mysfyt]

I have had the same problem my entire life.  I've always wished I could - people seem to get a lot of relief from it.  I've tried everything... even seltzer and then jumping up and down.  LOL.  My husband always picks on me because he thinks I'm the only person on the earth who doesn't burp.  Glad I'm not alone!

However... I recently starting (embarassingly) burping very loudly.  I knew something was wrong when I started burping a lot - since I've never been able to.  Turns out I now have severe acid reflux AND a malfunctioning gall bladder that needs to be removed.

So I want you to see a doctor if all of a sudden at some point in your life you DO start burping. For me, it was my first warning sign!!!

[heath1985]

I have had this same problem and recently found this site and posted about my problem.  I too cannot burp and frequently get those little gurgles.. sometimes they are kinda loud and come up without me knowing about it.  The only time that I do burp is when sometimes i get this coughing fit right before i feel nausea and when I vomit i let out a burp that is so loud i have heard nothing like it before.  i often notice it after eating and a lot of times when i go out at night and drink alcohol.  a lot of times ill get abdominal pain after eating.. do you get any of these other symptoms as well or no? i'm only 23 but have been dealing with it since i was 17.

[jmh987]

Wow, I don't feel alone anymore either! I do know my father had the same problem, but only came into that information recently. Unsure why my mother never told me.
I also get those gurgling sounds, too. And they are spontaneous, which is embarrassing! I often feel sick to my stomach after eating, too.
People have tried to 'show me' how to burp, but it hasn't worked. I once even had my husband give me a modified Heimlich to no avail (and not a good idea, either).
This is terrible!
Jenn

[kiki1967]

Oh my gosh!  I'm 41 years old and felt like I was the only person on earth with the gurgling problems.  It's so embarrassing - happens a lot at night when I'm lying in bed.  And my friends think I'm crazy because I can't burp - I can count on my hands how many times I've burped in my whole life.  I googled the Schatzki Syndrome but it didn't sound like our symptoms - I don't have difficulty swallowing or pain.  Just the constant gurgling and inability to burp.  If anyone ever finds out what it is, please let us know!  Thanks for posting - I feel normal now!

[sarah61087]

wow I feel normal now! I have the same symptoms! The gergling and only burping when I'm sick! My boyfriend and him friends make fun of me so I googled it to prove to them that I wasn't crazy and showed all your responses! Thanks everyone for posting! They have stopped picking on me now hehe  

[miimoo]

l have all the same symptoms mentioned above, however, l have over the years (35) managed to develop a method for releasing air from the stomach without burping. before l did this l was simply unable to eat certain things or drink carbonated drinks.

this is what l do: after eating (about 5 min when l can feel that 'bloated' sensation) l stick a finger into the back of the throat...it took me some time to manage to do this without throwing up so maybe its best to try to do this in the toilet to start with if you are going to try it. anyhow, l am now able to 'throw' up the air...without actually throwing up anything else.

the noise that comes out when l do it is simply UNREAL, but still it gets the job done and l am able to eat and enjoy whatever l like.

the way l see it is that l am like a baby, l need to mechanically burp myself by puncturing the back of my throat after every meal.

[ttbee]

I also do what miimoo does. I find that if i push down the little flap at the back of my throat it allows me to burp up (extremely loadly) all of my wind. I have had the problem since I was a baby (I suffered from extremely bad collic), which is why I avoided fizzy drinks most of my life. My mum has the same problem so I didn't feel alone. Would get embarassed on nights out though when I'd go to the toilet to bring up my wind!
I used to get my boyfriend to do the Heimlich too, it just bought up gurgles (or internal burps as I call them) and made me feel worse.
I used to be so frustrated by it, I often had to leave night outs early or leave straight after the meal for friends birthdays. One day a friends told me I should gulp down soda water really quickly (something she does when she gets wind), this was a bad idea! I was so bad I couldn't breath and my lips went blue, as I last resort I decided to make myself sick (fingers down the throat job), but when I did it I burped. I felt so relieved.
Fron then on it's what I always do. I don't vomit with it, but do worry that it could be doing damage.
It has to be some kind of medical problem. I also cannot gulp a drink all in one go. You know how people can just open their throat a keep swallowing a drink. Can't open my throat at all.
Always wondered if being unable to open throat/unable to burp could be something to do with being born premature? Is anyone else with the condition premature? It's the only link between me, my mum and a friend who has the same problem. We were all very premature. (5 weeks +) Maybe something could finish developing properly? Just a theory

[lori229]

i have the same symptoms as you all have mentioned...only burping before being physically sick, feeling bloated, uncontrollable gurgles.  my mom is also the same way...i've even told doctors that i can't burp and they tell me to "work on it"...like i can learn to do it.  not many people take it seriously, which drives me nuts.  the worst is that i can eat something huge like thanksgiving dinner, or something as small as an M&M and i'll be gurgling for half an hour later.  just glad to see i'm not alone, because my boyfriend always jokes about me not burping...hopefully we can figure out how to fix it soon :)

[lori229]

ps - one thing that kind of helps, besides sticking my fingers in the back of my throat to "throw up air"...i've noticed that if i "gulp" air (like some people gulp air to force themselves to burp) i can sometimes force out a burp...sometimes tilting my head back also helps bring it up.  its temporary relief, but it helps a little.

[miimoo]

how is it that NO ONE seems to have heard about it? l know 4 people unable to burp just like me...altho l am the only one who does the finger-burping-method.

asked my doctor about it last week, he still does not know anyone but me. strange.

[KorranS]

i have the same problem and im only 14 i cant burp naturally and i make relle loud gurgling noises that are relle random and its so embarrasing when im with my boyfriends and i have to explain to them what it is. alos like another person said, i get abdominla pains after eating, and make wierd noises when i yawn. its as if the gases want to come out but they cant :( its so annoying i dnt wanna have to stick my fingers down my throat.

[lilnmc]

I thought I was the only one in the world with this. I do gag myself to bump at time. Going to high elevations makes it really bad. Also I was SO miserable when I was pregnant.  My husband asked a GI doc at the hospital where we worked at, way before we we married if he knew anything about this. He said they could do a "stretching" type of procedure but it would come back. If I were to planning on getting pregnant again I would consider it. I still might if it is effective and last awhile.

[yessir718]

lol ive always had it but didnt know what it was. never worried me or anything but just thought it was weird i couldnt burp. i can control my gurgles though and release them whenever i need releif. i take a deep swallow (spit...no air) and take a deep breath in through my mouth slowly with my mouth hung open and i ussually get all the gas out like that

[eximo]

Try amitriptyline

I have started having odd problems, that are related to Gi motility, I found an article about using amitriptyline to improve GI problems related to the spincter of odi and other problems.  Amitriptyline works on alpha receptors as well as Norepinephrine and serotonin.  So it does a lot, however it might be worth a try for you guys.

I'm not sure there is a solution for you if you were born without the ability, you may be missing some receptors or nerves.  I have heard of this before, and often times the persons mother will not be able to belch either.

I have been scouring the internet for a term to describe this syndrome.  As there must be 2 types a type you would be born with, and a type that is acquired.I am thinking the word should be something like eruticationia syndrome.  

I am 27 and am losing my ability belch.  I feel the sensation to belch, however when I attempt to do so, there is no belch.  Eventually after minutes or hours, the most satisfactory and awesome belch or belches are performed.  Truly inspiring.  I was born with the ability to belch and have always taken if for granted, that I had any gas to expel I did so when ever I wanted.


Has anybody suffered arrythmias or uncomfortable slow/fast heart rates coinciding with the build up of gas?

[eximo]

Whoops I forgot to give the dosage

5-15 mg ought to do it, you may have to experiment.
However the drug will have a completely different effect if you go much over 30 mg, and more often than not, more is worse less is better.  I take 5mg which works very well, but 25 mg doesn't seem to work at all.

This is probably because the alpha sites are blocked in the gi track.  The norepinephrine may be an exponential component where as the alpha blocking mechanism is linear.  This is just a guess, I haven't read the pharmokinetics of it.  However, this model does fit my observations on it effects in myself and others.

[lobosito]

I have the same problem-actually I wouldn't call it just a problem because it's taking over my life. I've never been able to burp and eating and drinking gives me such bad air pressure in my chest that I get nautious all the time. The only thing that helps is sticking my finger down my throat and releasing the air. It really helps temporarily but I can't get myself to do this in public. It sounds like i'm throwing up..and people think I am. It's so embarrassing. My boyfriend keeps telling me that I should just swallow my shame and do it in public when i'm suffering but I can't... The only thing that I can do that is slightly less embarassing is to start coughing really hard and sometimes the air comes out in a big "burp". But I hate having to pretend to have a coughing fit just to relieve the pressure...

and how come there seems to be so many people with this problem but I've never met anyone with it...

Any more suggestions??

[Evryothrnmwstkn]

I am 25 years old and have had all the same problems with not being able to burp my whole life and having stomach problems because of it.  I have actually learned to burp.  It's strange and amazing.  I suspect there to be something physically similar that all of us have in common that kept it from being a natural reaction, but at least with me... over the last 4 months or so, I've gotten to the point where I can actually burp when I need to most of the time.  I still can't belch on command or burp the ABCs, but when I feel the need to burp, I can do certain things with my chest, shoulders, neck, jaw, and throat to make a burp happen (sounds more complicated than it actually is once I got the hang of it).  Sometimes they're small and sometimes they are big.  It did not completely fix my stomache problems, but it is better and i can now better understand which foods upset my stomach, and I can explain it in no other way than to say that it is absolutely glorious.  I'm interested to see if I can help anyone else learn how to do this.  Feel free to email me at ***@**** if you would like more information and assistance learning to burp.  I hope your search turns out as well as mine did.


Alright, well I know that it may not be the same thing for everyone, but this is what I've found.

The biggest thing for me to learn was torso, shoulder, neck, head, and jaw placement to allow a burp through.  I have to be at least sitting up straight or leaning forward slightly is even better.  Can't do it while sitting back.  I have to push my shoulders straight back, the further the better.  And then I have to push my head forward and then chin down.  At first it helped me to turn my head left to right while my chin was down and head out.  It also helps open my throat if I open my mouth slightly and push my jaw forward, like giving myself an under bite.  Regarding throat muscles and relaxation, I've found that the only thing that I was familiar with that is similar to "opening my throat" would be a yawn.  So if I position myself in the way specified above, and then make myself yawn, the first part of the yawn (before it takes over and you feel like you have to yawn) is when I will burp.

It took me probably 3 months to realize that full list of motions after I started getting a little bit of control.  As odd as it all sounds if I have even one of those incorrect, I usually can't burp, or the burp is miserably small and useless.

This only works for me when I need to burp.  I can't burp on command, but if I've just drank half of a Mountain Dew and feel like I need to burp, I simply make sure to be sitting/standing up or leaning forward slightly, push my shoulders back, touch my chin to my chest, and then right when I feel like it should be hitting my throat, I push my head forward (while still keeping my chin down), open my mouth slightly and push my jaw out and start the yawn feeling in my throat.  Once I got the hang of it, I learned that by having breathed some air into my diaphragm, I could push out a larger burp by using that air in my diaphragm to push on the burp.  I didn't learn that until I got the hang of smaller burps.

I don't know if this is common with others or not, but I've got a bit of an overbite and some sinus problems.  For as long as I can remember I've gotten phlegm stuck in my throat and have to spit it out... and the more stuff in my throat, the less likely I am to be able to burp as well.

Hope this is something that can be helpful.  I'd like to know if it is.  Keep me posted.

Bob

[Alexandria35]

I've always had this as well.  My mom said that I burped when I was a baby, but as long as I, myself, can remember, I've always had those noises in my throat.  When I was a little girl I used to tell people I swallowed a frog! haha

I've never tried much to help this or help myself relieve the pressure in my stomach.  Lately I've been taking antacids and bloating relief pills to make it stop and it's only made my nauseousness go away after I eat (which is a plus, of course).  I also feel veeery sick in the mornings, all the time and can't catch my breath sometimes.

ttbee - you said that you wanted to know about the swallowing drinks in one gulp.. How people can just open their throats and take a glass without having to take breath..  I've ALWAYS wondered that.  I'm 19 and NOT, in any way shape or form, an alcohol drinker.  And it's because I can't.  I can't take more than a tiny sip before my throat decides that it doesn't want anymore so if I try to take another sip, my throat just won't open up for it.  It like... scares my reflexes.  I can't even chug WATER..  I can take more of that than anything else - pop, juice etc..  I was not born premature though, so I don't think it has to do with your prematurity.

Also, I just recently became lactose intolerant.  I was very upset when I figured it out finally, and became aware of what acid reflux is and that isn't pleasant either..  

Like every has stated, I'm glad I'm not the only one.  I've been made fun of my whole life because of this throat gurgling noise and nobody ever believes me when I say that I am just unable to burp.  Period.  Friends and family have tried to teach me, but no one prevails.  

[tjn182]

I'm on the same boat as all of you! I just got home from drinking and man....  One beer gets me so nauseous for the entire night, I get full... bloated... and extremely uncomfortable. It's lead me away from alcohol completely, though, I enjoy going out.

I've had plenty of friends go "I bet you $5 I can make you burp" I ALWAYS walk away as the winner. One time my best friend heard me release air because I was on the verge of throwing up (which I've noticed 100% of the time that I never throw up) and he heard it through 3 walls while outside talking to friends - he claimed it to be the loudest belch he's ever heard in his life.

I haven't found a cure or a fix except building pressure up to the verge of throwing up so that air can get released, which is extremely uncomfortable.

I knew I wasn't alone though, many times at parties I've overheard people go "No thanks, I'm full and can't burp to save my life" -- I always walk over and give them a big ole' high five for being apart of the No Burping Club.

I saw your comments above about the finger-down-the-throat method - I will give that a try because I need some way of relieving the pressure... This uncomfortable feeling keeps me on my butt and extremely anxious when I'm out and wanting to talk to the girlies. All I get is the gurgles every 1-2 minutes and I hate it.

Though, Doc says I'll probably never feel acid reflux - 24 years old and he's been right so far!! I can eat ANYTHING (as long as I chow down super fast before I can feel it)

[wishicouldburp]

i had one of the worst beer and burp-less nights ever on saturday.  ended up sticking my fingers down my throat for a while after enduring the pain and eventually getting severe shivers from it and it was all better (although the accompanying hiccups don't half make your chest sore for a while).

I also managed to do a tremendous air-vom in front of some people I'd just met.  reassuringly for us all they carried on talking to me (probably in relief that nothing else accompanied it!)

so I shall have to make sure I don't drink more than 2 pints of fizz at a time. if you still crave beer I recommed english ales (flat) or belgian beers (stronger, less volume).

i, too was a cholicy baby.  my mum can't burp or handle fizzy drinks, and she's not too great with lactose either.  future's bright!  i also gurgle like a trooper.  i'm not sure whether past girlfriends found it endearing or thought I was weird.  i shall be using the "frog in the stomach" line from now on.....

good to know there are others out there like me! :)

[Garthak]

I have the same problem.  I was able to burp as a baby, but haven't been able to do so since then.  I will burp from time to time, completely by accident, but I have no control over it.  In the meantime, it's all gurgling, etc.  

I have a deviated septum, and went into an ENT specialist to take a look at it.  He said that I have too much extra skin in the back of my throat, which could lead me to snore etc., later in life.  I'm throwing this out there to see if anyone might have the same situation and whether it might be causing an inability to burp.  Just a thought.

[heatherfox]

i can't believe there are so many of us out there!!!!  i'm 28 now and for as long as i can remember i've "growled" as my family calls it.  one time when i was a kid, my sister tried to teach me to burp and all it did was make me vomit later that night!  i don't get nauseaus or have stomach pain after eating, but i do however make horrendous noises if/when i throw up, which is rare.  i haven't seen it posted anywhere else, but i also have gas pretty much all the time.  both are embarrassing and uncomfortable!!!!  i'm so relieved to know that i'm not the only one.  

[LuizaBR]

     I feel exactly the same things since i was 13. Now i'm 20, and learning the "technique" of sticking a finger into my through just to have this surreal burp.
I feel very nauseous and when i lay down, on an horizontal position, i feel better.
     The internal burps happens a lot. My boyfriend used to ask me if i was hungry when we were hugging and he feels, but now he is used, i think. Yes, it looks like a frog.
     I also have Gastroesophageal Reflux, and hurts on stomach and esophage.
     Can somebody help?
     When i go out and have one drink im already feeling sick. And when a i through up, people ask "already?" as if i was drunk, but i'm far away from drunk, i'm just filled with gases.

[CantSurpassGas]

Wow... I thought I was the only one. I'm 21 years old and have had this problem as far back as I can remember. I'm bloated, gassy and I gurgle in my throat a lot. Sometimes it goes on twice a minute or so for HOURS and it can be very embarrassing; especially when it's dead quiet and everyone can hear you. (Hungry? Not feeling well? What is that sound, are you okay?)

It's very frustrating and extremely uncomfortable. I avoid carbonated beverages like the plague. As a man who enjoys beer I cannot have more than one without feeling the urge to puke. Sticking my fingers to the back of my throat does release UNREAL puke noises that are extremely embarrassing and unpleasant; Alas, provide immediate, though temporary relief and do require 4 or 5 vaporvoms in one session alone.

Another thing being that I am really flatulent and I've had friends tell me it's unreal how often I fart. It's plain and simple; I'm farting out my burps too! Of course I will fart twice as much as any other man. Anti-gas pills don't seem to provide very much relief. Baking Soda and water seems to help somewhat, sometimes.

Unbelievable.. really. That doctors don't have a clue and there's hardly anything out there to alleviate it or even diagnose it! Remember, you are not alone!

Respects, gurgling in Vancouver, BC.

[jkfrench]

I have had the same problem for at least 30 years.  I gurgle.  Sometimes so loud that my daughter looks at me and tells me how gross I am.  I cannot burp.  I have had possibly 10 burps that came out of the blue over my lifetime.  I asked my mom if I could burp as a baby and she said yes.
I need to gurgle because if I don't, I can feel the air trapped in my upper stomach and it causes irritation to my vagus nerve and then causes my heart to skip.  
Frenchie

[rachk78]

I can't believe I am not the only one with this problem. I am 31 yrs old and was able to burp as an infant (was not premature), but have not been able to for as long as I can remember. I also make gurgles. I have found that sitting up straight and taking a deep breath in sometimes helps the air come up. My whole life I have just called it the "air thing". My husband knows what I mean when I say I have the "air thing". Sometimes he has to burp me by patting me on the back while I sit up straight and take deep breaths. If I am unable to get a deep breath in I feel like I will vomit. On my wedding day my dress was too tight to take a deep breath and I was worried the whole ceremony I would puke. I was miserable and didn't even enjoy my wedding. I couldn't wait for it to be over. I also do not vomit often, but when I do you can hear me from a mile away. My pregnancy was horrible due to the "air thing". My daughter is 4 and I really want to have another child but the "air thing" is holding me back. I think I will definately look into the stretching thing before getting pregnant again. Also, is anyone else with this problem thin? I have always been thin and I thought it was due to the fact that I get bloated so quickly while eating that I don't eat much, but then am hungry an hour or 2 later. Also, does anyone else get the hiccups often? I seem to get them much more than other people and they are VERY painful. I am so glad I googled 'unable to burp'. I feel like I have found a support group. LOL

[crewex]

Since there isn't a syndrome that is caused maybe we should call it aneructatonia syndrome

A construction of words that means "without burping disease"

from the root erucatation.

[ita17]

Ok, I am freaking out a bit right now because we are doing fertility, ttc for #4 & now that I'm 40 it's been MUCH harder!  Anyway, since my last pregnancy a year ago wich ended in a miscarriage @ 11 weeks, I've suffered off n on fro heart burn!!!!  It's in my upper chest & now I get it in my throat;(
usually for me it effects me when my progesterone is high (obviously only us ladies;) but lately it's like whenever!
& in the past few days Ive had stomach aches, bloating, very gassy & something née tonight, which led me to this thread....noises coming from my throat now!!!  I was laying in my daughters room with her as she was falling asleep, & my stomach was making all kinds of strange strange noises, & my throat was letting out these little gergling bubbles!  I have a heavy sensation in my throat, not pain just very uncomfortable & this happen last night too!
I was totally fine, had a light dinner, tonight was t very hungry but craved cookies so I made frozen whole wheat chocolate chip cookies & had 3 with milk, & then the throat stuff began!!!  
I'm not a big eater, vegetarian although I do eat dairy/eggs. I'm thin & eat very healthy/mostly organic.
So this is so darn weird!!!!

I do eat small meals, I have always gotten super full quickly, but I eat often.

Anything out there besides doing the throat thing help?  I tool tums last night & tonight, & got pretty much no reliefs!
I do & always have had a not easy time swallowing, sometimes it feels like food gets stuck,  sure it doesn't, but for this reason I eat slowly, which is also probably why I get full on smaller amounts of food

Any suggestions??????  Geeez, this is frustrating!  As if I need more issues;)

[bbuynum]

WOW!!! I can not believe this! I thought I was the only one!

So yesterday I went to the doctor for the first time about this and she suggested that I had acid reflux. I tried to tell her I really didn't think thats what this is but she insisted and precsribed me some prevacid...

I haven't been able to burp as far as I can remember ( I'm 24 now )... maybe once a year randomly. I gurgle about 5min after I eat for about 2 - 3 hours and feel extremely bloated. When I turned 21 and starting drinking more I found that I had to stick my finger down my throught to release the carbonation or else I'd get sick and vomit after a couple beers. People always throught I was a light-weight cus I would go to the bathroom and they would hear this UNGODLY puking/burping noise. I'm so glad I found that other people have this issue too or else I might have started taking that medicine which I don't need.

When I try to position myself in certain ways to try and burp they feel like they almost come out but get stuck in my throat. I feel like I'm almost there in training myself to burp so hopefully I can. If not maybe I will see a GI Doc instead of internal med.

If anyone finds a solution please post here!!

[spazzycat]

Haha....this is amazing.  I've had this problem my entire life and just by chance I decided to google search it.  I honestly thought I was the only one because I had throat surgery when I was a baby (born with a deviated septum and double uvula) and I believed that something must have gone wrong during surgery and my ability to burp was damaged.  It's actually quite amazing to find that I'm not alone.  haha!  

Anyway, I used to suffer tremendously....the gurgles were aggravating, but after that stage it would turn to terribly painful hiccups.  For years I treated it with green olives.  HAHA... I'm not sure why, but the strong flavor of green olives gave me some relief.  One day I just happened to gag and belched very loud and I felt wonderful relief.  Since then....and for many years now, I've learned to find a private place and gag myself with a little martini stirring stick.  Since I discovered this, I felt normal again.  If I hear the slightest gurgle, I know it's time.  The problem seems to be MUCH worse when I'm sick.  I guess I must swallow a lot of air when I have a cold...maybe because I end up breathing through my mouth when I have a stuffy nose.

The side benefit is that I've avoided soda all my life, which turned out to be good thing since I probably spared my body 100 lbs of sugar over my lifetime.  

I read through all your comments and I too tried to explain this to people and no one seems to believe me, so I stopped explaining it.

I wouldn't go the medicinal route myself.  It seems like a MECHANICAL problem, not something well suited for a drug to fix.  Just a simple gag and it will all be better.  haha!  

[Oklahoma7]

I sometimes have trapped gas - upper and lower.  It is painful, and the only thing I have found that helps me is charcoal pills.   The one I like best is Charcoal Plus made by Kramer Labs. I bought my first bottle at W-Mart.  Then they didn't have any, so I ordered on-line.   This is so much better than phayzme, gas-X or anything else I've used.  Sometimes one pill will do it for me.  I paid about 15 dollars for 120 coated enteric pills, but the bottle has lasted me for more than a year.  This pill is great for making me burp(because when the gas is trapped inside my upper body I feel like I'm dying from a heart attack).  Lower abdominal gas gives me pain, but this pill allows me to pass the gas, or sometime just dissolves it.  I have regular charcoal pills that are cheaper, but not nearly as good.  This pill is listed as a "digestive aid".

[noburp43]

hey guys i have had this problem all my life aswell i am 43 years old and whenever i go out to a party or have a few drinks its the same old thing, "excuse me i need to go and stick my fingers down my throat" and the noise is unbeleivable! everybody is used to it, i look at it as a good thing, i can controll my burps, they just dont come out like a lot of peoples do. i think it is hereditry as my 17year old daughter has the same problem. i think you just need to master the art of finger burping and accept the fact that we cant burp. it could be worse, at least we dont have to stick our fingers in our butt to fart!!!!!!!

[ValerieH]

Coudln;t beleive when I googled my probelm that I'd find so amny sufferes and no medical explanation. Great help -although I'd have preferred a clear answer- but will try to master the art of finger burping!

[karolykurut]

Finally some kindred spirits! I'm 34 and also can't burp. Apparently I didn't even burp when I was a baby - my mum said the gas just came out the other end! Which is still the case, unfortunately. I suffer terribly from the gurgling throat thing. It's worse at night when it can gurgle for ages (it happened tonight, which is why I decided to google it). Often when I yawn there's a little noise, which my sister calls a 'yurp'. The only time I've done anything close to a real burp is when I'm vomiting, and if the taste/noise if that's anything to go by I'm glad I don't burp more often! Although it can get quite uncomfortable when I have a gassy tum. Usually I just massage my stomach and hope it'll come out as a fart. Not always practical though. Luckily I live alone ;-)

[02051932]

Hi,

I had the same problem. Then I had hiatus hernia repair and lap Nissens for reflux and what a surprise, I have no problems burping now. I NEVER get gas pains now. It was an unexpected but very welcome side effect of the surgery.

[kimkimma]

oh.my.god, i am SO SO SO glad to have found you all!
i've had this same darn issue all of my life!
when i was born, apparently, i was unable to keep food down (something was underdeveloped, i just don't know the medical term), and since then, i've also not been able to burp.

as bad as this sounds, i'm so happy to hear most of you only burping before getting sick, and that it makes such a horrible sound. i try to explain this to those close to me, but they just don't get it.

it's embarrassing on dates, that's for sure. that gurgle, people always either think your stomach is growling! lol

my name is kim, and my family has always called it "kim burps."

i really hope we can find a solution!! glad to know we're all in this together! ;-)

[wmgz27]

Welcome to the club everyone!  I've been this way for all my life (44 years).  My older brother is the same.  We have contests to see who can gurgle the loudest.  My husband says it sounds like the last little bit of water going down a drain.  I, too, very rarely vomit.  And when I do, some really strange noises appear.  I don't drink fizzy drinks either as they add to the issue/discomfort.  Once in a great while, I'll be surprised by a rare burp.  I wish I could burp on command as it feels SO good when I am able to burp.  I'm just blessed with more farts.  Luckily the husband has a great sense of humor (and poor sense of smell, LOL)!  Love noburp43's comment about "at least we don't have to stick our fingers in our butt to fart".  Bad enough others have to endure my strange gurgle noise.  Would be more difficult to explain my bad case of stink finger.  ; )

[daanders]

I'm a 21 year old male college student, and I share all of the symptoms and, in most cases, social symptoms of having everyone think you're a freak for being unable to burp! I experience very severe pain because of this on a near daily basis, whether its in my stomach and throat or because of hiccups that arise from it. This makes me think that some kind of study needs to be done on this, especially as I've read above that even doctors are unfamiliar with these symptoms. I've tried the gagging method to no avail, although I might be too much of a pansy to do it right since I don't like the idea of throwing up part of the meal I just ate.
Something that occurred to me reading this was that I was also completely unable to go underwater without holding my nose shut my entire life, although I've gotten better at it with time. I'm thinking that it is roughly the same things at work since your sinuses are connected to the back of your throat. If I'm totally wrong, forgive me, I study engineering and not physiology. Could this be related? Does anyone else share this?

[kt0507]

Wow!  I am 45 and have been teased all my life about being too "prissy" to burp!  Yeah, right.  I would love to be able to burp.  I had a back x-ray today, and the x-ray technician was shocked at the amount of "air" in my stomach.  It doesn't surprise me though because of this inability to burp.  I have all the same symptoms as all of you, but was actually a ten month baby, certainly not premature.  I had preemie twins who are now 11 and let me tell you, they can burp the National Anthem.  It has not affected any of my five kids, thank goodness.  I have also used the finger burping method, but am afraid to do it too soon after eating, as I have had it cause vomiting.

[bobshead]

I love you guys!! I could burp as a baby and apparently down a bottle in no time. I was not premature, and my mum or dad don't have this issue, but my uncle did - then he had a hernia operation and was able to burp totally normally!
I am getting married in July and I am so nervous about getting what I call "bubbles" and having to go and stick my fingers down my throat to release all the air. Not really an attractive thing for a bride to do! But I am not usually sick with this, it just releases all that trapped air and it feels amazing.
For some reason, sometimes I can drink fizzy things and be fine, other time I can drink a cup of tea and it causes me no end of problems.
Fingers crossed for a cure people!!!

[NinjaJimmy]

           Hi, I'm Jimmy, and I'm 14. I searched this disease/condition/syndrome(?) and there's SOOOOOOOOO much on this topic, I have no idea why nobody's heard of it! First I'd just like to say that this streak of comments has been going on for 2 years and 10 days. Wow. Second, I can't believe this! I kinda figured this was just the luck of the draw: sorry, you can't burp. I didn't expect anyone ELSE to have this problem! I do get those weird gurgles, (and wmgz27, I can totally relate, I fart probably twice as much as everyone I know!) But it's bad for your reputation if you happen to fart or "gurgle" in high school d:-| . I guess whatever gas I get from "burping food" just kinda moves down until it reaches the "end", and if I try to hold it in, it just builds up until I let it out. Someone really needs to find a solution to this non burping problem!
           Also I like the idea to get a name for this disease/condition/syndrome(?). Then I'd know what to call this disease/condition/syndrome(?)

[chellos]

I am 23 years old and have the exact same symptoms - inability to burp, major gurgling, bloatedness. The gurgling and bloatedness only started about 3-4years ago. I also (especially after drinking alcohol, sometimes even after half a beer) get the worst chest pain. It feels like an elephant is sitting on my chest and the only thing that relieves it is lying down. Bra's and strapless clothing aggravate the problem. My best friend can't burp either and has the same gurgling problems but none of the tightness in the chest.

I was referred to a physiotherapist who diagnosed me with hyperventilation. While I can't say whether this problem is a result of hyperventilation or vice versa, she gave me some breathing exercises that help if I start doing them early enough. Hyperventilation is a lot more than just a breathing attack. It comes from breathing too high, or above your diaphragm. I notice that I tighten my stomach and raise my shoulders and breathe very shallow breaths. Not quick, but just shallow so the air builds up in my chest. If I concentrate on the breathing exercises, lower my shoulders and push my stomach out with every inhalation I actually feel the air moving down away from my chest and the gurgles stop. I'm not very consistent with these exercises though because it's like teaching yourself how to breathe again; it takes so much effort! And I feel like it's only temporary.

My doctor has started me on stomach protectors for a month (Omeprazol) since he believes it may have something to do with stomach acid. It's been almost three weeks now and if anything it feels like it's getting worse. I'll be going back to see what else can be done to help me. If I find something that permanently works I'll be sure to let you all know!

[chellos]

Hi all,

I don't know if anyone still reads this blog but I found out what we all have. It's officially called Upper Esophageal Reflex and Belch Reflex Dysfunction with Non-Cardiac Chest Pain. There's quite a bit of info on the internet; I personally haven't had time to read it all through properly so I have no idea if it can be cured or learnt. It's mainly to do with motor skills. I've been referred to an endocrinologist to see if they can do anything.

Hope this helps!

[ValerieH]

I am now 55 and in the last year or two have occasionally had uncontrolled burps so there's hope for you younger ones (releif, but v. embarassing!).
However, I wonder if we have other things in common.
Do you yawn during exercise?
Do you struggle wiht breathing naturally during exercise/meditation e.g. during yoga, when you do things on the in breath or out breath do you find yourself holding your breath?
I wonder if we as a group have problems with the boundary between voluntary/involuntary breathing reflexes.... I'd love a medical person to get involved in this chain discussion.

[vipjaywalkerblackjackcassie]

im 21 n i thot i was the only one with this problem too! amazing how google can bring so many ppl together lol now i feel much better knowing im not alone. i hv the same symptoms...not being able to burp (i only burped 3 times my whole life), feeling very bloated after each meal...lemme tell u this, it gets worse with chewing gum for me, cuz when u chew gum n open/close ur mouth frequently (even if u chew with ur mouth close), theres an increase of chances for "wind" to get into ur system which initiates the gargling noises. my "internal burps" get worse after i chew gum, or after i drink something cold. other times it just occurs pretty much all the time. another thing with me is that whenever i get hiccups...i feel like im abt to die seriously! my hiccups r the type that totally pops my chest up n feel like its about to burst outta my chest so its actually a very painful feeling. duno if it has nething to do with garling but...i reallie want to put a stop to this! like every1 said, it's so embarassing when ppl can hear it. but i found a way to control it. for me, i can "feel" when another "gargle" is about to come up...when i get the feeling, i just sit up straight or hold my breath until it comes out. when it does come out that way, u can't hear the sound (just hardly) but u can feel it go down n relax for a couple minutes till the next one comes ur way lol

[brandon182]

wow i didnt think this was a real thing. i have had this since i was about 16 or 17.  i am now 20 and it still isnt gone.i cant burp at all. the only time i can is sometimes when i hiccup or get lucky and my body burps for me. i get it if i drink too much water or eat too much or drink alcohol. sometimes i dont even have to eat a lot to get it. i dont eat too much at a serving anymore.  i used to be able to eat two or three burgers when we had them for dinner and now i can barely eat one without feeling like crap and full.  i also get heart burn it feels like to where it is crippling me.  i had it really bad one time at work. i had drinking a lot of water to stay hydrated and ate an apple.  after a little while i would get terrible heart burn and really bad hiccups that would explode in my chest and feel like i let a grenade go off in my chest.  i couldnt work. i had the idea that i just had swallowed too mcuh air when eating and drinking that it was trapped since i cant burp. so i went to the bathroom and tried to throw up the air from my stomach by gagging myself.  when i did i made a massive belch that was extremely loud. i just puked up the air basically. it hurt the back of my throat too but once i did that it all went away. the pain the burn the everything just went away and i felt better than i had before i went to work.  i get it this bad sometimes and most of the time i just get heart burn or the gurgle sound in my chest.  but i dont know what causes it since i can eat pretty much everything and it does it randomly. i hate it and am trying to figure out what to do about it. unfortunately i dont have health insurance and dont have a job to go see a doctor about it cuz they want a ton of money just to talk to you. so im going around to some doctors to see if i can figure it out

[ValerieH]

Have you seen gurglez on you tube? She's done a lot of research.

[carmel741]

I would like an answer to this as well. I make jokes about being part bird because in the last ten years I have been in the ambulance twice, had my gallbladder removed, had two separate endoscopies, taken without any success for relief...all acid inhibitors over the counter as well as perscription, been given morphine for the pain, and sent home with percaset in case I have an attack at home. I can eat something one day and eat the same thing the next and have pressure build up in my upper Sphinkter area. This causes a horrifying pain in the center area of the front of my ribcage which I have to take small breathes for the duration of the attack, which happens to be a total of 30 min. (give or take a few minutes) with a couple minute break in the middle of it. I break out into sweats and throw up quite frequently too. Doctors cant seem to figure it out. They even thought I had an escape gallstone, but none was found in the last surgery. They have witnessed me in such an attack with no control over my pale complexion and vomiting. They now just give me drugs...and im at my wits end to find the root of the problem, so I keep them handy...although they just dull the pain and dont relieve it. I have discovered this frozen yogurt which seemed to nuke the gas from my system almost immediately...Julias Organic Yogurt with six different live cultures. Im planning on trying these Culturelle Probiotics I've been suggested to take from a girlfriend of mine now.

[Libby82]

My boyfriend has the same issue as all of you. Never able to burp in his life except right before vomiting, chest pain/gurgling.  Official scientific/medical research here at this government website - I hope this helps :)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3623025

[kenny1180]

At the age of 30 I had pretty much given up hope on finding what was / is wrong with me. I have never been able to burp and have always had to shove my finger down my throat to force myself to burp. This luckily alleviates most of the gas build up in my stomach and chest, but it is VERY loud when I do make myself burp and it is very frustrating to have to do so. I find that drinking beer and even drinking liquor causes this gas build up to increase dramatically. Even when I drink large amounts of water I get the gurgles and need to force myself to burp at alleviate the discomfort in my stomach and chest. My wife sent me to the doctors and he thought I had acid reflux. He prescribed Dexilant and the gurgles are now ten times worse. I am actually going back to the doctors tomorrow and am attempting to discover what is wrong with me. He plans on sending me to a gastroenterologist so we will see what he says.

[okatu]

I am also happy to find this site. My 12 year old son informed me a while back that he only belched about twice a year. He drank a soda and had nausea from the air. I feld very worried and decided to google search this phenonemon. I felt relief readind these posts. I am so happy that my son is normal. Thanks to all those who shared their tips for getting the air out.

[Jblue12]

I'm 27 and have never been able to burp at all either, even as a baby. I had colic and my mom also had me tested with dye to see if I had a GI blockage of some sort and I didn't. And to answer some of the theories here- I wasn't premature and my parents can both burp. I get the involuntary loud gurgles that seem to happen most when I inhale. I get the pain in my upper stomach and chest but never really feel nauseous. One thing I do more than most people is hiccup. That temporarily relieves a little for me. For me it doesn't matter what I eat or drink, even water, it still does it. Sometimes the pressure is so bad, like I've seen some of you say, I have to lie down to ease it. I noticed recently that if I lay on my left side the gurgles are constant but if I lay on my right side they stop. I don't know why that is. I really wish we could really figure out what this is and how to stop it because it's sometimes painful and always embarrassing especially at work and in social situations.

[gurggler]

Hello everyone. I am a 20 year old male and have had these "gurggles" my whole life and have never burped. I too, stick my finger down my throat when the disomfort become too unbearable and let out an enormous throwing up sound but feel like a million bucks afterwards. Anyway, 3 days ago I had my tonsils removed and everyday since that i have still had these gurggles. But, once on each of these days an unexpected burp has happened. Today I thought i was going to yawn but then a little burp came out of nowhere. I have been trying to burp since it happened each of these times and have just been getting gurggles. Has anyone ever heard of a link between tonsils and not being able to burp? I really feel like the inability to burp has taken away from my quality of life.

[ng1031]

I have the same thing.. I had a an upper GI as well as a mannometry test done.. resulting in that I have a weak lower esophagus sphincter. Which is why I am unable to burp. This leads to trapped air in the chest (girggles) as well as occasional chest pains and occasional acid reflex. But since the  I am currently on Aciphex for the acid reflex.. but as far as the trapped air "girggles" that is literally trapped air/ gas because I am unable to burp.. so sticking to a low gas diet is the only thing besides Phazyme (a stronger form of Gas X) that can be done for it. Dairy is a HUGE gas causer. I had to give up ice cream which is my favorite craving food cause it is the WORSE for causing the girgles in my chest as well as gas pains etc. I had to give up a lot of foods I love to control this.

[ng1031]

also its called dysfunction of the belch reflex

[ng1031]

Thanks for the info on the Charcoal Plus!! Hopefully that will help for me as well cause sometimes I take a ton of Phazyme before I feel relief!

[shaylamadden]

Hi im Shayla im 16, and i am soo thankful to finally find people out there like me!! I was able to burp when i was a baby but fr the past 8-9 years i haven't been able to. ive been rushed to the ER a few times cause they thought i was having a heart attack. I get those weird gurgles all the time, but when i feel a burp coming up i get all excited but then i hick up.. I burp maybe once or twice a year. And lately I've been getting very sick.. like every time i eat i am soo nauseated, and i get a weird slightly gagging feeling in the back of my throat. My tounge has also started to get odd blisters on it from the acid. Because i also have acid reflux now:/ My doctors kept putting me on these pills that had acid in them, but they didnt listen to my symptoms and the pills were eating holes in my stomach so now im all kinds of messed up.. So if anyone knows a type of doctor i should see i would love to know!! Any advice would help!

[gottalaugh]

My huge tip that has helped me so much is to not eat/drink much before a night out (or a situation that I know is going to be painfully quiet) and lay on your left side for about half an hour before you go this helps to let all your gurgles out, the way I figure it I would rather gurgle in the privacy of my own home than out later in public ,of course the odd noise still slips through the cracks but beggars cant be choosers .  What I have found as well is wheat and dairy make mine worse. Don't get me wrong I still want cure.!!!  

[GurglesInMyStomach]

Just tossing my hat in the ring. I have experienced the same symptoms as many of you for as long as I can remember (23 year-old male here), though I've never had a loud belching sound occur due to vomiting. My identical twin brother also has the same problem, which leads us to assume that it is a genetic defect. The lack of investigation on this issue is somewhat aggravating, but rather understandable given how manageable the symptoms are. It is frustrating, though, and I'm going to have to try this "gag yourself" thing. I've never had to resort to that, though I do wonder if any of you have the ability like myself to control the rumbling sound by contracting your abs and diaphragm? If I have a large amount of gas in there, I can feel where it is and push it up to where it should be released as a belch. I can do this over and over again, resulting in many gurgles (this is occasionally used as a disgusting party trick). It leaves me with a burning sensation in my chest (I'd imagine from the stomach acid that's coming along for the ride). I've had some success with generic antacid tablets (You know them as Tums, but don't buy Tums. You're just paying for the brand) It'd be nice if this were more of a recognized medical condition, if for no other reason than I could explain with more confidence why it is I fart so damn much. Haha.

[GurglesInMyStomach]

Also, I've found that chewing my food more thoroughly minimizes the amount of air swallowed when eating, which helps as well.

[babyburps]

I have only just recently got the internet at home and thought I would google not being able to burp.  For the first year of my son's life every time he fed he would be uncomfortable and exhibit colic-like symptoms.  The only thing that eased his discomfort was to bounce him usually for an hour or two until finally he settled.  (Not much fun in the early hours every morning)!  He never burped as a baby.  I took him backwards and forwards to the doctors who told me it was colic every time.  My Mum had two colicky children and said she felt it was different.  As he got older and went onto solid food it got a bit better, but he was never very interested in food and is still very fussy.  As he became older he would complain a lot of sore tummies but I assumed it was attention seeking as it never seemed to be really bad.  I was told the same thing by Doctors.  At the age of 6 and a half he suddenly started to burp (prior to that he had burped no more than 10 times in his life).  Ever since that point he hasn't complained about a sore tummy.  I wish I had pursued it harder with my Doctor.  I always felt like an over-anxious first time mother.  Had he not been my first-born, I would have realised how odd it was that he didn't burp.  I'm just glad he seems to have grown out of it and that it doesn't seem to be that unusual.  

[kimberlyan]

I had this problem until I was 21 years old. (I'm 32 now). I don't know if this will help anyone else, but a doctor put me on prescription heartburn medicine and for whatever reason, it gave me the ability to burp, Reading through all of your responses brought back all the pain I felt for so many years. I felt I had to write in with my experience -- maybe this will work for just one of you?!

[jc812]

I've had this problem my whole life too. I have GERD and it sounds like you all do too.

GERD is generally caused by a mechanical defect in the esophageal sphincter (the valve at the top of your stomach that keeps the contents of your stomach from flowing back into your esophagus).

The gurgles are reflux, the sound of stomach contents burbling up through a malfunctioning valve. It's a common problem but chronic reflux can lead to severe esophageal damage (heartburn is lower esophageal irritation) and you would benefit from at least taking medication to reduce stomach acid (there are many, many kinds - for me ranitidine works the best, brand name Zantac, I take 150mg twice a day, but everybody responds to different drugs).

As for not burping, it's a little strange, but it's not like it's affecting my life at all, so I don't really worry about it or think about it that often.

Other GERD symptoms I have include increased reflux when sleeping on my left side, bloating as many described above (the Zantac stops this), nausea, vomiting, esophageal irritation (e.g. a "lump" in the back of my throat, or heart burn), coughing (regurgitated acid can occasionally drip into lungs during sleep), yawning, etc.

Pretty much everything that every person described above is spot on
GERD.

BTW, garlic and onions, while delicious, greatly increase heartburn and can really irritate your stomach if you have this condition. Try to avoid or lessen the amount of garlic and onions that you eat. Alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine also weaken the esophageal sphincter temporarily (especially alcohol). I quit smoking a few years ago and when I did, the GERD improved dramatically within two weeks.

[Angus1984]

I have exactly the same symptoms as those described above.  I also suffer from bouts of angular cheilitis (cracking and inflammation in the corners of the mouth).  

I am wondering whether there is a link between the gas I expel (especially whilst sleeping) and the cracking in the corners of my mouth.  

Does anyone else experience cracking in the corners of their mouth?

[al2000]

Yes, I have had arrythmia's caused by massive build up of air in my stomach. I also used to be able to burp perfectly fine but now I have almost completely lost my ability, and I think I figured out why. I think it's because I trained myself not to make sound when I burp or to just hold it in because of all of the years sitting in school where you would be looked down upon if you burped in the middle of class. I think doing this screwed up the whole burping system. I'm seriously interested if I am correct with my theory of the cause. If anybody else believes that the reason they have trouble burping is because of my theory then email me at ***@****

[Williewill]

I have learned that most doctors treat this array of symptoms as if we are hypochondriacs or something. I finally discovered when I took it into my owns hands that I was lactose intolerant.  that was a biggy for me. I still burped on ocassion but the odd gas pains and variety of symptoms that went along with it made it hard to track down.  I still get gurgles on occassion and BM battles but Its been much better and maybe will improve more down the road as my stomach/throat is just 3 weeks recovering and rebuilding from a 32 year bad relationship with dairy.

I do wonder, as a side note if I was/am truly lactose intolerant or if my gas related issues just subside greatly because dairy has a gaseous impact.  hmm.  dunno.

LASTLY does anyone else gurgle almost everytime they take a deep breath?!

[gasboy]

Interesting thread. I too have the seeming inability to burp and often get distension and gas (no gurgling though), but really only in the evening after dinner. If it's painful I find that lying on my side, even for just a few mins, helps to move the gas around and out the other end... as for burping, sometimes one surprises me if I yawn or cough but that's about it. I'm a one-way system. The biggest (and scarily loud) bump I ever produced was unfortunately in the national gallery in London, in a totally quiet and cavernous exhibition hall. I felt really nauseous and thought i was gonna throw up, but instead produced a huge air-vom which was amplified by the space. It literally made the other patrons jump... needless to say I made a very hasty escape, it was so embarrassing. But on the plus side, I felt a whole lot better :) Slightly more unusual is that my gas is sometimes accompanied by very bubbly saliva, like I'd end up swallowing even more gas. I just spit it out but it's a weird thing to happen... anyone else get this?

[sullydee]

Hey all! Wow, cannot believe I'm not the only one with this problem and my doctor hasn't even heard of it! I'm an 18 year old girl currently in her Freshman year of college, and let me tell you, I've tried the sticking my fingers/toothbrush down my throat technique only to look around anxiously to see if any of the girls in my residence hall have walked in to find me bent over the sink making the most horrendous puking noises ever. Not fun. And I'm super paranoid about my roommate hearing the strange involuntary gurgly noises in the dead of night. I've found that slowing down and pausing while you eat makes a huge difference, but when you're a college kid, everything is go,go, go. Any advice?

[anon315]

Hello all,
Same problem here -- never been able to burp.  I also have Asthma. The gas build-up seems to exacerbate my breathing problems. Does this happen to anyone else?
Recently I had the flu and was on an international flight (already a bad combo) when the gas built up in my throat terribly. I think the air-pressure on the plane made it worse. There was also the issue of mucus from the flu. And the asthma. For about 9 hours of the flight, I was in misery. Mainly because I was barely able to breathe. I had to consciously force each breath. My inhaler was of little use. I was actually frightened. I rarely vomit because it often triggers an asthma attack. I was so sick from the flu that I knew if i stuck my finger down my throat to burp, I'd likely vomit and have an asthma attack. Soooo... I did my best to stay calm. Eventually I did go to the bathroom and gag myself. I managed not to puke. Just the usual loud wretching burp. It helped somewhat. But the symptoms worsened again later... Terrible!
It even wakes me up at night sometimes because I can't breathe (not asthma! I can tell the difference). It's as if the gas is preventing me from inhaling, or some flap of skin in my throat is closed when is should be open? Its a terrifying experience because in these situations my inhaler doesn't help. The gag-belch only helps sometimes. If anyone else had breathing issues related to the inability to burp, I'd like to know about it. I want a solution and the more data we gather, the more likely it is that we find one.
Maybe my doctor will take me seriously now that I have evidence that others suffer from the same problem. Thanks for sharing.

[Spacecloud]

I also get this, I've never been able go go out drinking and my friends just don't get it. I can't mix drink with food either. If I drink (especially fizzy) before eating I eventually end up heaving in the toilets, it sounds like I am being violently sick but it's just air. I find that lying down is the only way to relieve it but unfortunately this gets me thrown our of bars as they think I'm off my head!!!
I'm not a sicky person, if I'm ever ill it always goes down rather than up. I've kind of developed a phobia of being sick because if I ever do it's so painful for me and it all gets stuck. The sound that comes out is extreme. Glad i found this website where there are fellow 'burpless' suffers!!

[aa932]

Im a doctor and I have this same symptom, although not for as long as you many of you are suffering.  It feels like the gas gurgles in your stomach and esophagus and gets stuck in your throat, like a giant lump.  Sometimes it escapes in small, unsatisfying quantities and makes this loud weird gurgling sound. I get it.

I believe this is all related to GERD.  Basically the chronic acid reflux causes your cricopharyngeus to spasm.  Its the upper esophageal sphincter.  After long periods of inflammation by acid, or even just a short time of intense inflammation, it will react by tightening down.  Its a protective mechanism for preventing the acid from going in your mouth.  Some of you have described burping and having the acid fluid flow into your mouth.  Your upper esophageal sphincter is preventing this.

But in this case, it has tightened so much, that air cannot even pass through.  So my suggestion would be to control the GERD and this will loosen the sphincter and allow burping.  

[aa932]

another possibility for some of you, is a cascade stomach.  This means that the stomach is positioned in such a way that the air gets trapped in the upper most part.  It results in bloating when drinking carbonated beverages.  The gas never makes it to the esophagus.  Google it/ask your doctor.  "Cascade stomach"  Most docs will have never heard of it.  This wont feel like a burp is stuck in your throat, it will feel like it stuck in your stomach.

[brielleinatrance]

omg! i thought i was an alien this whole time, everyone thinks its so weird that i cant burp and everyday around the same time of day gurgles come up my throat so often! its so awkward! it sounds like my stomach is grumbling but  i feel it in my throat and i can control how it sounds by opening and closing my mouth really quickly. it makes a whomp whomp sound so i guess that makes it enjoyable. haha. glad to know im not crazy.

[zara12]

Well I was very interested when I read these posts-I don't have all the symptoms you all describe but I've never been able to burp either but I have stomach pain and gas almost all the time and it's so horrible!!! I thot I might be lactose intolerant but I've went off dairy for a week now and it's a little better I think but still there.  Just wondered if anybody else can shed any light on this. I need to go to a doctor I guess but it's an embarrassing problem.

[blackshadow02]

I have been really surprised to read so many other people also suffer from this problem!  I am now 61 and apparently suffered from projectile sickness as a baby but as soon as I was fed more solid food rather than milk, I made better progress!
Never being able to burp didn’t seem to be a problem but I did have allergy tests at the age of 37 which confirmed that I had milk intolerance.  
Changing to greater quantities of soya milk improved this situation!
Up to the age of 30, I had played competitive field hockey to a high standard and my non-burping was never an issue as following exercise only light refreshments and a cup of tea were available.
Since I changed sports, one of the biggest problems I suffered was … having played in my golf competitions each Sunday, we usually had an evening meal and my chosen drink was lemonade.  After this and by the time I had driven 20 miles home, it was all I could do to make it to the bathroom to vomit.  After this, I had to lie down flat for about 15 minutes until the abdominal pains subsided!  I was then back to normal!!  
I eventually changed this fizzy drink for soda water – which really improved my situation and I could look forward to both playing golf AND eating and drinking afterwards!
Just recently, I tried ordinary milk on my morning cereals and it appears that since this time I have had a recurrence of the non-burping syndrome with a sense of tenderness in my breastbone/oesophagus.  I am hoping that now I am back on soya milk, this aggravation will cease!
Does anyone else recognise these symptoms?

[myoj]

Thanks for the possible dx. I am up since 1 a,m, researching online bc I had pressure build up in my chest and took an anti-gas pill. I had one lil belch. I am 57 yo and asked my Dr. about this 5 yrs ago.He says I am taking in too much air.   When I drink green tea or a herbal mixture for ibs ( I dont have ibs)  I notice I BELCH  RIGHT AWAY!  I will look into  E Reflux w/noncardic sxs, Wishing everyone the best. Looks like we having a following of non- belchers ;) .  myong

[uncomfhelp]

I am 25 and I really thought I was the only one in the world who had this specific compilation of symptoms! It is so comforting to know that my body is not crazy, but that many people suffer from the same things, it should definitely be classified as some disorder!

I have never been able to burp. I was a premie, and I do think that might be somewhat a factor. Every time I eat anything, weird involuntary gurgling noises that I can't help come out of my throat. I thought I was lactose intolerant, but I got tested and I wasn't. Then I was told I have IBS, which is just the catch all disorder for "food hurts my stomach and makes my gassy". I find that eating foods in small amounts helps with bloat and gas, and staying away from fried foods, and fatty foods (especially dairy, I can only have zero fat in dairy products or I am in pain for hours) helps me manage my life somewhat. Also, lying down after a meal, is what I am dying to do because eating makes me feel very uncomfortable and too full, but lying down right after eating, I get horrible stomach aches and gas cramps.
My life is severely affected by this. I wish I could burp. I also have to go to the bathroom if I am out at night drinking, and stick my finger down my throat, nothing comes up, but a very loud noise, and my friends never believe me that I didn't actually throw up. I am always panicking that I will be in pain, or making noises at a time when I am needed to be alert and focused or in the center of attention.
I live on tums and gas x, but I hear that heavy usage of tums can have negative effects on your health, so I get nervous relying on them.
I think the next step is going to the Dr, but given all these comments, I am not optimistic it can be helped or I will be believed.
ps. This forum is amazing!

[TwinCrowns]

That's exactly what I do except I've trained myself to do it without sticking my finger down my throat.

I can't beleive that there are so many people with the same problem.

[michelinda]

I don't remember ever burping.  And the few times I have, I threw up violently afterwards.  My doctor told me it was mental and that I have learned to associates thowing up with burping and won't do it.  I am miserable and bloated more often than not.  One interesting point the doctor made did make sense - people who lose their vocal cords to vocal cancer have to LEARN to burp to talk - they are literally belching to speak.  So it may be a learned thing.  Once in a great great while I burp out of nowhere and my husband runs - he knows me all too well.  He wants me to just go out in the backyard and force myself till I learn it, but I seem to be unable to.  I do some kind of "crick"?  Seems like air coming in, but it seems to "trade places"?  I lose some, I suck some in.  Sounds more like a hiccup, but I do lose some air and feel better (and don't throw up).  But if I burp - I puke.  Period.  I run for a trash basket, toilet, outdoors the instant I truly burp.  And stress makes it much worse.  Sometimes even coughing brings up the vomit - then the burp.  And I think it was the air that was causing it all.  But how can they train cancer people to burp on command to talk?  Why can't I train myself?

[Grace2324]

I have the same problems.. I am 14 and I can't burp at all! My friends all belch like there's no tomorrow and they try to show me how to burp and make me chug soda but it doesn't work. It's like I feel pressure come up like its a burp I try to suck in air but all that comes out is a gurgle or a hiccup.. I used to burp all the time I can remember me burping a lot when I was little but now I can't. The only time I can remember burping was when I was throwing up I let out a giant burp and puked.. I also never get sick I haven't thrown up in 6 years. I don't know if this is a real problem or that I just can't burp. It all comes out of the bottom but never the top. I really want to burp it makes me sad when I see all my friends and cousins burping and I can't except stupid gurgles that everybody says sounds like I'm sitting on a frog...

[Grace2324]

I have the same problems.. I am 14 and I can't burp at all! My friends all belch like there's no tomorrow and they try to show me how to burp and make me chug soda but it doesn't work. It's like I feel pressure come up like its a burp I try to suck in air but all that comes out is a gurgle or a hiccup.. I used to burp all the time I can remember me burping a lot when I was little but now I can't. The only time I can remember burping was when I was throwing up I let out a giant burp and puked.. I also never get sick I haven't thrown up in 6 years. I don't know if this is a real problem or that I just can't burp. It all comes out of the bottom but never the top. I really want to burp it makes me sad when I see all my friends and cousins burping and I can't except stupid gurgles that everybody says sounds like I'm sitting on a frog...

[JMisset]

I too have the same inability to burp, combined with the  gurgling sound which is involuntary, although when I feel it coming I can kinda force it, but still no air comes out of my stomach..
After 4-5 beers I'm usually full, and need to put my fingers in my throat to cause some real burps to not feel like a balloon.. If I had a good meal I really have to wait a couple of hours before starting to drink fizzy drinks/beer.
Someone mentioned taking a deep breath is almost always followed by a gurgle, same for me! It's like the pressure of your lungs is pushing against the stomach to make it happen (although I have no idea if that is true).
I also used to have intestinal pains often (2-3 days a week), but now it seems to be a lot less. I don't really know why, it might be because I stopped eating/drinking dairy, but I'm not sure if I did that around the same time...
Sometimes I get a real burp (albeit a very very short one) immediately after a random hiccup. (I never get longer periods of hiccups, I did when I was younger, up until age 18 I think, and they really HURT!). The random, single hiccups don't hurt though.
Luckily it is not a real influence on my life, my girlfriend is used to it and doesn't (seem to) care, my friends always laugh at me (but I don't care:P) and my father always thinks I do it on purpose (don't care either)..

[wertyb555]

I get this too, have done for as long as I can remember. I've learnt to cope with it though by the following: Lying down for an hour when it gets bad helps the gas move down from and out of the stomach (especially if you raise your bum- causes a lot of farting, but you have get to get it out somehow!) I also avoid any bread/wheat and also onions which seem to give me bloated tummy within minutes of eating. Fizzy drinks are a no-no. When I'm out with friends I do the fingers down the throat to 'air puke' as well, very loud and embarrassing but it's a huge relief. I had an x-ray at hospital about it a few years ago they made me swallow barium and then lots of air, all they said was 'that's strange, you'd see the air coming up in most people'. The problem is an 'over tight' sphincter/valve muscle at the top of the stomach, so once something's in the stomach it can't get back out, which also explains why we don't throw up or get acid reflux often. I used to get the 'gurgling' really badly and it felt uncomfortable but it doesn't affect me as much now that I've learnt to cope with it better. Hope this helps some of you xxx