Seeking Perspectives and Suggestions on Ongoing Health Issues
Hello everyone,
I’m a 39-year-old female, standing at 1.65m and weighing 58kg. I do not take any medications, nor do I smoke or consume alcohol.
I find myself in need of some guidance and camaraderie as I share my experiences and seek advice from this community. Crafting this message has taken some time, as I was unsure about posting it, but I ultimately felt compelled to reach out. While I recognize this is Reddit and not a medical facility, the lack of substantial responses from healthcare professionals has prompted me to look for insights or empathetic support here.
To provide some background, approximately two years ago, I began experiencing excessive burping after trying a few new supplements, including probiotics and peppermint oil, along with medications like Miralax and Buscopan on an empty stomach, as per a doctor's recommendation. The Miralax was intended to relieve some constipation. Following this regimen, my digestive system experienced quite a tumult, leading to a significant increase in burping. Eventually, my bowel movements returned to normal after about six weeks, but I continued to have strange intestinal sounds with no accompanying pain, especially noticeable when lying down.
During this challenging time, I also faced tonsillitis, which led to additional medications, and I would occasionally have a burning sensation on the right side of my chest, primarily above or behind the right breast. This coincided with a particularly stressful period. Despite consulting with a physician, undergoing blood work, a heart evaluation, and a chest X-ray—none of which revealed any abnormalities—I was informed my symptoms were likely due to stress. I suspected it might be a mild form of gastritis, but my concerns were dismissed, and I felt like I was sent away without a satisfactory explanation.
Fast forward two years, and my symptoms have fluctuated. There are periods where my burping is manageable and the discomfort on my right side diminishes. I don't believe gallbladder issues are at play, especially since the discomfort isn't sharp nor triggered by fatty foods. About two weeks ago, after taking ibuprofen—something I usually consume with food—my symptoms resurfaced, which leaves me wondering if I’m dealing with gastritis or if it was merely coincidental.
I have tried various antacids like Tums and Rennie and even underwent a month-long course of lansoprazole, but these treatments brought on nausea, which wasn’t present beforehand. My burping primarily seems to originate from the right side of my chest, and when I eat excessively, it feels different from stomach burping. Wet burps are rare, and I generally experience dry burps without any unpleasant taste or burning sensations. Occasionally, if I sit for extended periods, I notice a tightness in my chest that sometimes eases with a burp.
Interestingly, these symptoms vanish when I recline on the sofa or bed. While lying down, everything feels normal until I rise and start moving, at which point the burping resumes. Although I’ve requested an endoscopy, my local healthcare professionals believe it’s not necessary at this time, as they haven’t identified anything alarming that would warrant such tests. A recent H. pylori breath test returned negative.
I would greatly appreciate any insights you might have regarding my situation or strategies to alleviate these symptoms. Currently, the only medication that completely halts the burping is cetirizine, which I find quite peculiar. Despite my ongoing struggles, I maintain a normal appetite and avoid alcohol and coffee, so eating doesn’t cause any discomfort.
This situation has been exhausting, and I often feel sidelined by physicians with little to no follow-up. Nevertheless, I'm better off than I was two years ago. If you have any suggestions that I could discuss with my doctor, I’d love to hear them! Thank you for taking the time to read my post.
HeartburnIndigestionConstipation