Causes of LPR

Hi,  Yes I have the same problem with throat mucus although not so bad as it once was.  PPI's caused me side effects and I have been off them since the end of October although I had rebound symptoms for a few weeks.  From what I have read the main symptoms of LPR are hoarseness,excess throat mucus resulting in gagging and spitting,

cough,sore burning mouth/throat, bitter taste in mouth,postnasal drip,

blocked ears and possibly heartburn although most LPR sufferers don't have this symptom or at least not that often.  One of the things I find is that if I have a sneezing fit then immediately after I am left with excess mucus in the throat which can take around 1/2 hour to clear.  I have asthma and the LPR makes this worse at times.  Good luck hope you improve.  I think that diet is probably the way to go.

Hi I believe I have suffered mildly from this horrible condition since 2007 following a virus which lasted a couple of months I was left with post nasal drip, the sneezing I have mentioned in my reply to Jay40m and throat mucus.  It was around 4 months ago that the throat mucus got really bad.  I am 67 so I wondered why if would take this long to show up.  I still think anxiety and stress are involved.  I have suffered with anxiety or around 4 years off and on and I see a CBT councillor.

I drink 8.2 ph water have cut down on tea and drink weak green tea, I don't like coffee so no problem there.  Very very little alcohol, just the odd small glass of rose or white wine.  My greatest vice is chocolate but I have cut it down to very small amounts.  Because of my IBS I don't really have spicy or fried food, even so it is difficult sometimes especially at times like Christmas when good things are on offer.  I don't drink or eat citrus fruits or juices either.  You are right about the prilosec and other PPI's they cause more problems then they solve.  Good luck hope you continue to improve.  I get a bit tight chested as well but I do have asthma probably aggravted by the LPR.

 

Hi libralady, you seem to manage your condition well. Do you take any natural remedies? Am always interested how people manage their condition,

Hi,  thank you for saying that, but I don't think it is the case.  I have never had it diagnosed just trying to do some of things mentioned on the forum.

I did alter my diet but not as drastically as some say to do.  I purchased the low acid diet book by Dr Kaufman and although there is good information I found the diet to be very restrictive and the recipes do not appeal to me.  I also have IBS amongst other problems and am on more than one medication.  By far the biggest problem generally is my anxiety.

Mostly about being in pain with arthritis and the lpr ibs etc.  Going back to how I manage  this condition.  As said I have altered my diet somewhat

cut down on tea drink decaf green tea very lightly brewed, no citrus tomatoes and spicy food although I did let up over Christmas.  PPI's did 

nothing except mess up the IBS with stomach cramps and constipation.

I came off these and suffered rebound symptoms for a round 4 weeks.

I have tried gaviscon advance helps a bit with occasional indigestion.  Also tried DGl Licorice not sure about this only taken on odd occasions.

I have lost a lot of faith in gps but am determined to try and sort myself out this new year.  I will be 68 in October and I don't want to spend the rest of my life worrying about illness all the time.  Good luck to you and have a happy healthly 2015.

Hi Debra, was interested how you got better. Did you have any treatment?Are you lucky that you can eat and drink most things?

Hello again Julie,  The answer is yes and no.  My gp just seems to think everything is gerd, normal reflux and thinks it is anxiety which causes the excess acid etc.  She did refer me for a barium meal but my anxiety got the better of me and I cancelled it.  Stupid I know but at the time I was battling the rebound effects of coming off the omeprazole and I already had constipation and did not want to risk making it worse with the barium swallow.  I am all ready under the eye hospital and the orthopaedics clinic.  I just find it all so overwhelming and start panicking.  Recently I went to visit my daughter and family in the North

(I am in Greater London) something which I had not done for around 2 years due to both anxiety and awful arthritic pain.  I did manage to go though being persuaded by my husband I would be ok.  Well I was and felt much better seeing grandchildren etc.  I did come back in a lot of pain due to the amount of walking we did, but was definitely more relaxed.  We have just had them all to stay and although very tiring and in pain definitely less anxious.  That said maybe I should ask to be referred to ENT, although the thought of going for tests terrifies me. When I have to go to the hospital I have a week of anxiety building up and am awake the night before.  Do you know can you be referred straight for a throat scope or do you have to see an ENT consultant first in the clinic.  I am worried that my gp will go down the gastro route.

I showed her a list of LPR symptoms and she admitted I had most of them but still refers to it as reflux.

Hi Julie Following my reply to use I was browsing through the forum and came across some of your posts.  I am so sorry to learn that your op did not work for you.  Lpr if that is what both you and I have is a depressing condition especially as lots of gp's and even consultants either don't know about it or deny it really exists.  Have you tried high ph water I drink 8.2. Have to but if from amazon so cost involved.

Some say better to buy drops or what ever to make your own tap water

higher ph level.  According to Dr Kaufman the peptin/Pepsin get these two confused is killed with water above 8 I think.  I do believe the works for me.  I do have excess throat mucus.  Sometimes a bitter taste but not often, and dry sore mouth.  I am on blood pressure medication that has both reflux and dry mouth as a side effect.  So might ask about changing although my gp seemed reluctant to do so.

I also have blocked feeling in one ear and nasal congestion and sneezing fits.  I think because I have so many things wrong it is hard to know what is causing what.  Chocolate the love of most women definitely makes my mucus worse.  I avoided it for weeks but did have some over Christmas and I noticed an increase in the throat.  I hope you can find something to help you.  Have you had an ENT look at your throat and say yes you have LPR?

so did you have the nissen and it didnt do anything for you?

Hi Julie Thought I would mention you will see from my post to Debra that I feel this old thing started in 2007.  I caught some sort of virus in September which gave me terrible tight chest and really sore throat.  Anitibiotics did not touch it and it took me weeks to recover.  It was at the time of my 60th Birthday and I was not well enough to celebrate.

I have been treated off and on for years for oral thrush thought to be because of my steroid inhalers for my asthma.  This virus did leave me with some nasal and throat mucus but not enough to really bother me except after sneezing when I would have loads of mucus for around 1/2 hour (this still happens).  It was around August this year that the throat mucus got bad I would spend all day spitting and gagging.  Until this time I had heard nothing of LPR and certainly did not associate my throat and nose problems with any type of reflux.  They do say this condition is more common in those who use their voice a lot or sing.

I sing in a rock and pop choir but have missed a whole term because my voice what not up to stratch and I was frightened of damaging it further.

I am due to do back on Monday not sure what to do, but I miss singing so much.  I hope between everyone on this forum we can find some common ground for treating this horrible problem.  I had said last year that I would not post again as I was getting very depressed about all the diet restictions and the talk of cancer.  It was suggested by some some that it was better not to eat out and only eat food you had cooked yourself.  Well what a way to live your life.  I have managed to eat out 2 or 3 times.  I just stuck to plainish food although one time I ate some spicy chicken and lemon cream dessert.  True I suffered a bit afterwards with IBS but boy did I enjoy it and it was with family.  I just have one small glass of wine and then just water as both alcohol and drinks like coke/lemonade are full of acid.  Do let us know how you get on this Monday.  Fingers crossed they can help you.

Yes I had a Laproscopic Nissen's Fundoplication 18 months ago. I think I knew straight after the op that I felt no difference. It really has been very disappointing but what can you do? He did an endoscopy and said that the wrap looked in place. The only thing I can think is that the wrap is loose. I had a motility test in July but the results were suspect, that's why I'm having another one on Monday. So we'll see what the results are. I'm trying to help myself with Probiotics, DGLLiquorice, slippery elm. I'm also interested in trying digestive enzymes, has anyone had any success with them?

Hi to you too. Yes I think the forums can be a double edged sword. Knowledge is a good thing and I've picked up some good tips but if stumble across anything too depressing I quickly flick through it. I can be abit of an ostrich sometimes! Have you not contemplated surgery?

Couldn't agree more and now because of my anxiety I flick through anything too depressing.  I have not thought about surgery assumed it was the last resort and did not always work.  As I have not been referred to the hospital not sure if I would be a candidate also at my age 67 with other problems would they do it unless everything else had been tried.

sorry to hear that. im sure it must have been disappointing. thanks for sharing. 

im trying to get an esohagus endoscope this year and a thyroid ultrasound. 

I want to rule out cancer for sure. The ENTs so far have told me that its not but there hasnt been a deep endoscope or ultrasound done yet and it would make me feel more at peace. 

At this point ive pretty much accepted the fact its its most likely LPR and have trying different ways to heals such as ppis and probiotics with no luck so far. ive had a tight sore throat and tongue since early 2014 so its going on a year soon. I hope to have at least some more answers in 2015 but its very frustrating as appointments take a long time and finances are  also tight. 

Hello,  You mention in your post about having a thyroid ultrasound.  Do you already have either hypo or hyper thyroidism?  I can only speak about being hypothyroid as I have been for over 20 years on 125 mg of levothyroxine.  If you are then obviously you know all about the symptoms etc.  You will find a list of common symptoms online but if you delve into it more you will find the list is very long and unfortunately also apply to other conditions so it is hard to know what is causing what.  My main  point is that although gp's don't seem to know about this untreated Hypothyroidism can affect the mouth, with a tongue which feels larger than it should be swalloped edges soreness and choking/coughing fits especially when eating.  I do understand your frustration, I don't know where you are but here in the UK Greater London appointments take ages with cancellations etc.  PPI's did not help me I think that is common with LPR.  I hope you can get some answers this year. I only mention thyroid because many people cannot get treated because their blood test results come back in range but they still have all the symptoms.  It is a scandal so if you have not had a thyroid function test and have other symptoms it might be worth doing.  Sorry to go on but this is something that makes me so mad just like LPR not being known to doctors.  Good luck.

 

Hi Libralady, yes I have an under active Thyroid too and have had for about 15 years. Like you've said their are so many symptoms associated with it. I can remember being so relieved when it was diagnosed because I had been so I'll and it's easily treatable.

Hi Jay, I'm assuming that you are in the States. Why do you think that you have Thyroid cancer? Is it something that you've read? I think that blood tests can detect abnormalities without having to resort to scans. I can understand you wanting peace of mind though.

Hi Julie,  Yes I had a good doctor who when I complained about feeling tired, feeling cold and aching joined immediately tested me for thyroid disease knowing that my son had diabetes and my mum an underactive thryoid.  Many people have problems getting their gps to test them especially if they come back within range.  But that is another long story much like LPR and doctors views.  My gp could have so easil blamed in on stress (my mum had just died trying to look after my dad, working and 

family you know what I mean.  I am sure lots of things are connected. The thyroid when out of wack causes so many symptoms and I would not be surprised if LPR is somehow connected.  The other auto immune diseases like thyroid, diabetes pernious aenamia and R A are all in my family.  I would love doctors to look at the whole body instead of sending you off to various different specialists.  If you are interested read Tears behind closed doors it is the story of one ladies struggle to get diagnosed.

It is very interesting.

I did some bloodwork and all thyroid levels came back normal but I did read somewhere that its not any indication of cancer or not. 

I just want to have it checked to rule another thing out. 

First I want to make sure I dont have thyroid or throat cancer, that would give me some relief. Ive been told many times its not but there I havent had an endoscope of the esophagus or ultrasound so these are based on just symtoms. These tests will help confirm. 

 

Fair enough, I hope you don't have to wait long for the tests. I am sure you will be fine and it will put your mind at rest.  As you have mentioned your thyroid levels came back normal.  Were you actually given the results. You are probably fine but if you have any of the classic symptoms of underactive thyroid then maybe you need to ask your doctor again.  Unfortunately many gps just go by blood test resuls so if you are in range for the TSH then they don't do a full function test.  The guidelines have changed and the range has been tightened up but many labs still use the old ranges.  Jay do you just have the classic symptoms of LPR or do you have symptoms which are worrying you.  Good luck to you.

So far I just seem to have the classic symptoms of LPR but the same symtoms can be for more sinister problems. ie. For almost a year I have had sore throat, sore palate, tightness, throat clearing, and more but there are other health problems that have similar symptoms so I want to confirm with a higher certainty.