A mother of two from Eastleigh, Hampshire, has started a petition to raise awareness of a rare condition that has left her unable to burp for most of her life. Gemma Renwick, 43, has Retrograde Cricopharyngeus Dysfunction (R-CPD), a disorder that prevents the upper oesophageal sphincter from relaxing to allow gas to escape.
R-CPD, sometimes called 'no-burp syndrome', was first described in medical literature in 2019 by Dr Robert Bastian and colleagues. It causes symptoms such as bloating, gurgling noises in the chest and neck, and excessive flatulence. Many people with the condition also experience difficulty vomiting and feel discomfort after eating or drinking.
Renwick told local media that she has suffered from the condition since childhood and that it took decades to receive a diagnosis. She hopes the petition will encourage more research and improve recognition among healthcare professionals. The petition has been launched on a public platform and is gathering signatures.
Treatment for R-CPD typically involves a procedure called cricopharyngeal botulinum toxin injection, which relaxes the sphincter and allows patients to burp. The condition is still relatively unknown, and awareness campaigns aim to reduce the time it takes for sufferers to get help.
