Gemma Renwick wasn’t able to burp for over 40 years. When she finally opened up about it, a lot of people were introduced to the reality of the condition.
Renwick posted on social media and explained that she’s unable to burp due to something called RCPD (Retrograde Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction), and it quickly went viral.
According to Yale Medicine, it is “a rare condition in which people are unable to burp or belch. It occurs when the cricopharygeus muscle, a sphincter muscle that sits at the top of the esophagus, is unable to relax and, as a result, does not open to allow air to exit the esophagus.”
This can cause “a range of symptoms that usually include loud gurgling noises from the neck and chest; bloating and discomfort in the neck, chest, and abdomen; and excessive flatulence.”
Gemma, from Eastleigh, was told by her doctor that the issues were likely caused by IBS. But in 2024, she got her proper diagnosis.
“Everyone knows what trapped wind is like but it’s like that but times a million, it’s so painful. It’s not just in your tummy but in your chest too,” she said on TikTok, according to LADbible.
“You get breathless and feel like you can’t swallow or breathe. You cannot physically eat or drink anything else because the air is there and trapped.”
Retrograde Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction
After posting a TikTok video that resonated with a lot of people, Gemma appeared on Good Morning Britain, explaining how she found treatment including Botox, or “throtox,” which is injected into the throat muscle to help it relax.
“This Botox is utterly life-changing, I can’t believe I waited so long to do it,” Gemma said.
“If I knew what it was and if people knew that RCPD was a thing, and that that was the treatment, everybody could have it.
“None of the doctors have ever understood it. They basically just tell you they’ve never heard of it before and it makes you feel really weird because you feel like you’re the only person in the world with it.
“It was a massive relief to finally feel like it’s not just me. You feel very seen and heard and just a massive relief of ‘oh my God, I might be able to get help for it’.
“I’d say by day four or five [after the treatment] they were coming out better and I was getting bigger burps and now I’m doing loads of burps now.
“It feels amazing and I haven’t had any bloating for five weeks and I haven’t had any wind down below or tummy issues.”
“We need awareness”
For Gemma, the treatment brought relief after decades of dealing with symptoms she said were difficult to explain and had previously been attributed to IBS.
She concluded: “I feel like everybody needs to know about it, especially GPs. It’s not their fault they didn’t know what it was.
“But ultimately we need awareness just so the government takes it seriously so it’s included in training for new GPs.”
Gemma’s story has also helped bring attention to a condition that can go unrecognized, highlighting why greater awareness among patients and medical professionals can matter.
This is not medical advice. If you have questions about your health, please contact a medical professional.
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