Israeli Woman Learns to Burp After Years of Suffering from Rare Condition
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Irit, a 45-year-old Israeli woman, has been successfully treated for R-CPD, a rare condition preventing her from burping, which caused severe bloating and pain for years. After a TikTok video led her to Dr. Eli Liyous at the Galilee Medical Center, she received a Botox injection to relax her esophageal sphincter. The treatment significantly reduced her symptoms, improving her quality of life, though she is still adjusting to the ability to burp.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Irit, 45, was treated for R-CPD, a rare condition preventing burping that caused severe bloating and pain for years.
- The condition, retrograde cricopharyngeal dysfunction, involves a dysfunctional upper esophageal sphincter trapping air.
- A TikTok video led Irit to Dr. Eli Liyous at Galilee Medical Center, who diagnosed her condition.
- Botox injections are a common treatment, temporarily paralyzing the sphincter to allow air release.
- Irit experienced significant relief from bloating and improved physical and emotional well-being after treatment.
- R-CPD was first defined as a syndrome in 2019 by Dr. Robert Bastian.
Irit, a 45-year-old Israeli woman, has found relief after years of suffering from a rare condition known as R-CPD (retrograde cricopharyngeal dysfunction), which prevented her from burping. This inability to release accumulated air led to severe bloating, pain, and a significant decrease in her quality of life.
For years, Irit experienced unexplained symptoms including chest pressure, extreme abdominal bloating that resembled advanced pregnancy, and a feeling of fullness. She recounts that the issue was not on her radar, as she, like many, took the natural act of burping for granted. Medical professionals were initially unable to diagnose her condition, with one MRI revealing a large amount of air in her abdomen, but subsequent gastrointestinal evaluations yielded no answers.
Her breakthrough came after encountering a TikTok video describing the inability to burp. This led her and her partner to research the condition and discover Dr. Eli Liyous at the Galilee Medical Center, a specialist in R-CPD. Dr. Liyous diagnosed her condition through clinical examination and manometry, confirming the dysfunction of the upper esophageal sphincter, which normally relaxes to allow air to escape.
R-CPD was first defined as a syndrome in 2019 by Dr. Robert Bastian, who also proposed an effective treatment. The condition involves a failure of the upper esophageal sphincter to relax sufficiently, trapping air in the digestive system. This causes symptoms like uncontrollable gurgling sounds, abdominal distension, and pain, which worsen throughout the day, particularly after meals.
Irit underwent a Botox injection into her upper esophageal sphincter, a common treatment that temporarily paralyzes the muscle, allowing it to relax and release trapped air. The procedure has a high success rate, with many patients experiencing long-term relief as the muscle learns to relax independently. Irit reported a significant reduction in bloating and a dramatic improvement in her physical and emotional well-being, though she is still learning to control the newly acquired ability to burp.