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Hi all, my doctor thinks I have acid reflux but i don't have the traditional heartburn like most people. I'm wondering if it is more like LPR because I tend to have more upper throat, mouth and chest issues. I get a sore throat, ulcers at the back of my tongue sometimes like something is bothering it, a hoarse voice on and off. Quite often bothered by it all within a few minutes of waking up. I get a tense neck feeling (although that may be due to the anxiety I'm getting because of this). I also get a bit of chest burning irritation that sometimes makes me want to cough a little. The only thing I can liken it to is when the chlorine is too strong in the swimming pool and it leaves you with a bit of a burning tickly irritation for a bit. For people without the traditional heartburn, what do your symptoms feel like? If I had a bit more information to back up my theory I was hoping to speak to the doctor about it in my follow up appointment in the next few weeks. Xx
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papote53 Abracadabra0
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Barretts Abracadabra0
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It doesn't really matter what label one wishes to put on it, reflux is still reflux.
For some reason 40% of acid refluxers report not feeling the heartburn symproms - even where it has caused Barrett's Oesophagus to form.
Reflux from stomach to oesophagus (GORD or GERD depending whether you use UK or US spelling) is the reflux we normally talk of and it is normally assumed it carries acid.
If it carries on up the full column of the oesophagus, it can breach the cricopharyngeus (upper oesophageal sphincter) and aspirate into the respiratory system. This is correctly termed extra-oesophageal reflux but has been populalry called "LPR" or "silent reflux". Visit the free book / website www DownWithAcid org uk and read the chapter on extra-oesophageal reflux.
If carrying acid, this reflux can damage the voice box and throat etc.Reducing the acid with acid suppressant medication may make the reflux less damaging but can still cause other problems - like pneumonia.
I had reflux problems all my life (I'm now 68. ) but doctors never knew what it was - until the last 20 years.
For me, I have experienced sore throats, "catarrhal" symptoms, sinusitis, post nasal drip, ear problems including tinitus, sore eyes, tooth erosion, bad breath, constant throat clearing asthma like symptoms and chronic cough - all due to reflux.
Once I understood it was reflux, I tried all the lifestyle modification recommendations to reduce it but eventually had reflux reduction surgery (fundoplication) which was the best thing I ever did, stopping the reflux symptoms (I even discovered I'd had a latent sense of smell all along) and giving me my life back.
cheryl06050 Barretts
Posted
Barretts cheryl06050
Posted
Yes. HH is very common. It's what causes the lower oesophageal sphincter to malfunction resulting in reflux.
As part of the surgery, the stomach is pulled back from th thorax to its proper position in the abdomen before the top part (fundus) is fastened around the oesophagus to strengthen the sphincter.
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