For as long as I can remember, I’ve been unable to burp. My mom swears that I could when I was younger, but I distinctly remember the gurgles throughout elementary and middle school. How eating or drinking (almost anything) led to bloating and heartburn. And how during high school, college, and beyond, I was always sneaking off to “air burp.” Honestly felt like something was wrong with me until I found this community, even though my friends/partner knew about it and would be totally unphased if I ever had to air burp.

I was also a pretty sick kid growing up. I’ve always had pretty bad allergies — even though allergy testing never really came up with concrete allergies (I’m currently in the process of getting re-tested now as an adult). Colds would take me out for a week or two, and god forbid I got anything like the flu — weeks of recovery. I had frequent and recurrent ear infections which have mostly resolved themselves as an adult, although I had a particularly nasty one last year (and this year) that took a while to cook. And I’ve always gotten this super phlegmy, chesty cough that we always assumed was bronchitis, even though the pulmonologist never saw anything on my chest scans.

I never linked any of my sinus issues and my inability to burp…until this past week.

Due to moderate hearing loss in one ear, Eustachian tube dysfunction, severe allergies, and chronic sinusitis, my ENT and I decided it would be best to get balloon sinuplasty with turbinade reductions (and Eustachian tube dilation). I’ve been taking some allergy meds and had the procedure done on Tuesday.

Now I’m telling you, in the past, I could squeak out a micro-burp maaaaaybe once every few months or once a year. Most of the time I’d have to air burp myself and I’ve even been saving for Botox.

After this balloon sinuplasty? I spent all Tuesday burping. I was in shock. My boyfriend was in shock. But the burps kept coming. Like five or six on Tuesday. And then this whole week, I’ve been burping every day. Multiple times. Since my sinuplasty (and I know it’s only been a few days) I haven’t had to air burp myself one time. And this is compared to at least 2~ times a day to relieve the bloating for as long as I can remember.

I have my follow-up in 1.5 weeks and am planning on talking to my doctor about it more, but for me at least, it seems like there is some sort of connection between severe allergies/congested sinuses/severe post nasal drip and inability to burp. I never thought addressing the allergies and post nasal drip would suddenly help me burp, but here we are.

Has anyone experienced something similar?