Constant forced belching, feeling of air stuck in chest/throat (Acid Reflux/GERD diagnosed)

Digestive health
1

Hi All,

This is my first time doing this so I want to try to be as detailed as possible, as I have gone through several doctors and am simply not satisfied with my current situation and honestly don't know what else to do.

Note: I am a 26 year old male, have always loved sports/weight lifting. I still lift on a regular basis but cannot do cardio exercises like running because it bothers me/my breathing/burns sometimes.

It all started about one year ago when I woke up in the middle of the night feeling like I couldn't breathe. I went to the ER after about 2 days I was having a hard time breathing, always feeling like I was short of breathe. He gave me a inhaler which did not help, then after a few days my symptoms went away and I had this feeling of air trapped in my chest/throat and I was constantly forcing myself to burp in order to relieve these symptoms. He referred me to a gastroenterologist, with whom essentially determined and diagnosed me with some gastritis and GERD/Acid reflux.

Tests I have done:

- upper endoscopy (showed some gastritis/inflammation and acid reflux)

- 2 stool tests to check for h. pylori and other bacterium (both negative)

- esphogeal manometry and (2) 24hour pH tests (one without nexium and second time after maxed on nexium, twice a day. showed I was swallowing a lot of air and had acid reflux)

- swallow test? forgot what it's called but I drank liquids and they saw how it went down through xray.

- lung/heart doctor (negative)

Nothing has helped. I was prescribed prilosec, nexium, etc with no relief. I still take 1 nexium a day now as when I stopped, the forced belching would bring acid up and burn my chest/throat.

My doctors are now trying to prescribe me Zoloft in order to "suppress" my brain and feeling these symptoms, but I am hesitant as I assume this would only mask the problem, even if it worked.

I just CANT GET THIS FEELING TO GO AWAY. I am constantly belching, my chest is extremely tight, etc. Is it anxiety? I don't feel anxious.

ANY ADVICE APPRECIATED. PLEASE HELP... THANK YOU.

Tony

2

Feel the same way but I can't burp unless I gag myself have gas constantly had the scope and diagnosis some inflammation in stomach or gastritis ,? barretts esophagus. On Pantoprazole 40mg. I do remember letting a big burp out while doing the scope and thinking I can finally burp like a normal person after 35 years NOT. Not sure what to think anymore was so hoping this would of found the issue.

3

Hello, I am 23 years old female, had hiatal hernia and GERD, had toupet fundoplication and it has been two months after the surgery, I was constantly burping before the surgery and getting food out of my system by doing it, was a constant torture couldn't eat anything, and after surgery I am exactly in your situation, I feel like air is stuck in my chest and I am constantly trying to pull it out and it is worse after I eat, I only eat blended food and one time my surgeon told me to eat it without blending and I got even worse and almost threw up, but ended up throwing up a lot of air. I was taking nexium then zantac but it does not seem to help, when I take it I am unable to burp and my stomach and lungs fill up with air and I feel like blowing up and finally after torture of two or three hours it gets out but burping doesn't go away. My surgeon also prescribed me Zolaft, but as I read amongst many side effects there is chest pain and I think it will make things worse, moreover like you I think that it is a physical problem and pills will only mask it. Please help if anything changed for you, I need advice I am going mad.

4

Hello Tatiatook, how do you feel today ? You still stuck with the burping syndrome and trapped gaz ? I have Hiatal Hernia and I was hoping that the surgery could fix this problem of trapped gaz in the chest and burping. Please keep me updated on your situation. Thank you.

5

Hello Tony, are you sure you dont have Hiatal Hernia ? Because I have pretty similar symptom.

6

Hey Philippe, I too had huge hiatal hernia and they did partial fundoplication along with fixing the hernia, it was the hugest mistake of my life, my symptoms have worsened and I am considering having a fundoplication take down, going to get a manometry next week along with MRI to see the wrap, this trapped air is making me miserable, I have esophageal spasms and I feel like someone is stepping on my chest, after I eat I walk for up to two hours trying to force out air with belching.. this is not a life. It has been six months.. So, my advice to you is to just get the hernia fixed, do not do the wrap, I talked to many people from whom I recall only few who were happy with the wrap, there are so many complications after the surgery.. Don't want to scare you, but please be careful and I wish you all the best

7

Oh no .. this is not good news. I'm sorry to hear that. I realy dont know what to do. Your trapped air feeling is like behind the sternum, in the esophagus is that correct ? Do you have it everyday since the surgery ? It's, freeking out ! But did the surgery fix orther thing that went well or you just have this disconfort at the moment ? This is my facebook please feel free to send me a message there if you want, I would like to chat with you : 

Thank you soo much.

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