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1/ I just burped on command.
For the first time in my life.
For most people, this is a daily occurrence. For a small subset of the population, with something called Retrograde Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction (inability to burp), this is nothing short of a miracle.
See below tweet: https://twitter.com/awilkinson/status/1212892805099450368
For the first time in my life.
For most people, this is a daily occurrence. For a small subset of the population, with something called Retrograde Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction (inability to burp), this is nothing short of a miracle.
See below tweet: https://twitter.com/awilkinson/status/1212892805099450368
2/ Here's a quick primer by @TheJackFranks:
In March, I was set to fly to Chicago to do a procedure that would hopefully fix this problem by endoscopically injecting some muscles in my throat with Botox.
Then COVID happened. My surgery was cancelled.
In March, I was set to fly to Chicago to do a procedure that would hopefully fix this problem by endoscopically injecting some muscles in my throat with Botox.
Then COVID happened. My surgery was cancelled.
3/ For years I've suffered with this:
A total inability to drink carbonated drinks without ruining my night.
Massive pressure after eating the wrong meal.
And horrible gurgling and croaking noises in my throat every day.
They sound like this:
A total inability to drink carbonated drinks without ruining my night.
Massive pressure after eating the wrong meal.
And horrible gurgling and croaking noises in my throat every day.
They sound like this:
4/ In short: it's no fun.
I couldn't deal with it for another year...
So, a few weeks ago, I took to the whacky Reddit group where we NoBurpers congregate ( http://reddit.com/r/noburp ) and committed to try any home remedy I could use fix it myself....
I couldn't deal with it for another year...
So, a few weeks ago, I took to the whacky Reddit group where we NoBurpers congregate ( http://reddit.com/r/noburp ) and committed to try any home remedy I could use fix it myself....
5/ One of the cures—and there are many, including punching yourself in the throat(!)—was something called Shaker Exercises.
They seemed the most logical:
You basically lie on the ground and stare at your feet to build your throat muscles.
It's surprisingly hard.
They seemed the most logical:
You basically lie on the ground and stare at your feet to build your throat muscles.
It's surprisingly hard.
6/ I wasn't hopeful.
In the past I'd tried all sorts of whacky things, including a myriad of supplements, a breath training device, and acupuncture. Nothing worked.
But I was desperate.
So every night for the past 2 weeks, I've been doing these for 10 minutes.
In the past I'd tried all sorts of whacky things, including a myriad of supplements, a breath training device, and acupuncture. Nothing worked.
But I was desperate.
So every night for the past 2 weeks, I've been doing these for 10 minutes.
7/ On Saturday, my wife was making pancakes and started dancing along to a song we were listening to.
I bobbed my head to the music, and BOOM, I let out a low but clear burp.
This sounds bizarre, but to me, it was a miracle.
I almost cried.
(Make fun of me all you want.)
I bobbed my head to the music, and BOOM, I let out a low but clear burp.
This sounds bizarre, but to me, it was a miracle.
I almost cried.
(Make fun of me all you want.)
8/ Since then, I've been burping hourly.
It's almost out of control. I burp about 50 micro burps after every meal. To a normal person it would be deeply embarrassing—I have very little control over it and they sound horrible.
But to me, it's pure ecstacy.
It's almost out of control. I burp about 50 micro burps after every meal. To a normal person it would be deeply embarrassing—I have very little control over it and they sound horrible.
But to me, it's pure ecstacy.
I know this sounds weird.
To you, it probably sounds like saying "I learned how to breath".
But it's a huge deal to me and I wanted to share, in hopes that other NoBurpers will be a little more hopeful and to share that the surgery may not be necessary.
To you, it probably sounds like saying "I learned how to breath".
But it's a huge deal to me and I wanted to share, in hopes that other NoBurpers will be a little more hopeful and to share that the surgery may not be necessary.
So, to all you NoBurpers out there suffering through this: there's hope. Try the shakers.
And if you think you might have this, go here: http://reddit.com/r/noburp
(A surprisingly large number of people I've told about this say they have it as well)
And if you think you might have this, go here: http://reddit.com/r/noburp
(A surprisingly large number of people I've told about this say they have it as well)