Chronic Belching!!! Please Help

Hey Guys,

I have a chronic belching problem. I literally belch after meal, after drinking even plain water, on an empty stomach, and when I wake up first thing in the morning. I know belching is associated with reflux, but the amount I am belching suggests there is more going on than just reflux.

Does anyone have any idea what could cause this? It's causing me alot of distress and feel like I will never be able to solve this problem. Even my gastro cannot tell me what is causing this..well then who can?

Thanks for listening

Like you, I used to belch from plain water.  I don't get heartburn.  Nexium has helped me more than Prilosec, and I have made many lifestyle changes, including the Kouffman diet.  Mostly I only belch now if I eat something high fat or very acidic.

The interesting thing is that I was given a breath test for H. Pylori which came back positive. However, my endoscopy showed that I didn't have it. Is it possible the breath test was possible for other bacteria? I have been following the dropping acid for a while, and it made no difference in my belching. Even though I have LPR, I am starting to think that my belching isn't related to reflux because it happens all the time even on an empty stomach. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't belch repeatedly after water, meals, on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning, or in between. Is there anything else that I could be tested for?


Thanks

Wow, so you've seen a decrease in your belching? My mother and sister both have gallbladder disease so I wouldn't be surprised if the functioning is impaired. Did you have any symptoms directly related to the gallbladder? Also, has removing your gallbladder helped your reflux too?

Hi,
I don't know what state my gallbladder is in...but I do know that I also have a burping and hiccuping problem--actually sort of silent ones, if you know what I mean. I was told that this is very common in GERD/LRP. My worst burping and hiccuping occurs first thing in the morning when I get up and after I eat. It makes no sense... Perhaps this is just another part of your specific reflux?

Hi Cindy ,

It's nothing I experienced, and is actually the opposite of your problem, and the problem most experience.  At least she won't get bloating!  Has she called her surgeon's office to see what they say. 

I have read that forcing burps can be possibly damaging to a wrap, and that healing patients should avoid burping on purpose.  I only read that on one surgeon's post-Nissen recommendation, but it's worth checking in to.

Obviously her stomach has been through a lot and producing gas is a byproduct.  Is she avoiding all the gas-producing things like straws, chewing with her mouth open, talking while eating, gassy foods?

I'd definitely recommend she check with her surgeon regarding the issue.  I haven't really heard of excessive burping...maybe someone else here has.  As I said, at least she doesn't have the dreaded bloating!

Hope you're having a good day!

Cheers!

Denise

Cindy,

For some reason I think more than just reflux is going on with me. There are alot of people I know who have GERD/LPR who don't burp at all, yet I cannot stop ever. Although I know everyone is different, I'm confused what connection non-stop belching would have to LPR, especially because it occurs regardless of my diet, whether I ate or not, and even after plain water. It's so very frustrating =(

Hi Faith,

I'm sure Denise is right - wise advice. Sounds like there's a reasonable chance you have Helicobacter, and that's one cause of GERD which is easily treatable, so I personally wouldn't hesitate. I so wished I had Helicobacter - I was majorly disappointed when all my tests were negative!! The second test may have been skewed by taking proton pump inhibitors. I would go back to your GP/PCP and confess to not having taken the antibiotics and say you would like to do it now, to rule out Helicobacter being the main contributing factor to your symptoms - and burping is such a classic Helicobacter symptom!

I've tolerated some heavy duty antibiotics for my chest in the past, with very little effect on my stomach - and don't forget you get to have double the ppi dose during the Helicobacter treatment. You could stock up on a good quality probiotic and an anti-thrush tablet (sorry........ but you're likely to need it!) to start straight after.

That's what I'd do anyway - I'd have been celebrating if I'd had a positive Helicobacter test - way better than "it's all normal, we don't know what's wrong with you!!"

Let us know how you do.

MMM

Hey Mud,

I did tell my gastro I never took the antibiotics, he said that's a good thing because the biopsies were negative and I had the breath test a few months prior.

Even if I don't have H. Pylori, I wonder if the antibiotics would the belching anyway? Maybe I have some other kind of bacteria?

Faith, I see what you are saying. So did they say the breath test was a false positive then basically?

You could try probiotics anyway, some people find them helpful. Also, I know the general advice says to avoid peppermint, but I find sucking a mint very helpful myself. I haven't been brave enough to try peppermint oil capsules . . . but I do wonder if it would help me.

As I say, my burping did calm down after a couple of months on ppis. I hope you find something to relieve this particular symptom.

MMM

Hey faith,

How do you feel when you wake up?

Meaning your mouth and throat?

I know you have this belching all the time but how do you wake up in the mornings?
Do you had a bitter taste?
No taste?
Normal?
Acid taste?

Just curious to know.
Cause I have ongoing belching too.

I have a bitter taste when I wake up. And I also sore throat in the morning and days with belching the whole day.

James1858,

Sorry to hear that you suffer with this problem too. I have LPR reflux and I am sure that at least part of my belching is related to this problem. However, I don't experience the wheezing you describe but GI issues could definitely cause this. Have you been checked for H. Pylori or LPR?