Constant belching

[Steph0875]

I am a 32 year old female. I am 5 feet 4 inches, and weigh 148 lbs. I have been diagnosed with hypertension for 11 years now, it is controlled with medication. I also suffer from anxiety and have panic attacks. A week ago today I began to experience indigestion, burping and pain in the upper middle abdomen just under the breast bone. I have never been one to experience indigestion except when I was pregnant (I have a 9 month old daughter). Over the weekend I took Rolaids, which seemed to help somewhat. However, 5 days ago I began to have the belching constantly and had no relief from the antacids. I went to the doctor 4 days ago and he put me on Protonix, thinking it may be GERD, and if not then my gallbladder. I began to take the medication 3 days ago. The pain in my abdomen has subsided but the belching is still present. Two nights ago I had a sudden onset of pain in my upper left back. It was so painful that I ended up in the ER where they ran tests on my urine and blood. Both came back negative for an obstruction in my gallbladder and kidney stones, they found nothing to suggest any problems basically. The weird thing was that by the time I saw the doctor at the ER, about 2 hours after the pain inthe back began, the pain was gone and I felt fine, except the belching. About 7 months ago my doctor suggested that I may have IBS because I was experiencing pain in my lower abdomen and having problems with my stools. I had three 'attacks' if you will that no one could explain, therefore the doctor suggested the IBS diagnosis. However, I have not had any problems since then, until now. I was extremley worried that the belching and pain were related to my heart, however all the facts seem to suggest otherwise (I can't help but worry). I had a stress test 3 years ago that was normal, I had an EKG just 2 months ago, so I know it probably isn't my heart. Therefore I was wondering if the belching could be related to the IBS; and if so, what is the duration of the synptoms usually? I have no other symptoms at the moment, other then the anxiety of not knowing what is going on. My eating habits have not changed recently. The only thing that has changed at all is that although I am usually only a social drinker, I have drank more alcohol (mostly beer) in the last few weeks then I usually do. I am a smoker (16 years) about a pack to a pack 1/2 a day (it helps to calm the nerves and anxiety). I have cut out the alcohol and I still am experiencing the belching. It seems better, not as frequent, but it is still there. Is this common in IBS patients or could this be related to my heart?

Thank you in advance for any information

[aak001]

I just finished my two weeks triple antibiotic course for the H Pylori and I just want to tell you no matter what happens finish it and don’t leave it. I suffered a lot but now at least I can eat normally it troubled me for weeks before I finally got tested and found +ve for it. The side effects of the medication might be hard I had mood swings and got depressed a little bit also I had some mouth problems due to amoxallinin but it all went away after a couple weeks after I finished the course without needing any medication.

[boron]

Be sure to complete the whole treatment regime for H. pylori, even if you will experience nausea or other discomfort from antibiotics.

If your breathlesness and heart rate epizodes are not different as ones you know from the past, then I wouldn't worry.

[Dusty2607]

Hi, I've just been tested positive for this and was being treated for gerd prior, howevery, was really getting worse prior as I would end up in hospital as I had a hard time breathing because of pressure in chest.  I just started my medication yesterday for the H. Pylori, however, a few days prior to being diagnosed, had a couple of anxiety attacks because of my breathing as I felt each time that I needed to take deep breaths or even if I do very little physically, seem I have to take deep breaths every minute or so and then notice my heart raising regardless of where I am or what I may thinking about.  Just two weeks ago I was working out and running almost every day, however, has since stopped as my heart rates takes quite a while to come down.  I had gone for a stress test the other day and couldn't finish as I felt I couldn't get enough air and had to stop, my heart took quite a while to come back down.  During the stress test it wasn't known then that I had tested positive for H. Pylori, therefore assumed it was from stress.  Anyway, this is only my second day on meds for H. Pylori and still find my heart rate going up when doing minor things after noticing myself taking deep breaths.

[ayri]

hi, first follow borons advise and get tested for h-pylori infection, a bug that lives in your stomach linning and causes ulcers, which in turn becomes gerd (acid reflux) if you do have gerd and continue to smoke, you will aggravate your situation, ill explain, when you take a puff of your cigarette, the smoke not only enters your lungs but also your esaphagus and when that happens your spincter or doorway to your stomach opens and closes everytime, this tells your body that your consuming food and your body starts to produce acid, so think about how many times it opens and closes after each puff, so quitting smoking will substantially help you. you would be amazed how many related illnesses are from gerd,i;e anxiety, panic attacks which in reality are acid attacks,and hypertension is sometimes related, when acid is produced your heart rate increases. secondly you should check for gluten intolerance and lactose intolerance which does produce gas hence your belching. good luck.

[boron]

When you say belching, you mean burping, or maybe bloating?

Burping is often due to H. pylori infection of stomach. This is very likely in your case, since Protonix helped your pain - which is from acid, bur not burping, which is from gas produced by H. pylori bacteria. Have a breath test, if positive, you get antibiotics for H. pylori.

Beer contains maltose, and when bacteria ingest it, produce a lot of gas. The same, in lesser extent, may happen with other alcohol, and also with sugar.