Acid reflux help, ENT appointment and prokinetics
Posted , 2 users are following.
Hello all,
I have been suffering with what I think is reflux for about 5 months now and nothing seems to be helping. I've changed my diet, don't eat after 7pm, sleep propped up in bed etc. I'm currently travelling in Spain so it's making things even more difficult as my Spanish isn't up to scratch for discussing important things like health. I've been to see a gastroenterologist today to try and get some help. It went ok, I'm not sure I managed to get across all of my problems but he is sending me for a gastroscopy in a couple of weeks so I'm hoping that might give me some answers.
Thing is, when I was talking to him I told him about my symptoms which include a very sore throat on the left side (not all the time) and quite often a blocked painful left ear. He asked if I had seen an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist and advised me to do so. Should I go and see an ENT too? Should I wait until after my gastroscopy? I hadn't thought about seeing an ENT doctor before as I thought it was all related to my acid reflux.
The gastro doctor advised me to stop pantoprazol as they don't seem to be helping me and to start taking cidine which is a prokinetic. Has anyone had any luck with prokinetics helping LPR/Gerd? I took them for 2 weeks when I first had constant burping and lump in throat feeling and they helped, but then the sore throat etc began so I don't know how well it's going to go.
Thanks for any advice/help :-)
1 like, 2 replies
Barretts gemi5
Posted
Your ENT symptoms are probably a result of reflux. I had them for 50 years before, in discussion with a doctor 20 years ago, we realised it was reflux. (Which was a rather revolutionary suggestion at that time. )
Your Pantoprazole was reducing acid but not reflux, which you've been trying to manage with lifestyle.
Prokinetics, like the cintapride (Cidine) you're on, can be partially effective as they help peristalsis to move food quicker through the digestive tract. I was on Cissapride for a while before it was removed from UK as being linked to heart problems. There has always been concern about the possibility of side effects of prokinetics but a research paper in 2013 found: "The drug was effective in minimising dyspepsia symptoms, and improving the quality of life of patients. It was well tolerated and was almost free of side effects."
In UK, it's more common to find domperidone or metaclopramide (anti-emetics) prescribed to help peristalsis - but they are not recommended for long term continuous use as your body gets used to them and you need to increase the dosage.
For now I would suggest you need both a pro-kinetic and a proton pump inhibitor - along with following the lifestyle regimen of not over filling your stomach etc.
If you find reflux persists, you may need to consider reflux reduction surgery (fundolication) .
gemi5 Barretts
Posted
Hi Barretts,
Thanks so much for your reply, sorry for the delay in replying to you! I've been taking the prokinetic for a week now and the improvement in my symptoms has been great. My throat and my ear haven't been sore all week and I have managed to eat a bit more (which is good as I have lost a lot of weight!). I feel a lot better than I did on pantoprazole, but I am a bit concerned about the possible side effects of any pills. I have my gastroscopy next week so hopefully that can give me some answers as to what the best course of action will be. I'll do a bit of research on the reflux reduction surgery so I can be prepared when I see the gastroenterologist again.
Thanks again :-)