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LPR/Silent Reflux - desperately in need of a miracle. Has anyone recovered from this?

Posted , 270 users are following.

Anxious_Alex
Anxious_Alex

Hi - I'll be as brief as possible. For almost a year I have had symptoms which have worsened, starting with throat clearing and progressing to regular spiting out of white, frothy stuff, post nasal drip, lump in throat or sharp sensation, streaming or blocked nose and hoarseness. These are all unpleasant and irritating but because I talk for a living my work is becoming badly affected so it is now making me depressed and anxious as well. I was referred to ENT, had the camera up the nose and down the throat to rule out anything sinister and was given Omeprazole and Gaviscon Advance. No advice, no explanation. I had to find it all out myself. (and I'm not confident/assertive with docs, either).

The drugs haven't helped, I'd go so far as to say the reflux significantly worsened. I had faith in the Gaviscon Advance having read how it works but that hasn't made any difference either. I have monitored everything I eat and drink and can't find anything that triggers it with the possible exception of bread, and I may be grasping at straws there. Certainly coffee, alcohol, spicy food etc don't trigger it and ginger, acidophillus, apple cider vinegar don't help. It does seem to be cyclical - I'll have a week or so of decreased symptoms then it gradally works up again to two or 3 weeks of hell. No heartburn, and the reflux is almost always upright, no problems sleeping...just the other 17 hours a day! The ENT was brusque on my return visit and said that, aside from speech therapy, there was nothing more he could do for me. This can't go on, though. At it's worst it makes me tearful and desperate at work and speech therapy isn't going to stop me spitting up into a whole toilet roll each day, or reduce the other symptoms. I'm also worried my teeth will rot and I fear for my job. Has anyone experienced this with the same pattern/lack of triggers etc? I would love to hear any positive experiences that don't just repeat the same old same old, ie, raise the bed 6 inches, dos and donts with food etc.

28 likes, 899 replies

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  • cml
    cml

    Posted

    Hello LPR suffers:

    I posted CML on October 15th...page 6.....in this blog......I have been following what I posted for 6 weeks now and I am healed. My LPR is gone. I will stay on the supplements for a total of 3 months and then stop some of them and see what happens. My tickle/cough/PND/sleepless nights are all gone. Please read my post and try it.

  • susan79492
    susan79492

    Posted

    Sheesh, the water is only an adjunct to the other changes we have to make. I am new to this forum but have had LPR for about a year. The water has helped me, but it is not a cure all. (I don't think anything is a cure all.) Plus, drinking the water is not based upon quackery. It is based upon a peer reviewed article. However, this was just an in vitro study so more needs to be researched.

    Here is the journal reference and the conclusion of the abstract:

    Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2012 Jul;121(7):431-4.

    RESULTS: The pH 8.8 alkaline water irreversibly inactivated human pepsin (in vitro), and its hydrochloric acid-buffering capacity far exceeded that of the conventional-pH waters.

    CONCLUSIONS: Unlike conventional drinking water, pH 8.8 alkaline water instantly denatures pepsin, rendering it permanently inactive. In addition, it has good acid-buffering capacity. Thus, the consumption of alkaline water may have therapeutic benefits for patients with reflux disease.

    There is nothing happy about any of this.

  • Anxious_Alex
    Anxious_Alex

    Posted

    As Mandi has pointed out, LPR is a symptom and there are numerous causes of reflux and its various manifestations. Although this is a long thread now, it would be helpful if people took the time to read all previous comments and not just keep repeating things that were mentioned months ago. If you're genuinely seeking help, why wouldn't you read every comment from the start to see if anyone's experience mirrors yours?

    As for poor Thomas....yes, his inexpensive, non-profit book could be potentially very helpful for many. I now know I have a large hiatal hernia so that's why it didn't work for me, and why the alkaline water and numerous other things I have tried haven't worked, either But I did feel rather sad that Thomas was shouted down on here. I, too, am a little suspicious and alarmed by the number of cheerleaders for alkaline water, all of a sudden. I am very happy for those it helps but the belligerent attitude towards those it hasn't helped is baffling. I simply do not understand why people are shot down on here when it doesn't work for them and they say so.

    Best of luck to everyone in their search for a solution. There is much helpful information within this thread, in addition to that pertaining to low acid diet and alkaline water, any of which may work for you. For me, surgery may be my only (unpalatable) choice now. And not even LINX, as that is not a solution to hiatal hernia.

  • susan79492
    susan79492

    Posted

    If you have a h. hernia, you are dealing with a totally different animal. My brother-in-law had bad reflux due to his h. hernia. He had the hernia repaired and now the reflux is completely gone.

    I don't agree with your "poor Thomas" comment. Thomas Lee is a highly intelligent person who has carefully examined the existing research on LPR and had the wherewithal to actually compile it into a book. I have read his book and it is very valuable as is the Dr. Kaufman book.

    LPR is complex and as the research shows there is much trial and error that goes into finding individual solutions.

    I don't think anyone should be dismissing anyone's comments and making them feel that their opinions are unworthy of this discussion group.

  • donna25713
    donna25713

    Posted

    Hi Susan

    In regards to your comment that your brother had a Hiatal Hernia and when that was cured the AR went atway....I went to a Chiropractor today- and he said that the hernia is what is usually the cause for the AR and the LPR....Have you looked into seeing if you have a HH? Most people with AR or LPR have a HH.

    I am going to try the natural route- I will post back my progress if I have any.

    I do think a chiropractor can help a HH....so IF it is the cause of my LPR then I will know if that goes away too.

    If not- then at least it will help part of the pain- and I will go from there.

  • greg19477
    greg19477

    Posted

    Back to the point. Can someone tell me the operation for the HH. Its not a fundoloplcation is it? I dont know if i have one but its good to know.

    Greg

  • irene87
    irene87

    Posted

    Hi Susan 79492,

    It was interesting reading your comments. Your method of coping with the condition is very good, very similar to myself. Your diet regime and coping method when over indulging or eating offending foodstuffs is good. I also manage my LPR this way. I was taking Omeprasole / Gaviscon for 3 years, reducing down to 1 x 10mg daily. I no longer take these drugs on a daily basis, however, I do take probiotics daily, and when I'm naughty, I take Gaviscon.Yes, I do like many things which irritate my digestive system, and I pay the price.Overall, I'm quite happy with myself at the moment, I still enjoy reading other peoples trials and do research if it interest me. I'm thinking of trying the 'Apple Cider Vinegar' what do you think?

    Regards

    Irene

  • susan79492
    susan79492

    Posted

    Irene,

    Based upon what was written in one of Dr. Koufman's question-answer blogs, I'd say do not try the vinegar therapy! This is what the authors of the Dropping Acid book said,

    "Reflux Cook Book

    April 11, 2012 • 10:19 am

    The idea that apple cider vinegar can cure reflux is a myth, and is not supported by scientific or medical research. Apple cider vinegar is very acidic and is likely to make your reflux symptoms worse if consumed straight."

    Susan

  • greg19477
    greg19477

    Posted

    Has anyone found that their symptoms get better when drinking coffee. I know its strange but my symptoms seem to get better if i have a cup. I dont want people to rush out trying it becuase i know its a no no for most. But It is one thing that i have always found curious. Not that i can drink it all day every day lol

    I am going to see a specialist next week so i have lots of questions for him.

    I would again like to mention the allergy tablets i am taking. My system has calmed down a lot since yesterday and im wondering if that could be contributing to it. Anyone else tried that?

  • greg19477
    greg19477

    Posted

    The vinegar never worked for me i'm afraid. taste dhorrible but a lot of people say it does work. There is an idea that says too little acid causes reflux and that the les is sensitive to acid in the stomach so if there is tto little it will open. When it is full the flap closes on a loop.

    I dont know if this is true just a theory i read.

    The low carb diet book i read said that he thinks there are microbes in your stomach theat thrive on carbs breaking them too quickly and causing gas in the stomach this creates pressure on the valve forcing it open. Because protein is broken down further down the intestines this doesnt happen.

    Greg

  • susan79492
    susan79492

    Posted

    I have no problem having a cup of coffee in the morning. I do have a problem if I don't have a cup! It is recommended not to sip coffee all day though as that can contribute to reflux. (I think I read it on a Dr. Koufman blog or tweet.)

    If I need to sip something all day, I make camomile tea. It took a while to develop a taste for it as it is rather uninteresting tea. In the evening, I make a cup with alkaline water.

    I didn't eat anything bad yesterday. I'm having a very good day so far! This can be controlled so there is hope.

    Susan

  • susan79492
    susan79492

    Posted

    I tried allergy tablets. It was what my GP recommended for my chronic cough and PND. They did not help me at all.

  • irene87
    irene87

    Posted

    Thank you Susan and other posts for interesting comments

    If I have a glass of red wine in the evening, I don't get reflux, and I sleep well, wine is acidic, I can't

    understand why it doesn't effect me and foodstuffs do.

    Has anyone had good results from drinking Aloe Vera, and which is the best to try?

    Irene

  • Emis_Moderator
    Emis_Moderator

    Posted

    Hi all,

    I have removed some of the more personal comments and will now leave this thread to carry on. A new discussion has been started to discuss the topic without the water references so please do not post about this in the new discussion.

    If any user thinks a topic is going off topic or users are getting personal please use the Report link in each post to draw my attention to it. If a situation arises as has happened here where users disagree with each other the easiest way to resolve it is to start a new discussion.

    I hope this compromise satisfies users and can end the disputes.

    Regards,

    Alan

    Emis Moderator

  • Anxious_Alex
    Anxious_Alex

    Posted

    Susan, you have completely misunderstood my comment about Thomas. I downloaded his book and would recommend it as worth reading. I was defending him because when he joined the discussion on here, another contributor disagreed with some of his views and was quite rude. Some of those comments were removed by the administrator but Thomas left the discussion anyway and I didn't blame him. Hence my 'Poor Thomas' comment.
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