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Rotten Egg Burps = Projectile Vomiting

I'm a 43 year old male with a long history of stomach issues.  I take prilosec daily and have no idea what a "normal" bowel movement resembles.  Sour stomach, cramps, reflux and soft stools are just a part of life for me and I've been able to lead a fairly normal and mobile life in spite of these issues.

Six weeks ago, I went to work and took one of my kids w/me.  He loves going to the office for some reason and he had nothing better to do on this particular summer day.  Around 10am I started noticing that I was burping quite a bit and my son pointed out that something smelled like "rotten eggs".  I agreed that something did smell putrid and that it was in fact my burps.  As the day continued, the burps became more and more frequent with individual burps lasting longer and smelling even worse (if that's possible).  Around 3pm, I told my boss I wasn't feeling well and excused myself.  I drove to the hospital and the ER was empty.  Not a person in sight!  Wow!  I told the nurse that I was in extreme abdominal discomfort, nauseous and pain radiating toward my back from my stomach region.  Well, somehow that triggered the "high risk heart alert" which got me checked in in record time, and EKG, blood work, and who knows what else.  Eventually they ruled out my heart and I continued to feel incredibly nauseous despite the three doses of anti-nausea medicine they had put in my IV.  Once it was brought under control, they did CAT scans, x-rays and sonograms of my abdominal region.  They checked everything!  They found nothing.  My appendix, galbladder, intestines and stomach appeared normal.  They gave me two bags of iv antibiotics and lots of fluids via the iv. I just figured it was viral.  The next day I checked out and went home having missed a day of work.

Three weeks later, I started tasting the rotten egg burps again and about 3 hours later, I was heaving up my guts.  I'm one of those people who really, really hates to vomit.  I mean, I just wont do it unless there is just no option.  I will feel sick longer rather than throw-up.  I'd take a beating before willfully throwing up.  Anyway, it was an unstoppable force and it just kept coming.  My wife took me back to the hospital ER where they again performed many of the same tests which all came up negative.  They gave me anti-nausea medicine which worked a bit better this time.  Again, after 24 hours, the pain and nausea were gone.

Today, September 7, 2003 I'm starting to taste the rotten egg burps.  I can't afford to miss work tomorrow but more than that, I cannot afford to spend the night and tomorrow morning going through this hellish experience again.  It's just too much.  So, here's what I've tried.  I took 40mg pantoprazole sodium (Protonix) delayed release tablet and an alka-seltzer.  These were 2 of 3 ideas I found on this site.  The 3rd idea said to eat a lime or lemon.  I have to say, the burps do feel a bit controlled but I'm not ready to claim victory yet.  I'll post tomorrow morning and let all know if this worked.  God help me if it doesn't because for sure the medical community at large is not able to.

All of these posts going back ten years and not a single person has said they have been cured yet?  Please, if you have had this problem and have been correctly diagnosed and cured, post a response and let me know.  Or, perhaps you have had this issue and know of a means of dulling the symptoms?  That would be great too.  I just can't believe that after over 40 years of never having anything like this happen, now It has happened 3 times in six weeks.  Again, I'll post if my rotten egg burps have not turned into nausea by morning.

-Condor301


This discussion is related to Sulphuric/ Eggy burps and stomach cramps.
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I am only 19 and have suffered with these same symptoms since age 9. My parents had tried everything and now I'm on my own trying to figure it out myself. Gallbladder problems run in the family (mother, uncle, grandmother, great grandmother) so would not surprise me if gallbladder played into it. Like all of you, the doctors have not found anything. Trying another doctor tomorrow so hopeful someone will finally find an answer. Over the years the these episodes would sort of come and go on there own and also seemed to be linked somewhat to stress. I've cut back on the stress and the symptoms are only getting worse. The vomiting is the worst part as it is so violent anymore. The only thing the doctors have found so far is antacids seem to help control to some extent or at least calm the episodes to some extent. I also have been of my thyroid medications and since then it has been worse so it might be linked to that. Try having metabolism checked as they are checking mine again and when I started with the treatment for thyroid the episodes were greatly reduced to the point I barely had them. I know that fear and sense of dread when the burps come on. In a few hours time if that my stomach will be hurting so bad it feels like someone stabbing me followed by intense nausea and violent vomiting until the contents of my stomach are empty. Another case of sitting on toilet with bucket in hands with really raunchy diarrhea. I know I haven't found the answer yet but I'm not going to give up and I urge all to keep trying as well. Haven't found any foods that really seem to be the cause as each episode was something different, many of which I have eaten at least a thousand times before with no problem. I guess I just wanted to say thanks to all who share, don't give up because we will eventually figure it out, try the antacids like prilosec and tums (especially tums at the beginning of the burps, it helped for a while for me), and maybe check into gallbladder more extensive or even areas you wouldn't normally think such as thyroid or other endocrine areas such as pancreas that might be messing with your metabolism/digestion. Hope someone comes back with good news of figuring something out soon.
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im also in AZ and ive seen others are too...
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About rotten egg burp and vomiting and diarrhea. Hey did they check your stools for Giardia infection? It has the same symptoms that recur over weeks, months...the spores live FOREVER in underwear
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Hiya a the first time I had this a thought it was just a bug or a virus but this is the 3rd time av got it now and haven't got a clue what it is soon as I get that nasty taste of egg in my mouth I know am goin to be ill am goin to try get dr app because a really need some think anythink that can help am on 21 and never had nothing like this before
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Colonics or colon cleanse is the answer. We all have parasites in our gut and we need to clean our colon out at least once a month.
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Have been symptom free for 13 months. ;-). Pork was a starting point for us as we read a paper from a promising young Chinese student studying at the university of Edinburgh. After being tested for over 150 food intolerances and vitamins and minerals as per my other post, it is clear that we now understand what happens to the digestive system and liver function when eating too much of the wrong food. Ideally protein based foods or foods that put the stomach in shock and stop the digestive process taking place.
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