Aa
constant belching...gerd causing aerophagia?
In early March, I started to get really nauseous after eating food. Then about 2 weeks later, in addition to the nausea, I started producing gurgling-sounding belches which I feel in my chest and throat. This belching would occur for hours after I ate anything. I would "belch" every few seconds and it continued for several days, at which point I went to see a doctor. The doc thought it was due to GERD (even though I hadn't had frequent heartburn) and gave me prilosec. After using it for 2 weeks, my symptoms hadn't improved, so I had blood tests and stool tests done; the blood tests showed elevated bilirubin but otherwise normal (doc thought it was Gilbert's), and stool was normal. Then I got referred to a gastroenterologist. Took Aciphex for 2 weeks, also with no effect on the belching. I also began to feel pain in my chest a lot and felt some difficulty breathing.
I had an upper GI done then and it showed no stricture or hiatal hernia, but showed moderate reflux.
Then he put me on Reglan (5 mg doses) and I got off Aciphex. Reglan originally helped a bit but got less effective. After about 2 weeks, the belches started to cause a burning in my throat. In addition, Reglan caused very painful dry mouth so I stopped using it.
In early May, I went home to see my family doctor. Then, I got on Protonix and reduced Reglan to 2x/day at most. Like with Prilosec and Aciphex, I didn't have any heartburn but I still had constant belching, nausea, and feeling of chest tightness. I don't think the chest tightness is a cardiac problem; I'm 21 years old, non-smoker, 150 lb, plus I had an EKG (normal). I went to see another GI doc and had several more tests done:
Endoscopy - showed mild inflammation around lower esophagus and in stomach, biopsies were negative. I'm surprised there was any inflammation because I didn't have any heartburn.
Stomach emptying scan - 86 minute halftime (doc said under 90 min was normal)
Chest x-ray and CT scan of chest and upper abdomen - normal
Esophageal manometry (results aren't in yet)
The belching/chest tightness now occurs all the time. I belch well over 1000 times a day, even though I eat very little. The only way to make it stop is to lie down. The specialist said that since PPIs and Reglan haven't done very much I should consider having stomach surgery to fix it. I went to get a second opinion and the doc noticed that a large amount of air was going through my esophagus when I breathe (not swallowing!), he said that's the only way I could be belching to such an extent. Belching doesn't stop even when I breathe through my nose or clench a pencil between my teeth, techniques to control aerophagia. I'm literally inhaling air into my stomach when I breathe and constantly belching it and I don't know how! So frustrating! Why? Does this mean both sphincters are busted? Would a fundoplication help or would I likely have gas-bloat? And would stretta or enteryx be effective/safer to try? Advice?
I had an upper GI done then and it showed no stricture or hiatal hernia, but showed moderate reflux.
Then he put me on Reglan (5 mg doses) and I got off Aciphex. Reglan originally helped a bit but got less effective. After about 2 weeks, the belches started to cause a burning in my throat. In addition, Reglan caused very painful dry mouth so I stopped using it.
In early May, I went home to see my family doctor. Then, I got on Protonix and reduced Reglan to 2x/day at most. Like with Prilosec and Aciphex, I didn't have any heartburn but I still had constant belching, nausea, and feeling of chest tightness. I don't think the chest tightness is a cardiac problem; I'm 21 years old, non-smoker, 150 lb, plus I had an EKG (normal). I went to see another GI doc and had several more tests done:
Endoscopy - showed mild inflammation around lower esophagus and in stomach, biopsies were negative. I'm surprised there was any inflammation because I didn't have any heartburn.
Stomach emptying scan - 86 minute halftime (doc said under 90 min was normal)
Chest x-ray and CT scan of chest and upper abdomen - normal
Esophageal manometry (results aren't in yet)
The belching/chest tightness now occurs all the time. I belch well over 1000 times a day, even though I eat very little. The only way to make it stop is to lie down. The specialist said that since PPIs and Reglan haven't done very much I should consider having stomach surgery to fix it. I went to get a second opinion and the doc noticed that a large amount of air was going through my esophagus when I breathe (not swallowing!), he said that's the only way I could be belching to such an extent. Belching doesn't stop even when I breathe through my nose or clench a pencil between my teeth, techniques to control aerophagia. I'm literally inhaling air into my stomach when I breathe and constantly belching it and I don't know how! So frustrating! Why? Does this mean both sphincters are busted? Would a fundoplication help or would I likely have gas-bloat? And would stretta or enteryx be effective/safer to try? Advice?
A related discussion, constant belching was started.
A related discussion, Burping & Belching was started.
A related discussion, are the profesional belchers and burpers still out there was started.
A related discussion, Baclofen and Belching was started.
A related discussion, Child burping and spitting up with belly pain was started.
A related discussion, Can anyone help? was started.
You are reading content posted in the Digestive Disorders / Gastroenterology Forum
Learn which OTC medications can help relieve your digestive troubles.
Is a gluten-free diet right for you?
Discover common causes of and remedies for heartburn.
This common yet mysterious bowel condition plagues millions of Americans
Don't get burned again. Banish nighttime heartburn with these quick tips
Get answers to your top questions about this pervasive digestive problem
