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Is it LPR or something worse? Scared to death!

Posted , 6 users are following.

wakefield
wakefield

Hi there, I'm a 19 year old male and extremely worried.

I have had constant swallowing problems for 4 months now and I am getting to the end of my tether. 

The swallowing issues are combined with a constant need to clear my throat. I can describe the swallowing to you. I go to swallow and get halfway through the motion and then nothing happens until I force myself to complete the rest of the swallow. This only happens about 25% of the time. The other 75% it seems to be slightly strained but that's it.

I had an ENT appointment about a month ago and he had a look down and said that he could see some inflammation and prescribed omeprazole for three months. He said nothing else, so I don't know what he thinks I have. 

All I have in my head is I am dying. This swallowing problem is the beginning of the end for me. My main worry is ALS and I can't shake it. 

Does this sound like LPR to anybody - this is what I've decided I have?

1 like, 16 replies

16 Replies

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  • GI_GIRL
    GI_GIRL wakefield

    Posted

    Do u smoke or drink heavily if you do stop.

    Try OTC Omeprazole and Zantac take them at different times during the day. Take Zantac at bedtime 45 mins before meals

    Raise the head of your bed 6 inches put something under the mattress pillows won't work. Sweetd caffeine soda junk food sweets make it worse. Try not to eat 3 hours before u go to bed. If u smoke stopping will probably get rid of symptoms.

    If ur smoking something else stop. Do not lay down after u eat drinking water is ok

    do not over do it. Try a soft diet stay away from citrus fruits. U mite just have acid reflux. Good luck don't freak out

    • wakefield
      wakefield GI_GIRL

      Posted

      No I don't smoke at all nor do I drink heavily. 
    • GI_GIRL
      GI_GIRL wakefield

      Posted

      Chewing gum is a good idea it makes

      more akaline acid and helps neutralize the burning acid. Put the head of your bed up with books or blocks. It is good u do not smoke. Did u start taking any new meds. Aleve Advil and aspirin can cause your symptoms.

  • john03683
    john03683 wakefield

    Posted

    Hi Wakefield:  I don't know why you would jump to such a conclusion.  According to the ALS website, the ones most at risk are between 40 and 70, have served in the military, or have family members with ALS. 

    I don't think any of these apply to you.  Some people have this issue from a birth defect or a pocket that develops later. 

    You may want to get a second opinion.  I would suggest that you chew gum between meals.  Find a sugarless one that you like.  Perhaps the constant chewing will not only keep the acid down but also retrain the esophageal  muscles. 

    I had a problem many years ago.  I would eat a number of bites of food and it seemed to accumulate in a pocket in my esophagus.  Then I would drink water and it would flush down the lump with a bit of pain.  This occurred in my twenties, I am now 58 and have not had that problem since then.

    I do know that worrying about a problem can cause more stomach acid production.  I would not jump to conclusions.

    Let me know if you try the gum chewing therapy and if it helps.

  • mattheas
    mattheas wakefield

    Posted

    I have very bad throat problems because of LPR and GERD. Swith to Lansoprazole right away. Twcie a day with Zantac. That should start to help. Change your diet. No more acidic foods or drinks. Rais the head of your bed. I've been dealing with this since I was 26. 
    • GI_GIRL
      GI_GIRL mattheas

      Posted

      Gee there is an echo on this forum

      LOL. Since the ENT didn't see anything it is lower down in the esophagus. Have you been exercising strenuously or changed

      to a different type of exercise.

    • wakefield
      wakefield GI_GIRL

      Posted

      No I haven't. My main concern is the swallowing issue.
    • GI_GIRL
      GI_GIRL wakefield

      Posted

      Lansoprazole is Prevacid. He is already doing Omeprazole which is Prilosec. They are practically identical and came out at the same time. But I would talk to your physician if u should change PPI or increase the dosage because he told you not to take anything else. It may not be a bad idea to quit but he may have a reason for telling u to stay on Omeprazole. You don't want to change treatment when ur at a crisis phase u need to get to see a GI doc

      since the ENT isn't impressed but tell him it isn't working.

    • GI_GIRL
      GI_GIRL wakefield

      Posted

      is the food going down or is it just sore when u swallow. Is it getting stuck like u have to cough back up.

      Acid reflux can make u feel like u have a lump in your throat when u

      swallow it is part of the burning from

      the acid. You might need to have a Endoscopy called an EGD or a Barium Swallow which is am X-ray where u drink dye they look at your esophagus on X-ray as u swallow the X-ray dye with a straw then they move you all over on the table and have u swallow more dye. Go back to one of your doctors

    • wakefield
      wakefield GI_GIRL

      Posted

      I have no pain when I swallow. Sometimes it feels like the food gets stuck in my throat. I am constantly clearing my throat also. 
    • GI_GIRL
      GI_GIRL wakefield

      Posted

      As long as the food goes down and

      ur not coughing it back up

      then I would not be to concerned

      Do not drink any carbonated beverages. When people have reflux

      they tell u not to drink soda it isn't

      just the sugar and the caffeine it is

      the carbonation. It can make more gas and it has sodium and more

      gas can cause more reflux it will

      hurt if u have inflammation.

  • GI_GIRL
    GI_GIRL wakefield

    Posted

    U can always go see a GI dr.

    What does your family dr think is going

    on.

    • wakefield
      wakefield GI_GIRL

      Posted

      They thought it could be some sort of reflux. I was sent to ENT and they said that they could see some inflamattion and prescribed three months worth of omeprazole to take twice a day. 
  • bronwyn97278
    bronwyn97278 wakefield

    Posted

    Hi wakefiedl;  I have read others' comments, but am thinking that you still have your worries.   It is probable very likely that you could have what is called LPR, which as you probably know is the term for: "inflammation of the back of the throat" due to the  acid flowing all the way up your Oesophagus, in to the back of your throat"....hence the inflammation of your throat.

     As for your worries re ALS, if you still feel this worry, ask for a second ENT and ?another Endoscopy; there is another type that can go all the way down, through your stomach, into the smaller intestine.  The other diagnostic test would be a Barium Swallow...(.it tastes like chalk )   but does give a very good picture of what is happening while you swallow.

    Click here to view image

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