« sorry… | Home | I know you’re out there… »
What goes down…
By Betsy Richter | 1:17 pm!!! WARNING !!!
I’m closing comments down on this post at approximately 10 pm on Friday, April 11th. Feel free to head into the forum to continue your discussions there:
http://mywhimislaw.com/cantburp/.
If you have problems using the forum, don’t hesitate to email me directly: betsywhim at gmail dot com.
I do not know how to make myself burp. It’s one of those learned behaviors I never got a handle on as a small child, right alongside the ability to tie a single-looped bow on my tennis shoes (yep, I still do the two-loop tie.)
You see, I don’t remember ever really needing to burp – and I never thought it’d be a cool thing to learn, unlike my young diva-esque daughter, who thinks it’s hil-arious to burp on command (with a loud braying belch that would rival any truckdriver, no less.)
I’ve been lucky – what goes down has been quite happy to keep moving downstream in a direction that doesn’t defy gravity, I suppose.
But my luck appears to be running out – either that or the gravitational pull must be fading.
First, it was the ‘verps’ – the teeny tiny little champagne bubble-like burps that would flitter up and pop noiselessly halfway up my esophagus (so named by an ex-boyfriend who picked up on them one night as we were trying to get to sleep, only to have his head jostled by what he thought was a mini-hiccup session at first.) But they were painless, barely detectible (a little squeaking noise might leak out every now and then), and easily billed as a cute little quirk of mine.
Not so the next manifestation – the heavy-booted stomp of indigestion (apparently fueled by a pint of two of really good beer) began marching up, only to collect mid-sternum, shuffle feet insistently, yet refuse to move any further.
That’s happened twice in the last month or so – and even though I was encouraged to burp loudly (and even tried accelerating the process via trips to the ladies room and a well-placed finger), well…I just couldn’t figure out how to burp – no way, no how.
I still don’t know how to burp on request – but I’d bet that the burps I finally was able to let loose those two times put my daughter’s own creations in the dust. They were throat-pain-inducing, next verse, more of the first versions that seemed to go on for a solid three minutes – and they felt oh-so-good after the fact.
Now, since I’m not inclined to stop drinking beer any time soon – can someone please explain to this 43 year old woman just how one can force a burp, anyway? (I’ve asked Drama Mama for advice; she just rolls on the floor in glee that she knows how to do something that her mother doesn’t, so she’s out…)
Once I’ve figured it out, who knows? I just might master that whole one-loop shoe-tying thing after all…
!!! WARNING !!!
I’m closing comments down on this post at approximately 10 pm on Friday, April 11th. Feel free to head into the forum to continue your discussions there:
http://mywhimislaw.com/cantburp/.
If you have problems using the forum, don’t hesitate to email me directly: betsywhim at gmail dot com.
Topics: Boss Lady | 235 Comments »
January 24th, 2006 at 1:55 pm
lemme see if i can explain this…inhale a HUGE breath, so that there is even some (a lot) left in your mouth. Then, swallow the air that’s in your mouth. Then exhale. Do that like four times. You’ll get a little burp after each exhalation, and then a few minutes later, a bigger one will escape ;) The trick is forcing the air into your gut, instead of your lungs. having someone pat you on the back after a few beers works, too. Just like a wee bairn.
January 24th, 2006 at 3:04 pm
Me, too. Everyone in the family, save for me, can belch with gusto. Even my proper Southern grandmother can manage an impressive belch, but mine always sound so wimpy. (Although Diet Dr. Pepper does give me a bit of an assist.)
I’m going to try pril’s tips and go for it!
January 24th, 2006 at 4:04 pm
Oh my gosh, I’ve never been able to make myself burp either (age 42 now!) nor has my brother, who is 35, so it’s not just a girl thing. I get these gurgles in my chest that make their way up, so if I open my mouth you hear these weird stomach rumbling type of sounds come out of my mouth. My 6-year-old thinks it’s hilarious.
June 8th, 2006 at 5:21 am
Thank You God!!! I am not alone!! I’m here looking for a way to learn!! I get the half-way up the pipe gurgle sounds that cut off at the top and it drives me nuts. Going out for a few drinks bcomes a night of gasping for air because my chest is so tight, I can barely breathe! I’ve tried Gas aids before drinking soda but to no avail. I think I’ve had every weird response or advice on how but just can’t seem to make it happen. Good luck to everyone here. Me?? I’m still searching for my inner piggy.
August 28th, 2006 at 8:00 pm
[...] I can offer you nothing, Google searchers. You see, I am just like you. I cannot burp either. [...]
December 24th, 2006 at 1:36 am
Thank you, thank you, thank you…People think that I am kidding when I tell them that I am incapable of producing even the slightest burp! I am 23 years-old, and I can still remember back when friends would try to teach me how to burp. I would swallow massive amounts of air, chug fizzy sodas, and put pressure on my throat to try to force it up. But, no matter what, belching seemed to be an unattainable event for me!
When I read all your posts, I couldn’t believe the similarities, especially when all of you describe your involuntary bouts of (evil) gurgling! Are we curse, or something? I wouldn’t be bothered by the physical peculiarity of being unable to burp, if not for the unpleasant gurgling sounds that I am forced to live with on a daily basis. Sometimes, I refer to that throaty little voice as “Tony”, from The Shining..If you’ve seen the film, than you’d recall the little boy explaining his friend Tony, who lived in his stomach, and spoke in that creepy-ass voice (“REDRUM!!”). Well, when my throat starts gurgling, I feel like I have a little man in my throat, making terrible little roaring noises. No matter what, I can’t seem to shake him. I recently gave up beer, after I realized that I had suffered through one too many nights of incessant gurgling, triggered by multiple beers. Have you ever had the gurgles while in the middle of kissing someone? Well, I have..more than once. I remember I would have to deal with my “possessed esophagus” while in grade school; it always seemed to arise in its most boisterous state while I was taking a test, or participating in “silent reading”. In other words, the quieter the atmosphere, the louder the roar..And, the harder I tried to suppress my body’s pathetic attempt to burp, the worse it seemed to get (in both volume AND frequency)!
I am bewildered that the web seems to provide very little specific info regarding this physical anomaly. There were a few medical sites in which patients would describe this condition, and doctors would respond with the most idiotic thoughts. “It appears that you do not eat of drink enough food products that allow you to burp normally..Try a carbonated soft drink.” I can understand a layperson giving this response, but a member of the medical community? I mean, do you think that this person hasn’t already THOUGHT of these things (or that they’ve NEVER had a carbonated drink)? Some doctors seemed baffled, as if they found the inquiry to be the one and only case that exists. Well, doc, there are more of us than you think! And if I read ONE more assinine piece of advice from a so-called expert, I’m going to open up a can of whoop-ass on them (but I’ll make sure that the aforementioned “can” is adequately carbonated).
Recently, I was out with a friend of mine, and we ran into a mutual acquaintance. He and I were talking for a while, and somehow we got on the subject of hiccups (well, we were at a bar, so the hiccup conversation was entirely relevant). Anyway, mid-chat, he suddenly said: “You’re going to think this is weird, but I’ve never burped before..NEVER.” I swear that my eyes lit up and I gave him a big hug: I was jumping up and down, shouting “I can’t burp either!! Oh my God!!” Then, we both shared stories about our symptoms, and nobody could possibly understand the nature of our condition. He told me something interesting; He heard that this type of condition is caused by an “upside-down stomach”. I looked it up, but I really need to do another, more specific search (for example: “upside-down stomach” [in the context of] “inability to burp”).
I can’t believe how much I’m writing, and I’m not quite done yet. I have a quick question- have you ever heard yourself burp while throwing up? While I, like most people, HATE throwing up, I have certainly done so. I started noticing that I would make burp-like noises while throwing up, especially if it was alcohol-related. There were a couple of occasions where I stuck my finger down my throat, and seemed to trigger a loud burp (and sometimes several). Don’t get me wrong- I try to avoid the act of vomiting as best as possible, but on these particular nights, throwing up was an absolute, increasingly imminent inevitability (and rather than wallow in my waves of nausea for hours, I just sped up the process and helped myself along). I’m certainly not a boozehound, but I can’t say that I haven’t drank a bit more than I should have in one sitting.
I think our problem may have something to do with a malfunctioning lower esophogeal sphincter (LES). I’d explain what that is, but I barely know the gist of it. The articale I read mentioned a “flap valve”, and “Transient LES relaxation” (which, in part, allows the body to burp after ingestion). Anyway, maybe yu can find some info by checking out these keywords that I found. I’ll list them again for you:
Upside-down stomach
Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES)
Flap valve (in relation to the LES)
Transient LES relaxation
______________
I’ll keep reading up on our odd medical malfunction. Until then, enjoy living your burp-free existences! I hope you all can avoid public gurgling as much as possible (haha). I’ll certainly try to keep my “throat bubbles” at dull roar.
January 8th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
My sister and I have the same problem. I can’t remember ever really burping, but the only thing that really seems to help my burping, although no control over it and completely random, is through a lot of physical activity. Exercising and staying in shape in itself relieves tension, possibly aiding in the release of tension in the esophagus. It’s great to finally find information on the ever-expanding internet, because I haven’t found one doctor or person that has any idea as to what I’m talking about. Just like today for example I had gas bubbles “burble” through. Anyway, aside from that I have been nicknamed “Pumbaa” for obvious reasons we share.
Paul
January 22nd, 2007 at 4:48 pm
I was looking up “not being able to burp” and found this page. I, too, suffer from the inability to burp. I have that annoying “gurgle” all the time. At times, it gets so bad in the evening that I feel like I need to vomit, only to have tons of “gas” come out and I feel perfect afterwards.
The doctor is either an idiot and just doesn’t think it’s a problem. He keeps telling me to drink soda, blah, blah, blah.
Did anyone ever have this problem in school? hahahaha…I can remember…always around the 2nd hour of school..”gurrrrrrrrrgle”. A kid in 10th grade would tease me endlessly. He’d look at his watch and say…okay, Jenny…time to rumble.
It is quite embarrassing at times, because I seem to “gurgle” more than my family burps. Thus, everyone in the room just stares.
Does anyone know a cure?
Jenny
January 23rd, 2007 at 6:15 pm
I am posting my response to this problem here that I posted on HealthBoards web site. I hope this helps as I have lived my entire life with this problem, yet no help from the medical community:
I have the same exact problem. I can’t burp. I try to burp, but nothing happens! It has caused me great difficulty, because eating/drinking (a daily occurence) makes the problem worse. I went to a specialist and he didn’t have a clue. I have determined a few things over 40 years of this truly crappy situation. It is not GERD. It may lead to GERD though.
First, most people and doctors won’t/don’t understand. Its not a known disease. You’ll be told you have gas. Duh! Like I don’t feel that all day, everyday of my life. Everyone has gas. Its releasing the gas thats the problem/trouble. The specialist I saw determined it was psychological because he was too lazy to research and did not have an answer. Burping has nothing to do with your mental state.
Most likely, the problem is the sphincter that connects your esophagus to your stomach. In everyone else this sphincter opens to release air. Mine won’t unless I induce a stomach regurgitation reflex. Its an awful way to dispel the air, but it works. I must stick my finger down my throat to make it happen and I’m sure the acid reflux caused by the contraction of my stomach is bad for my esophagus, but it is my only way to alleviate the problem. I must do it daily or suffer the consequences…
Some doctors will tell you its normal not to belch, but this is so severe, it feels like the stomach will split open. Its like the esophagal sphincter tightens when it should relax. The more gas in your stomach, the more the tightening of the sphincter!?! It is extremely not normal to have this condition. A stomach that is so full of air it could split open should allow a burp.
Some doictors will tell you to change your diet. Some will give you gas pills. These treat the symptoms, not the problem itself. I’m amazed that doctors haven’t come up with a treatment or even acknowledged the problem needs more than talk and medication. There is some good news…
The problem has a diagnosis. Its called “the ring of schatzki” Google it.
I have a blood relative that had a simple procedure done in Canada to fix his problem. Turns out he was having lots of difficulty burping and had the same symptoms. The ring at his esophagus was 9mm wide. The doctor did a test with liquid and found this out. They inserted a balloon type device to the opening and enlarged the rings to 17mm or more. He can burp now.
I am now armed with a doctors name, the procedure, telephone numbers etc. so I can go back to the doctor that refused to help or do further research and hopefully get my “ring of schatzki” enlarged to burp normally.
By the way, if you try to burp by sticking a finger down your throat, a large shot of bourbon immediately prior really helps to make the reflex happen easier.
I wish all of you undiagnosed non-burpers well. It is a really crappy way to live and then have no recourse through the local medical community. There are several posts from people, all with the exact same symptoms yet no help.
February 5th, 2007 at 9:58 am
I am another sufferer of the gurgles. I have nto bee able to burp as long as I can remember but my mom doesnt recall any issues when I was a baby. I went in to a small town doctor a few years ago and he did the upper GI and said they woudl consider doing the test with the micro scope put down my throat but then desiced to give me some antacids and call it good. I have been embarrased to ask about it again since because he had no idea what I was talking about and I don;t think he really even believed me that there was a problem. I am going into the doctor in a couple weeks though, and now after reading this, I will ask about it. (i have a different doctor now) I always thought I was alone and just wierd for having this problem. My friends laugh at me when I get the gurgles and they are at times painful! liek I get some aci with the air and burning. I originally assumed it was certain foods but even a glass of water seemed to trigger it. The first doctor told me to stop chewing gum…. I thought that was wierd but that was his only advice. I do agree with the experiences some mentioned about throwing up, I am the loudest person I know of and it’s always that first burp beforehand! I hate it thought so I dont think I could force my finger down my throat, Ive tried and always chickened out. THANKS SO MUCH for giving me hope that I’m not just crazy and it is an actual condition! Please keep posting information anyone finds!
February 9th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
I have the same problem and sa,e exact symptoms as everyone else..ive been to one gastro doc n he did an endoscopy where they put a tube down ur throat to look in the stomach and i had a small hernia but he has that wasnt effecing anything. He then told me the burping thing was in my head and i am psyching myself into thinkin i cant burp. i wanted to dropkick the guy in the chest when he said that but i held back and im going to go get another opinion in a few weeks..in almost positive it is the LES relaxation problem and there are ways to help by taking smooth muscle relaxers. The hard part is getting your doctor to give you the prescription because most don;t like having people on medication long term. If anyone has any type of answer about this please comment and I will post again if i get a cure.
March 1st, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Wow, I’m not a freak! I’ve never been able to burp and I get the annoying gurgles. People have tried to teach me to burp but it’s not possible; I’m a big soda drinker too. It’s not enough of a problem for me to see a doctor–I’ve just always wondered why I couldn’t burp. It seems to be so enjoyable to people who can…I’m starting to feel a little sad that I can’t. :( lol
March 5th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Holy crap! I have never been able to burp either. Im 22 and have suffered from this my whole life. I just got on the net tonight to check for cures and I couldn’t find anything. From the sounds of it though, there is not much help. lol. My throat is gurgling as I type. Major pain in the ass not being able to burp. Guess I’ll never be a world champ beer drinker.lol.
March 7th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
Wow, good to see my former roommate and I are not the only ones. I’ve pretty much cut soda out of my diet because it hurts not being able to burp it up. As for beer, I’m forced to dry heave in order to get the gas out, not fun and a real mood kiler at parties!
March 17th, 2007 at 6:49 am
Finally! People who have the same problem. I have had continuous lack of success in trying to figure out what the heck is wrong. I definitely am unable to burp..and again, I get the weird gurgle sounds. It is so annoying/embarrassing. People are just like “why can’t you just burp” or “you must be really hungry.” It always seems to happen in quiet situations, like sitting in class or something. I hate it. I have been to the doctor and they just gave me pills which didn’t help, and I figured out later that they may cause cancer. I have been through all the stupid barium tests, and you are not suppose to eat anything before taking them, but that is mostly what causes these refluxes. So of course, nothing happened during the test, so they thought everything was fine.
I am getting so frustrated, and I really want to find a way to get rid of this stupid reflux. I see that people don’t seem to have a real idea of how to get rid of it other than learning to burp, or drink soda. Or that is what the doctors say. However, I find drinking soda or beer makes it worse because no matter what, we still have the inability to burp, so the carbination just makes us gurgle more. I have no clue what to do.
April 5th, 2007 at 2:33 am
I think i may be able to help. I only learned how to burp a few months ago, and since that time i have been able to out burp my stepbrother and stepsister in contests, and they’ve always been able to burp very loud.
What you have to do is open your windpipe and breath in at the same, you should then be able to feel a bubble coming up, then you need make your belly harder, then open your mouth with your windpipe still open, and voila you should have a huge hearty belch coming out of you.
But if it doesn’t happen straight away the i would suggest practicing.
Enjoy.
April 10th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
I’m exactly like all of the above. I can’t burp even when i try and try and try. I can’t do that last one either. Thanks anyway Si.
I get very very sore after drinking even to the point of enducing hiccup fits (lasting 3 or 4 hours). This seems to be the stomach pushing against the diaphram.
To make matters worse my sister, 2 years my senior, has pretty much laughed in my face about it. She is also a doctor. When i first mentioned it she was studying at uni but now she’s a fully fledged doctor and tells me It doesn’t exist. I’m actually on this forum today becuase i was so hurt by her over the easter break (she got the whole family laughing at my expense over easter dinner).
I don’t have the heart to induce the vomiting/burp thing like everyone else. I have to wait until the body forces it upon me (to my relief) and boy is it painful until then.
So glad to have found this page.
May 2nd, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Wow! I can’t believe this! I have the same thing, friends tease me all the time calling the noises I make “giraffe burps” (I guess becasue they sound like they can’t get through all that throat) and my twin sister always says it sounds like I am about to barf – she even made a tshirt for me that says “I might barf.” How sweet. If they only knew that my stomach hurts all the time and all the rumbling makes my throat sore!
May 3rd, 2007 at 10:01 pm
yeah so I’ve just recenly decided to start researching my condition, as since I am 9 weeks pregnant it has gotten SO much worse. I have never been able to burp,unless vomiting. It doesnt matter what I eat or drink, the problem persists daily, and is terribly embarrassing(especially since my gurgles are so loud they can be heard by people on the phone an I work in a tele center). The more pregnant I get the worse it gets. It is SO nice to know that I’m not alone in this ailment and I intend to bring it up with my ob at my next apt….even if I have to wait until this baby is born, I’m hopeful that my research may finally lead me to a normal, GURGLE FREE (or at least reduced) life!
May 18th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
Same problem here. I’ve met one person that has the same problem, but other than that, this is the only place I’ve found others with the condition. I’ve never asked my doctor, but if I ever do, I will print out this forum to take along so he doesn’t think I’m crazy.
June 3rd, 2007 at 3:54 am
Add another sufferer to the growing list. It’s a real pain for me (literally), because I’ve always been an athlete and exercise junkie. But there’s nothing worse than trying to run, box, lift, or whathaveyou when your stomach has the consistency of an inflated balloon. Although I’ve never been able to burp before, I don’t ever remember it being a problem like this, so maybe turning 25 makes it worse for all I know.
I unfortunately don’t have any breakthroughs on how to burp, but I do have a slightly less revolting way to let loose the gurgles. I too “pull the trigger” by instigating dry heaves, formerly with the old finger method. But I later realized I could do the same thing with a toothbrush and a mouth full of paste. That is more sanitary, helps cover up the puke taste, and I suppose would border on social acceptability if you had to do it in the presence of others.
It’s a travesty that this is about the best we can do. For the sake of all of us, keep the constructive suggestions coming.
June 7th, 2007 at 12:53 am
omgosh i am so glad ot have found this page becuase i have been suffering with the gurgles and was hoping that i wasn’t a freak… i’m so glad other people have it too for now i have hopes of a cure one day. :D it does make me very curious as to what might exactly be the cause though… but best of luck with the “gurgles” and chest pains everyone.
June 16th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
“involuntary gurgles”, “I can’t burp”, It may not be a cure but it certainly is a relief to find there are other folks out there who are unable to burp. I am in my 30’s and have not been able to purposefully burp for as long as I can remember. Like family and friends who attempt endlessly to show you how to burp (drink soda, swallow air, etc.), I too thought it was a psychological probelm at first. But, in the past few years, I have probably had involuntary small little burps that confirm I CAN burp, just not on command or often enough to alleviate this awful gurgling that comes from my throat, typically after I have something to eat and/or drink. I probably burp twice a year. The good thing is that I at least know my body is physically able to burp and I don’t do anything to purposefully surpress it. The bad thing is that I can never figure out how to make it happen so that the gurggling stops. I used to suffer from this gurgle problem a few times a week but now I am in my second trimester of pregnancy (first child) and it is constant. A few minutes after I eat anything at all, it starts and lasts for over an hour. And even at night, even though I make sure to finish eating a few hours before going to bed, I can go to bed and not be gurgling but as soon as I lie down, the gurgling starts.
I am fortunate to have a husband who feels sorry for me and wishes he could help and doesn’t complain about the noise but I can’t believe that there is no solid information out there about this problem. It is so uncomfortable and I would do just about anything to make it stop.
I have read a few of the earlier suggestions about the ring of schatzki and the esophugus related problems but nothing I can find online suggests that those medical issues include the symptom of not being able to burp.
I wish there was a way we could mobilize our collective experience and find someone, perhaps a medical researcher, who wants to identify the root cause of the problem and create some sort of medicinal cure. Anyway, I just wanted to post to add to the chorus of folks with this problem. For me, it seems that the only thing I can do is gurgle for about an hour which makes me feel like gas is escaping from my throat/stomach little by little until it stops. The fact that it starts up again when I lie down is especially disappointing because it used to be that I could lie down to make it stop!
If anyone else out there has other suggestions that don’t include “try drinking lots of carbonated beverages which will force you to burp”, please do post them here.
June 17th, 2007 at 5:41 am
Hi there. I too have never been able to burp when I want to. Occasionally it just happens out of the blue but I generally shout whoopee if it does! I used to hate going out to dinner which I suppose helps to keep you slim!
This is my second pregnancy and it is terrible to have this lack of burping thing going on. You feel so FULL all the time and it is air as well as baby! I found out about sticking my fingers down my throat the first time but it really is not the most socially acceptable thing to do esp in restaurant restrooms!
I am sure the lower oesophageal sphincter does not relax properly and perhaps drugs that do relax it will help. I will look these up!
Unfortunately smoking and alcohol both relax the spincter but I wouldn’t recommend these esp if you are pregnant!
You can stop the gurgle from materialising if you push on your windpipe gently at the top of the sternum!
In the meantime mints or peppermint oil and peppermint tea are all helpful relaxants.
June 18th, 2007 at 6:36 am
As someone with a fear of throwing up (done it once since I was 7 years old) this whole ’stick fingers down your throat’ thing has me wondering. I have read about this as a possible resolution but are you saying that you should actually make yourself throw up or is there some trick where you can make just air come out without losing your lunch so to speak? Clearly I am getting desperate and am ready to try just about anything to make the gurgles stop.
June 23rd, 2007 at 5:16 am
Nik the thing that works for me and only produces air is if you induce your gag reflex once or twice. Stand up straight lift your chin up slightly and put your left hand gently on your tummy and use your right hand to put your two fingers at the back of your throat. Don’t bend over and don’t do it repeatedly. You should just induce a kind of burp. It takes a bit of getting used to and if you do it too much or you start salivating then stop because you will be sick. Do it on your own in the bathoom for safety sake. It is a lifesaver at times when you feel so uncomfortable that you just want to pop. I have to do it after every meal at the moment but only occasionally when I am not pregnant!
Best of luck, it is strange but it works.
June 23rd, 2007 at 6:27 pm
I FOUND A WAY TO REDUCE THE GURGLES BY 90 PERCENT, AND IT WORKS (for me).
Ok, I hope that grabbed your attention, because I think I stumbled on something really effective here.
I posted a while back on the gag reflex strategy as a way to defuse the gurgles. But as they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and I think I’ve found just that. I’m not a doctor, nor any sort of expert on gastronomy and nutrition. So while my explanations may or may not be half-wrong, I’ve found something that works for me, and hopefully it will for you. So here goes.
I’m presently living in an Asian country, where the steady diet of vegetables and tofu has been inflating me like I’ve never felt before. But that really got me thinking that some foods just seem to inject air into my stomach, while others don’t. One day I was cooking tofu specifically, and sitting there sizzling on the frying pan, I noticed how plush and porous it is, and wondered if that bore any relevance to how gassy it makes me feel. Could it be the case that tofu has all this air trapped inside of it, and that after I eat a big chunk of it, my stomach digests the food and releases these bubbles? Is that possible?
So I wanted to try something exceedingly simple: chew my food as thoroughly as humanly possible, then chew it again, chew still some more, and then swallow it (Ok, it’s not that painstaking, but it is really important that you chew the food to the umth degree possible). And I did just that, chewing those tofu bites until I could (gross) swoosh it between my closed teeth, and then swallow using this nifty ‘tongue plunger’ method (more on that below). The result: perhaps 90% less gas than would normally result. I was elated by this experience and tried to repeat it across the spectrum of foods I’ve eaten since: fried eggs (where you can even see the air bubbles), crispy fruits and vegetables (could some of that crisp come from air?), and everything else that’s since crossed my plate. Speaking from my experience alone, I’ve seen remarkable reductions across the board.
What I’ll say next is most likely common sense – in the same way as the act of burping supposedly is – but I’ll spell it all out anyway. The first step is the easy one: chew, chew, chew, chew, then chew some more. It takes some patience as well as some discipline to make it a habit, but really, just keep chewing your food until it’s completely liquified. The second step is the harder part, which I think I learned of on a blog just like this one. To try this, practice first with a glass of water:
1. Pour a good amount into your mouth, enough that you can part your lips without spewing it out. Too little and this just doesn’t seem to work well, pour too much and you’ll spew it out when you open your lips.
2. Now raise your head slightly, part your lips to give the air an escape route, and if you’re able – exhale the little air that’s in your mouth for a more airtight swallow to come.
3. Touch your tongue to the roof of your mouth, toward the back of your throat so that it creates a vacuum. If you do this without anything in your mouth, you’ll notice you won’t be able to inhale from either your mouth or your nose. That’s what you’re going for.
4. But since you do have a mouth full of water, push the fluid down the back of your throat, which should swoosh through your erect tongue and down the hatch. I think of this like a sort of “plunger” effect, since you’re pushing the liquids down your throat while forcing the air out of your mouth at the same time.
It’s not perfect, as I think most people out there agree that swallowing a little bit of air when you eat/drink is inevitable. But if I do this right, I can reduce this amount DRASTICALLY, and by that I mean getting minimal gurgles that don’t bother me much, or sometimes none at all. I’ve been doing this for a few weeks now, and I actually haven’t shoved a single finger down my throat since. It is a challenge though, because I’m a fast eater and sometimes follow up with decades of built-up habit, and this oversight has from time to the time produced the accursed gurgles. This obviously takes some adjustment. But it’s growing on me, I’m getting better at eating carefully and stopping the problem where it starts, and I hope it works for some of you too.
It’s not as good as voluntarily burping, but hey, it’s better than having a musical stomach all day.
July 7th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
I can’t believe I’ve found people with the same problem I have. I’ve had the gurgling sounds for several years now, but they haven’t been as severe as thy have the past year or two. I cannot burp and don’t know how to. I have had some pathetically small involuntary ones come up but that’s about it. The gurgling is so loud it’s embarrassing. I am now pretty much restricted to drinking only water as anything else brings it on. There are a few things I can take in moderation but it’s easier to stick to the water. It’s not just drink but food too. Particularly chocolate, dairy, bread and chicken. I also have difficulty breathing when I get the gurgling and have stayed awake for hours too afraid to sleep because I can’t breathe.
I don’t know if this is related but I get really severe hiccups. They jolt my whole body and hurt my head, back and chest.
It’s all very annoying and I’ve never been able to find anything on Google.
July 13th, 2007 at 7:05 am
I am SO pleased to see im not a freak! (unless we all are??)
My problem is the same as everyone else. The only difference is that my symptoms seem to subside when i lie down and go to sleep. I get severe hiccups regularily to the point of tears. I have found a method of squeezing hard between my thumb and first finger (in the soft part)to help it stop but the servere tight chest stays and the hiccups return shortly. I can rarely drink alcohol as this seems to make it worse. putting my finger down my throat works to release a burp but i have a fear of throwing up so usually just put up with the pain and gurgles. Plus the air that comes out is so loud!! Gurgling is so embarrassing and i would try anything for a permanent cure!
July 21st, 2007 at 8:04 pm
I have the same thing. It just started last week. I’m only 20. I also was never able to burp.
the swalowing techinque that JON gave works but you’ll look nuts eating like that.
July 30th, 2007 at 12:12 am
I have something simiar, but not exact. I have been able to burp in the past, still do sometimes, and I don’t do the gurgle thing. But it seems recently I have lost the ability to burp naturally after a meal, and I wind up with heartburn symptoms. The thing is, heartburn meds get rid of the pain, but I can still tell my digestion is messed up and I still feel a wanna-be burp lump in my throat. I think the heartburn is from the gas forcing an acid reflux.
Gas will be trapped in my stomach and take a long time to come out. This has been constant over the last several weeks, and it doesn’t matter what I eat.
I just tried the forced “vomiting” thing, and I did it three times, got three little bursts out after a lot of trying. Then after I sat back down, a little natural burp.
Bad news is, there’s still a lot of gas there :( I’m still in nearly painful discomfort from it.
Why would this just start happening????
August 4th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
When I went online just two years ago I found very little on this issue – with great relief do I see I am not alone.
I share all the same symptoms, the “inner throaty gurgle”, the painful pressure, the onset of tear-inducing hiccups, the complete and utter inability to burp. My social life has been greatly impeeded by the condition as I am barely functional after just one or two drinks (be it softdrinks, or alcohol). Things don’t even have to be carbonated.
Two years ago I decided to finally do something about it. I did the barite and x-ray thing (Upper GI?), had a nasal/throat tube inserted to study my swallowing, tried various meds (including Prozac – for those of you who have been told this is mental – it isn’t), and have even seen a speech therapist to teach me how to burp! – all to NO AVAIL. After nearly two thousand dollars of medical examinations I am just as clueless as before.
I am now on the faculty at Duke University in North Carolina and hope to undergo a new round of medical tests through the university hospital there – I will keep you up to date on what I find out but so far all of my doctors have been clueless.
I will print out this list to show my doctor that I am not alone in this….
August 14th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
I am so glad I found you all. I have had this condition for years. I am now 35. I can’t remember ever burping. My mom said I did when I was a baby. But I am the youngest of five. So I’m not sure she remembers. I have the gurgling sounds that have caused me a lot of shame. Especialy during quit moments in church or during speeches ect. I can feel my stomach and chest cavity swell up. And in a matter of a few hours I go from a size 6 to a size 8.
I do have to say, for me the only thing I can do to get relief is to lay down on my back. After a while I can feel the air going down. And out the other end. There was a time when I was in Las Vegas when it got so bad, that I was willing to lay down on the sidewalk just to feel a little relief. I didn’t know how to explain this to a doctor. I was afraid he might think I’m crazy.
I’m so glad I’m not the only one.
August 15th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Wow, its is indeed great to see so many others that are in need of a solution to this real and horrible problem/condition. Not that I would wish this on anyone, but because I thought I was alone in this suffering all my life (I’m almost 50). I’ve written before about the “ring of schatzki” which is found in the lower esophagus and causes problems with swallowing. I guess it concerns some muscles or rings that impede food from entering the stomach. I thought maybe it was related and maybe the ring or muscle is higher up the esophagus in our throat rather than down toward the stomach. Who knows?!? This problem that we all share is that when we need to belch, the air travels up the esophagus to exit as a burp (thats part of the gurgle sound you hear), the muscles in the throat contract rather than relax and/or expand to allow the burp. Its really simple: the muscle contracts rather than expands. Would everyone not agree, the constriction is way up the throat? I have gone to the doctor (a specialist), but since he had never heard of it, he determine I was having psychological problems… I guess that was easier than trying to find a solution. Geez, he could have had a newly discovered conditioned named after him for all eternity if he only had the intellect to pursue the diagnosis and solution. Just wanted to say that the medical community is mostly to arrogant to acknowledge the problem. They’ll claim you are nuts too! But the problem is simply that the throat muscle contracts rather than expands when the stomach sends the message that the stomach is full and needs to expell air. Now if we can find a way to make the throat muscle that controls a belch relax rather than constrict. Some of you out there may have better health care providers, so I wish you all good luck. I’m always checking back for the answer, which I’m sure will be found (hopefully in my lifetime).
August 18th, 2007 at 3:57 am
People just don’t believe that you can’t burp. I’ve hadit ever since I can remember. You talk about forcing with your fingers, my body has decided on its own to vomit. It gets bad and gurgles get loud and a giggle or two or cough and here it comes. Its terrible, but I feel so much better when it is over.
The part that gripes me the most is when you get a little tiny burp and you don’t even feel like you needed to, what a waste of a burp.
September 1st, 2007 at 8:01 pm
OK. I cannot believe that all this time there were all of you going through the same thing as me.
I CANNOT burp. (If you’ve ever played the drinking game, “Never Have I Ever,” I always get ‘em with the “I’ve never burped,” line.)
The “Burgles” (burpy-gurgles) don’t seem to occur to me nearly as often as most of you. They happen completely randomly and only once a week, maybe (although it almost always seems to happen during a test or first kiss or something equally as quiet).
I don’t know what foods cause it, but it seems to occur when I eat A LOT. Usually when I over-eat, I get the Burgles.
The other thing I notice is that instead of what feels like it should be a burp, I get these singular hiccups. My friends don’t understand why or how I can hiccup once and never burp. It really is sort of backwards.
As a side note, my mom says I never had a problem burping as a baby.
I would like to mention though that I truly almost never ever vomit. I’m 22 years old and aside from the occasional MILD and infrequent alcohol poisoning, I’ve thrown up ONCE due to illness.
I also find that what some of you are saying happens (regarding the loud burst of air that comes out before you vomit), it does happen if I vomit, but not everytime. I can be completely quiet and gasping for air. Nothing is coming out except the vomit itself – but no air is coming out OR going in. I cannot breathe in those instances.
The other thing that I think is important to mention is that every single day, at the same exact time, like clockwork, my stomach begins to get so bloated, that I swear, my pants don’t fit anymore. I wish I were exaggerating, but I’m not. It is PAINFUL. It feels like my stomach could literally split open. Then, (pardon the graphic-ness) but obviously the air needs to come out somewhere. However, this is not always practical when in public. As a result, I begin to almost… reversely expel gas. My stomach builds so much pressure that it sort of bubbles back up into the stomach and makes the LOUDEST noise ever. I can’t even explain it, but the pain travels all the way south.
This has been happening for at least a decade. I wake up in the morning to an almost flat stomach and by the end of the day when I get home from work, my stomach is (without exaggeration) at least 5 inches wider in diameter (yes, I measured). I look like I suddenly became 7 months pregnant (again, I strongly wish I were exaggerating).
I think the worst thing is just feeling like I could burst open at any moment. I really do have stretch marks around my belly button. I don’t know if it’s from weight gain/loss, but I know that I am astounded by how FAT I look by the end of the day.
Doctors don’t know, nor do they care, I think. I’ve been called a hypochondriac and told that I might want to see a psychologist. Finding this forum has really just confirmed that I’m not crazy. I tried altering my diet, gas pills – really everything I could think of short of puncturing my own stomach to release the pressure.
I don’t do the finger thing as I have an honest-to-goodness fear of vomiting.
I really would love to figure this out.
i think I will try to visit the new doc and bring this page along. Again, glad to meet you all and let’s banish these BURGLES!
September 5th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
I too, have this “unable-to-burp” problem. It is a huge issue in my life because I am a professional singer and those little gurgles really interfere with my voice and my ability to sustain notes. I am forced to go into bathrooms wherever I’m performing and stick my finger down my throat to get rid of the gas before I sing. No one understands or takes this seriously which is almost as bad as the problem itself. When I tell people about it, even my family, they laugh at me or think I’m crazy. Many guys I was in bands with thought I was bulimic because I would excuse myself to go to the bathroom and “burp” during rehearsal. It is an increasingly embarrassing problem that inconveniences my life and I would do just about anything to get rid of it. If anyone gets any kind of medical diagnosis or treatment that works, please let me know. And if any research-minded doctors are reading this, please take this problem seriously and figure out how to treat it.
September 6th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Christine….
I know exactly what your talking about. I to wake up in the morning with a nice flat belly. I to have a fear of throwing up. I have tried to figure out if it is caused by some kind of food. But I can eat nothing but a banana all day and still get it in the middle of the day. I wish there was a docotor out there that would look at this. He can name it after him for all I care. I would love to give what we have a name.
Angela
September 9th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
I was looking for a name of my symptoms and ended in this interesting dialog. I share with you the pain in discussion, which in my case severily limits my ability to interact with other people since I was 25 (now 47). The story starts when I couldn´t stand the feeling of “having gas in my stomach” (perhaps is what you refer as feeling gurgles)so automatically I runned to a bathroom or any isolated place, and started to shake my hip repeatidly (remember gas by nature tends to go up)While doing it, I felt socially inadequate by imagining the sound that would come at the end and the possibility that someone could hear it; as someone says, this create more tension in muscles of stomach an esophagus making the whole situation worst, psycological speaking. After some body shakes, the gas “positioned” itself so that I could press the muscles of the stomach and the gas came out loudly. Only after this happened, I could feel relaxed. However, the intervening system becomes sensible and the more I had to do it the more sensible it becames. Nowaday, I´m simply not able to “not feeling” any centimeter of my digestive system and obviously this affect painfully my attention to what should be a more normal way of living. Perhaps , my comment doesn´t match to what has been told here, but beleive me , after spending thousands of dollars all these years, I share with you the aim of finding a magic valve which could act any time anyone of us feel there is extra gas in our system…..Best Regards Felipe from Chile
September 18th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
look everyone.. there is a disorder called Lower Esaphageal sphincter disorder in which the sphincter does not open like a normal person, therefore not allowing you to burp or burp as often. I’m sick of people saying “just swallow air” that will work for anyone without this disorder.. however, if you have this, that little piece of advice will NOT work no matter how many times you try it.
the only way i’ve found to Burp or (release air) is to put yur head back, flex your stomach muscles as if you were trying to push air out and open your mouth wide. I know this will look totally weird but you’ll notice air will come up.. might make a gargling noise but it’ll come up.. that is the only way for us weirdos to release air if you have this condition.. usually it’s not a matter of learning how.. that’s like someone telling you they haven’t learned out to fart.. hahaha c’mon lets be real.. I know how it is to not be able to burp and it SUCKS..
September 19th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
Woah! I’m 17 and for the last few years this has been a real problem for me! I was in a job interview the other day and had that gurgles. I found my self trying to hold my breath every time I wasn’t speaking. You can only imagine…
September 24th, 2007 at 2:21 am
First of all, thanks so much for everybody’s input…
I hear you all…
I’ve just tried Ben’s tip of putting my head back and tightning my stomach muscles with wide mouth. Sure, the gas came all the way up as usual but it did not come out as usual. I believe as Jonh said, that the problem is at the throat region.
Just trying to see if we can figure this way out…it has been taking lots out of me.
with empathy from New Zealand
September 25th, 2007 at 7:19 am
I am so glad to hear that I am not the only one with this problem. All of my friends think that I am crazy. After a night out I am miserable. I have just about quit drinking beer because it causes so much pain. I did an internet search on this problem today, after a very uncomfortable night of gurgles and stomach pain. Hopefully we will find a solution to this problem eventually.
October 1st, 2007 at 10:51 am
Comforting to not be alone. . .
Would you believe that my daughter is doing her science fair project on “Why can’t my Mom burp?”
October 4th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
I can’t believe all these stories. Christine’s story EXACTLY describes every day for me. Being like this has horrible effects on one’s social life. I’m 27 and have never been in a relationship primarily because of this. Everything else in my life is good, great job, just built a house, but I feel like I have to be alone all the time.
One other thing I bet we all have in common – I have NEVER had heartburn. Obviously, this makes sense.
Another thing I have noticed, the healthier I eat, the worse I feel. There are two reasons I can think of: increased gas production from the food itself and low fat. I have read that greasy/fatty foods can tend to relax the esophageal sphincter. I have noticed, if I eat greasy foods, I have a better chance of getting the “gurgles” and getting at least partial relief prior to waiting for relief the other way. Alcohol is supposed to have the same effect, and if I drink a lot of hard liquor (no carbonation) I get partial relief. After two beers, I’m in severe pain.
Different foods really don’t have much of an effect though, as I’ve tried eliminating wheat, dairy, etc. No difference. If this is purely and air swallowing issue (and I think it is), this makes perfect sense.
I’ve tried everything, including the head back trick, with absolutely no success.
I’m going to try peppermint oil, as supposedly it will also relax the esophageal sphincter. Most peppermint oil comes in pill form, which are intended as an intestinal aid. These pills have a coating that keeps them from dissolving in the stomach and ***causing heartburn***. My theory is by taking the oil straight, I may have some success.
October 13th, 2007 at 2:23 am
Wow, this is SO encouraging!
I went out for ONE beer and some drinks tonight, I’m home now and my chest is so tight and I have these weird sounds that are coming out me. I can’t remember ever burping in my life.
My mom says that I MUST burp, cause if I didn’t I wouldn’t be digesting. I don’t think the two have anything to do with each other.
I need to get this under control because it’s sometimes painful and ALWAYS uncomfortable :-S
October 13th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
I am another sufferer who has had no luck with doctors and hospital exams in the UK.
I am looking forward to some relief!
October 15th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
I am 21, and I have burped 2 times in my life.
It has come to the point where I can not drink a can of pop without feeling horribly uncomfortable. I do not gurgle often, but I know exactly what you speak of.
Hopefully if we get enough of us we could all get studied and let a doctor get a breakthrough paper solving our problem.
October 16th, 2007 at 10:34 am
Haven’t posted since January. I am still unable to burp, and have reached my limit on making myself vomit “gas”. It used to always make me feel better..though I suggest not doing it after eating something spicy, since sometimes your “lunch” comes up, too. Lately, though, I haven’t felt better afterwards so decided to take the plunge and tell a doctor..hoping he/she won’t offer up heartburn, acid reflux, or “drink a coke”.
Well, I will be getting tests done this week on my gall bladder. I don’t see the connection, especially since my gastro doc looked quite confused at the whole “can’t burp” thing.
I will post back with results. Has anyone else been told to have their gall bladder checked?
October 16th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
I’ve done the whole vomit gas deal since needing relief in college in the late 70’s from drinking beer at fraternity parties and I can remember being so full… I had the hiccups – they were really painful and not subsiding. Why can’t I burp? Thats the first time I did the vomit air deal and the relief was so great, I went back to the parties and drank more beer. Needless to say, I learned that when I do consume alcohol its best to have wine or mixed drinks without the fizzy mixers. Alcohol also helps me relax my throat to allow me to burp… if I’m feeling bloated with air just a single shot of straight bourbon… I’ve learned it helps to release and relieve the air build up or at least cause the throat muscle to open alittle easier when I stick my finger down my throat to burp. I can do this without regurgitating food, but its so crappy to have to do it at all. It also sucks to have to hide or make some excuse to leave a gathering or social event, but its a private thing and I cannot even get the air out if anyone is around. It really, really sucks… but this is the hand I was dealt. And I never heard about the gall bladder check up. I hope it helps you find the solution (for all of our sakes), but I believe it is some sort of malfunctioning esophageal throat muscles… the ones that open in the throat to allow a burp instead contract when the brain sends a message to the throat to relax and allow a burp. We get either the opposite reaction/signal, or the throat muscle is just screwed up or too small diameter… but I believe a small diameter throat would also impede swallowing food and I can do that just fine (although I think I chew my food and don’t swallow big chunks). Anyhow, all I got from a gastroenterologist was the “confused doctor” look… he refused to really give me help. The same response most of you have most likely gotten. Prescribed antacids… thats about it. He said its psychological… so how can I argue or explain this to a “doctor” if he already knows everything. Ha! Good luck to you all…
October 19th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
I am 43 and I sometimes cannot burp. It makes me so nauseated. Does it do that to anyone else?? Just about every 3 months or so I’ll get to where I have such a need to burp and can’t. It makes me so sick to my stomachel. Aline, you mentioned that maybe the problem lies in the throat region. I am beginning to wonder the same thing because I also have a problem swallowing wrong and choking. It happens often-mostly in my sleep. Talk about a rude awaking.
October 21st, 2007 at 7:17 pm
I have had this problem of not burping my whole life. I just gurgle. How embarrassing – on the phone, sitting in a quiet room, sitting next to people – all the time.
I try to avoid soda pop, beer and champagne because they cause the most gurgling and bloated feelings.
Thanks to everyone – I am glad to know I am not alone.
October 22nd, 2007 at 5:45 pm
Jenny T.
I had my gall bladder removed – after one night of painful gas and chest pain, I went to the hospital. The x-ray showed I had a very large gas bubble pushing up. They put a tube down my throat which released the air and made me vomit. I was told my gall bladder needed to be removed.
It has been 9 years and I still can’t burb. Now when I get that air/gas bloated feeling – I go to the bathroom and stick my finger down my throat to release just the air – not vomit.
Maybe you should show this site to your doctor to make sure they don’t remove your gall bladder for no reason. I am so glad to know that others share in this very real problem – hopefully soon some doctor will have treatment.
November 4th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
I’m so thankful for this forum. My husband thinks it’s hilarious that I can’t burp, and most people don’t even believe me. I’ve gotten the gurgles for as long as I can remember.
I also do the gagging thing. If you haven’t done it, it’s so relieving.. it’s amazing. But it’s really, REALLY loud. It sounds like someone barfing super loudly. After a couple beers, I can make myself do it 2 or 3 times before my stomach feels deflated. It’s usually pretty easy to tell when to stop so that actual food doesn’t come up. I know that’s disgusting.. but oh, the relief is unparalleled. Unfortunately, as everyone has mentioned, it’s quite unseemly in public. But if you can do it, I’ve seen my waistband shrink by 4 inches just by burping. I’m a pretty small lady, but after a large meal or a soda, I look instantly 5 months pregnant. It’s disgusting.
In addition to getting them from food, beer or sodas, I’ve noticed when I sit at a certain angle, I get a regular stream of tiny bubbles (like mini gurgles) come up my esophagus. I discovered this in middle school when I was sleepy and hunched over to lay my forehead face down on my desk. I wonder if there’s a certain posture that would help open things up…
Again, so thankful for this forum. Maybe we can get the syndrome named after us or something…
November 4th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
I hate my inability to burp. I thought I was an alien or something, and it’s good to find out otherwise. I hate not being able to drink a lot of beer. Sometimes I need to simply sit down and breath deep breaths to try to get that pain of needing to burp gone. I have faith that one day it’ll happen.
November 5th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Does anyone have their ears pop when they lie down in bed”?? This seems to happen to me when I am bloated and don’t burp. It’s as if the pressure is being released in my ears.
November 6th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
This forum has been amazing! I thought I was alone with this problem! I HATE not being able to burp. It’s so uncomfortable, and I can hardly go out and drink even one beer anymore. I’ve noticed several people talking about this gagging thing that seems to help…how exactly do you do this? I’m willing to try anything that will help.
November 7th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Oh my f***in god!!! there are other people like me!!! hahaha! Thats awesome! Now we have to figure out what exactly it is!!! I am a 1st year med student, and am determined to figure this out! I realize that perhaps this is an undiscovered/unrecorded disorder! Kind of exciting, however, also very annoying! It seems, from when I went to speak to my general practitioner about this he was obviously uneducated in such a disorder, however his rude remarks, and naive attitude quickly made me realize how general practitioners do not like to be told things, they for some reason have it in their head that they know of everything out there, and if they dont know of what you have they treat you in a very rude mannor. Personally, I would have liked to research it as a doctor myself and tried to help the patient, instead i was rushed out of the clinic as though i was nuts! Very discouraging for me!
Well enough babbling on about it…lets get to the point. If the medical society isnt going to figure it out, then perhaps we can figure it out on our own. If you still look on this website, perhaps put down this information:
1. how long has it been around (age)
2. when did it start getting to the point where it was/is uncomfortable for you (age)
3. what brings its onset (be very specific, such as during any meal, or specific foods, specific beverages, or both)
4. diseases/disorders growing up that may have secondarly influenced it. (ie. throwing up continuously for an extended period of time, a broken leg, i dunno…)
5. has it got worse over time?
6. is it worse during any time of the day/night?
7. breifly describe how it feels, and what happens (ie. hiccups, bloating, gurgling noise).
8. Where do you feel this discomfort? Chest, lower upper? (I know not all of you are anatomists, but try to be as specific as possible.
9.Any other comments you would like to make (im sure im missing something.
Please be as specific as possible!!!! the more specific, the better chance we have of figuring it out. I will take this information (without your names to my colleagues/ licensed doctors and try to figure this one out!
November 7th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Well hopefully this works…if people still check this webpage! haha…anyways heres mine…
1. its been around since i was about 12ish years old, from what i can remember. I have never been able to make myself burp, and only do so about once every month to two months, involuntarily.
2. although it was there, it was not always very uncomfortable, it has almost steadily progressed to this stage its at now, where it is most certainly in the “discomfort” range.
3. eating large meals generally brings on the onset for me, however, not always, sometimes i can drink a glass of water and i start getting the gurgling noise. the hiccups, well they generally come from eating a meal then going out and having some beers. It seems as though my stomach gets so full of gas, it builds up until it upsets the rhythm of my diaphragm.
4. When i was about 5 i had a bacterial infection in my stomach. I threw up for about a week- two weeks straight. (this is where i think there will be some correlation between us! So be very specific!!!). I had a broken foot at around that age, as well as chicken pox. Other than that, regular colds and flu growing up.
5. yes it has gotten worse over time. From about the age of 18+ i have noticed it has progressively gotten worse.
6. i get it pretty much the same all the way through the day depending generally on when i eat a meal. Sometimes it occurs, sometimes it doesnt.
7. I get extreme bloating in my chest. Followed by the onset of a strange gurggling noise. If the bloating gets too bad i will get hiccups which can last for hours. The gurgling stays sometimes for hours. I also find it is hard to breath full breaths of air during this.
8. The bloating occurs in my chest area, the gurgling occurs right beneath the top of my sternum (where the esophagus ends and stomach starts). it seems like it is originating from the esophageal sphincter.
9. other comments…add those posts…the more people who give specific info, the better chance we have of figuring this one out! Cheers!
November 13th, 2007 at 10:50 am
I have the exact same problem. I have all of my life.
I get a lot of pain in my digestive system from this.. and about the only thing that helps is the gas coming out the other end.
Laying on my belly helps push things along.
I have had a number of tests and none of my doctors can figure it out.
November 19th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Wow! I’ve always heard that a person can find out anything on the internet now I’ve learned that a
larger than I could anticipate group of folks have this same problem as my husband. I’m very worried about him as this has been with him all of our married life (37.5 yrs). It has progressively gotten worse through the years and is to the point where neither of us get much rest at night for all the gurgling and jumping up to vomit. Without proper rest, there’s nothing else going to work right either. someone PLEASE HELP!!
They can make people go potty into a bag, can’t
they invent a gas release tube like out of one’s neck or something?
November 20th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
To answer your questions Clayton:
1. About the same as you.
2. Same.
3. Eating a lot (perhaps “too much”), drinking anything but water, chocolate, meat, bread, dairy products.
4. Nothing that I know of… I had my tonsils taken out when I was eight, if that could somehow be related.
5. Same as you.
6. Mainly afternoon/evening, after eating.
7. Well, I get IBS symptoms – extreme stomach cramps etc, then my chest and throat are really uncomfortable and/or tight, and I have difficulty breathing (though that’s not usually too severe, but it has been on occasion). Then the discomfort worsens and the gurgling noises happen. Most of the time they just come involuntarily, but sometimes they don’t and I have to try and force them out to make myself more comfortable.
8. The same as you again, I think. My chest and my throat.
9. Not really, only the IBS symptoms I mentioned.
November 21st, 2007 at 4:21 pm
I came across this site after searching unable to burp. If ever I have fizzy drinks or coffee the condition seems worse. I know what you mean about the uncomfortable feeling in the throat and gurgles…. So annoying. If I have a wine or even juice with dinner I can’t get rid of it and it ruins the evening…. Special occasions are the worst, I experienced a “uncomfortable non-burping episode” on my 50th birthday this year! After having a soda at lunch time,I was a gonna for the rest of the day and night how crapy that was. I came across inability to burp on a site about Hiatus Hernia, after all these years should probably get it checked. My family think it’s just me who suffers from the unburping gurgles and it annoys them no end…..I am amazed to find this site with all you people on it, I feel blessed!
November 26th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
I have a theory in relation to this problem. It may have something to do with the inability to relax the throat but I could be wrong. Does anyone else have a sensitive gag reflex? For example, difficulty swallowing pills? Is it difficult for doctors to check your tonsils? The inability to burp might be linked with automatically closing the throat when a burp is coming.
Like everyone here, I’m relieved to know there are others with the exact same symptoms but unnerved that there is little attention to it. The fact that the best solution found is to stick your fingers down your throat (which I’ve been doing for a while) is unsettling. It doesn’t always work for me.
November 27th, 2007 at 4:27 am
There are lots of us! It was worst for me when rehydrating on a long run, you can’t help swallowing air. And vomiting is embarrassing in company! I suffered for 55 years and suddenly this year I can burp! A friend had the same experience at the same age, so all is not lost. It will eventually go as the LES loses its tone with age…
My 3 sons all have the same problem so I guess its due to genetic variation in the LES anatomy.
November 27th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
I didn’t know this happened to anyone else! I’ve never burped either. I get “the gurgles” bad… at least every other day on average, if not every day. My family and boyfriend laugh about it and joke that I need to learn how to burp… and when it happens around strangers (that is the really imbarassing part) they stare at me like I’m an alien. I told my gastroenterologist this, but it’s really hard to describe to someone who hasn’t actually heard it. So he basically blew me off like I was crazy. If ANYONE finds out what really causes this, or finds a doctor that knows or cares to know anything about it… please post it here. I’ve never met anyone that has this other than me, so it’s really good to know that I’m not the ONLY person.
November 27th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
AND in response to Jubs…. YES, i have a very sensitive gag reflex. I also have a difficulty swallowing pills… it is very hard for me to do and I couldnt even swallow small ones until just the last couple years (I am 21)… I assumed it was a psychological thing. I also have very enlarged (permanently) tonsils that doctors are always surprised by how large they are. Hmm…. maybe you are on to something.
November 27th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
1. I first started noticing it during drivers ed class, when I was 15.
2. Emotionally uncomfortable, right away. Physically… I have alot of digestive discomfort and have for years, but I don’t know if it’s related
3. Honestly do not know. Any food I think.
4. None known
5. I think so. My worst symptom is the gurgling, and it’s getting more frequent
6. All times, mostly afternoon/evening.
7. Bloating, and gurgling noises. Feels like what I would assume it feels like when you have to burp.
8.Lower throat or back of throat I think.
November 28th, 2007 at 3:47 am
Not to jump on the “I can’t burp” bandwagon just for kicks, but I can’t burp either. It’s never been a problem for me until I turned 21 earlier this year (oh beer, how I love and hate you).
Even though I’ve never had any real problems with it up to now (and my current problem isn’t really serious, just annoying), it was a bit uncomfortable growing up. For instance, I live in Wisconsin, and we have a very…gassy…diet. And since I couldn’t burp up all the gas that the food I ate would induce, it all stayed in me until it came out the other end. But I tried being polite about it; farting in front of other people is gross and rude. But, it does all come out once I’m asleep, or so I’ve been told. Needless to say, it made for some very akward nights at cub scout camp =(
I’ve found 2 ways to help me with my problem, but neither are easily done. The first, and one that most people have described already, is the throwing up reflex. Not that I make myself throw up, mind you. I remember the first time that I had to throw up at a bar, I went to the restroom, and simply dry-heaved a couple times. My throat opened up in the right way to let all that gas out, and I felt fine without actually throwing up. Since then, I have tried doing this on purpose, and have caused myself to throw up severla times doing so. But if I’m drunk enough that I have to do it again, I can usually manage without actually vomiting.
The second solution I’ve found is a little tougher. I found out that while I have the hiccups, *and am laughing hysterically at the same time,* a burp comes out involuntarily instead of a hiccup. Now, you have to be around a couple other people, cuz lets face it, it’s tough to get yourself laughing that hard alone. But that’s where this solution turns a touch embarassing, and isn’t really one that you can choose to do.
Anyway, that’s just my two cents. Good luck to all my fellow non-burpers!
November 29th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Aaaah! I have had this problem for as long as I can remember and always thought it was just me! I have all the symptoms people above have described: I’ve never been able to burp, I get the gurgle sound (I’ve always called them “glurps” for whatever reason), the painful bloating (sometimes I get so bloated I look pregnant and the skin on my stomach hurts as if it can’t stretch enough!), then if it gets really bad I either get really severe hiccups or start gagging. I’ve never actually thrown up from it, but it has caused some heavy-duty dry heaving, usually after drinking beer. As a result, I hate beer and never drink it anymore because it just makes me too sick. My “glurps” can be incredibly loud, and all my friends and family think it’s so weird!
I was trying to find stuff on the internet, and I found something called “gas-bloat”…apparently it can happen if someone has surgery to correct GERD, but it sounds exactly like what happens to us. So maybe when they try to tighten the esophogeal flap in GERD patients, they tighten it too much and it causes “gas-bloat”. So maybe we all naturally have an overly tight flap at the bottom of our esophegus’s that prevents air from coming up? If this is the case, they should invent a surgery that does the opposite of what the GERD surgery does!
I hate this problem and have never told my doctor about it because it’s hard to describe to someone who doesn’t have it…from all the other posts it looks like the doctor won’t have a clue anyway! I just want it to go away. I hate that sometimes my plans are ruined because I need to go home and lie down (lying down is the only thing that helps for me). And I can’t predict when it’ll happen, so aside from avoiding carbonated drinks there’s no way to prevent it! So annoying.
December 1st, 2007 at 7:11 pm
You guys want to hear something funny about this condition we have..My husband is in the Air-Force, and when we have to attend functions, there is always a silent moment in the beginning to remember our fallen soldiers. During this silent moment is usually when my gurgling sound is at its loudest. This never happens at the grocery store or when I’m just at home. O no…but it does happen during the worst times. Another thing I have noticed that some of us have said is that I to have trouble taking pills…and my gag reflexes are high. I am also afraid to throw up. It’s very painful for me. It’s been at least 20 years since I burped. And that was completely by accident. Laying down flat on my back helps. But I would have to be able to do this for at least 10 minutes for it to work.
December 4th, 2007 at 9:46 am
I’m not crazy! It’s so great to see all of you with the same problem as me! Anyway, here’s my story. When I was in the 3rd grade, I got sick and threw up. I had a terrible fear of vomiting, and that just made it worse. Prior to vomiting I had been burping, so in my twisted young brain, I figured that if I burped, it might mean that I was going to throw up. And so developed me fear of burping. I would stop and nothing to keep from burping. I would just keep trying to swallow the air back down so it wouldn’t come out. The years passed without burping and I began developing stomach problems. I was never hungry, I always felt full. I could inly eat a few bites before feeling like a was going to barf. Of course all doctors thought I was crazy and anorexic. Eventually I figured that if I could just burp, I would feel so much better and this incessant rumbling would stop. I told my brilliant gastroenterologist about it and he just chuckled and told me I’d “figure it out.” Gee thanks. So I figured after having my son and becoming an expert puker during my pregnancy that maybe my burping problem would have been resolved. Maybe all the puking stretched things back out. But alas, no luck. I’m still gas queen of the universe. My husband can hardly stand to be in the same room as me, because the air eventually has to get out SOMEHOW, if you know what I mean. This is a huge problem, and I can’t wait for some doctor to finally help us out! I wish I could go back in time and tell my 8-year-old self to stop trying not to burp! Thanks for listening to my griping :-)
December 7th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
I too have the same condition detailed here by so many people! But I wonder – is it just me or what – do you also have alot of gas coming out the “other end”? I have been told that I am lactose intolerant due to so much flatulance, and I have always believed that the air I couldn’t burp up has gone through the intestines and out the other end. It does seem worse after eating dairy products. Anxious to see if the med student will be able to figure anything out!
December 7th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
Answers to the medical questions:
1. I believe it was 7th grade, 12 years old, now I’m 35 years old.
2. It was after having my son, at age 19.
3. Sometimes after eating, sometimes when I talk alot and fastly, like on the phone, and especially after drinking alcohol.
4. Lactose intolerant, also occasional panic attacks which sometimes trigger the “gurgles”.
5. I think so, gradually worsened, maybe from a 5 to 7.
6. Can happen anytime, day or night, but usually at night. I have to say there is no difference in severity relating to the time of day, but I do get more bloated at night.
7.What always happens is that my throat will start to “gurgle”, it feels like I have swallowed alot of air and it is trying to come back up my throat. It is socailly embarassing, physically uncomfortable and makes it hard to breathe at times.Feels like I have to burp but I cannot.
8. I feel pressure on my lungs, and at the bottom of my throat where my neck meets my collarbone, bloaty kind of pressure in my stomach.
9. May be the lactose problem, but it seems what I cannot burp up comes out the other end, alot of gas.
December 7th, 2007 at 11:46 pm
I too have this problem and it’s driving me crazy. I went to the doctor this week and I tried to explain to him that I am very gassy and that my throat ‘gurgles’. He thinks that I have too much acidity in my stomach and he gave me pills for acid reflux to try. I knew that this wasn’t the problem, but I took the pills anyway as I am willing to try just about anything. I took the pills for one day, but they didn’t help and they made me feel sick. I’m going to try and book another appointment as soon as possible. I’m tired of living with this and having to avoid certain social situations due to embarrassment.
December 8th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
1. Since I was 4
2. 17/18, with it re-occuring now at 21
3. Eating too much without chewing, Pop, Beer.
4. None
5. It gets worse when I am under stress
6. Horrible at night
7. Lots of pressure in the stomach, occasional pain. I let out a little gurgle then have a gasp reflex.
8. Chest, stomach.
When I throw up I am incredible loud, and it is painful. Peppermint tea helps soothe the gas pain. I do not gurgle nearly as often as everyone else.
December 8th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
I think it would be wise to pool the data in an easy to read Excel File. Please take the time to answer the questions listed above in response #58, and SEND THEM TO:
icantburp@gmail.com.
I will take the time to organize the data, and post it for easy access.
December 8th, 2007 at 10:24 pm
I’ve noticed that several people mentioned vomiting being very loud and painful for them. This happens to me too – it often takes a long, painful period of loud dry-heaving before any vomit will come up, even if I’m incredibly sick and my body wants to vomit. I wonder why this is? I’d guess that whatever is happening that won’t let the air out also doesn’t let the vomit up very easily. What a drag.
December 9th, 2007 at 7:23 am
OH MY GOODNESS. Not only have I found loads of people like me, I may have been diagnosed incorrectly (or maybe not. maybe i just have both problems). My doctor says all this bloating is from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, but even with fiber and eating healthier, as someone else mentioned, it gets worse. In any case, I’ll try to be of use data-wise…
1. i’ve never been able to burp and would just expel the other way i guess. but i’ve only really started to get the throat gurgles when i was about 17 or 18
2. 18 or 19, around the same time I suppose
3. after meals- it’s usually accompanied by bloating. i’m guessing soda makes it worse.
4. dunno. IBS? but that may or may not be the case.
5. yes =(… the bloating is actually the worst part. and as of late i’m starting to feel a little acid or something coming up, too, instead of just air as it used to be
6. usually daytime.. i’ve had to sleep just to get rid of the discomfort sometimes- but this, once again, may be because of ibs??
7. involuntary throat gurgling! and sometimes if i’m “lucky” some air will come out if i open my mouth up in time. Unfortunately, this doesn’t really relieve anything. then it
8. it feels like the gas just dissipates once it gets to the gurgle… it hurts my throat now a little- the back of it, and i bloat so incredibly much, which just doesn’t go away, not even after a good number 2
9.Honestly, it’s as if the gurgling doesn’t even change anything.. a real nuisance. i’m fine with it, but other people (why??) always assume it’s my stomach and then laugh or something. i don’t get it since i’ve always been this way.
Ahh please let me know if I can go to my doctor with some concrete ideas on what it is.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
Holy Moly, I can’t believe there are so many people with this same problem. I have never been able to burp! It wasn’t a problem when I was younger, but I’m 35 now and have the worst acid reflux from anything, including water. I went to doctors a couple of times, and they just said, “the gas will work its way out.” BS! It’s the most uncomfortable thing! It actually hurts sometimes, and there is pressure when I breathe in, so I don’t feel as if I’m getting a “full breathe.” I went through all kinds of tests for asthma, and the tests always showed normal breathing. They said I was imagining this. I’m going to take this web log and go to the doc again. The Excel idea is a good one. I assume if we all got together for some beers it’d be a noisy gurgling room;-)
December 10th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
I tried to submit something to icantburp@gmail.com, but it didn’t work… unknown email. Did anyone else try this?
I also sent a link to the web log to a doctor at Stanford Medical Center. Maybe he’ll give us some direction…?
December 11th, 2007 at 7:47 am
Hey, all – I’m the owner of this blog, and this discussion has really grown beyond what was originally a simple, silly blogpost of mine. Perhaps someone needs to start a forum or blog devoted to the subject? (I can’t do it myself, sorry…)
I’d be more than happy to point people towards it, but I’m also getting a little tripped out at the notion that people are pointing their doctors or other medical professionals this way.
December 19th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
*add me to the list…gurgling ruins my life*
1. i am 21 now; would say it’s been around 10 years
2. it’s always been uncomfortable but i’d say 16 if i had to put an age to it; over the years and up to this point it is unbearably uncomfortable that i would do anything to find a way out of this condition.
3. anything at all will offset it–even a glass of water. certain foods (carbonated bevs, etc) can aggravate more than others.
4. i have an underactive thyroid which i am on hormone replacement for
5. while it has gotten worse over time, it’s pretty steady to the point where i don’t think it can get any worse
6. after any meal it’s bad, but definitely evening is the worst
7. it feels as if a ball of gas is shooting up my esophagus and stops at the top of my throat, exploding into a long, drawn-out deep growl.
8. mid sternum to opening of throat
9. i am begging you! please help us put a name and solution to this awful condition.
December 22nd, 2007 at 10:35 am
Good to read this forum!
Clayton’s questions (not sure if he is still around, but otherwise there may be other medically educated people reading this, you never know)
1. I’m 28 years old, and as far as I remember I’ve never been able to burp
2. Not sure, at least 10 years ago now
3. It always happens after drinking more than one glass of soda, with some foods (although I’m not sure which) and especially after a few beers. When drinking beers with friends I have to stop after a number of glasses (say 8 or so) because it gets to painfull. In addition, I might get the hiccups.
4. I don’t throw up easily either.
5. I don’t think so.
6. It happens after drinking a few beers, or at the end of the day, a few hours past dinner.
7. I don’t really feel my stomach (I’ve had stomach pains before, and they’re totally different), it’s more a bloated feeling in my chest (not my heart). Burps won’t come, but if I open my mouth and tilt my head upwards the gurgling will come which relieves the preasure somewhat.
8. mid sternum to opening of throat
9. Someone on this forum already mentioned it but I have one thing that always works: exercise. Sometimes the feeling is so bad (not painful but uncomfortable) that I can’t go to sleep. I then start jumping up and down (on my toes) while holding my mouth wide open and tilting my head upwards. After a lot of jumping enough air will have released to go to bed.
December 24th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Okay everyone, it seems that after a life of the same problem (my sister too), and a few days of research, I’ve compiled all this information into *gasp*…*gurgle*
an ANSWER!
Abby said on November 29th, 2007 at 9:14 pm,
“I was trying to find stuff on the internet, and I found something called “gas-bloat”…apparently it can happen if someone has surgery to correct GERD, but it sounds exactly like what happens to us. So maybe when they try to tighten the esophogeal flap in GERD patients, they tighten it too much and it causes “gas-bloat”. So maybe we all naturally have an overly tight flap at the bottom of our esophegus’s that prevents air from coming up? If this is the case, they should invent a surgery that does the opposite of what the GERD surgery does!”
You basically answered it without the actual medical term. The Ring of Shatzki is a small ring of tissue in the lower esophagus, and it looks like it’s our problem. I think the most interesting thing about this is that we just followed our instincts for prevention. YES, it is from air building up in the stomach. YES, you can release it via the gag reflex which is the only thing that can open up our damned esophaguses…esophagi. Another very helpful post here suggested the best way of relieving it without medical treatment. RELIEF: chewing your food essentially pureeing it to eliminate all air inside of it, and swallowing the least amount of air possible. THE CURE: A procedure called dilation, where something like a balloon is passed into the esophagus and inflated to stretch the ring, making a larger hole.
I know this has been said before, but honestly, such a confusing predicament needs a straightforward answer. I’m going to see my doctor about this soon.
December 25th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
Wow, it was so great to find this thread. I’ve also never been able to burp for as long as I can remember, save the occasional unintended, unexpected burp. I’ve been experiencing the feeling of having my stomach bloated ever since I was little. I remember when I was maybe 6 to 9, I’d get lots of gas in my stomach when I travelled on vacation tours with my family and the only way to fix it was a trip to the toilet. Since then it has gotten a little worse. I think the first time I couldn’t treat my bloated stomach with gas expulsion was when I was about 11 or 12. It was at night, I have no idea what I ate beforehand, but suddenly my mouth would start to water a lot and I would feel like barfing. I wouldn’t even notice that my stomach was bloated until this happens to me. At first I didn’t know what to do, because I didn’t want to vomit (I’ve only vomited maybe three times in my life, and the last time was when I was less than 10 years old), but I decided it was the only thing I could do before I would go crazy. So I went to the bathroom, put my head over the sink, and was ready to barf, until suddenly, instead of barfing after I gagged, I let out a huuuge burp. It literally echoed in the bathroom and sounded like I was coughing up a lung. But the relief afterward was so great. I did that a couple of times within a few minutes of each other and felt better afterwards. Not much better though. I still felt nauseous, and only when I went to bed would it go away.
That episode has happened a few times late at night when I did my homework in middle school, I’d say maybe 3 or 4 times. I don’t remember what I ate beforehand each time. The next time it happened to me was at a restaurant where they serve very fried, oily Filipino food. The food there is soooo good, and I think it was the third time I went to the restaurant that it happened to me. At the time I wondered what the heck, this again?! I thought what happened to me those late nights in middle school was just a temporary thing. My mouth wouldn’t stop watering and I felt so uncomfortable among my friends. I suddenly stopped contributing to our conversations as I felt extremely nauseous. I didn’t want to tell any of them because I didn’t want them to worry or think I was weird. I think I did eventually tell my friend who dropped me home but by that time it was fine since I was just moments away from doing the whole gag-burp thing and that was the only thing that kept me going. I’ve had excess gas in my stomach I think every time I’ve been to that restaurant after that one time. I’ve been there twice since. I couldn’t understand why it happened at that particular restaurant until I stumbled on this thread. I thought it couldn’t have been that the restaurant food disgusted me because honestly it is one of my favorite restaurants. So it must be the fried and oily food (I swear every item on the menu is fried). It just really annoys me that this happens to me when I’m among my friends because then I can’t enjoy the time we spend together. The only thing I can think about is wanting to barf! Ugh! I actually let out a couple of the huge burps by coughing until I gagged the last time we went to the restaurant, but thankfully I don’t think my friends noticed because we sat outside and the music and atmosphere in general was really loud. Either they didn’t notice or thought I was doing something weird and just decided to ignore it haha.
So. The whole reason I searched for this problem on the internet was that this happened to me again yesterday. I was at a family gathering. We were going to have dinner, but since it would be about an hour til dinner was served, I had some chips, a lot of pear and a cup of coffee. When I got to the dinner table, I immediately felt full and only ate some thin noodles and some bubbly champagne. After a while I began to feel my mouth water again and excused myself to the bathroom twice. After the second time my mom even asked me what I did in the bathroom, and I just said I peed, which I did, but the main reason I went to the bathroom was, of course, to induce the huge burps that only came from coughing until I gagged, over the sink. I think my mom must have suspected I did something ELSE in the bathroom, like barfed my food or something, but I would never do such a thing.
Anyway, after dinner yesterday night, us kids (young adults) decided to go up and play Taboo while the adults did their thing. I still couldn’t get rid of the nausea and struggled through the whole game, though actually playing the game subsided the nausea a bit cause I love Taboo. Everytime it wasn’t my team’s turn and I didn’t have to watch over the other team members’ shoulders to buzz them out, I’d lay down on the sofa and immediately felt better. I think it was because the gas went back down. I also felt very flatulent that evening, but didn’t let the flatulence out the other way as it is inappropriate in a social situation. After I got home I just slept the whole thing off.
So that’s my story with this undiagnosed condition. I’ll fill out the form thing just so the information is easier to organize:
1. How long has it been around? Since I was 6 or 7 years old.
2. When did it start getting to the point where it was/is uncomfortable for you? At 11 or 12 years old (I’m 18 now), but the problem only comes about on occasion, and I’ve only experienced it less than 10 times in my entire life.
3. What brings its onset (be very specific, such as during any meal, or specific foods, specific beverages, or both)? I can’t be sure, but I think fried foods, any gassy or bubbly food such as champagne or chips.
4. Diseases/disorders growing up that may have secondarily influenced it? Hmm. I don’t have any diseases but I do sometimes find it hard to breathe. I always thought I had asthma but have never gotten it checked out and whenever I mentioned it to my mom she would just shrug it off. I guess I sometimes have difficulty breathing because if what those of you said was right, the ring opening at the end of my esophagus is very small and thus I don’t have a big airway?
5. Has it got worse over time? Hmm. Not really. It only really started getting annoying (my mouth watering, me wanting to barf) when I was in middle school but it is still the same symptoms now.
6. Is it worse during any time of the day/night? It’s only ever happened to me at night.
7. Briefly describe how it feels, and what happens (ie. hiccups, bloating, gurgling noise). Well first I do feel extreme bloatedness and then my mouth starts to water, and I feel like barfing. My stomach feels very uncomfortable like someone is pressing against it. I also get very strong hiccups sometimes which hurt my chest. It’s not just slight harmless hiccups, they are VERY deep hiccups that hurt.
8. Where do you feel this discomfort? Chest, lower upper? Well I just can’t really breathe properly when this happens so I guess part of the discomfort is on my chest/lungs because I feel like I can’t fill them with air properly. And of course also discomfort on my stomach because of all the air inside it that can’t be let out.
9.Any other comments you would like to make. I’m wondering, does anyone else’s mouth water when the gas in your stomach gets excessive and do you feel like barfing? I actually only noticed this problem whenever this happened to me, and not on a regular basis. Also, is anyone else naturally skinny? I am, and I remember when I was younger my mom would have sympathy for me because she’d say that it wasn’t my fault, since my throat/mouth is small. Does the opening at the end of the esophagus maybe decide how fast you digest? I don’t know… I know I have high metabolism so I digest food quickly, but when I was younger I would take foreeeever to eat, and only as I grew older did I speed up my eating. Now I eat relatively quickly. I don’t know where I’m going with this… I’m just giving as much information as I can. Oh, and I do also suffer from excessive flatulence, something I wish I didn’t have, because it’s always more acceptable when your gas comes out from the top end than from the bottom end.
Well that was a really long explanation. I just wanted to get it all out there so that someone hopefully will find a cure. I never actually thought this situation of mine was a medical condition but I’m glad to find others experience it too! I hope someone finds a cure soon. I’ve always been jealous of people who won those burping contests – I want to be able to burp on command one day too!
December 26th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
burping and SINGLE LOOPED BOWS?
Hey–I had the problem of being unable to burp in college. They gave me a prescription called Bentyl. It helped. It caused involuntary belching but without it I was in so much discomfort I didn’t care. Those instructions about “how to burp” are useless because they don’t get that the problem is probably internal, an overly tight sphincter muscle at the top of the stomach not readily under voluntary control for everybody.
Hope the problem has passed by now, though.
By the way, what did you mean about “single loop bow on a tennis shoe” ?? I have never seen such a thing. As far as I know EVERYONE ties their sneakers with a double loop bow because there IS NO “single loop bow”…. is there????
January 4th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
1. how long: I can remember this discomfort when I was a young teen.
2. when did it start getting to the point where it was/is uncomfortable: at around 16 years of age (I’m 23 now).
3. what brings its onset: fizzy drinks, any alcoholic beverage, chocolate, and regular foods like potato.
4. diseases/disorders growing up that may have secondarly influenced it: nothing, other than the regular cold/flu. I have not vomited frequently in my life.
5. has it got worse over time? yes but I suppose I’ve also gotten used to how worse its gotten!
6. is it worse during any time of the day/night? worse at night, without a dougt
7. breifly describe how it feels, and what happens (ie. hiccups, bloating, gurgling noise). bloating, gurgling noises like a ball of air creeping or rolling up my throat, I also sometimes feel this burp-like effect and my ears are deafened out for a fraction of a second (kind of like when you stick a seashell on your ear). I also find myself pulling my chin in to my chest and I just can’t help it. And when it gets REALLY painful, my chest tightens up and I gasp for air.
8. Where do you feel this discomfort? right smack in the middle of my chest, in my throat.
9.Any other comments you would like to make: I’m a vegetarian but it hasn’t gotten better or worse since I made the change. I also think I yawn more when I get this discomfort. Finally, being stressed, excited or nervous does NOT help!
January 4th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Oh, and from what I’ve read, the ring of Schatzki doesn’t accurately describe my problem and the problem of most people on this board. It’s mostly related to difficulty swallowing and many sites I’ve checked out make no mention of difficulty burping.
January 6th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
i agree about shatzki. i made an appt with my gastro–i’m going to print this thread out and see what he has to say.
January 10th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I love you all.. this is so sweet – my funny nasty noises finally have a home:) maybe salvation on the way? But lets get serious here, we need a solution, not another story. Did anyone try expanding the shatzki thingy? does it really help?
please post your thoughts!
Oh, and to the owner of this blog: Please don’t close the discussion down. Look how many people you’ve made happy:)
wishing all of us lots of long and lovely burps,
sjon
January 12th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
I agree – the Ring of Schatzki is not the problem… at least it is not too tight.
By the way, I have had my lower sphincter looked at with a camera in a tube… endoscopy, and they say it looked normal. I honestly believe that the problem is with the UPPER valve – the one that so many others can control to allow burps. Doesn’t it seem like it’s just too tight.. or something? If your finger or a shot of whiskey can make it open to relieve the pressure, then is there really a problem with the lower valve? What if the upper valve functioned normally? Would that in turn take the pressure off the lower valve? If air is trapped in the throat, it could force the lower valve open and weaken it over time (maybe), but if the air was allowed to escape from the throat, maybe the lower valve would be okay…
I think that over many years, this thing transgresses to GERD, but I don’t think that it has to!!! and maybe the GERD from this problem is curable. I guess we need more medical attention.
This is the most awesome blog I’ve ever seen. Life-changing.
January 12th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
This is the best thing I have ever found through “Googling”!!! I’m reading everyone’s posts out loud to my husband and he is literally amazed that there are others like me. I have never been able to burp, ever, and the horrible, embarrassing gurgles have gotten louder and louder as the years go by – I’m 34 now. I also have the gas/bloating issue – it’s literally like a 5 pound difference from when I step on the scale in the morning with a flat stomach to when I step on the scale after lunch/dinner and am extremely bloated.
I have had asthma since I was about 15 – curiously enough, my asthma has gotten better (don’t need inhalers, not even a “rescue” one for running, anymore), but the gurgles after eating have gotten worse. I don’t drink alcohol, never have, but I am a big soda drinker. Juice, too.
Although I’ve never brought my gurgles to the attention of a doctor, I have brought other “curious” illnesses/symptoms to doctors’ attention such as twitching muscles, numbness (sometimes, in feet/fingers), neck pain, shoulder pain, etc. and I have always been given the same answer: I do not allow myself to feel stress and cannot get stress relief as a result. In other words, when others feel stressed, I just internalize it and then it rears its ugly head through physical symptoms. I’ve been tested for everything with no results of having any kind of disease. I remember my doctor telling me once that my symptoms were stress-related, and I said, “But I don’t feel any stress!!!” to which he answered, “Bingo – that’s why you have these symptoms”. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but I’ve always been the same type of person who is easy to get along with and doesn’t like conflict and just lets stuff happen. Maybe this has something to do with the idea of our throats/LES flappy-do-thingy tightening up and not relaxing. I don’t know if I really ever have “relaxed” – I try to keep everything on an even keel and it makes my muscles hurt at the end of the day, especially my shoulder/neck muscles.
January 13th, 2008 at 9:26 am
I’m getting ready to make another doctors appt. Don’t know if it will do any good. But it’s getting worse. It’s starting to get to me early in the morning now and lasts all day..and it seems to be an every day thing now. It’s so frustrating. It really can take the joy out of your day. I’m checking this blog every day now, hoping one of you guys came up with something….I’ll let you know how it came out.
Ang
January 14th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Hi guys!
Lately this ‘inability to burp’ has really got me down. Now that I am 18 (I live in Australia, it’s the legal drinking age here) I have started going out a lot and drinking with my friends and I have noticed how bad this disorder really is. After a couple drinks I start getting the ‘gurgles’ only to find that later on the annoying, but bearable, noises turned into a huge pain. Literally! It not pain really, but a tight feeling in the middle of my chest. As it continues, the tightness gets worse and I feel as though if I don’t take deep breaths I will pass out because I cant get enough air into my lungs. And I to bloat so much in the day that I could explode, I wake up with a nice flat belly and go to bed with one 3 times the size!
After reading all your stories, I felt compelled to start researching. Although there are some disorders that somewhat have similarities to our own, none of them quite list all of our symptoms. However I thought it might help listing them anyway because some smart person may come on this and look into them! Or you can goggle them yourself to better your understanding J
The disorders I have found so far are
- Gastric volvulus/Upside-down stomach
- GERD – Gastro esophageal Reflux Disease
- Lower Esophageal sphincter disorder
I am going to a specialist next week and I plan to mention these in order to help them understand what is happening to us. But looking up those disorders I think frustrated me even more because all of them have major differences with our disorder. None of them actually mention the inability to burp, you would think they would have huh! So please don’t think any of those listed are a name for our horrid chest problems.. I think that is just something that we will have to continue crossing our fingers for!
Anyway, I hope I helped and thank you to the wonderful woman who started this forum!
Bye all!
January 15th, 2008 at 9:52 am
Yep same symptons..been researching this for months! Found a report on it and it said to take a tablespoon of cider vinegar with or without honey and I tried it and it really helped. I still can’t burp..but I hardly ever get the gurgles anymore! Its not the perfect cure but it helps :)
January 17th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Same, same, same, all the same here. Does anyone else get gas before eating in addition to all the symptoms after eating and drinking? Sometimes if I don’t eat right away my stomach gets extremely bloated and painful to the touch and to any kind of movement, even walking. I think we are just all naturally prone to maintaining air. My stomach gets so bloated that over the last year and two months I have been asked if I was pregnant 4 times and never once was I asked this before in my life. It is because my symptoms are getting worse as I get older, now 32. I cannot bring myself to ever stick my finger down my throat although the resulting release sound divine. How would you do that in public? Everyone would think you are bulimic. If they could diagnose the restless leg syndrome then someone out there has to be working on this as well, I hope. I am making a Doctors appt tomorrow armed with all the things it IS NOT thanks to this forum.
January 18th, 2008 at 4:55 am
Came back to checkup on this thread. Can anyone else sort of rearrange the air in their stomach to make it look like they’re pregnant? It just looks like a huge bulge, but only along my stomach, not in the pelvis area. I can do it, and I was wondering if that had anything to do with any of this.
January 20th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Joanne, maybe you ARE pregnant;-) and Toni has been preggy for a year and a half… ouch!
I’ll try the cider vinegar thing… but the whisky sounds like more fun.
I’ve seen a gastroenterologist, and he made me do a Barium swallow, but it looked normal. He had never heard of this. Or maybe he never listened.
January 20th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Hey Jo: I had the same thing with not feeling like I could take in deep breaths – thought it was Asthma, but Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) proved that theory wrong. You need a fraction of what you take in to get enough Oxygen. That feeling could lead to hyperventilation, which makes doctors think you’re crazy. That pretty much went away, and the gas, bloating and gurgles got worse. Just realize that you ARE getting enough O2.
January 22nd, 2008 at 7:01 pm
I can push air into my stomach too! It makes it massive, its easiest when your lieing down though :)
January 23rd, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Wow, I’m sitting here with all this gas trapped inside me wishing I could get it out too instead of gurgling or growling. It’s slightly comforting to know that lots of other people have the same thing as my sister and me. I am 60 and my sister is 64 and neither of us can belch or burp except accidentally at unforeseen times. We’ve had this problem for so long we can’t remember when it started. It is painful to say the least. I have the difficulty in swallowing pills but that could be in my head and not from our condition. I do hate to throw up but that usually is a relief when it happens. Lying in bed at night, my gurgling/growling can happen when I lay on my left side but hardly ever when I lay on my right side. Our family usually doesn’t have any problems at all passing gas out the other way. Other family members don’t have this problem. My 34yo daughter burps just fine but I can’t ever remember my father belching.
Sign me up for the first doctor that develops a cure that works for this, although I really don’t relish surgery or swallowing those darn pills. 8-)
January 25th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
I just want to say thank-you to whoever posted several months ago the tip about sticking your finger down your throat to make yourself burp. This tip has been a LIFESAVER for me!! I used to have to cut my partying short as alcohol seems to be a terrible trigger for the gurgles, to the point where I would feel that I was about to throw up. I also get the gurgles if I drink soda, or just randomly sometimes! Now that I know that trick, however, if I get the gurgles I just go to the restroom, stick my fingers down, let out some great big belches, and the discomfort is gone!! It’s amazing!!! Try it people, it may take a while for the burp to come because of that damn tight valve we have, but eventually it will come out and you’ll feel so much better! I’ve noticed it only works while bending over, however.
January 27th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
I M P O R T A N T: C O N T A G E O U S ?
same story but with a NEW INFO:
at first This seemed to be coming from water or food … now it seems to be contageous!!! ask your family and close friends if they have it and what they did/ater before or if it appeared with a home move!
Somehow, my wife and I have it, we arrived to charlotte NC 2 years ago and 3 month later the symptoms started for me (gaseous stool rockets off in the toilet, then bloating then gurgles, they kept getting louder). last year we got a baby dog. 4 month later, my dog had it too.
2 days ago, my mother in-law arrived to the US (charlotte NC) and today she has it (she swears first time in her life!)
also I went to doc who said IBS and stuff like travellers microbes and gave me antibiotics.
none worked!
tried probiotic (found off the counter at most pharmacies), helps, reduces it by 90% but doesn’t eliminatee it. cooked rice (NO SAUCE ADDED) does the same. however it takes 6 hours to get results from either so the day is already gone.
i took dewormers thinking that was the case but in vain.
the reason i am saying this is not in water or food (though the symptoms are accented by changing wate and food and carbohydrated soda) is that none of our friends at work has it though most live in our neighbourhood.
so i fmy mother in-law has it and my dog has it, it seems to be contagious from either sharing same toilet seat, or breathing the same air.
our 1 week old newborn doesn’t have it and this emphasizes the airborn thing a bit (in the womb, no air is exchanged with mother)… but also he doesn’t share the toilet seat
Our dog was caught drinking off the toilet bowl (yuck!, we stopped him) around the times the symptoms showed on him
Could it also be a kind of e-coli?
i will revisit this post/forum a lot, trust me!
ramzi1978 hotmail
January 28th, 2008 at 10:41 am
It is so very comforting, as most of you have already pointed out, to find that I am not the only person in this situation. I was an impossible baby to burp and it followed me through my teenage years. I would get the “gurgles” maybe once a month.. painful, but not frequent enough to present any serious worry. Now, however, in my college years I experience this gurgling sensation every night. The noises are loud and embarassing and the pain is generally unbearable, making me feel as though I need to vomit. I’ve had various tests done including those that involve tubes going down my throat and pH monitors being placed in my esophagus. I’ve been put on a number of medications inculding those for GERDs and for esophageal spasms, none of which work. Very frustrating!
January 28th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Just like all of you, I, too, thought I was the only one who could not burp! And to respond to Joanne’s comments, I also get the severe watery mouth and feel like I am going to barf. This happens the most when I am drinking alcohol and happens almost every time I drink beer. I get the horrible gurgling and then get the severe full and bloated feeling, including the huge stomach/pregnant look. And then I get the watery mouth. Severe watery mouth. I feel like I am going to vomit and almost want to vomit to relieve the pain, pressure and bloating! I usually go to the restroom and try to vomit, often by using the finger down the throat technique. And that produces the huge burping noises and usually no real vomiting. Sometimes that will relieve the pain, etc., but often times not. I have found some relief when I lie down and raise my legs/feet. The best way to do this for me has been to lie flat on a couch and lift my feet up on the back of the couch. After enough time, this usually helps. And I definitely have the gas needing to be released the “other way”–HORRIBLE!! This is such a terrible condition, I really hope we can come up with a permanent solution!!
1. how long has it been around: I first remember this happening at around age 12
2. when did it start getting to the point where it was/is uncomfortable for you: has always been uncomfortable as long as I can remember
3. what brings its onset: gurgles are brought on by pretty much anything I eat or drink. The worst symptoms including the watery mouth and feeling like I am going to vomit is brought on by drinking alcohol and almost always happens if I am drinking beer.
4. diseases/disorders growing up that may have secondarly influenced it: nothing that I can recall.
5. It has always been bad and I don’t think it has gotten any worse over time?
6. Definitely worse at night
7. I have the gurgling, then the severe bloating, then the watery mouth and feeling like I am going to vomit. Sometimes I get hiccups, sometimes not.
8. I have a heaviness, fullness and pain in the chest and bloating and fullness in my stomach.
9.I, too, have the watery mouth as Joanne commented. I noticed that not everyone has this symptom but I definitely get the watery mouth in addition to the other symptoms.
Again, hope we can figure something out to help us with our horrible condition!!
January 28th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Tricia
I get the watery mouth to. This is after a few hours of the gurgles and bloating, and not having a chance to lay down to get relief. I swear I will vomit if I swallow my own spit. But I don’t. I wonder if maybe we have some sort of collic.
January 28th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
just to update you guys
we can hear the stomach of the mother in-law who got to the US on friday from 10 feet away!
so far, she drank only bottle water, she ate 1 burger and cooked meat, and lots of bread and doughnuts…hummm could be the fermentation of the bread!
btw, i also get watery mouth … and thick saliva at other times…
January 29th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Hello everyone. I have written before with the same problem of not being able to burp. Just letting the few above with the same problem know that the watery mouth is the response your body is having and giving you because of the fact that your stomach is over-full and bloated and needs relief and it is a normal response from your body. If you could burp the air out, you would find immediate relief and the saliva will quit and so will the gurgles. Take a shot of gin or bourbon and stick your finger down your throat and you will vomit air. You can do it without vomiting food or whatever else is in your stomach… just hard to do without privacy. You may need to practice alittle if food comes up to the throat. Anyhow, I find that its easier for me to get the burp out in private… it allows me to not be so self-concious about having to make such a horrendous noise (my forced burp sounds like I’m throwing up). But its all air. Sorry for using the blog and thank you to Betsy, the owner of this site… it is such a valuable resource for us. Maybe we should discuss getting our own blog as she indicated her displeasure with her blog becoming a medical resource. Also to ramzi… the problem for us is from ALL foods and drinks that make us bloated and not some contagious disease. The problem is a screwed up muscle response or tight esophagous in the throat and has nothing to do with your dog. Besides, how do you know if your dog is not able to burp?!? Everything that makes gas in the stomach and even just swallowing introduces air into the system and without the ability to burp, you hear the results in the gurgles (air in the stomach traveling up the esophagus and without leaving the throat (burping), it goes back into the stomach, only to do it over and over as a natural response from your body to rid itself of the air, until finally, without relief, the air enters the intestines). So without burping, you will only get relief at the other end. I am still waiting for the medical community to step up to the plate. Possibly an espophaegal angioplasty to stretch the throat? Theres nothing like going to the Dr. to be told your reality is not real or its all in your head. Live a day in my life and you’d be searching for answers too! You all know its a daily issue. I must get relief every afternoon as air builds all day, every day. Makes my social life suck or be well planned and fully-fed and relieved of air before leaving the house. Good luck to everyone with this difficult condition and no help in sight…
January 29th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Thanks so much everyone for putting your experiences up, now I know I’m not alone. My mother has the same condition as I do, and I share in the same symptoms as all of you here, so I figured it was just a genetic anomaly. But now I see that it’s a bigger issue and there’s a lot more to it.
I have found in the past year or so I have been burping more than usual (from maybe once a year to once a week); however, they’re never big, always sporadic and out of my control, and often provide no real relief – but it’s a start. I saw one of the best gastro doctors in Canada, who basically said it was diet related, and that I should eat less dairy and more fiber, which of course was of no help. We did a colonscope to come to that conclusion, and she said that everything looked good from that end.
One piece of advice: I have found that if I stir my soda pop with a spoon for a minute, it gets rid of almost all the gas; still tastes good but without all the gas that makes it uncomfortable. It won’t solve your problems, but will certainly reduce the gas for all the pop-lovers out there.
Thanks for bringing some comfort to a very uncomfortable situation – hopefully a better cure can be found than the socially-awkward finger in the throat.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:39 am
I should also add, that I also seem to have the symptoms of IBS (bloating, diarrhea, upset stomach, lots of gas), and until this time have always thought the two were related from one problem.
Does anyone else have symptoms of IBS, as well as “gurgle throat”, or am I dealing with two problems?
January 30th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
I have it too and it’s nasty and ugly.
I am a scientist and i think that it could be contagious (first you have moms and roommates that have it), although no one seems to have gotten it from me, i had an old girlfriend who had it
So, why rule out the contagious part? I went to the doc and he said it is likely IBS but it’s not.
It happens before I eat in the mornings and at noon, and after the first meal
rarely happens after office hours though
January 31st, 2008 at 8:51 am
It is not contagious for the same reason that someone born with a cleft palate will not give cleft palate to those around them or someone that is albino will not make others albino by contact. Lets not confuse indigestion with a throat/muscle disorder. I’m talking from a life-time of experience with this problem and have been to see a gastroenterologist. I’m definitely concerned and looking for answers and know I didn’t “catch” this blowing in the wind. I can rule it out out from 50 years experience… all day, everyday and don’t want to confuse the issue.
February 1st, 2008 at 10:18 am
this is my 3rd post on here, and like i said, i printed this site and brought it to my gastro just to make him aware that whatever this is, it is very real and people are suffering with it. i asked him if he’d ever heard of anyone not being able to burp. he sort of laughed and said no while looking at me like i was crazy. i don’t understand how no doctor out there knows anything about not being able to burp and struggling with pent up gas inside the esophagus! needless to say he gave me an rx for bentyl (IBS medicine) which i’m highly doubtful of (and i’m sure he is too) but i’ve tried countless other meds, what’s one more right? to all of us…even though we don’t have answers, at least we know we’re in it together. just knowing i’m not alone in this is so comforting.
February 1st, 2008 at 11:14 am
In reading Holly’s message, and other’s it’s just renewing my frustration in this whole situation. The doctor I’ve visited doesn’t put much thought into what a proactive step might be to take, instead every time I come in he puts me on another long-shot perscription to get me out of his hair for another month. I figured it was just my doctor, but I’m seeing now that it is rare to find someone really willing to put thought into this situation. I’m not opposed to trying thing to attempt to cure the situation, but when they’re all medicines that are for things I know I don’t have, it makes me very mad. Most of the drugs I’ve had to take have bad side effects that make my pulse race or make me VERY tired. I’m sick of dealing with med side effects when I can’t even benifit from them!
February 11th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Hello My Fellow non-burpers, haha. I’m Brandi, 20yrs old…and I just hate the gurgles and having to stick my fingers down my throat at a party in the bathroom. C’mon, thats embarrassing.
1. The problem started about 10yrs.
2. When it started I was able to cough-up the burp but now I have to do the “finger” thing.
3. Drinking through straws/soda and gum. Very random, almost daily.
4. No medical problems.
5. It has gotten worse over time, can no longer get air out with a cough and now have the gurgles in my throat.
6. Cannot say a certain time of day.
7. It feels as if theres a burp in my throat and I just cannot let it out!…the air that is stuck in there is just annoying!
8. The discomfort is in my Throat. Upper neck area.
9.Any other comments you would like to make: Thanks so much for the help, let’s get this problem fixed!! We don’t need to deal with this embarrassment! thx :)
February 12th, 2008 at 7:56 am
I GET GURGLING IN MY NECK,THROAT ALL DAY LONG.IT SEEMS TO COME UP THE THROAT FROM THE CHEST HAD THIS FOR 2 YRS NOW THIS IS A LOUD NOISE THAT DRIVES ME CRAZY SOMETIME WAKES ME AT NIGHT GOING TO SEE A ENT IN MARCH ALSO DOES ANYONE FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE IN THE UPPER CHEST? LET ME KNOW
February 12th, 2008 at 8:41 am
My pain is mostly in the upper chest area, so yes. I told a friend about my issue and as he mentioned it to his parents they joked around saying that because I can’t burp I must “fart” a lot. As embarassing as it is to admit, this is somewhat true, and I am wondering if anyone else experiences this or if it is unrelated. If the air can’t come out my mouth it’s gotta go somewhere, right? makes sense to me.
February 12th, 2008 at 11:06 am
i’m with you, maddie. sucks. and paul, i’m interested to hear what an ENT has to say, as gastroenterolgists apparently are zero help.
February 13th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Yes Maddie, the gas is relieved at one end or the other. Thats why I do the manual finger down the throat vomit air deal daily, sometimes several times when I can have privacy (at home). Anyone with this problem of inability to burp will experience the gassy consequences sometime during the day, daily. Certainly would be helpful for the medical community to wake up to this extraordinarily undiagnosed but very real daily trauma we experience. It seems to be easy to laugh at or dismiss, but we all know its very real. Living with this everyday truly sucks…
February 13th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
I am 27 and have this problem also, but I call it “the bubbles.” Recently my bubbles have been causing a lot of pain, and taking gas relief medicine is not helping. I also can’t burp and don’t think the finger trick works for me b/c I’ve tried. I’ve had my husband burp me like a baby but that also doesn’t work. I took someone else’s advice and tried breathing in very deeply in order to force a burp out, but the only thing that comes out is another paintful bubble. If the painfulness of the bubbles doesn’t go away soon, I’ll have to see a doctor about this. :-(
February 16th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Thanks for replying to my questions guys. As i sit here gurgling to myself (haha), i become encouraged to find out exactly what is causing this phenomenon. I will keep you all up to date, thanks again for sharing your information. Any others, please don’t be afraid, its something that is affecting a lot of people it seems, the more similarities we have the better it is we stand a chance of figuring out what it is.
February 16th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NEXT TIME YOU GO TO THE DOCTOR PRINT THIS FORUM OFF AND SHOW HIM/HER! Id really like to see what type of response you get. (with them knowing that it is clearly affecting a lot of people).
February 17th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
IF ANYTHING I THINK THE GURGLING THROAT COULD DRIVE ME CRAZY. IT’S THERE WHEN I WALK, TALK, SLEEP IT’S LIKE FIZZING OR DRINKING ENO. IT’S A ROTTEN SOUND .JUST A NOTE THAT I ENDED UP WITH IBS 2 YRS AGO REAL BAD, STILL HAVE IT BUT MY GASTRO PUT ME ON METAMUCIL TABLETS 50% BETTER, BUT THE TROAT THING IS THERE MY GASTRO DID ALL SCOPES BUT NEVER FOUND ANYTHING HE SENT ME TO AN ENT I WILL LET EVERYONE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS THERE THIS SURE IS AFFECTING MY LIFE
February 19th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
hah it’s been more than a year since this was made, that really sucks for all you guys who have been waiting for some help to appear here.
I had a paper to write tonight and I simply COULD NOT sit down and focus. I walked around, tried to burp, worked on slight changes in posture of my neck and back, which seem to affect it, and tried to relax. Every once in a while I’ll feel gas coming up, and sometimes I get a little burp, sometimes it goes right back down leaving me really confused.
I think rather than just being happy that we’ve all found others with the same problem, as comforting as it is, we all need to see if we can find some trends that may contribute to whatever this is.
Most of my early life has been spent playing video games, using computers, and playing guitar, so I can’t say I’ve led the most active life, however I’m still relatively lean.
I’ve smoked several times, and I really think this is important to consider: more often than not, no smoke would come back up. I must have been inhaling into my stomach, because sometimes it felt very different breathing in, and of course I could only tell for sure after breathing out. Someone once told me about their friend that would do a trick at parties – he’d hit a bong for about 30 seconds, inhaling into his stomach the whole time, and just not telling the others that. Does anyone else have a difficult time differentiating between breathing into their stomach and into their lungs? Can most people even do that at all? If they can, they can probably let it out, but nope, not us. Perhaps cardiovascular exercise could restore full functionality to my respiratory system if there is something wrong with it(which I’ve already begun doing)? Could it be a hiatal hernia (stomach pushed up into diaphragm), meaning that when we breathe in, our diaphragms push away from our lungs, down onto our stomachs, forcing our passage open as we breathe in, yet when we breathe out, the diaphragm pushes up into the lungs, letting pressure off our stomachs, thus closing the passage trapping air in our stomachs? This would also explain why it is so inconsistent – the diaphragm isn’t usually at it’s maximum push or pull, so the passage could be opened or closed to different degrees? Or would it? I’m not a doctor or anything, just desperate. Next topic.
My doctor, after looking down my throat once, mentioned that I seemed like a very allergic person, and I’ll note that I’ve been pretty consistently mucus-ridden throughout my life. Not much, but I’ve definitely used more tissues than most people.
Another important thing I feel I should mention is that my mother passed away last year. When I first began receiving some gurgles and general gas irritability in my stomach, it was far worse, and I was much more easily frustrated by it. However, even though it seemed like a disappointing diagnosis given to many here, just in case stress COULD have anything to do with it, I stopped letting myself get frustrated by the gurgles and everything, and they have almost stopped altogether (though I still find myself bloated and everything, just feeling crappy and unable to focus, but not nearly as often). I can slightly burp sometimes now, and I’ve even had a few decent ones. Therefore I’m thinking that, unless the rest of you have led entirely different lifestyles, that the best thing someone like me can in the meantime is to do cardio, drink more water, take breaks from any activity simply to move around, and to uh… breathe deeper?
fun stuff.
February 19th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
oh, and RELAAAAAAAAAX. if anything makes the parasite worse, sorry, makes the PROBLEM worse, it’s being pissed at it.
February 20th, 2008 at 1:29 am
Hey guys, I’ve been suffering form this problem all my life too. Recently I got some severe nausea which made me lose 30 lbs in a month. I’m currently suffering from this nagging sore throat and occasional nausea.
Anyway, I think we should just accept the fact that our sphincter valves are extra tight, and finding a way to force belching is not the solution. Rather, we should focus on finding ways to release the gas at the other end more effectively. I find sometimes pushing my stomach with my hands downwards gives me some relief. Also, by breathing out before swallowing causes me to swallow less air.
On the plus side, does the fact that we have extra tight valves mean that we are unlikely to suffer from acid reflux or GERD???
February 20th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I have the exact same problem as everyone on this forum. I find it interesting that no one has a diagnosis for this although it seems to happen to a lot of people! I have never been able to burp on command, and very, very rarely, I will emit a teeny-tiny burp that actually catches me by complete surprise. I gurgle horribly and have these weird kind-of “hiccups” usually after a big meal and/or drinking carbonated beverages. When it’s really bad, I find it hard to breathe and the saliva in the back of my throat feels tacky. I have had to completely stop drinking carbonated beverages because it is just not worth it to me. There have also been times I have had to go home early after going out drinking with friends because I was so uncomfortable and could not stop hiccuping painfully. Anyone have those kind of symptoms? Never have been to the Dr. for it…my mom and sister are this way, too.
I have been told by many a guy that I fart more than a man, though. And louder. LOL…
I guess that gas has to get out somehow.
February 20th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
In response to Steve I know for almost a fact that these symptoms are not caused by a hiatal hernia, but you are definately not alone in thinking so. Before i discovered this forum I visited the doctor a number of times and was checked for a hernia, which didn’t turn out to be the case. So the search continues…
I have, through references and other things, found some promising doctors that emphasize in the upper sphincter (sp?) and/or in gas related things of the esophagus. So… I will bring a copy of this when I get a chance to have an apointment and keep you all updated if I discover anything.
As for it being stress related: I personally would not doubt it at all. Although my symptoms started when I was a care-free grade-schooler things have gotten SO much worse once I started college (and started stressing!). I’ve also gotten more out of shape once the college years started so as some have mentioned I think that could have an impact (in my case, anyway).
February 20th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
hey guys, just wanted to add some info: i am very fit and active, eat well, drink plenty of water, so i don’t believe inactivity is the case (if anything, exercise makes the gurgles worse). i also do have a hiatal hernia as well as delayed stomach emptying (gastroparesis). sress i think does play a part but is not the main component; however when i am stressed it does get pretty bad. maddie, i’m interested to hear how your doctor’s appointments go. please keep us updated!
February 24th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Hey all, just an update…
My throat is killing me. I’m gurgling every minute or so and the pressure from the gas is making my throat extremely sore. I tried to gag, but to no avail. My G.P. is also out of ideas, so I turn to you all for support. Thanks.
February 26th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Hey!
Im 17 and get the gurgles really badly…espec after drinking alcohol/pepsi etc..
i read up there ^^ that a teaspoon of cider vinegar is supposed to help get rid of the gurgles..has this helped anyone on here?
this is beginning to affect my social life and my education because im scared of going out or going to college because i keep getting embarrassed because of these “gurgles”, i cant do the dry heave thing because i have a real fear of vommiting and dont think i could bring myself to do it :/
February 26th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
All this time I thought I was alone, but as it turns out, many people have these annoying “mini-burps” that never seem to do anything but annoy.
I notice they get worse after drinking a few (2, 3 MAX!!) beers. I feel very full and ready to throw up. My remedy to this has been to drink mixed drinks or wine which don’t seem to cause the problem to be as severe. A few times I have gone into the bathroom to puke but only to have a large amount of air be released from my stomach! I feel so much better afterwards but I still have a hard time bringing myself to do it.
I also am a very muucusy person. I often have post-nasal drip and just always seem to have phlegm in my throat.
I am going to see a doctor about this but am going to cut to the chase because I know what I have is not IBS.
Keep posting!!
February 26th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
I’m just baffled by the fact that this is not a diagnosed syndrome or defect. It’s such an annoyance. Today I sat and watched my son receive an award. I had only water to drink, and a sandwich for dinner. And even with just that to eat and drink, my gurgles and discomfort was/were really bad. I wish I could excuse myself to put the finger in my throat. But I have a fear of throwing up or even dry heaves. I wish that we could have a little relief valve installed in our neck. I know it’s just a joke. But at times it’s just not funny anymore. Almost daily now I have it…and don’t know what brings it on. I am very active…go to the gym almost daily. Eat healthy. Very seldom get to go out and enjoy a few drinks. So why……. I have recently sent this forum to the Oprah/Dr.Ozz web site. Haven’t heard anything yet on this. I’m checking this forum every day, in the hopes somebody will have some great news…I keep looking and hoping.
Angela
February 27th, 2008 at 7:59 am
I am SO happy I found this thread because, like most of you, I thought I was alone in this. When I was a baby, my mom thought it was so adorable that I never burped; 23 years later, she has finally admitted that it is kind of odd. I get the “gurgles” almost daily, despite swearing off soda and beer (I love when people tell me to just drink ginger ale and I will suddenly be able to burp – yes, thank you, because I haven’t once thought of that in the past two decades.) I get so bloated that my mother repeatedly asks me if I am pregnant, and my mouth waters so much the constant swallowing gets irratating and I just want to spit. After the build up gets so extreme and I have that really loud burp to release all the pressure(which I call “the dragon” because that’s really what it sounds like), then I feel a little better for a little while, but the pain always returns. I have also found that sleeping will kind of “reset” everything, but of course it is almost impossible to relax enough to get to sleep in that state. The many doctors I went to tried to tell me it was “probably cardiovascular related”, but I sense this was just an attempt to push me off onto my cardiologist, once they realized I had one. While I was born with a hole in my heart, I (as well as my cardiologist) see absolutely no relation between that and the inability to burp; and, unless all of you here have holes in your heart as well, I think this thread has proved my theory correct. Personally, I don’t understand how any doctor could draw that conclusion, but like people said before, they just have no idea so they send you away. Finally, after years of bitching, my mother took me to a GI doctor and demanded that they do an endoscopy. Afterwards, when we sat down to discuss the results, he told me that he found a hiatal hernia. I got so excited because I thought I finally had an explination. I said to him so this is the reason i can’t burp? and he said “uh…I don’t think so. No, I’m pretty sure it’s not related.” Oh, ok well then that doesn’t help much does it? I wanted to scream. While forcing myself to throw up “the dragon” does work, I would so much rather have an explination and a solution, and I hope that if we all complain enough, doctors start paying attention to this.
One final note; I just wanted to share this story with you: On my third date with my boyfriend, we went out to a bar. I had two mixed drinks and was fine; then he brought me a beer, which I drank (I know, what was I thinking?!). On the way home, I knew the dragon was coming. Not wanting him to hear the horrifying noise that is my “burp”, I told him I felt sick and needed to throw up (that excuse makes me seem normal). I got out of the car, closed the door and was thinking everything would be cool (the radio was loud in the car and it was pitch black out so I didn’t have to worry about him seeing or hearing me). Unfortunatly, because he is such a good guy, he got out of the car to come make sure I was ok/hold my hair back and he made it over to me just as the dragon emerged. I swear it was louder and longer than usual, and I am pretty sure any animals that were near fled in terror. I was thinking “well this relationship is over/will he even let me back in the car to drive me home/now he thinks i’m some kind of demon” Actually, although I’m sure he was weirded out, he asked me about it (the same questions everyone asks – when you say “never able to burp, you mean never? Have you tried this? or this?)and tried to understand it. 8 1/2 months later and we are still totally in love and he is very accepting of “the dragon”. He knows when I am feeling gased-up and ready to explode and he does whatever he can to help. Sometimes, when I gurgle really loudly, he’ll say “can you repeat that honey? I didn’t hear what you were saying?” to try to lighten the mood. The unrelentingand uncontrolable aspects of this problem/disease/malformation are so irratating at times, but I’m so glad that I don’t have to worry about being silent around him – cuz when the gurgling starts, being silent isn’t really an option. Whenever he burps I’ll saw “ewwww” to which he responds “you’re just jealous.” And I really am.
February 28th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Hey everyone. My name is Julie. I have had this problem since I was 7. It got bad around age 11. It has gotten worse..here is my first bit of information.
This is from a blog I wrote on my myspace page hoping someone would see it and give me answers. I shortened it and changed it a bit. To see the whole blog you can go to http://www.myspace.com/alwayzhope and find it. Add me to your friends and message me too! We can certainly relate to each other!
Every time I eat (sometimes even randomly when I don’t eat), or do physical activities (especially swimming or dancing because I take a lot of deep breaths) my chest fills up with air and my esophagus/bottom of my throat area/chest starts to make these gurgling noises. They go on continuously unless I do something about them…and they’re loud too, so everyone can hear them. Every time I hear these gurgles (they sound like your stomach gurgling when you’re hungry only louder) I have to get the air out of my chest before my throat closes and I can’t breathe.
I go to the bathroom to stick my finger down my throat to force the air out. I have to do it a few times for enough air to come out to avoid an attack. Sometimes I can only make myself “burp” once, which isn’t enough, but if I keep going I risk throwing up. So, sometimes I have to leave the bathroom and go back after a while and do it again so I won’t throw up the first time.
This becomes a fear after a while, throwing up that is, because it’s kind of like playing a game with yourself…”How much air can I get out before I feel like I’m going to throw up?” Sometimes I do have bad judgment though, or my chest is too uneasy to wait for later to try again, so I have to keep going until I throw up just a little to get whatever food out that I couldn’t digest right, for whatever reason, that was blocking my breathing passage even more (I know it’s gross but I need to put details). I don’t have a phobia of throwing up though. It rarely happens, and when it does I just hate it. I know those few times it’s necessary though.
Sometimes when I’m over the toilette “burping” I can’t catch my breath and I get really scared. I make my boyfriend Lee or one of my close friends wait outside the bathroom with me sometimes just in case something goes wrong.
I guess you guys all understand how much this runs my life. I seriously spend at least half of my day wondering “Can I do this without getting an attack?” or “Should I go “burp” before I do this activity or eat this food?” or “Should I even go out to eat with everyone, because I know this is just going to make my body mad.”
I’ve talked to a few people with similar symptoms and they’ve all said mine are worse than theirs…and I’m only 19 years old. It has progressed so much these past few years and It’s gotten a lot worse.
It’s not fun having to worry all the time about how my body will react to certain foods, or to make people tell me ahead of time where they want to eat so I can prepare myself. I’ve had to leave countless parties early since 7th grade because I can’t breathe (That’s around the age when it started to get really bad). Block parties, birthday parties, just plain get-together’s with friends. I don’t even drink alcohol (thank God because supposedly this would make my problem a lot worse.) I don’t drink soda either…I never have…and I don’t like coffee.
I usually don’t tell everyone when I feel sick because I don’t want them to feel bad or stop what they’re doing to help me or anything, so I just tell 1 or 2 people and they help me out. It still sucks having to go through it to begin with, never mind having to involve other people. I know everyone cares about me and wants to help, but I’m just sick of needing the help. It used to be ok to just go to the bathroom and stick my finger in my throat and be done with it. Now it’s gotten so bad that I need help sometimes like when I have allergies or a cough. If I’m congested I can’t let the air out unless I cough up all the phlegm first. That requires someone to hit my chest a lot until I can cough it out…I stop breathing countless times before that happens and it takes forever. That’s the worst part. My throat and chest are so sore after this.
When Holly told me about this forum, and when I found others like it before this, I started crying because I swear I thought I was the only 1 with this problem (as did the people who found the same forums for the first time). For some reason a lot of the people with this problem live in the UK. On all the other forums I’m the youngest one and I have the worst case of it.
I always hope the forum’s last post will be the diagnosis and the cure, but it never is. It’s just a bunch of hopeful people searching for the same answer to the same riddle as me. I want answers. I don’t want to live my whole life like this, without being able to help myself. I have to keep forcing burps after every meal, and whenever I need to (seriously I have to do this so many times a day. I go to the bathroom more to do this than to pee, and I have to wait for people to clear out of bathrooms so I can just relax and do my thing). This is going to damage my esophagus if it hasn’t already (which I think it has because I have to do this so much more often than usual lately, and now more often acidy stuff comes out with my saliva like a warning that I’m going to throw up or something if I don’t stop).
I had so many tests done, countless tests, tried different medicines, and everything. Nothing works. I try to explain it to new doctors and they look at me completely puzzled, not knowing what to say.
The actual attacks are bad. (This happens if I can’t get to a bathroom in time or if my throat is already too closed to try to prevent the attack that I’m better off just letting it happen because it will anyways when I go to the bathroom to do this ritual. It is inevitable sometimes.)
Since it’s worse lately I’ve adapted more to trying to stop the attacks before they come which is just doing more damage to my esophagus. I had an endoscope (where they stick a tube with a little camera at the end, down your throat) and the doctor said she found that I had slight esophageal spasms which we assume just increase when I’m having an attack but we don’t know what is causing them and she said these spasms themselves are enough to be causing my problem and are probably in correspondence to the main problem that we can‘t figure out.
It’s such a relief to see this forum, yet such a disappointment. I plan to write a lot more here so you won’t be seeing the last of my gigantic posts ;)
I want to get to know all of you and maybe we can all figure this thing out together. Thanks for reading my post and I hope we find a cure.
I have a you tube video blog about this and I’ll be adding more soon.
you tube.com/gurglez
Clever, right?! J
February 28th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
MY YOUTUBE ACCOUNT-VIDEO BLOG ABOUT our MEDICAL PROBLEMS: youtube.com/gurglez
MY MYSPACE ACCOUNT-Message me :)- myspace.com/alwayzhope
My E-mail address: chittysmashboom@yahoo.com
Contact me. I want to talk to everyone and compare stories and find some connections! :)
March 1st, 2008 at 7:17 am
I dont believe this…it is 200am in the morning and i cant sleep because of this horrid gurgling and nausea. I too have never been able to burp and often after drinking alcohol have had to put my fingers down my throat to force up a burp. I have done it several times tonight but now just feel like throwing up. I have been to gastro specialists, had by gall bladder out and i am taking somac, and every other indigestion cure but nothing works.
March 1st, 2008 at 8:11 pm
HERE’S THE ANSWERRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have been unable to burp my entire life and I never thought i would be able to. I guess it comes easier to some people than others. BUT there is a way to learn. I was very frustrated by the responses I found on this forum, no real solutions… well here it is. After drinking soda or swallowing air, don’t try to exhale and force it out, instead, take a very slow and deep breath IN. And upon inhalation, gas should escape, very small and weak at first but trust me, they will grow. I really hope this could help anyone.
March 1st, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Hey Dave, thanks for the post but I need more information on the process. Do you mean immediately after swallowing soda, hold your breath and breathe slowly in? Do you breathe in while you swallow?
Do you breathe in the second breath with your nose or mouth? How slow is very slow (ie. 3-4 seconds?)
What is your head and neck position? Thanks.
March 4th, 2008 at 12:32 am
Dave – Thanks, but that doesn’t help me. It may seem like gas escaping, but if you can’t smell it or taste, it, it’s not a burp!
I took the email thread to my doctor today, and she was not very interested. She said that she would ask the gastroenterologist, but didn’t need any extra reading material. It’s just gas, after all. I did a lot of persuading too!!! She mentioned that the tight upper throat muscle might be due to anxiety. Is everyone here anxious? yeah, me neither. She also said it could be due to a swallowing disorder in which you swallow too much air. That doesn’t really explain not being able to get rid of the air through the throat. Meditation? Tried it, didn’t work.
Julie Ann – appreciate your story! Nothing found at youtube/gurglez in videos.
Someone mentioned something about breathing problems – I had/have that too, but realize that we enough O2, so it’s not a physiological prolem, just the feeling that we can’t breathe in all the way. breathing out is fine, and I’ve taken all of the Pulmonary Function tests (PFTs), and I’m fine (but it’s hard to accept). Some might not be attune to this, as you might not be as athletic or as sensitive to breathing issues.
I will hound my doctor, and get as much info as I can. I asked if there was a drug that could relax the upper sphincter, and she said no.
Someone stated that we are LESS likely to get GERD… that’s no the case — we are more likely because if there is pressure that cannot be released through the upper sphincter, the lower sphincter will open and the liquid in the stomach always wins over the air in the esophagus – it will flow.
Sorry to sound like a know-it-all, but I’ve been dealing with this for 20 years.
I than everyone for posting on this! Please bring the issue to your docs. Type out whatever you can about your condition and hand it to them! Everything from your family history to your diet, and all of the social and physiological implications of living with such a problem.
And no more sticking your finger down your throat – that reflex is for choking and purging something doesn’t belong. You might desensitize it, and they’ll call you “deep throat.”
Sorry, I couldn’t resist!!!
Anybody can email me with stories/questions.
I am educated, but still stupid!
Gabe
gabriel.j.restine@gmail.com
March 4th, 2008 at 12:51 am
Oh, try this for the hiccups: 16 continuous gulps of COLD water – no stopping!
I read the post I made, and several letters were missing. It made me sound (read, actually) like a buffoon. Is that an animal? Whatever. Sorry for not editing.
What I am trying to find is a gastroenterologist that has an inability to burp!!!! Then they would understand the social implications!
Gabe
March 4th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Gabe – Well, can you help me with my sore throat? It only hurts when I start gurgling and its not the same pain you get from a viral sore throat. Could it be because my throat muscles are constantly spasming and thus making the muscles sore? Is it because of the gas pressure trying to escape through the throat?
Also, isn’t it generally the case that a lack of stomach acid causes more belching? In which case we should be discouraged from taking antacid medication?
If you don’t put your finger down your throat, how do you manage with the pain/nausea? Thanks.
March 4th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
I loved that someone sent this forum to Oprah. Why not try it? With those of you that have mentioned this condition being a damper on both your education and social lives, I couldn’t agree more. I left my senior prom early because of the “gurgles”, (although nothing I care much about at the age of 20, seemed horrible then! ha). I also go the gurgles during my ACT, (which could be a hint that it gets a bit worse with stress) and as a result all I could think about was how much I must have been a distraction to everyone around me! My friends poke fun of the noises, which doesn’t bother me, but it gets hard when they don’t necessarily understand how very painful it is.
Not sure if this is the case with others, but my gurgles almost always (unless they are at their worst) go away almost instantly when I lay flat on my back (not on my side or stomach). I find this rather odd, anyone similar? If not, try it, see what happens.
As for the cider vinager, I’ve tried that a couple times, getting past the taste is tough, and thus far it hasn’t helped, although I plan on trying it a few more times before throwing in the towel.
March 4th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Maddie,
I’m the one who sent this to the Oprah show. As of yet, no reply. But as I wrote before, I get instant relief if I lay flat on my back. But I have to do this for at least 20 minutes or so.
March 5th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Just a few thoughts… you know the medical community dismisses this problem we share as mostly fluff or psychological; having never encountered it or their inabilty to understand the dynamics and severity of this daily problem.
Have any of you seen the show Mystery Diagnosis? If you’ve ever watched the show, the person with the medical problem is often ignored by doctors, misdiagnosed or even blamed and written off until they are almost on their death bed, then finally a certain specialist diagnoses the problem and treatment begins. This scenerio will continuue to happen to us because no one has ever taken this problem seriously… there is no specialist. We will have to use our resources from the internet, collective doctor visits, to seaching for the anatomy of a belch, possible x-ray video of a throat burping, esophagus and swallowing video to find our possible solution. I believe the problem for us is that the throat muscle that allows a burp has atrophied from lack of or inability to function properly and the diameter of the esophagus is too small… and therefore, the possible solution will be something like an angioplasty whereby the Dr. inserts a balloon down the throat to stretch the esophagus and with practice we will learn to burp.
Just some thoughts on the subject because we will have to be persistent in exploring the subject for possible solutions and not give up. Maybe the show Mystery Diagnosis would be interested in our dilemma… although I’m most certain they’d dismiss it because its never been diagnosed by a doctor. Oh well, I hope there is a big effortless belch in your near future!
March 5th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Gabe,
Thanks for reading my post :)
You have to type http://www.youtube.com/gurglez in the search bar. It should work.
If you do want to go straight to youtube and search the video’s you can type in
gurglez julie
and my first/main video will show up.
Also, To whoever commented my video on youtube and gave me the information about this forum, I’m already here and this is me! lol Thanks for the info anyways and I look forward to getting to know you and everyone here.
I’ll definitely post more info soon, and I also will be posting another video blog on youtube. Someone else found my youtube video blog and wrote to me. I will be telling her to visit this forum when I speak with her.
Talk to you all soon!
March 6th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Angela,
I too get instant relief upon laying on my back… feels so nice… takes 15-30 minutes though.
March 6th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Angela, Matthew, and all others,
I also get relief from laying flat on my back. I do this after swimming or physical activity if I’m feeling extremely sick and having trouble breathing from it. It helps, but as soon as I get up I only have a small amount of time to get to a bathroom/release the air before I get the breathing difficulties again.
This helps so much when I am in a car and I get it, I can recline my chair back and I’m all better until I get home or to a restroom!
Also, while I was still in high school I had this problem…I had to lay back in the nurses because I couldn’t breathe good and I couldn’t talk while having difficulty breathing…finally I managed to tell the nurse that I needed to lay on my back to breathe. She proceeded to laugh and say something like “you’re having a panic attack, and laying on your back when you’re not breathing correctly is the worst thing!” I had to lean farrr back in my chair to be able to breathe even a little. I told her my doctor wanted me to lay on my back when this happens and she did not believe me telling me I needed a note for proof…then she went and waited in the hallway and talked to teachers about Christmas gifts and laughed, joked, while I was in there in the middle of an attack…I should have just layed on the floor, and I don’t know why I didn’t. lol That would have showed her.
Gasping for air I sat there until my mom picked me up…My Mom got so mad at the nurse…My Mom had even told her over the phone to lay me back until she got there…and the nurse said no.
So, We got a doctors note that day, and I brought it to school the next day…and the nurse was so baffled. She made a “I don’t believe this. So ridiculous” kind of smirk and took the note. She never even apologized…But, I got to lay down next time. :)
March 6th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
MikeMike – the sore throat thing could be caused by post-nasal drip occurring due to the pressure from the gases unable to escape; or from acid in the esophagus. I’m not a doctor, but try a nasal spray and see if it goes away after a few days.
Julie Anne – saw the YouTube video! Priceless! So cool that you made it! I told my doctor about it… but I’m sure she doesn’t care. Also, I have had the sensation of difficulty breathing too, but make sure you don’t have Asthma before heeding my advice. Mine was only the sensation of not being able to breathe. It felt like I couldn’t breathe in all the way, and so I would hyperventilate if I tried too hard. Clammy hands, numbness, dizziness – the same as Asthma, but not dangerous. When it starts, lie (yes, lie – not lay) on your back and relax. Concentrate on your neck and shoulder muscles loosening up; and breathe slowly. Breathing into a paper bag for 2 minutes might help.
Matthew – yes, lying on my back immediately makes the gurgles go away! It doesn’t take 15 or 20 minutes. It’s my only escape when it gets bad.
John – Mystery Diagnosis sounds interesting! Let’s contact those people! I want a cure for this – no more fingers down the throat!
Do other people feel tightness in their throat? Does meditation help, and relaxing neck muscles? Try it!
March 6th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
I just sent a request on the Discovery.com web site. http://extweb.discovery.com/viewerrelations
We’ll see if they respond.
And btw, swimming is the worst!!! Someone mentioned that. When I swim, I feel like I can’t breathe. It’s terrible.
Hang in there, gurglers!!!!
March 7th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
I am gurgling right now and decided to finally google the problem (although I call it “croaking”). So here I am. I am a little disappointed that there really are no solutions, but it is nice to know I am not alone. This croak is for all of you!
March 7th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
I guess the one difference I have from the symptoms most of you are describing is that I don’t generally have breathing problems with the “gurgles”. My condition of whatever this is seems to be full-blown despite this symptom.
hm.
March 7th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Also, I know this has been brought up before, but I also get really bad hiccups. Not frequently by any means but when I do get them they’re loud, high-pitched, last for a long time, and very often painful.
March 7th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Hiccups are your natural stomach response telling you its full and needs relief (a burp). I hiccup loudly daily too, but relieve myself if they get prolonged. I’m most certain everyone here hiccups more or louder than most others. I usually just have one or 2 together several/many times a day. Its a symptom of the larger problem we all seek resolution.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
There is a NAME FOR OUR CONDITION!!!!!
…FOR REAL THIS TIME!
GO HERE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8aMsYMLbEI
go to that link!
It’s my new video blog on youtube.
It is VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION that you will all want to know!
I am finding out more and will update ASAP!
:)
YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!
MY E-MAIL IS TO THE RIGHT OF THE VIDEO in the information area and you can e-mail me for the article.
My e-mail address, if you can’t find it there, is chittysmashboom@yahoo.com
The video is a little shakey because I was sooo excited and jumpy while recording it!
This is wonderful news for all of us, and even though there is still so much more to learn and research, at least we have a name and a little information!
TELL ALL YOUR DOCTORS! WOOHOO!!!!! :)
See ya!!! :)
-Julie
March 7th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Gabe,
I do lay on my back and do all that stuff to relax and breathe easier.
Also, I have been tested for asthma and it I definitely don’t have it. An inhaler actually made the problem worse when they told me to try it as a last resort. I tried 3 types and and all 3 kinds were ineffective.
PS: READ THE ABOVE POST!!!!! ;) YAYYY!!! :) WOOHOO! :) :) :)
lol =P
Sooo happy :]
-Julie
March 7th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
I found this article – it explains belching. Which it what we can’t do.
I think our problem is that our larynx does not raise to relax our upper esophageal sphincter so air can pass from the esophogus to our throat.
Now if we can find a doctor or medicine to correct this problem.
MedicineNet.com/intestinal_gas_Belching_bloating
What causes belching?
The ability to belch is almost universal. Belching, also known as burping, is the act of expelling gas from the stomach out through the mouth. The usual cause of belching is a distended (inflated) stomach caused by swallowed air. The distention of the stomach causes abdominal discomfort, and the belching expels the air and relieves the discomfort. The common reasons for swallowing large amounts of air (aerophagia) are gulping food or drink too rapidly, anxiety, and carbonated beverages. People are often unaware that they are swallowing air. “Burping” infants during bottle or breast feeding is important in order to expel air in the stomach that has been swallowed with the formula or milk.
Excessive air in the stomach is not the only cause of belching. For some people, belching becomes a habit and does not reflect the amount of air in their stomachs. For others, belching is a response to any type of abdominal discomfort and not just to discomfort due to increased gas. Everyone knows that when they have mild abdominal discomfort, belching often relieves the problem. This is because excessive air in the stomach is often the cause of mild abdominal discomfort. As a result, people belch whenever mild abdominal discomfort is felt-whatever the cause.
Belching is not the simple act that many people think it is. Belching requires the coordination of several activities. The larynx must be closed-off so that any liquid or food that might return with the air from the stomach won’t get into the lungs. This is accomplished by voluntarily raising the larynx as is done when swallowing. Raising the larynx also relaxes the upper esophageal sphincter so that air can pass more easily from the esophagus into the throat. The lower esophageal sphincter must open so that air can pass from the stomach into the esophagus. While all this is occurring, the diaphragm descends just as it does when a breath is taken. This increases abdominal pressure and decreases pressure in the chest. The changes in pressure promote the flow of air from the stomach in the abdomen to the esophagus in the chest.
One unusual type of belching has been described in aerophagic individuals who swallow air. It has been demonstrated that during some of their belches room air enters the esophagus and is immediately expelled, giving rise to a belch. This in and out flow of air also is likely to be the explanation for the ability of many people to belch at will, even when there is little or no air in the stomach.
If the problem causing the discomfort is not excessive air in the stomach, then belching does not provide relief. When belching does not ease the discomfort, the belching should be taken as a sign that something may be wrong within the abdomen and the cause of the discomfort should be sought. Belching by itself, however, does not help the physician determine what may be wrong because belching can occur in virtually any abdominal disease or condition that causes discomfort.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Thank you Julie Ann and Susan.
After I posted my note about belching – I look up your Youtube. “Dysfunction of the Belch Reflex” THe name certainly fits our problem.
I live in Chicago and requested an appointment with Dr. Kahrilas at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. I will let everyone know how it goes and if he prescribes baclofen.
Thanks to everyone who posted – I really thought I was the only one with this problem.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
I just looked up baclofen. It seems to have a lot of side effects. So please no one take this until they see their doctor.
Thanks.
March 7th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Eileen that is amazing!!!!!!!! :)
I’m so glad you requested an appointment with him.
I want to do the same.
I am willing to travel from NJ to Chicago if he can help me better than anyone else.
Please, Let me know how it goes!!!
March 7th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Also, yes, please read the drug facts for Baclofen.
It is a very strong medication, and should be issued by a trusted doctor who knows about your case. In my opinion, I wouldn’t trust just any gastroenterologist with prescribing it to you.
-Julie
March 8th, 2008 at 6:23 am
WOW! thank you everyone for pulling together and finding out the name of our condition. i feel such a relief and so motivated to keep pushing on and figure this thing out. also i’d like to add that i have the stomach flu-and i never throw up-but when i first threw up the other night when i got the flu, the first thing to come up was a loud rush of air. so horrible and weird. unfortunatly it did not provide relief because i continued to throw up:) however, i googled “dysfunction of the belch reflex” and found this case study. it was done on a 22yr old male unable to burp who showed no signs of abnormality regarding testing. the full text requires a subscription, however. but hey at least we know there have been studies done. also very very interesting: click on this link and go to the bottom section! another study done on a 25 yr old woman with our same problems.
everyone please please keep posting with anything you can think of to help.
March 8th, 2008 at 6:38 am
about that previous research study: i am a student and used my school’s online research resources to log into the site and read the article. interesting yet provided to conclusion as to treatment. I’m going to past it here for anyone interested:
March 8th, 2008 at 9:14 am
I just want to say a sincere “thank you” to everyone that has contributed here… we seem to finally be getting somewhere! And thank you to Betsy for allowing us to continue using this site for our collective efforts.
So please continue to post any other medical information and procedures. This is the first bit of good news I’ve heard in my life concerning the dysfunction we live with and I don’t think this would have happened without the internet… we would have never found others sharing the same problem. Lets hope for a solution now. I will definitely fly to Chicago if there is a doctor that can treat this. Thank you so much!
March 8th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Holly,
The article you posted is not the 1 I read from Dr. Kahrilas. It’s so amazing that you found another article like this though!
I read one much longer about a 25 year old woman who was studied and had the same issues as us also.
You can still e-mail me for the adobe reader version of the article because I can’t find it anywhere else and it is way too long to post here.
There are pictures in it also so it is better to see the format completely.
Thanks for this new article though! I will add it to the rest of my information.
I am totally willing to travel to Chicago.
I’m so glad we are all getting somewhere with this!
I am still waiting for a response from the doctor and will let you all know when I get 1.
-Julie
March 9th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Her is the article on the 25 woman with chest pain from the dysfunction of the belch reflect.
She had the “gurgles” that we are all to familiar with having daily.
1: Gastroenterology. 1987 Oct;93(4):818-22.Links
Dysfunction of the belch reflex. A cause of incapacitating chest pain.Kahrilas PJ, Dodds WJ, Hogan WJ.
We report a 25-yr-old woman who suffered incapacitating chest pain caused by upper esophageal sphincter (UES) dysfunction. She presented with a long history of severe episodic chest pain associated with gurgling noises in her chest and was unable to belch despite feeling a need to do so during pain episodes. Fluoroscopic and manometric studies confirmed that the patient’s chest pain and gurgling noise were associated with dysfunction of the belch reflex. Although reflux of gas from the stomach into the esophageal body occurred normally, the extreme esophageal distention resulting from the gas reflux failed to trigger UES relaxation. Consequently, there was no venting of gas across the UES. The gurgling noise was caused by the gastroesophageal reflux of gas and the pain was associated with profound esophageal distention. A manometric study of the UES revealed absent or incomplete UES relaxation in response to abrupt esophageal distention by gastroesophageal gas reflux, so that the nadir of UES pressure always exceeded esophageal body pressure. The distended esophagus was repeatedly cleared by secondary peristalsis. To our knowledge this is the first description of chest pain caused by dysfunction of the belch reflex. We speculate that the mechanism described in this patient may account for a subgroup of patients with “chest pain of esophageal origin.”
PMID: 3623025 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
March 9th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Here is another article from Japan. I hope you don’t mind me posting these articles. I am so happy we have a name for this that I think a “burp” could be in my future.
: J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2001 Mar;16(3):349-51. Links
A case of inability to belch.Tomizawa M, Kusano M, Aoki T, Ohashi S, Kawamura O, Sekiguchi T, Mori M.
First Department of Internal Medicine, Gunma University School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan.
A 22-year-old man was unable to belch.
He could sense intraesophageal gas, but had no chest pain. An upper gastrointestinal X-ray series and endoscopic examination showed no abnormalities. Esophageal manometry showed normal relaxation of both the upper and lower esophageal sphincters with primary peristalsis during deglutition. However, bolus injection of air into the middle esophagus failed to initiate the belch reflex.
PMID: 11339431 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
March 10th, 2008 at 6:13 am
Hello Eileen :)
The article about the 25 year old woman is much longer than that.
Since I have the 1 straight from the doctor, I think that’s why it’s so much longer in adobe reader.
You usually have to pay for the whole article.
You can still e-mail me for the whole thing, with pictures and stuff!
chittysmashboom@yahoo.com
…and thanks for the second article from Japan! :)
We really do have hope :)
-Julie
March 10th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Thanks, Julie Ann, for the amazing info and videos! I am willing to travel to Chicago, and will bring these case studies to the doc. I will contact Dr. Kahrilas! We’re finally getting somewhere!!!! Sooo happy!
Also, inhalers made my breathing worse also! It was really noticeable.
Gabe
March 10th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Hey all,
So I went to the GP today and got an x-ray of my abdomen. Upon observing the x-ray to his surprise (not to mine) my stomach had distended to almost double in size. He had said that my stomach was the second most distended he has ever seen in his whole 20 plus years in practice. Anyway, he told me to do sit-ups before I goto sleep so I would burp but I kept telling him that I can’t burp and only gurgle upto the throat. Upon dismissing my condition, he said that gas often can escape through the nose?! Is that true?
Anyway, my throat still hurts like hell and my tonsil is red and inflamed. I tried nasal spray but I don’t know if its working. It may be acid reflux, in which case I’m going to have to get on antacids and have a hard-ass time digesting proteins and deal with acid-rebound after I stop. Yay.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
That’s the first I’ve heard of this condition causing a distended stomach, but it makes perfect sense that that would happen. Has anyone else experienced this? I’d be interested in finding out (once I get a chance to visit the doctor) if that’s happening to my stomach.
Also, I’m not sure whether or not gas can escape through the nose, but I do sit-ups every day and it makes no difference for me.
March 12th, 2008 at 10:12 am
If air was escaping through your nose, you would smell/taste it, right? I don’t buy that sit-ups thing…
At what point is the belly called “distended”?
I think mine is… paunchy? Sub-round maybe…
March 12th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Well if you think about it, it can’t be good for our stomach that it swells with air all the time and then back to normal after a good night sleep. My stomach swells to the size sometimes of that of a 6 month pregnant women. I have one question…do you all drink alot of coffee? I do. I was wondering if laying off the coffee would help reduce the air building up…..
March 12th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Coffee (bean family) produces gas when consumed so I avoid it as well as other things like fizzy drinks. Anyone that cannot burp will get bloated when ingesting gassy foods and drinks.
Air can certainly escape from the nose just as you can breath through your nose, but you will not release air from your stomach through your nose if you cannot burp… and you would be able to smell it as well. Doctors will prescribe all sorts of “normal” treatments for us because they don’t believe or understand that we cannot burp. Situps will just put more pressure on your stomach because of the inability to burp. The medical community cannot fathom not burping and don’t believe it, so they keep giving useless advice and dismissing our problem. Most all doctors (except for the few that are referenced in the above diagnostic emails) don’t believe the condition exists… so it makes sense that they cannot give you any truly good or accurate advice. They would have to acknowledge the condition in order to find a solution.
If you Google “peristalsis video” you will see various x-ray movies of patients drinking barium. You can see the upper esophagal valve open as the patient swallows… its right behind the larynx. It is this exact place where the gurgles float up to and where my ability to burp is hampered. Apparently from the last several contributors, there have been several people finally taken seriously and have had an accurate diagnosis, but still I have yet to see a treatment. Anyhow, apparently the stomach is sending a signal to the upper esophagal sphincter nerves to open when the belch is detected by the bloated stomach, but those nerves in the upper esophagus don’t get the signal correctly or function properly. Hopefully someone will eventually get a treatment now that we know there is a credible diagnosis from a persistent doctor… treament being the key word.
March 12th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Dr. Kahrilas said this to me in an e-mail. “Over the years, I’ve encountered a few others
and generally they do respond to treatment. No guarantees, but it is far from hopeless. And there
is stuff on the horizon as well.”
I was so happy to hear this and I thought I should spread the word to all of you.
March 12th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Also, I have an appointment to see doctor Kahrilas on April 30th for a consultation and May 1st. to be tested for a full day in the monomatry lab.
I live in NJ and I am going to IL for the appointment.
I’m so excited and anxious! :)
I’ll let you all know how it goes, and I’m sure many of you will want to do the same.
March 12th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Julie, did you tell Dr. Kahrilas about this forum? Just wondering what he said, or maybe you will tell him when you go there? I don’t think I’ll be going to Chicago, I live in Oklahoma City. But I’m so exited about this.
March 12th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Angela,
I mentioned that I found others on forums, but I did not give him a link to this forum. I want to print it out and bring it with me, along with the link so he can view it online as it progresses.
I will update you on EVERYTHING! :)
I’m excited too! …and actually I am BEYOND SO EXCITED!!!!! :)
March 13th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
I am bloated right now, and i got those little gurgles goin… it is so uncomfortable… what i wouldn’t give to be able to burp right now..
There are 180 posts here, is any one of them the cure?
Can someone bring me up to date on what’s goin on?
March 14th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
What I’m wondering now is whether we have more gas in our stomachs than the burpers do. I mean do you see people burping left and right to release the air in their stomach’s? The rate that I gurgle I’d be burping all day long. So is there something about our stomachs and digestive systems that is different? Maybe we lack enzymes or too much acid or something. It’s funny, I always wondered why my belly was the
only one to look huge after a meal and I’d hear people say, “I
feel so bloated” when their stomach looked lovely and flat.
BTW, I quit drinking my one super duper strong, yummy cup of coffee and it made no difference at all. There was a post a while ago by someone who drank raw apple cider vinegar (ACV) and it cut out his gurgling immensley. I’ve been experimenting with alkanizing my body and reducing the amount of acid in my stomach by checking my pH levels and modifying my diet a lot. The theory is that if you get your system to be less acid, which most people’s are, then it removes all symptoms of GERD. And gurgling is a form of acid reflux isn’t it? I was diagnosed with possible Barrett’s so I’m hell bent on getting to the bottom of this since I’m certain the gurgling must have a lot to do with the cell change. Interestingly too, only 1-5% of Barrett’s turns into cancer, so naturally I’m wondering if the non-burpers are those people.
I’ll be very interested to hear Julie Anne’s manomatry results and see if we can put or gurgling heads together to figure out a commonality between us. I’m not interested in taking the strong medication yet. I keep thinking there’s a cause for this that the meds will only mask the symptoms of but not cure it. When I had my endoscopy done my doctor said he couldn’t tell if I had a hiatal hernia or not. Why not? I’m wondering now since others of you have been told that you either do or don’t. I think I’ll have to change my GI doc.
March 15th, 2008 at 3:17 am
Oh my gosh! this problem describes me exactly. I’ve been reading and researching and thinking, it would be good to share anything we’ve noticed about this issue. Here are my thoughts
- I’m unable to gargle, I have tried but i just don’t know how to gargle. Does anyone else who suffers from the annoying “gurgles” also have this problem?
- I have the “gurgles” most often when I’m having hayfever at the same time (running nose and almost completely blocked nose…) anyone else??
March 16th, 2008 at 2:34 am
Does anyone else get nausea from gurgling?
March 16th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Caroline – I have been thinking the same thing about the air in our stomachs. I think that I swallow air too much, like an uncoordinated swallow. I have been experimanting with swallowing techniques, and it reduces the gurgles. Someone mentioned it on this site – take small bites, eat super, super slowly; move the food to the back of your throat, and concentrate on swallowing without swallowing air. It does help, but it doesn’t make all gurgles and problems go away. I’m sure there are people who swallow too much air like me, and they probably burp a lot; so does anybody else think they might swallow in an uncoordinated fashion? That might explain excessive gurgling, bloating, GERD, etc.
I’m interested to hear if alkanizing the body works. I do not have excessive pH+ or -.
I was told I do not have a hiatal hernia after my endoscopy, although symptoms are similar.
About the coffee – I get gurgles whether I drink water or coffee.
Katie and MikeMike – I have no gargling problem, including nausea, but it took a long time to learn because of an excessive gag reflex.
I e-mailed Dr. Kahrilas and tried to schedule an appt; and also mentioned this web site… but didn’t send a link. I’ll send one today.
BTW, are there any computer geniuses who can get a web site going for us? We don’t even have a record of email addresses or anything in case this site drops us….
Gabe
gabriel.j.restine@gmail.com
March 16th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Gabriel, I found a site where people complain of burping constantly and feeling bloated all the time. Obviously, there is something different about their physiology because they can burp but it made me think about the cause for all this excess gas which may be the same for both groups of people.
I too, have had some success with trying to swallow less air when I eat and drink and I think it’s helping a lot. I have also just recently experimented with making sure I wait a couple of hours after eating before putting more food in my belly. I read somewhere that the stomach only releases its contents when the bowels are ready to receive the food. I thought that maybe if I’m grazing all day long then the older food is not getting digested properly before the newer food is gobbled up. Also there is a theory out there that foods should be combined in a special order so that digestion can occur more efficiently. I’m not going that far with my diet but I think it makes sense in a way. If we are somehow not digesting our food well, then if you keep adding more and more onto whatever is in there, then there could be some excess methane given off. The most common thought is not to eat sweets after a meal, either in the form of dessert or fruit because the sugar can ferment when mixed with the food eaten during the main meal. Fermentation causes gas. I know I gurgle like hell and feel the most bloated after doing that. I noticed yesterday I was not bloated all day long because I waited for my belly to empty before adding more to it. I’m not gurgling nearly as much, but still a little. I am also taking enzymes and probiotics to aid in digestion. One more thing that I think is helping my reflux is taking a tablespoon of raw organic apple cider vinegar after a big meal diluted in water and washed down with some alkaline water. It takes a lot of the gurgles away and the throat burn.
How do you know your pH is balanced? I check my saliva and urine every day with pH paper and have seen a noticable difference in the urine pH getting more alkaline, but the saliva has been very slow to change. It’s actually more acidic than my pee which is not supposed to be a good sign. I’ll keep persevering.
Katie and MikeMike, I too have no problems gargling and I don’t suffer from nausea either.
March 16th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Damn…
Why am I the only one to suffer from nausea..?
So how are you supposed to know if you are suffering from GERD or acid reflux exactly?
I have no burning sensation in my chest so I stopped taking any antacid..
I heard there’s a procedure done by an ENT specialist where they inject botox into the muscle that wraps around the UES, so it relaxes it.. Maybe that may give some relief?
March 17th, 2008 at 10:04 am
interesting to bring up gargling. i’ve never been very good at it but have never really thought twice about it. caroline, those are some good tips about eating; i have a serious sweet tooth and end about every meal with some fruit as well as fruit throughout the day for snacks…i’m going to try rearranging those patterns and see what happens. i’m also going to try the apple cider vinegar because i noticed a few other people recommended it as well…but what is alkaline water versus regular tap water? mike, you know you are suffering from GERD if you’ve been diagnosed with it by a doctor via various tests. i’ve undergone every test available which have shown minimal GERD as well as a hiatal hernia…i’m taking no medication for either as nothing ever helped; most definitely because the “gurgles” are the real underlying problem. i agree: we should make a new website! i don’t have a clue how. anyway my email address is hscev001@odu.edu just for the record. keep posting guys!
March 17th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Wow!! I can’t believe I’ve found this page. I’ve never been able to burp and just gurgle instead. Its so embarrasing!! No one understands when I say I can’t burp, and thats the reason for the gurgling noises.
I’ve never got drunk before (i’m 24) because I physically can’t drink that much. I feel so sick and bloated. People think its the alchol that is making me sick but it’s not!! It’s the inablity to release the gas!!
And if I have drank a lot I feel sick, not as in stomach sickness, but it’s like a sickness thats further up, in my throat. I don’t feel ill, just exremely bloated!!
And the other embarrassing thing is that if I do release gas, it comes out the other end. Oh and I struggle to throw up aswell. I just kind of choke on it coz I can’t burp it up!!
Ahhhh its so nice to share this with people who understand!!
March 17th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
MikeMike, my understanding is that if you have frequent air travelling up your esophagus, whether it’s heart burn or a gurgle, it all comes under acid reflux. I never thought I suffered from it either because I only had heart burn when I was heavily pregnant. Other than that never. I didn’t really think much about my gurgling until I had an endoscopy. The doc saw some esophagitis and cell change and diagnosed me with acid reflux. Now that I think about it it makes sense and that’s why I’m doing my best to get rid of my gurgling. So I wouldn’t take antacids unless you have heart burn or it improves your gurgling. Antacids make my gurgling worse. I would try and focus on finding ways to improve your gurgling and nausea.
Holly, alkaline water is regular tap water that has had something added to make it less acidic. One way to make your water more alkaline is to add lemon juice straight from the lemon. I just squirt it right in my glass and then drink it. Some people add honey to sweeten it. The point is that are diets are loaded with foods that are acidic to our system. Without going into too much detail it’s all about the ash that’s left over after a food has been digested. Lemons, although an acid fruit, leave and alkaline ash. And apple cider vinegar is only acid until it gets digested. Then it turn to an alkaline ash. It is recommended that when you drink the ACV you wash it down with some water or chamomile tea and then eat a teaspoon of raw honey. The vinegar will burn your throat and esophagus until it gets to the stomach and the raw honey, must be raw and unpasteurised, will help heal the burn. The point is that most of the foods we eat are acidifying. I know, what a bummer! And over time this can cause the interstitial fluid surrounding the cells in your body to become acidic. To keep the body in balance the blood leaches calcium, magnesium, potassium and I think sodium as well out of our bones or wherever it can get it to keep the pH of the blood slightly alkaline. I have read countless articles and there are loads of books on the matter that state categorically that if your body is in a peak alkaline state, which very few are these days because of our diets, then we are succeptible to all kinds of aches and pains and illnesses including serious ones like cancer. It’s all a matter of keeping the cells in your body in a healthy environment. All cancer patients have very low pHs and cancer thrives in these conditions. I’m very interested in the theory because it makes a lot of sense and there a lot of studies to back it up. So, to keep yourself more alkaline it is best to drink alkaline water. My tap water is a pH of 5.0 which is very acidic. Bottled water that I’ve tested is the same. It’s hard to eat a diet that is mostly alkalining so I drink the alkaline water to help me along. My goal is to get my pH levels alkaline and eliminate my digestive problems and so my gurgling as well.
March 17th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Oops just a quick correction: If our bodies are in a peak alkaline state then disease cannot live in that environment. If it’s in an acidic state then it is the perfect environment for disease, which could show itself as digestive problems etc.
March 18th, 2008 at 12:24 am
Thanks guys for your advice.. Really appreciate it..
Sorry for posting so much, but I’m so unwell its taking its toll on me..
Anyway, I don’t have heartburn, yet I have a sore throat and nausea… I took PPI’s for about 2 months with little effect (I no longer take any antacids)..
I cannot undertake an endoscopy in the near future since it is usually 6-8 months waiting period in our public health system (I live in Australia)..
In my opinion, I don’t think I have a problem with acid reflux/GERD, and the gas pressure distending my stomach and getting stuck in the glottis is causing my sore throat/nausea..
If there was only something that makes the gases in our stomach change state into liquid form so it can progress through the intestines easier..
March 18th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Hi, all – I own the site here, and I’m not going to kick you all off prematurely, don’t worry!
In fact, I’m looking to see if I could put a forum in place & migrate over all of the existing comments to it. If it’s easy, I’ll take it on. And if not? I’ll update you all here.
March 18th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
betsy, thank you for putting up with us! has anyone ever been told they have vagal nerve damage? the vagal nerve is one of the 12 cranial nerves (major nerves in the body) and it regulates a ton of functions, from voice to stomach/intestinal/esophageal behavior. i’ve slowly been putting two and two together knowing that i do in fact have hypothyroidism (which can damage the vagal nerve) and gastroparesis (a result of damaged vagal nerve), and obviously the belch reflex is regulated by the vagal nerve…i also know that the vagal nerve plays a role in breathing, and i’ve noticed many of you have breathing issues. just thought i’d share this bit of knowledge to try to learn more about each other and find more in common. is vagal nerve stimulation the answer?
March 18th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Betsy – Thank you! You’re a Goddess! I’ll name my first child after you. If it’s a boy, he’ll be angry…
Holly – interesting idea about the Vagal nerve. I’m reading about it now.
MikeMike – Hang in there! I used to have nausea up until I was like 20, then it just went away. It’s probably just the gases putting pressure on the UES… Does the finger down the throat help?? I hate to recommend it, but I know that nausea will cramp your lifestyle. And I’ve heard things about the Aussie lifestyle;-)
Caroline – Do you believe that it is possible that our inability to burp leads to GERD and not the other way around? I believe that GERD makes it worse, but what if the excess pressure in the esophagus loosened the LES over time and permitted the reflux? Overly tight UES, loose LES, the acid in the stomach would create gases and also creep into the esophagus, making our problem more complex.
Also, what if the pressure in our esophaguses (esophagi??) lowered due to stretching or “distending” of the upper esophagus or even a “pocket” (I’ve heard this is possible) and the pressure inside was equal or lower to outside, making air passage impossible? Just an idea.
I’ve learned that there are hundreds of things that could cause or contribute to our problem. I think that Caroline has the right idea in treating the acidity; and Julie-Ann has the right idea in taking it to the medical professionals, who have the background to deal with this. The trick is to find the medical professionals who have the WILL and the SPIRIT and understanding to take this seriously!!!
Everybody who has this problem should make an appointment with their doc and FORCE them to take it seriously and read this Blog, or at least the part about Dr. Kahrilas’s studies in Chicago. Do it!!
March 19th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Gabriel, I think too there are miriad of problems that are possible with our inability to burp. It’s so hard to say what it may be for each of us. We do have a common symptom and so I would guess that whether it is a problem with the LES or UES or both, or as you mention some pressure differences or equality within the esophaguses (more fun to say than esophagi which is probably correct!), something is obviously not working right. So, yes I agree we should pursue our doctors to find out what it might be to see if it can be corrected or if we can make changes in our lifestyles to at least keep the problems to a minimum. We might all have different things wrong that lead to the same symptom I suppose.
My thought about the acidity is that that is something that could exacerbate the situation enormously. To answer your question, no I think our inability to burp does not lead to GERD. I think it is the acid levels in the stomach and some inability in our digestive system to break down the foods properly that makes the gas more prevalent and leads then to the gurgling which really is a form of GERD. My theory is that if we are able to digest food well and we eat foods that do not make us bloat up then we will reduce significantly our gurgling symptoms. I think the acid in the stomach plays a definite role in how our LES and maybe also our UESs function. A common thought is too much acid and bloating in the stomach loosens the LES which creates the reflux. Get rid of the acid and bloating and maybe our LES will function properly and get rid of our symptoms. Could it be that simple? Knowing my luck, probably not.
MikeMike, I’m curious, if you don’t think you suffer from GERD, what do you think your symptoms are caused by? I have read that a post nasal drip can lead to a sore throat which can be caused by allergies. Often dairy is the culprit. The bloating and distention that you mention along with the sickness in your throat do, I’m sorry to say, sound like GERD. I think an endoscopy will answer a few of your questions I’m sorry you have to wait so long to get one. I’m from Scotland so I’m familiar with the waiting game for a procedure. If I were you, since you’re so miserable, I would modify my diet and see if you get any relief at all. It’s worth a try.
Holly, the vagal nerve damage does sound intriguing. I’ve never been told that but I haven’t any tests done for it. How do you know you have that damage? Did the doctors say there was anything you could do for the nerve damage? And have you been told it could be the cause of your inability to burp? What are the symptoms of your gastroparesis?
Betsy, thank you very much too from me as well. This site truly is a Godsend to me too. I’m a technophobe so I couldn’t imagine how to set up a new site for us, so sorry I’m not much help.
March 20th, 2008 at 4:14 am
Caroline,
Thanks for the comments. It probably is GERD, but is it GERD from too much acid? Remember I was on PPI’s for 2-3 months but my symptoms were exactly the same.
If we are having problems digesting and breaking down foods, wouldn’t the stomach acid be an essential component to do exactly this function?
I read somewhere that GERD can occur because of a LACK of stomach acid production. In fact, apparently a lack of stomach acid causes more belching to occur.
March 20th, 2008 at 10:15 am
MikeMike, you bring up a good point. Stomach acid is essential for breaking down the food and yes, it’s very possible that some people have too little acid in their stomachs. To find that out I think you have to have the pH levels of your stomach tested and I haven’t done that. Another at home test is to take the diluted organic raw apple cider vinegar when you feel your symptoms and see if they go away or you get some relief. If you feel worse then you may well have too little acid. The symptoms for too little acid are very similar to too much and so often that goes misdiagnosed.
The thing about having too much acid is that if your whole body is too acid it disrupts the digestive process too. So, I’m not just talking about too much acid in the stomach, I think it’s a case of too much acid in the body which is constantly compensating for that which makes many of our processes harder to achieve. The body is always seeking an equilibrium and it’ll do it at whatever cost just to keep us going.
Another thing I wanted to ask you is, when you got off the PPI’s did you have worse symptoms? I too was on a PPI – omeprazole- it’s called in the US. It too made me worse in fact I never suffered from any signs of reflux except my gurgling before the pills. When I was on the pills it made me feel extra bloated and I gurgled more than ever. It was horrible. After 2 months I started getting terrible heartburn and when I called the doc. he said just to get off them right away and he would send me a prescription for something different but still a PPI. Well, I never took the pills of course. Since coming off the pills I have been suffering from acid rebound where the stomach produces way more acid than it ever did because it was suppressed for so long by the pills. This is the reason I’m delving into all of this because I still have a burning throat and feel the horrible reflux every day even though I’ve modified my diet so much. I would have thought I’d be better by now because it’s been over a month since I quit the pills but I still can’t eat many of the foods I used to because of the reflux. My thought on that is that my body got to be too acid overall and couldn’t quite get back to normal which is why I’m on this alkanizing diet.
I also I thought maybe I had too little acid as well before the meds and the doctor had given me the wrong pills. I do know that with this acid rebound thing going on that now I have too much acid and my body overall is too acidic. I have managed to get my pH levels more alkaline and I’m feeling much better but it still hasn’t gone away. I’m considering a cleanse next to get rid of toxins and introduce good fortification to my cells and gut. So I’ll let you know how that goes.
Keep searching and maybe something will crop up that really resonates with you. There’s got to be a really good reason for your symptoms, especially at your age for crying out loud. You should be feeling tip top and ready to take on the world.
Good luck and please let me know if you suffered from an acid rebound effect after getting off your pills.
March 21st, 2008 at 10:31 am
In hopes to clerify some of this, at least in my situation (which I realize may not apply to all of you) GERD is not caused by this condition and has nothing to do with it. I had what is called a Bravo PH monitor put in me for three days (very painful.. but that’s besides the point). I see a gastroenderologist at the U of M and GERDs was completly ruled out looking at the test results. Like I said, cold be different for everyone, but in my case, in which I am a true and long-time victim of the “gurgles”, I couldn’t be more sure I do not have GERD.
March 21st, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Well blow me down Maddie! That’s great news! I’ve talked to a couple of docs who said the gurgling must be some kind of reflux which sort of made sense to me but I didn’t want to believe it and honestly I don’t think they really knew either. Now that you’ve told us your outcome the question is what is our gurgling? Is it just air that has no acid, traveling up our esophaguseses?
Just curious what the pH monitor revealed. Were you acid, alkaline or just right?
March 21st, 2008 at 5:05 pm
maddie, i had the bravo test done too about 6 months ago! about a year and a half ago i also had an even more horrible pH monitoring test which i guess was less advanced than the bravo, and had tubes stuck through my nose all the way down my esophagus for 24 hours. both were ridiculously horrible, done for the purpose of proving to my doctors that i do not have GERD. each test was done by different docs-neither mentioned whether or not i was leaning towards more acidic or basic, but the human body itself is just more acidic in nature so that’s what i’d presume. caroline, i believe it truly is just air traveling up. i think that’s the whole mystery of it-if it were air & acid, it would be easier to find and diagnose i bet.
referring back to the vagal nerve questions: i have not specifically been told i have the nerve damage, i’ve only “self-diagnosed” (hey, that’s what we do here, right?!) myself with it after learning a bit about the vagal nerve in a biology class once. my gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying) is kind of another mystery to me-my doctor wanted me to have this study done which required me eating a radioactive egg sandwich (yummy!) to see how long it took my stomach to empty-apparently it took much longer than normal-they were very surprised i’m at a normal body weight & said i’d be as “big as a house” if i didn’t exercise and eat healthy like i do (sweet huh!). but i’m under no treatment for it and honestly don’t care about it-just want to figure out the belch reflex. i hate hate hate being so bloated all the time and probably creeping out the people sitting by me in class because of the gurgles. has anyone visited their doctors with dr. kahrilas’ study yet? my doc was polite, yet pretty uninterested when i printed out this message board 2 months ago that i’m too scared to go back with another print out. sigh.
March 21st, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Caroline. We have exactly the same symptoms. I was on PPI’s for about 2-3 months, and my symptoms became worse rather than better. After coming off the PPI, inevitably I got acid rebound also. I think this rebound effect lasts for like 3 months or something. I heard taking ACV may halt the rebound effect somewhat. Burning sore throat and and this gassy/bubbly feeling in my esophagus/stomach and constant gurgling (plus nausea on occasions). I think I’m going to try two teaspoons of ACV every day to see if I get better. If I do, I guess it means I had low stomach acids all along, and that the PPI made things much worse? What are you taking for the sore throat?
I’m currently taking this thing called “Iberogast” which functions similar to a prokinetic. Doesn’t help much though. Perhaps some may get relief from this product if suffering from gastroparesis (I have the reverse situation whereby food moves too fast from the stomach).
Do people here get some relief by actually eating? Whenever I feel bloated/nauseous/gurgling, I find that eating meals temporarily halts these symptoms. After the meal, obviously these symptoms come back (in a matter of minutes). Perhaps the food pushes all the air down the esophagus for the temporary relief?
My advice to all is to ask to get a normal abdominal x-ray done. I guarantee that the x-ray will show gaseous distention of the stomach. This will prove to the docs that your not crazy or have an imaginary problem.
March 21st, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Caroline- I didn’t get a look at the test result myself for the pH monitor test but what they compared in my test was if the pH of my esophagas leaned toward more acidic when my symptoms were bad. According to the test there were no major changes, so I think my pH is around normal.. whatever that is supposed to be.
March 22nd, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Mike,
eating does help it for a little while like you said. But I have noticed that eating a banana helps push the air down to my stomach a little better. Once the air is in my stomach, while it may cause my stomach to swell, atleast the gurgles will ease up a little. Also, I have never had acid reflux or hartburn. Once when I was pregnant but that’s it. I have noticed that I digest food very fast. I can eat all the time. But I’m not over weight.
March 24th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Hey everyone :)
I’m going to print out this forum and bring it with me when I go to see Dr. Kahrilas for sure.
I have been spreading awareness about this condition like crazy.
The more people who know the more chance of finding others like us and letting them know they’re not alone.
Please, don’t be shy about this. I used to shuffle papers and move my chair or desk around in class so no one would hear the gurgles…now almost everyone I went to school with knows, in detail, about my condition. I want people to know.
If I was so good at hiding it then I bet there are others who are too. I want everyone to know that’s we’re not alone.
I’m extremely hopeful now more than ever.
I have some experience in websites and also have connections with people who have a lot more experience than me…& So, if Betsy can not continue to accommodate us here on her site I will figure something out. Thank you so much Betsy for being sooo kind and letting us vent and collaborate here! :)
I’ll write more soon! :]
Byeee!!! :]
-Julie
March 25th, 2008 at 7:19 am
This website has been amazing to come across. The last comment here by Julie Ann about the paper shuffling in class. I’m with you on that. I am currently 26 years old and have exactly this issue. Today I found your site, and let me tell you it’s soemthing that I have wondered about, been embarrased about, and been in pain! about for years. I cannot burp. I can count on one hand the times I have done it, and that caught me by suprise, and was wicked at that. Any time I drink, anything over 5 drinks, I get the hiccups which are painful, loud, and unstoppable. I make parties more fun, my friends say – when they all try to get me to stop, scaring me, etc. The other issue I found really interesting from reading all of the posts is the throwing up. I have a throwing up fear. For sure. But when I get the stomach flu every few years or so, it happens (sorry to be gross) and that big wave of nasty horrible air comes out. Mind you, the gurgling stops, but who likes the stomach flu?!? Please let me know the outcomes of your doctor’s visits. I have not yet seen a GI doc, for the same fear that many of you share above, that the doctor’s dismissed it. My ENT has heard the noises though and thinks they are interesting and had never heard that before. (he heard it while it was quiet in the room while doing an exam). Does anyone else have a deviated septum? I do, and have not gotten the surgery yet, so I experience lots of postnasal drip too. Maybe they are connected somehow? I really wish the gurgling would stop somehow. At least my husband is OK with it now, but I can tell you when we first started dating, I was REALLY scared he would think I was a freak. Now he likes to burp and make me jealous! I JUST WANT TO BURP!!!!
March 25th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
I think it has something to do with mucus/ postnasal drip. I know I always had a pack of tissues with me in elementary school, and I’m quite allergic to many things.
March 26th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Steve, look at #193… what Holly says. I’ve suffered for all my life (49 yrs) with this and it has nothing to do with post nasal drip or allergies. I’m sure most all people suffering from allergies and postnasal drip can burp. It is a problem with the esophagus whereby the brain sends a message to the stomach that it is full (of air and/or food) which makes the gurgles (the air is trying to escape by float up the neck to stimulate the upper esophagal sphincter to open and allow a belch). But since our throats do not respond properly and the esophagus doesn’t open to allow a burp, the most likely problem is the vagal nerve’s message to burp is not getting properly to our our throats. But I’m not saying your condition doesn’t aggravate the problem, I’m saying the belch reflex is regulated by the vagal nerve.
March 26th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
I found it very interesting what angela (and i’m sure others) brought up. I think I digest food very quickly also… because I too can always eat. I am not overweight by any stretch of the imagination but I pack down food like a person 3x my size. Could be something random, but I always did find it weird, and maybe if more people also experience this there could be a connection.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
I’m one of those as well. I can eat a lot and rarely gain weight. In fact I spend most of my day planning and eating food just to keep my weight up. Overweight people say I’m so lucky but it’s kind of a curse in a way trying just to keep from losing weight, especially since now I can’t eat what I want without getting major throat burns. Ha, maybe there is a connection.
Mikemike, I’m curious as to why you think if you get better taking the ACV that it means you had low stomach acid all along. I too wonder if that was my problem before the PPIs and maybe that’s why we didn’t respond well to them. My doctor says that everyone he’s treated thinks the PPIs are a miracle cure, so obviously we don’t have what they had….right? Also, what makes you think it takes 3 months or so to get over the acid rebound? I’ve been searching for an answer to how long it takes and not found anything substantial. It’s been 6 weeks now and although I’m much, much better I still am burning every day. If it’s 3 months then that gives me hope that I may recover soon and be back to where I was before I took the horrible pills. Boy, was that a mistake.
March 28th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Hey Caroline, from what I can gather, the point of taking ACV is to let the stomach know that there is already enough stomach acid so as to stop secretions. This is basically the theory as to why ACV helps digestion generally, and if you think about it, I does make some sense (ie you would rather a tablespoon of ACV in your stomach to make it acidic than having your stomach itself make acid by hyper-secretion). This would help with the over secretions from acid rebound. I hope I’m right.
I think the fact that we did not respond to PPI’s, and that our symptoms got worse, shows that we were most likely to have had lower stomach acid prior to taking them. I had read from somewhere that the length of time for acid rebound is around 3-4 months after weening off. Might help if you started taking ACV to make the process faster. Are you sure the throat burning is from acid rebound? Do you have a sour taste in your mouth? It might just be your throat muscles being fatigued from the constant gurgling, or the gas pressure actually pushing the glottis upwards.
I think I know why I’m getting the nausea. I had an episode where, prior to having the constant nausea, I got sick with the stomach flu. But instead of throwing up when I should have, due to my fear of vomiting, I tried in vain to not throw up and consequently swallowed a LOT of saliva/air. I think from that day, my air/gas balance in my body increased to the point where my body couldn’t handle. Prior to that, I had no ill effects from gurgling other than just the gurgles occasionally coming up. Now I gurgle from the moment I wake to when I sleep, and I have throat pain and nausea. There is only so much gas you can pass through by farting, so I think I have too much gas in my system. How can I fix this??
March 28th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
nothing too insightful to add, just that i don’t think digesting food too quickly is a common theme because…i do the opposite. i’m thin and at a healthy weight but i can put on weight if i don’t watch it. also, how odd is it that most of us have a fear of vomiting? i had the stomach flu a few weeks ago and tried for the life of me to hold it in because i was absolutely terrified. do you think since we don’t have the belch reflex, it’s simply more painful for us to vomit because our throats aren’t used to that movement?
March 28th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Wow, I have gone through the same thing as everyone else here for the past 13 years and thought I was alone in the world until recently. My pregnant wife started showing the same signs abd symptoms which amazed me. They have gone away now that she has had our son though.
In my case it comes and goes. Sometimes after eatting I suddenly get really bloated and feel ill only then a short time later the gurgles start up.
I had gone three years without any occurance of it until the past few months. I am currently in Afghanistan with the military so my normal diet went out the window. The only thing to eat here are foods high in carbs and fat. Not what someone like me likes to eat but it is all there is to offer. Sure enough after eatting now that bloated feeling occurs and a few hours later the gurgles are on.
In the past no doctor was ever able to give me a straight line about what was going on. I went to see specialist that (like everyone else) said I was just fine or dismissed it as being in my head. Now thanks to this site I have an answer.
Like many of you I gag easily. I hate tossing my cookies too. Also I produce a lot of saliva (to my dentists dismay) and also thought that the extra spit was the cause of it all. No clue on that but at least now I know a name for this whole problem. I’ll rest easier now and when I get home I’ll ask the doc if he has heard about it and if not pass on this site and the medical journal entries that go along with it. Maybe others will not have to walk the path we all have taken and can get answers quicker.
March 30th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Holly,
I had to chuckle when I read your last posting. I don’t get the stomach flu all that much. But when I do, I can feel it coming on. I panic, because I know what’s gonna happen. I will do whatever it takes to hold it in. I will lay on the cold bathroom floor, and I will take deep breathes. Sometimes I win, sometimes I loose. Oh the drama. I have to wake my husband up at 3 in the morning, because I’m scared of being alone in this condition. Throwing up is scarier than giving birth. There has to be a lot of pressure from my stomach to force things out. And that takes a while, and during that time I can not breathe. The funny thing is, I’m a pretty tough girl. But when it involves my stomach I’m the biggest baby. I guess I never have to worry about becoming bulimic. No way I would ever do this on purpose.
March 30th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Thank god, I’m not the only one! Whoever is going to Chicago, please let us know! It was great to read those articles. I remember my grandma used to make this gurgle in her throat too, and I’ve been doing it since I was a kid (26 now). It feels like my chest tightens and air travels up to my throat but gets stopped at the bottom of…well, like at the bottom of my neck whatever anatomical throat region that corresponds to! It’s embarrassing and gets worse when I’m self-conscious about it. And there’s no way to stop it! Unlike others I have burped, I do maybe 2-3 times/month, but I can’t make myself. I would give anything to fix this!!!
April 1st, 2008 at 9:18 am
Finally- i now know that i’m not alone with this horribly annoying and embarrassing condition. I’m 16 and am currently stuying for some important examinations. The evil gurgling in my occurs almost throughout the whole day relentlessly and may only stop many hours after i’ve had a meal. Hell, the gurgles even happen after i’ve had a glass of water. It’s got to the point where i’m starting to fear eating or drinking anything prior to studying/ being in class or going anywhere that’s silent. It’s ridiculous, really.
I do also suffer from extreme bloating quite often and intense tightness in my chest (like there’s a lump stuck there that won’t go down). I’ve had the gurgles for many years, since when i was in primary school, but i think they’ve worsened over the past six months or so, and i do not have a clue why.
I have not done much exercise since November as first i was ill then was too busy revising/doing coursework etc. But they seemed to worsen even when i was still in great shape beforehand. Been to the doctor and told i could have moderate IBS.
The gurgling affects my concentration when i study and when i do exams, and they are only a month and a half away!
If anyone finds anyway to get rid of these terrible throat gurgles one and for all, they’d be lifesavers.
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:26 pm
How nice to finally know (after all these years) that many others also have this condition, even if there are no answers as to how to remedy it, or even what to call it. The painful bloating, and wanna-be-a-burp gurgling, has plagued me for decades. I will continue to visit this site, in hopes that others will continue to share what they learn.
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:43 am
wow all you folks can’t burp, and I just whine that eating bread gives me the hiccups every time. Just reading this made me burp! Some serious burp-inducing stuff is San Peligrino mineral water. Two swigs of it and i can get half way through the alphabet, at least…
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Yeah, the only way I can burp is drinking a lot of deer park
April 4th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Hi all,
So – I just got back from a Gastroenterologist appointment – one i’ve looking forward to like a little boy before his first Disneyland trip. First comment of the doctor was: “live with it.” I managed to push him to believe that it’s not just a thing i can live with, and after telling him about this blog and the Youtube girl (Julie Anne), i told him about Baclofen – which he prescribed to me.. i’ll keep you updated on it. I pray this will help..
April 4th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Sjonnie,
Did the doc see your stomach being distended with gas? I wonder if your stomach stays distended with gas, it might lead to further complications down the road….
April 5th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Bryn,
I know what it is like to have to take exams with the gurgling noises and the extreme discomfort.
I used to study for exams laying on my back, holding the book over me…or make a study guide on the computer so that I could lay on my back and look to the side where I put my laptop next to my head…and as for taking the exam in class…eat light beforehand…to give yourself enough time for the gurgles to dwindle and be a bit relieved before the exam starts. This way by the time you have to take the exam your stomach will at least still have food in it so you won’t feel weak, sick, or tired…But, you will also have less gurgling problems during the exam…and if that fails, shuffle papers or move your chair so no one hears the gurgles…because we all know they like to act up even more in quiet places. I’m sure we all have our own ways of camouflaging the gurgles and those are some of mine ;)
Sjonnie,
I definitely want to know how Baclofen works for you! I hate how gastroenterologists respond to us when we tell them what is wrong, But it is really because they have no knowledge of this condition.
It isn’t very known at all.
I have high hopes that one day soon this condition will be more well known. I’m really trying to get it out there more and I know you all are too.
-Julie (gurglez)
April 5th, 2008 at 11:55 am
MikeMike,
I want to find out more about stomach distension because I’m sure I have it.
I have always had stretch marks (slight, but noticeable if you pay attention.) I have never really gained/lost weight rapidly and I have been at a steady 140-145 for about 2 or 3 years now. I get so bloated after meals and even after drinking water or anything. I know that has to be the reason for the stretch marks. I’ve always had to wear stretch pants/stretch jeans/sweats because I seriously grow about 2 pants sizes after eating.
My closet ranges from size 5 to size 11…most commonly used size 9/10 and size 11/12. My jeans always fit differently depending on the day and the time of day. I can never plan my outfits ahead of time because I don’t know if it will fit me when I’m ready to wear it.
As of the past few months I get a lot more gassy than usual. more gas fills up in my stomach, sometimes causing extreme discomfort and making the gurgles worse.
Also, Even though I am at a healthy weight I notice that the left side of my stomach always looks bigger/slightly bubblyer than to the right of my belly button. I noticed this in my early teens when the condition was becoming worse.
When I get bloated there is a significant difference in the look of my stomach…Also, under my bellybutton a slight indentation has developed through the years, I have stayed the same weight, only now have a little indent and to both sides of the indent is where it looks extra bloated after I eat. hmmm…
Anyone else have any of this in common with me?
-Julie (gurglez)
April 5th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
http://www.rense.com/general67/theevilantacidmyth.htm
This seems like it may have a lot to do with us. Especially number 7.
April 5th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Okay, I built a forum for you all. I haven’t yet migrated over the existing comments from this post, but you can go over and check it out here:
http://mywhimislaw.com/cantburp/
I’ll be emailing people who’ve posted here to let them know it exists; feel free to spread the word yourselves!
I’ll also be amending this post and shutting off comments soon – I’d rather have the activity happen in the forum itself:
http://www.mywhimislaw.com/cantburp/
April 5th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Baclofen test – day 2…
No burp yet…:)
April 5th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Hello Everyone,
I went to see Dr. Kahrilas from Northwestern Memorial in Chicago – I live in Chicago. When I made my appointment they asked me to bring all reports or x-rays related to my “Disfunction of the Belch Reflex”
The doctor believes this is more common than originally thought. He asked what I did to relieve the bloating and gurgles. I said that by lying down the gurgles go away (but I also get ear popping) or that I stick my finger down my throat (yuk) sometimes several times to release the air.
He agreed with me that this noise may be embarrassing but as long as I had no other discomfort and I found a way to relieve the gurgles that was not much he could do. He did mention that he was seeing someone from New Jersey who as this problems along with chest pain and breathing problems (I am sure he was talking about Julie Anne).
I told him about this web site and gave him copies of the first couple of pages and the last page – I told him that I thought that this condition should be publish in a Medical Journal so that more doctors are aware of it and the name “Dysfunction of the Belch Reflex”.
I told him that I think my gall bladder was removed when in fact my pain was related to this condition. I remember going into ER with pain and the X-Ray showed a Very Large Air bubble in my stomach. After they inserted a Nasal-Gastic tube down my throat – I LOUDLY released the air and felt fine. But I was told it was my gallbladder causing this and then had surgery.
Dr. Kahrilas mentioned a muscle relaxer Baclofen which has side effects. He said a pharmaceutical company was working on another drug with less side effects that should be out soon.
So for now I am still gurgling. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask.
Eileen
April 5th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Eileen,
Did he do any tests on you or did you just have a consultation and talk to him?
If he did tests, what were they?
and yup, the NJ person is me :)
April 6th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Julie Anne,
He did not do any tests. Basically we just talked.
Since your problems are more severe and you are coming in from New Jersey I would think that he would more. How long are you staying in Chicago?
E-mail me if you have more questions. CFDKELLY@SBCGLOBAL.NET
Eileen
April 6th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
I’ll be there for a few days and he is doing tests on me. I’ll let you all know what tests when I find out. I’ll find out more when I get there.
I’m basically opening myself for any research and tests he wants to do…totally worth it because I want to find out as much as we can about this condition. I figure since mine is more severe than most of you and I’m only 19 I would be the best candidate for tests. I’ll be arriving in Chicago on the 29th of April. I’ll update about everything for sure ;)
I’m nervous, but more excited than anything, and frankly I’m just fed up with this. I know we all want to just be normal and hopefully something will be found to help us…maybe this new drug Eileen is talking about that is coming out…or maybe something else…who knows?! Maybe even Baclofen, How’s that going Sjonnie?
talk to you all soon! :)
-Julie (gurglez)
April 7th, 2008 at 1:00 am
Hey all,
So I’m thinking about taking some ipecac so I can empty my stomach… Anyone tried this?
I’m only doing this because I just don’t have the guts to stick my finger down my throat.
April 8th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Hey everyone! :)
We’ve already stared posting on the new forum that Betsy kindly created for us! :)
This one is going down soon and we all have to migrate to the other one, which by the way is organized into cool sections where we can talk about all the different aspects of our condition! :)
Go there and get stared on OUR NEW FORUM! :)…JUST FOR US! woohoo! :)
http://mywhimislaw.com/cantburp/
April 8th, 2008 at 10:56 am
MikeMike,
I have never tried ipecac, But if you try it let me know how it goes! :)
-Julie (gurglez)
April 8th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Oh my gosh!
I have always been intrigued by my ‘condition’ but have never asked a doctor. I CANNOT burp. And it’s finally driving me crazy. I make this gurgling noise and have been told it sounds like a frog or dinosaur. (how embarassing!) and after reading another post, I too have had an inescapable non-burp while kissing. My husband laughs it off, but it completely grosses me out & embarasses me.
Saying that I cannot burp is a bit of an axaggeration, I can… but it is typically followed by vomit. And it’s very, very loud!!! There is also the occasional random burp, which I never know quite where it came from.
Other than that, I have spent all my life sounding like a frog/dinosaur. I can’t drink pop because it makes my stomach hurt, and as much as I like a cold beer, cannot enjoy one without non stop gurgling.
I am finding it happening more than I remember, possibly because I am old enough & do drink alcohol… or it’s my age. I find that after some meals and drinks like milk or even water can sometimes trigger gurgling that can last for hours, making it impossible to feel comfortable or at all attractive.
And that worst of it, is that I can’t stop it. It happens all on it’s own, repeatedly.
IT’S DRIVING ME CRAZY!!!
If there ever is a diagnosis, please post about it. I am curious.
(and have only MET one other person in my life who like me, couldn’t brup!)
-all your posts were refreshing, I am NOT alone!
April 8th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
!!! WARNING !!!
I’m closing comments down on this post at approximately 10 pm on Friday, April 11th. Feel free to head into the forum to continue your discussions there:
mywhimislaw.com/cantburp/.
If you have problems using the forum, don’t hesitate to email me directly: betsywhim at gmail dot com.
May 5th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
[...] heard the story of writing an innocent blog post about how you are unable to burp on demand…and watching a whole community of non-burpers spring up around [...]