belching, intractable

[e mayo]

I have experienced what my family physician terms "intractable belching", and this has persisted virtually every day for 7 months.  On very bad days, I will experience perhaps as many as 150 involuntary belches, and about half the time they can best be described as "semi-violent";  and after a while my esophogus hurts, like any muscle that is overused.  About half of the belching seems to clearly originate in the stomach (based on stomach noise).  The other half of the belching seems to be the result of a spasm of the esophogus that "sucks" air in (with its own distinctive belching noise), followed by an immediate belching out of the air.  In both cases, believe me, the belching is completely involuntary;  in social settings, I am only able to "muffle" the belching noise.

The following actions have been taken:  
   1.  Upper GI test (normal).  Endoscopy (diagnosis:  esophogitis and detection of hiatal hernia

thyroid

I have no confidence in any local physician

[sweetscarlett]

A related discussion, Trapped Gas was started.

[DENISE]

I am a 45 year old woman of slim weight who had a hiatal hernia repair 2 months ago (Feb.2000), for the second time in 5 years. Both were major surgeries. After the first surgery 5 years ago, I felt worse than before. Bloating, needing to belch, but couldn't.I had no choice but to have the surgery because of bleeding (a whole lot), and weight losing (quickly).Then one day last year, I began having pain in my stomach area and started belching like a pig uncontrollable, day and night, eating or not.I also had trouble swallowing that only got worse as time went on. I started losing weight too fast again. A scope and x-rays showed that the previous surgery had undone.Surgery again, this time different doctor and hospital. Well other things can go wrong, because when I woke up from surgery, my left shoulder was hurting something awful for 3 days and no one knew why.The doctor scoped me and only said my esophogus was thin.3 weeks later my chest starts hurting and he checks my heart, it's not that.Now 2 months after my surgery,my left shoulder still hurts on and off (there's no injury to my shoulder) and my chest pain is getting worse. I have an appointment with a specialist this week, maybe he can find out why. I do swallow better than I was before,I don't bloat like before, but I do have deep burps often.The only irritatingbeef I had with the surgery was the tube in my nose, not too comfortable!Oh yea, the doctor said when the others did the first surgery, they cut the nerve of the esophogus, ( not on purpose I'm sure). Sometimes medicines just wont help when you have a Hiatal hernia.

[kim]

Melanie...I have the same problem...foul burping like rotten eggs and stomach pains like cramping.  Had my GB out as well!  What the heck is this??     Kim  :(

[melanie]

this is to eli about his vomit burps..i too have a weird stomach problem which is still up in the air to be figured out... after my last child was born (4 yrs ago) i began what i thought was a gall bladder attck, which i would have terrible pains underneath my sterum, and my stomach would be full of gas and i began burping these awful, foul smelling burps..this would last atleast 24 hours...i could always count on an attack coming because of the burps, excess belching, stinky or not..last year in 99 i had my gallbladder removed.  after 4 years of prevacid, propulsid, ect...i finally had it removed..the pipitica scan showed that the gallbadder was not even fuctioning.  now after all most a year i am experiencing the same symtoms as before..i have the pain, the belching, etc... i am going to a new gastro doctor at osu-this is rediculous and i do not believe that this starts just because u swallow air....obviously it has to do with the heartburn, reflux, and a definate digestive problem...let me know how your tests come out..i am anxious to hear....

[Ottina Paoa]

My husband has a problem with his stomach that has the doctors stomped.  He had his gallbladder removed 10 years ago and ever since then, he has a very gassy stomach.  When he gets a bad bout,his heart skips and this makes him nervous.  He was admitte to the hospital over the weekend and all sort of test were done on him including an endoscopy, cardio electrogram, ekg, sonar
scan and they found some polop in his stomach. He is on Ternormin, prilosec and cisapride monohydrate.  The cisapride has just been prescribed for him and he is unable to sleep at nights.  We are rather desperate because this problem seems to be getting worst.  Any suggestions>

[Randy]

Thank you for your site!  

My girlfriend has been suffering from excessive belching when laying down and also at times while standing but mostly aroung the 11:00 PM hours into the early morning.  This is so intense that she cannot sleep nor can others in the household.  This has been ongoing for the last 2 years that I am aware of and nothing seems to relieve the belching or stomach noises.  The first letter on the site here contains a description from "e mayo" which is exactly like hers.  She has had an upper GI and a lower GI both with no positive findings.  There have got to be reasons for these events and I am relying on your expertise to steer us in the right direction.  Thank you for your time and I hope that all who suffer from this unknown symptom are remedied soon.

[Christine]

I have been experiencing the bleching for about 5 years now - The kind that generates from the stomach and the "suck air" in kind all at once, but this only happens when I lay down. The Upper and Lower GI did not discover anything. Nothing OTC helps and I don't know how to relieve it. Any suggestions?

[Eli]

I have been suffering from excessive belching and noise in my stomach for quite a while.  Lately, it has been accompanied by (vomit-burps).  There is so much information on the internet regarding the above.  I would like to know if anyone has experienced the same.

[ramanathan]

I do get noise from stomach after eating, what does this signfy
I never had this problem.

could you reply on ***@****

[Brandon]

Dear emayo and others;

There is a doctor who can help your problem.  He is in the northern virginia.  If interested, call me at 703-626-1911 or email me at ***@****.

[ds]

I have had constant burping + stomach gurgling for over 2 months. Was tried on Propulsid and Prevacid. The first didn't help much and the second made my problem worse. Only Zantac keeps the acid down but the burping doesn't stop.  Endoscopy showed minimal inflammation.  I too am really scared!  And I hate this problem with a passion...my social life has gone totally downhill.

[sally]

I underwent a Nissen Fundoplication 5 months ago and am not pleased with the results. In pretesting, my motility studies were normal but my 24 hour PH was abnormal and since I wasn't responding to any medications they agreed to do the surgery.

My case started abruptly last January after ingesting an antibiotic and my symptoms were so severe it was frightening. Until that day I had never had a single episode of indigestion or reflux.

I am now experiencing constant heartburn, bloating and gas
with a feeling that something is caught in my throat all the time, even though the surgeon said my procedure was textbook and the post-surgical acid and motility studies are normal. I want this thing undone because I feel worse than before.

[HFHSm.D.-Gastro-rf]

Dear e mayo,
Many people who belch do so because they arer air swallowers (many are mouth breathers).  before attributing your problem to this etiology, it is necessary to exclude some structural problems.  The upper Gi and endoscopy were both needed.  Depending on the details of the problem we may order a gastric emptying study or an esophageal motility study.  Initial therapy should be symptomatic and directed at reducing the amount of swallowed air.  Do not talk when eating, do not drink liquids during a meal and avoid drinking with a straw are frequent hints given to patients.  Over-the-counter medicines that reduce gas e.g. simethicone, charcoal are often tried.

[Railmed]

Hi:  I too have belching as well as a hiatal hernia with esophageal reflux.  I am on two drugs - Prilosec and Propulsid.  These have helped considerably, but have not alleviated the problem altogether.  I am concerned about developing Barrett's esophagitis in the future if this condition remains, and I believe that Barretts can lead to esophageal cancer, so I am greatly concerned about this.  I am 54 years old.  I can first remember be symptomatic with this hiatal hernia when I was in my 20s. I have seen a surgeon who has advised that I have the hiatal hernia repaired laparoscopically.  The only problem with that is that I have had removal of my gallbladder a number of years ago before that procedure was being done laparoscopically.  He tells me that it is possible they will not be able to do the hiatal hernia repair laparoscopically because of adhesions and scar tissue.  It may have to result in major surgery instead.  That concerns me.  The other thing that concerns me is that apparently after this procedure is done, I will no longer be able to vomit or belch.  Although it sounds good, it doesn't sound natural.  I belch quite a bit now, which I am able to accomplish discretely.  If I am never able to belch again, what becomes of all that air that I belch now?   Does it just remain in the intestinal tract as free air?  I believe that could cause significant abdominal cramping and discomfort culminating in increased flatus.  Is that correct?  I'm not sure.  So, at this point, I'm not sure what to do.  I have another appt. with another surgeon to get a second opinion.  I believe I can live with the situation the way it is now with the medication I'm on, but I am afraid of developing Barretts.  I would very much like to talk with some people who have had this procedure done to see how they are feeling and living some years down the road.

[e mayo]

Sorry. . .First message is incomplete. . .Posted prematurely.  Please ignore.  Will resubmit.  Thank you.