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What Causes Constant Burping?

Posted on Wed, 29 Oct 2014

Question: i am a kaiser member-i have constant burping-i'm a 78 year old female-with all the test i have taken-kaiser claims i only have one problem-i'm taking in to much air-the burping is shorting my life-i'm trying a glass of lemon juice with baking soda-before meals-does not seem to help-i'm going to try to eat papaya daily to see if it helps-i've tried every kind of anti-acid on the market-i'm out of solutions-can you please help?thanks-Valeria

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Aerophagia

Detailed Answer:
Hi. Regards.

One of the many reasons for burping is definitely Aerophagia meaning swallowing a lots of air. I know no one does this purposefully. The usual reason is an anxiety or stress. This may be added by a lax lower esophageal sphincter with the advancement of the age.

I would advise the following in such a case.

First of all you should get an Upper GI Endoscopy to see the condition of the esophagus for inflammation due to GERD like symptoms you have, stomach for ulcers and erosions, scarification of the Pylorus and / or duodenum not allowing easy forward movement of the contents of the stomach.

To continue antacid at 3 hourly interval;
Add Domperidone and such bowel motility regulators;
PPI or Ranitidine.
Request for a medicines related stress and anxiety, if you have.
Wait and watch for the progress of symptoms.
Take small frequent feeds
After Dinner in particular- walk around and do not be in bed immediately after food.
Lemon juice and baking soda may not help in such situations and better be avoided if not helping.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (4 hours later)

I had gall bladder surgery 20 years ago. Presently I'm taking Omeprazole 20 MG
twice a day. Have no problem with BM. I was told that I have stomach hernia.
I'm burping almost 24 hours a day, even when wake up and my stomach is empty.
I'm forced to release air from my stomach by placing my finger down my throat.
Otherwise I feel that I'm choking, but I'm not throwing up while I'm doing it.
I'm taking: Metoprolol 300 Mg. Lisinopril 40-50 Mg. Simvastatin 20 mg. daily.
Recently I had Upper GI endoscopy, and Food Release test with 5 hourly X-ray.
Several times in the past I was treated with stomach Pylorus, nothing seems to help the burping! I eat very small amount frequently, following all the rules.
Recently I lost 20 lbs from not eating. Thank you for your help. XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Can be Psychogenic.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your feedback, history and medical treatment you are on.

It is highly likely particularly in your case, the aerophagia and the resultant burping is Psychogenic if all other tests are normal.
Please talk to your Doctor about this angle of your problem, and an addition of anxiolytic or such medicines will definitely help to get a solution of your problem. I do advise such a patient a CT / MRI of the brain just to 'rule out' any problem.

You may also please try some home-remedies like sucking to honey as lemon juice with baking soda is not helping you.

I hope this advise will help you get out of the problem faster .

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (12 hours later)

what do you mean sucking to honey-
if you would read the other information at the top-i was trying this and it did not seam to help-are you for or against the lemon-honey-baking soda-etc.-

WHAT I WOULD LIKE IF YOU COULD GIVE ME A DAILY BREAKFAST LUNCH AND DINNER PLAN THAT WOULD INCLUDE BURPLESS FOOD-THANKS

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Taking honey sip by sip- slowly...

Detailed Answer:
I am sorry- but I looked into the sentence you have written above ( -i'm trying a glass of lemon juice with baking soda-before meals-does not seem to help-) Honey was not written hence I suggested.
Anyways please try to understand what I mean by ( no communication gap please ) - Take a teaspoonful of honey and take a small part on the tongue as if sipping, let it be swallowed slowly. Take a time to take small part by part so that it coats the mouth, pharynx, esophagus and stomach. You may please take 1 to 3 teaspoonfull before breakfast,lunch and Dinner, preferably 5 to 10 minuted before. This may help to get control over the aerophagia and resultant burping.

As I suggested please consult your Physician to get a prescription about anxiety / stress if you have. This helps in some patients. You will have to continue your rest of the treatment you have mentioned.

What was the result / report of Upper GI endoscopy, and Food Release test with 5 hourly X-ray. Was it normal ? Was the stomach hernia means Hiatus Hernia? Was surgery prescribed ?

About your another question ( WHAT I WOULD LIKE IF YOU COULD GIVE ME A DAILY BREAKFAST LUNCH AND DINNER PLAN THAT WOULD INCLUDE BURP-LESS FOOD-) >>
I would suggest you to take such things which you might have noticed to reduce your air intake and resultant burping. There may be some beverages and / foods which might have noticed to increase or decrease the burping.
You have to avoid Soda or aerated drinks.

Loosing 20 lbs in recent time is not a good sign. I can understand the plight you are going through. We have to try different remedies with a hope that something works. Our aim is to find a way to get relief from the problem.

Has you Doctor given you any medicines for this particular problem ? If yes, have any helped you and to which extent and time? Domperidone or Metoclopropamide helps in some cases as also some anxiolytic. Please discuss about the motility regulator medicines as mentioned above with your Doctor.

Please feel free to discuss more. Wishing you an early recovery.

Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj