LPR/Silent Reflux - desperately in need of a miracle. Has anyone recovered from this?
Posted , 270 users are following.
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
Cheetah
Posted
Lpb - I'm in the process of adjusting my diet - which is already limited as I was also diagnosed with IBS last year - and saw that you mentioned JPT's advice sheet, lpb. Could you tell me what this is, please and how I could find a copy? Yes, I, too, was worried about throat cancer when I went to the hospital last week, but, thankfully, everything was clear. I've also had a chest x-ray which too was clear. A great relief.
Billdubya - I find chewing gum helpful, too. Interestingly, about six months ago I was puzzled about an excess of saliva and thought it was a dental problem. However, when I was diagnosed with LPR I found it could be one of the symptoms as the saliva tries to neutralise the acid.
Best wishes to everybody for the festive season.
mcson
Posted
It appears from what you have written that we have very similar symptoms and we have gone through the similar diagnosis and treatment approach.
When this started with me this year in May, I was recovering from a heavy cold. In fact I got a cold two times in a very short period of time then when I was to recover, I realised that I had excessive post nasal drip etc. Then I was diagnosed with sinusitis and took 2 times different antibiotics which did not help. Anyway after that I started to have voice problems and feeling a lump in the throat. First had the camera down my throat and I was diagnosed with LPR on the basis that I had irritated throat and voice cords. I was then put on PPI and Gaviscon which I used 2-3 months to no avail.
This part is important because, after all those I had gastroscopy which showed that I had gastritis and no hiatus hernia, plus I had a normal LES, no visual symptoms of GERD. However the things is I was already diagnosed with gastritis 2 years ago and it was treated after using PPIs and putting myself under a strict diet. This time gastritis was due to excessive amount of NSAID use.
Nevertheless I have not had peptest yet but it is very interesting that yours came negative!!!!
I am thinking of taking pH meter.
Like you, I have read Tom's book and JPT's advices and I have also changed my lifestyle and eating habits, that is helping a lot.
The problem I have at the moment is the feeling of lump in the throat after eating, caughing and distorded voice sometimes.
I would be happy to hear further from you as to whether you had pH meter or any other tests ?
As for chewing gum, I have not tried that but I will definitely give it a go to see how it affects my case.
All the best
JPT
Posted
Happy to send you my notes if you email me.
My address is available if you click on my name on the left
Seasons Greetings to all
Regards JPT
sn1
Posted
I am brand new to this forum and have just spent two hours trawling this thread.
It is Christmas eve and I am sat at home and was feeling very depressed about things until I realised that this is something so many suffer with. Reading your posts have cheered me up..
I lost my voice in October. I lecture adults in specialist vocational skills. It is my own business and has nearly bankrupted me in 2 months with paying for stand ins etc.
At 10 am this morning I sat in my local ENT unit and have had the prognosis of LPR and a prescription for all the things that you guys all say does not work.
Having studied food science 30 years ago I recognise the PH argument and would agree with the science behind raising the alkaline levels.
SO here goes, I am still going to drink that bottle of Baileys as it is xmas and then going on a strict high PH water and cranberry detox.
Merry Christmas every one
Paul in SN1
susan79492
Posted
Don't drink cranberry juice! It is very acidic & the opposite of what you need--worse for you than Bailey's. If you want me to send you some links to Dr. Koufman 's info, email me.
Susan
billdubya
Posted
You really want to get a blank look? Do what I did. I had a 24 hour pH manometry test 3 months ago. I watched the meter and when my symptoms were the worst, the pH was alkaline (7 and 8), not acid. So now you're talking about alkaline reflux instead of the much more familiar acid reflux. I am truly on my own here. There is a video on the internet by a GI doctor in North Carolina who considers himself an expert on LPR; his advice is to carry lemon drops and a bottle of water with you at all times. WTF?
The closest thing I have seen to a solution is the one I alluded to earlier, and that is the Lynx magnetic bracelet. It's not a good option for me right now, but if you don't think you're going to need an MRI anytime soon, it could be your salvation.
mcson
Posted
Can you please explaine what you mean by alkaline reflux. As far as I know, the LPR symptoms are caused by the stomach enzyms (most probably pepsin) and the acid.
I have been reading about this for the past 6 months and what I understand from all these is that; as long as pepsin (which is mostly active in acidic environments) is aerolosled or reflxed to larynx and pharynx it causes sypmtoms which may differ in every person. According to Dr Kaufman Pepsin only denaturates above pH 8.5.
Therefore, it may be the case that, at the time when your pH meter showing alkaline, Pepin was still active.
I look forward to hearing from you
Dr Kaufman for instance thinks that it is pepsin which causes such syptoms. If that is really the case, we know that pepsin is created by our stomach in order to break proteins. However, Pepsin is not acid!!
mcson
Posted
JPT
Posted
Best wishes JPT
billdubya
Posted
Alkaline reflux is bile-based as opposed to acid. A bile salts mixture comes from the gall bladder into the small intestine and stomach, and consists of an alkaline mix of juices. It can reflux into the esophagus if the LES is compromised, which mine certainly is. Of course, if you're lucky like me, you can get both from time to time--bile and pepsin. What helps at any given moment depends on which one is predominant at the time. When they're both rocking, I'm gonna have a bad day. If I go acid, it helps to neutralize the bile, but it activates the pepsin. If I go alkaline, it denatures the the pepsin, but doesn't help with the bile.
lpb
Posted
I mentioned earlier that I had the peptest which was negative - even when I was having symptoms which I have all the time to a lesser or greater extent - I was sure it was going to be positive and confirm this was the reason for my symptoms.
Can anyone advise on the results of a gastroscopy? I am seeing my GP next week to discuss this with him but when I had the procedure they told me I had gastritis but my LES was fine.......can they tell this from just putting a tube down? The procedure only took about 3 minutes.
Mcson - your symptoms sound similar to mine and we do seem to have had the same diagnosis so really interested to hear that you are getting some relief from the lifestyle changes. Do you not take any medication now? I don't have a clue what could have caused my gastritis - I can't put it down to anything I am aware of but I guess treating this with a different antacid may be my next option (I got palpitations from Omeprazole and anyway, they did not improve my symptoms).
Best wishes to all in 2014.
ellen64219
Posted
In May 2013 I had a bout with bronchitis 2 times in a very short time.. since then I have had a tickle in my
throat with constant need to clear my throat (feels like mucous stuck) and a cough. I thought I had post
nasal drip, so tried taking zyrtec which really had no effect. I am an office manager in a facility where I have much phone and patient conversations.It was not only irritating to me, but also to my boss. He insisted that I go to an ENT, which I did, and he told me to change my blood pressure medicine (lisinipril). So I did and I try to remember he said it could take up to 3 MONTHS to see a change. In the meantime, my friend found an article on LPR (silent acid reflux). The next day I went on line and looked it up, and I, as most of you,
have all the symptoms.
But maybe a month or so ago, I was looking for something to help with cramps in my legs & feet that I get
at night. I found something on line about Caleb Treeze product (an old Amish cure). A liitle apprehensive
with VERY simple labeling and the name is "Stops Leg & Foot Cramps" (REALLY) I read the reviews and MANY good reports. I looked for a place locally that I could purchase it. I found a health food store and
stopped by that night to pick up 2 bottles, one for me and one for a friend and unfortunately (I THOUGHT
AT THAT TIME
they only had one, but they had 1 other bottle with the exact same ingredients named,
YOU GOT IT, "Stops Acid Reflux" But desperate for crap relief, I got both and kept the one for acid reflux, giving my friend the one for foot and leg cramps and it really does work. It tastes absolutely terrible, like
vinegar (UGH)r, but I mix it with water (or juice), hold my nose and down it, it is getting easier as I am taking it more.
.
After "self diagnosing" myself with LPR , I remembered my "unfortunate" decision to purchase the "Stops
Acid Relux" and I AM SOOOO THANKFUL I did. After I looked on line to see if those type of ingredients
(apple cider vinegar,ginger, garlic) could possible help and to make sure I wouldn't make things worse,
BEST NEWS EVER, I took 2 tablespoons, 3 times a day for the past three days, and I have had 80% relief
of the feeling of mucous in my throat and can actually pick up the phone a work without having to clear my
throat. I just orderd more on Amazon ( the one for foot & leg cramps too)
I want to assure everyone that I HAVE NO INTEREST IN THAT BUSINESS, I am just SOOO pleased to
have relief , that I wanted to take the time to pass this on to offer my experience.
I hope that if you decide to try it, that you have the same results.
God Bless.
EF
susan79492
Posted
Those ingredients, mainly the vinegar, sound like just what we shouldn't to be taking for LPR. Still, it works for you and that is good. If anyone else on this discussion board tries it, I'd love to hear about your results also. I'm a little afraid to try it.
Susan
ellen64219
Posted
I was a little concerned also, but as I looked into the value of takingthe cider vinear, I found many reports of the healin quality for it.. for me it was sure worth the shot. Hope it is an answer for others.
Have a great day
E
sn1
Posted