Doctor Reveals Why GPs Might Dismiss 'No Burp Syndrome' Symptoms
An NHS doctor has provided a candid explanation for why general practitioners might appear to "laugh off" certain patient symptoms, attributing this reaction to a significant gap in medical education regarding a rare but distressing condition.
The Hidden Condition Behind the Dismissal
Speaking on social media platform TikTok, NHS doctor Suraj Kukadia, known professionally as Dr Sooj, addressed a follower's concerning question about medical dismissal. The patient had asked: "Why do doctors laugh it off when I mention it?" referring to a little-known medical issue called no burp syndrome.
Medically termed retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction (R-CPD), this condition involves a lifelong inability to burp or belch. While this might sound trivial to some, it can lead to severe physical discomfort including:
- Abdominal and chest bloating with associated pain
- Excessive flatulence
- Persistent nausea
- Gurgling noises emanating from the neck and chest region
- Difficulty vomiting or fear of vomiting (emetophobia)
Why Medical Professionals Might Lack Awareness
Dr Kukadia explained that most doctors have likely never encountered this condition during their training. "The majority of doctors have probably never heard of it," he stated. "It's not something that I was ever taught about in med school."
The condition only gained formal medical recognition in 2019 when the first scientific paper on R-CPD was published. This recent acknowledgment means many practicing doctors completed their education before this disorder entered mainstream medical literature.
Dr Kukadia shared that he only became aware of the condition through personal experience: "It's something that I've only ever come across because one of my best friends has no burp syndrome and he didn't even know what it was called. We just always knew that he couldn't burp."
The Real Impact on Patients
The doctor described how his friend manages the condition: "So when he's had some fizzy drinks, he has to then shove two fingers down his throat in order to make himself gag and therefore burp and release that air." This illustrates the extreme measures some patients must take to find relief from symptoms.
Since creating content about R-CPD, Dr Kukadia has discovered that many people suffer in silence. "Loads of people have commented saying that they thought that they were the only one," he revealed, highlighting how isolation compounds the physical discomfort.
Treatment Options and Medical Progress
Fortunately, treatment does exist for this condition. According to Yale Medicine, the primary intervention involves Botox injections into the cricopharyngeus muscle. This can be administered either during an upper esophagoscopy under general anaesthesia or through EMG-guided procedures.
Research indicates promising results from this treatment approach:
- Over 99% of patients were able to burp following Botox injection
- 95% experienced substantial symptom relief
- Results lasted up to a year for some patients
- For others, the improvement proved permanent
Dr Kukadia expressed sympathy for patients who have felt dismissed: "I'm sorry the doctors laughed it off when you mentioned it, it must be a really horrible and uncomfortable condition to have. But I really think that it stems from the fact that it's not that well known."
As awareness grows through social media and medical literature, patients with R-CPD may find their symptoms taken more seriously by healthcare professionals who are gradually learning about this once-obscure condition.
