An influencer unable to burp and, as a result, making “embarrassing” dinosaur-like noises along with flatulence, has found a surprising cure for her condition.
Lauren Petrie, from Kettering, Northamptonshire, first realized she was unable to burp when she was 17.
As a result, he said he suffered from extreme bloating, cramps and loud gurgling noises coming from his throat for years and also “farted a lot.”
But although she had experienced the occasional illness for years, Lauren, now 34, noticed that they had become increasingly debilitating over the past two years.
One clip, shared by Lauren, shows her opening her mouth and a sound resembling a mini ‘dinosaur roar’ emerges. But she found relief in a strange source: Botox.
Lauren said that before resorting to the mostly cosmetic injection, her symptoms became so severe and frequent that they “consumed her entire life” as she began to fear going out.
He eventually suffered from a condition called retrograde cricopharyngeal dysfunction (RCPD), which occurs when the muscle at the back of the throat cannot relax, preventing air from escaping from the stomach in a burp.
This can cause people with RCPD to experience abdominal and chest bloating and pain, excessive flatulence, nausea, and gurgling in the neck and chest.
RCPD wasn’t medically defined until 2019, meaning experts are still exploring how rare it is and treatment options.
Lauren finally found relief by spending £6,000 on Botox injections in her neck and throat and saw her symptoms improve dramatically.
Botos is the most recognized brand of the botulinum toxin substance that is famous for paralyzing facial muscles with the aim of reducing wrinkles.
Lauren Petrie, from Kettering, Northamptonshire, first realized she was unable to burp at the age of 17.
While most commonly used in the cosmetic industry, Botox is used medically in the NHS for its ability to paralyze muscles capable of treating conditions such as chronic headaches, excessive sweating and a variety of neurological problems.
Recalling her experience with RCPD before receiving Botox, Lauren said, “It’s so embarrassing.” My throat made a very loud gurgle. It sounds like a frog.
‘It would always happen in the most awkward situations, even at school, at assemblies, you know when there’s supposed to be silence and suddenly my throat would make a strange noise.
“It was really loud and embarrassing. It sounded like a dinosaur.
‘Obviously, since the air couldn’t go up through my mouth, it goes down the other side. The air has to come out somewhere.
‘That (broken wind) was obviously quite uncomfortable as well. Luckily, my boyfriend has a good sense of humor.
While Lauren had taken her unexplained biological quirk in stride at the time, a few years ago it started to become disturbing.
“Two and a half years ago it became a chronic illness for me, no matter what I ate or drank,” he said.
The YouTube influencer and content creator who creates videos about tattoos eventually suffered from a condition called Retrograde Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction, which is where the muscle at the back of her throat cannot relax, preventing air from escaping the stomach in a burp.
Lauren finally found relief by spending £6,000 on Botox injections in her neck and throat and saw her symptoms improve dramatically.
‘I would wake up, have a good two hours and then I would have all my symptoms. It hasn’t been pretty, it hasn’t been fun.
‘Sometimes it was so bad that I felt like I was drowning in my own air, like my chest felt horrible.
‘It basically consumed my entire life. It got to the point where, in my twenties, I was afraid to go out all day.’
Lauren first went to her GP in November 2022, but when he couldn’t help, she went to an ENT doctor who advised her to get Botox.
However, two routine Botox treatments last year were unsuccessful and it was eventually decided that Lauren would need a special procedure in which she would be anaesthetised.
This operation, performed earlier this month, would allow a larger amount of Botox to be injected directly into the throat than the two previous attempts.
Fortunately, this latest round of beatings has, so far, been successful and Lauren is enjoying a new lease on life.
‘It feels liberating. I was so happy. This higher dose is working much better. “That’s why I pray that this is the dose that lasts,” he said.
‘I haven’t gone out for a walk yet, but I have plans for November or December to be able to go out and enjoy London.
‘Doing that whole Winter Wonderland thing and being able to eat some churros and not feel miserable.
“Yesterday I managed to eat a late breakfast and lunch, which is something I haven’t been able to do for years and I thought, ‘Oh my god, this is amazing and I didn’t feel like rubbish afterwards either.’
“It sucks to have to pay so much money for something so simple.” But I am very grateful and lucky to be able to afford it.”