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

Hello to all lpr patients out there, your posts have been very supportive.

Thank you for providing me with some comfort as I'm currently feeling extremely fed up. I will try many of your ideas in the coming days and a lot of what I have read makes complete sense especially the tips from JPT, so hopefully the only way is up!

I can completely relate to you 'tickled' as I too have just been through the torture of a tonsillectomy only to find I have more problems and being told I would feel like a new woman was an entire lie. Getting the bad boys removed has been a life long battle and now finding out I have acid causing problems makes me think that was the reason my tonsils were swollen the entire time along with the bouts of infection.

I've always had ent probs with grommets and t tubes fitted as a child, ear infections and throat infections galore. I was told I would grow out of these which I never did. I was told I had rhinitis and tried various nasal sprays including steroids to no avail and also had my nose cauterised (which I would never go through again) and no improvements. I have problems with my gums and also bad breath.

Talking about the other end I've always had digestion problems with ibs, cramping, bloating, constipation, headaches, piles- the works. I've been reading a lot about candida since suffering with a parasite on my travels and all the research makes me wonder if the symptoms of reflux and candida are the same. The recommended diet for reflux mirrors the suggested diet for eliminating candida. Drs won't hear of candida. I am now gluten intolerant and have a complete gluten free diet. I also try to listen to my body in what it needs and since my tonsillectomy have been on a diet of mainly fish, potatoes, avocado and mango. I do find fruit causes bloating and avoid dairy as it seems to fuel the mucus. I find onions and tomatoes a problem but spices seem to clear the mucus so unsure if helpful or not. It is really trial and error and I think personal for each but I cannot help to notice trends and similarities in our findings.

My recent symptoms of limited voice, coughing to the point of being sick, laboured breathing, fear of choking which leads to anxiety have all affected my work. I find the only time I feel ok is when I relax. I have had no energy (dr said its because a tonsillectomy for an adult takes longer to recover) and have been sleeping a lot. I am starting to get down as symptoms aside I cannot even enjoy food or even a little drink. My life style is generally good and my exercise and eating habits are reasonable healthy. I have never smoked, avoid coffee, tea and carbonated drinks, eat fairly low fat and try to drink lots of water. I don't like to eat late, I try to balance the stress of my job and my only weakness is chocolate (which now I will have to give up too).

My latest symptom is that my ears are hurting and more annoyingly buzzing. I have only just started taking a ppi and am yet to try any of your other recommendations but the ent specialist I saw last tues said that everything had been aggregated during the op, to take this ppi for 3 months and that he did not want to see me again (politely). I haven't been under a specialist since I was a child and it's only been because of my op I was bake to see one. I thought I would finally get the help I needed not to be told it's just a bit of acid and not to come back. He could see I was troubled and struggling to speak without having a coughing fit, grrrr.

I do not feel like this is a new problem but he didn't seem to have the time to listen. I like 'tickled' feel like it is worse since my massive tonsils we're removed but my focus has always been around the and other problems were not considered.

Apart from self care I do not know what to do next. I am signed off work for another week and fingers crossed rest will help but I am not confident my voice is going to make a quick come back and I use it constantly in my job. When I am on the go hacking up as you guys describe it is the only way to go as I constantly have that feeling that something is stuck in my throat and that gag reflex kicks in but when I am relaxing I find I can control to through meditative type breathing but am worried that the acid is just staying put and is causing damage. My ears are my biggest worry right now as my hearing is being affected making me feel disoriented. How long should I leave it before going back to my gp and what am I going to do about work?

I am going to go and buy some gaviscon now and look into alkaline water, continue with the diet suggestions etc but any more candida related feeds or post tonsillectomy posts would be most helpful.

Take care all and be good to yourselves x

Hi Giggles 12

I have continued to check all the posts on this great forum and wanted to report my own progress but wanted to give it a bit more time to reflect on the pH water, and other experiments I've tried since my last post. But yours and Alex's posts have specifically perked my interest. Others too but these speak to me of my own condition(s).

I'd like to see JPT's post which is awaiting approval from his post 1st March because he is my guru what with all his effort and understanding from symptoms to the science to the tips etc etc.

And Musicchicks also.

I do believe the water has definitely made some impact. First of all, I noticed that the consistency of the mucus changes. Next, I was hacking through the day as well but it felt like the water was releasing mucus instead of compounding it. Also had some mornings with zero mucus.

I have taken liquorice only intermittently because it was causing me to begin to retain more water. I'm sorry about this because I find the liquorice really comforting and it is my current favourite, followed by my next favourite of drinking soda by carb water. I am happy to give the liquorice and soda by carb up from being a regular treatment for me as I try to experiment with other things. I paid around 60 quid for a water alkaliser which came with a years supply of filters. Well worth it.

I bought a mammoth papaya - It served generous portions for 4 days. I scooped out all the seeds and forced myself to eat the seeds (you have to be brave - chew quickly as they are really pungent and really peppery and chase with a piece of papaya to make it better. I tried this because I know papaya has multiple healing benefits (having lived my early childhood in a tropical country where both seeds and papaya were given to children for worms, diahrohea, and any symptom that afflicted a child). I know you are trying to stay away from fruits but I do think papaya and coconut are good combatants for candida and indeed parasites. Especially on an empty stomach. I can vouch for how good a clear out you experience after this practice. I will do it for the next 6 weeks for 4 days at a time to cleanse any parasites that i may be playing host to. Actually though, I feel I am ok in that department.

I boiled torn white cabbage leaves and ginger closed the windows and let it fill up the kitchen with steam. Quite pleasant really - smells like a Chinese restaurant. I did this only once and will do it again because the morning after I did this was a morning with no mucus production.

I have also now taken betaine hcl for 5 days now. I am pleasantly surprised with the result on my tummy. I feel I am digesting better and feel less bloated. If you are going to do the betaine hcl, you will have to do it after you stop the ppi's as betaine hcl is here to create an acidic environment, not drown the acid as the ppi's will do. I felt comfortable to do the betain hcl as I have been doen the ppi route and know that was a useless, nay exacerbated my mucus production symptoms. But I say on this point that each one of us will have to experiment both ways to get to grips with how our stomach reacts to each protocol. There are some webites that will give you tips to assess how you can experiment with hcl. Google for tests for low stomach acids.

I feel that my problem may be bile salts and not acid. Will make appointments for a gastroscopy next. Alex, are you happy to share your specialists name if I write to you privately?

Like you and Alex, my reflux is better with hot foods. That's why I think I am low acid as hot foods create acid and heat (as in TCM and ayurvedic classifications).

I haven't given up smoking. Honestly, when I have something that isn't shifting from my throat, it helps to get it moving. Chorus of Yeah, yeah! Ok maybe I need a hypnotherapist.

Now the tonsillectomy definitely created a new state of challenges. Yes, the sinuses kicked of in ways I never had before and gosh the ear aches are as bad as the torn tonsils. You have my attention and sympathy, Giggles. The tonsillectomy forums said that would pass. Now I do not know if the post tonsillectomy ear issues are due to the inflammation caused by the ioperation or by LPR symptoms. But I am now 3 months on from my tonsillectomy and I am on antibiotics since 3 days ago for an ear and throat infection. Go figure.....

Giggles, hang in there. Post tonsillectomy healing is a staged healing. As I say I am 3 months on and still have some issues though they keep getting minor as time passes. I will report what my ENT suggests after he has checked me, hopefully later this week

I don't mind taking the antibiotics as they may repair some other damage though I will definitely invest in good probiotics after the course of is over. I am going to get it checked out by my ENT chap if poss this week. I have been discharged by my ENT for the tonsillectomy when he checked me one month after to op buthas told me to come back if issues persist. Giggles, do you find your tongue is swollen? Mine is. Inflammation or water retention??

I may change my name to Self-diagnosed.

Yup, I am miserable and hate to say it that the condition just wears you down and though I am a positive and happy person, I do also go through suicidal thoughts. That's not normal.

Stay well all you guys and on top of it. We will educate our doctors, I am sure.......

PS Giggles Please clarify your post:

I haven't been under a specialist since I was a child and it's only been because of my op I was bake to see one.

but the ent specialist I saw last tues said that everything had been aggregated during the op, ..... 'aggregated"??

Hey

So my recipe for self recovery began yesterday by steaming my sinuses with crystals followed by lots of hacking resulting in being sick. A dose of ppi before food followed by gaviscon advance and sodium bicarbonate water. I definitely do not have as much mucus this morning but I am bloated and have mild stomach pains (which I can live with). Like I said if it's not one it's the other. My voice is no better and my ear is throbbing so I guess it's back to the dr I go to see if I need anti biotics. My ear is making me feel dizzy and disorientated. I am really unsure if all this hacking is doing more harm than good as I wonder if it is aggregated my recovery more. My tongue is definitely more swollen Tickled since the op and this makes me gag.

I've heard lots of good things about the properties of both papaya and coconut from my travels. Coconut water is a popular one at the moment and I use coconut milk already as a substitute when I make Chai seed puddings, have you tried these?

I'll carry on taking the ppi for a while as it's the only thing I have actually been prescribed but thanks for the other suggestions. At least there are options which is always positive. I think I will also invest in a water jug.

Corrections to my previous message * able and * aggravated, blame the auto speller, whoops.

Thanks for your reply, keep in touch x

Hi everyone,

I've been reading through many of the posts here and have much compassion for everyone and what you all have been dealing with. I've had many of the same symptoms as some of you for about a year. I was diagnosed with LPR six months ago and have not found long term relief from PPI, or any antacids. I had become very anxious and somewhat depressed at times losing hope that I'd ever find relief. I can relate to some of you who've been in very defeated states of heart and mind too. I've been through some grueling tests such as monametry and Upper GI. I stopped taking the PPI's after five months. My GI doc said there is one more test I could have which is the pH test. I have put that off due to low funds at the moment. (I'm also a follower of Christ for four years so I've also been getting biblical/spiritual counseling every two weeks and the Lord is ministering great hope and peace to me through that.) I also have allergies to some indoor and outdoors allergens and a long history of post nasal drip.

I have a question. Does anyone experience sneezing as a trigger to the globus sensation? This has been happening to me regularly for a few weeks now and I have globus and vocal chord irritation most days. Thank you for taking the time to read my post and please feel free to offer any thoughts or suggestions!

If some of you have Facebook there is a group called (laryngopharyngeal reflux support) we can get more feedback from each other ..just go to search and type laryngopharyngeal reflux support

Hi Everyone

Update on how things are progressing - after 2 years of suffering what I now believe is LPR although I've had no diagnosis and been told it's all in my head and doctors reluctant to send me for further tests on NHS, I recently started making my own alkaline water with a jug I bought for £25. I also take DGL liquorice and soda gum as well as gargling alkaline water and taking sinus rinses twice a day. It's only been a week so far and already whilst my throat is still tight and phlegmy, I'm finding I'm not feeling the need to constantly swallow as often. I'm still burping but not as frequently and the post nasal drip is 80% better. One of my main problems was the constant coughing and swallowing of phlegm was giving me very painful spasms in my throat - these now seem to have decreased to the stage that I can cope with discomfort but no major pain for a good part of the day. I still take Gaviscon Advance after meals, not sure if it helps or not but I've also found that eating more green type vegetables in my diet and reducing dairy is helping a lot. Haven't gotten the pepsin test yet, just back from holiday but considering it. Starting the reflux detox next Monday for 2 weeks then going on the 5:2 diet to see if that helps as ideally need to lose a few stone in weight too so a diet that helps my condition whilst losing weight at the same time is worth a try.

Hello all,

I have never posted here but I gained valuable help from this site and particularly this thread so I felt compelled to share some of my successes. I hope you bare with my long winded post.

In September of 2013 I began having discomfort ,cough, congestion, pnd, feeling that something was stuck in my throat and hoarseness all the time. I teach school and usually get some laryngitis around this time of year, thought it was that and allergies. But it wouldn't go away so after a month or two I went to my primary care doctor. He was fairly certain it was "acid reflux", LPR. I had never heard of it! He gave me a prescription of Dexilant and gave me the typical list of foods to avoid. The following was what occurred over the next several months.

October: Took Dexilant and researched LPR online. I started using a foam wedge pillow, didn't eat 3 hours before bed, avoided all the 'acidic' trigger foods, like onion, tomatoes, soda etc. Greatly reduced my coffee intake from 6 cups to two a day. This all helped me finally sleep through the night, without waking up in coughing fits, etc. However, I still had symptoms during the day. Especially the hoarseness and globus feeling with choking. Horrible! Went back to primary dr. He gave me a referral to an ENT. ENT reiterated all that I had already been doing. Said it was pretty significant LPR, after the scope told me that it looked chronic and basically I need to take Dexilant, possibly up the dose because it will never go away while I still teach and use my voice so much. However I was greatly relieved that he did not see any signs of cancer, which at this point I was sure I had. UGH

November: continued reading online research and this forum and avoiding the trigger foods. Began losing some weight due to watching food intake etc. I am 47, not really overweight. But my recent visits to Drs showed increasing blood pressure. They said probably due to stress, not feeling well, etc. Read Dr. Kaufman's book, Dropping Acid. Began trying some of the food combos and meals. I was really facinatesd with the research, especially the highly acidic food in our society now, due to preservation etc. I avoided fatty foods and ate small meals. BUT even after following the diet plan, I was still experiencing the hoarseness and feeling in my throat etc. It was a horrible time. One thing that frustrated me was all of Kaufman's 'vignettes' gave grossly exaggerated examples of people drinking soda or ice tea all day, thereby causing LPR. This wasnt the case for me. I was following it all and although better, was still having problems.

December: I started having pretty significant problems with constipation/ gas, etc. I had always had minor problems but it felt a lot worse. I began to think it was the Dexilant. I also was reading so many negative comments about Dexilant over the long haul and the idea that as we get older our bodies make less digestive acids, therefore we need more, not less acid to digest food. Hmmmm. I decide to wean off Dexilant using over the counter Pepsid AC, and see how it went. I figured that if it got bad again, I would just start taking it again. Thankfully I was able to taper off all meds and did well. I took Dexilant for a total of 2-3 months.

January Read kindle book All About LPR by Lee. Started using throat lozenges and drinking LOTS more water. Tried not to cough and clear throat so much. Instead chewed non mint gum and again, more water. Also would get water at ph higher than 8 if I could find it. Gum helped a lot with the globus feeling. Whew. Learning about pepsin was interesting and I tried to avoid acidic foods that would trigger the pepsin etc. BUT I was still having bad digestion problems,even without the Dexilant. Especially gas and that vapor feeling when there are like air bubbles rising up your throat.

February: Started looking and researching more about diet/ acid reflux and gut problems. I read (thanks to this forum) Fast Tract Digestion: Heartburn by Robillard. This does not specifically address LPR, but i felt that the premise was the same. The premise it the potential for fermintation in the digestion process in the foods we eat. I began following this when I could. I had never had problems with lactose but avoided it when possible. But I basically avoided most sugar, carbs in the form of pasta, bread, cereals, etc.I tried to eat foods from his recommended list of low fermentation and used some of his recipes. Now we were getting somewhere! Over the course of the next several weeks, I had less and less gas, vapor, burping, etc. My stomach was much happier. I lost more weight. Blood pressure went down. I don't want to say I was healed totally but it is so much better! I have my life back! When I get the globus feeling, chewing gum does the trick. I try to limit using my 'big voice' at work, etc. I truly feel that LPR and acid reflux in general is a gut thing. I was one of those people who thought avoiding fats, calories, etc was the right 'diet'. This book totally changed my way of thinking. I also most recently read " Wheat Belly" and try to avoid most wheat products. The less processed the better. I will not say that I totally took all these foods out of my diet, but I try my best to avoid them. I tried to give myself some grace in that area and hope that 'mostly' avoiding will be fine. Maybe that's why it took me so long. It has been a hard road. I am so thankful for all of your research and experiences that have helped me and countless others.

I leave you with this. Stay with it, keep trying things until you find something that works. Consider looking at diet with more than the 'trigger' foods - which I now eat by the way, except for soda and alcohol. I am here to tell you it can happen. Thank you and God Bless.

Hello All!

Thank goodness I found you all! I just found this website today. I will try not to be long-winded, but wanted to commiserate with my issues with LPR as well; and hopefully, gain some advice on my situation.

About 2 months ago, I woke up with a lump in my throat. Went to GP who dx'd with Silent Reflux and put me on Ranitidine (300 mg). That didn't seem to do anything, so I scheduled an ENT appt. They did the scope (not down to the area where an adam's apple would be if I were a male, where my lump usually is, but is higher at night) but did see that I did have 'pocking' and a little extra skin flap, along with irritation of my vocal cords. He put me on omeprazole and sent me home with a pamphlet on LPR, but didn't really explain it. It had a weak idea of things to avoid, and I have tried that, along with the meds, but it doesn't really seem to help. The lump turned into more of a sore throat, with a dull lump, and fluctuates throughout the day. I am now a little hoarse and have a bit of throat clearing, but nothing too bad. My main concern was cancer with the lump.

- I have seen two books highlighted it seems throughout these posts- the 'Escaping the Hell' and the Dr. K book. Are they similar? Or, does someone know if I should try one before the other? Not trying to spark a huge debate, but I am just really overwhelmed right now. I also have anxiety and some depression since the birth of my children (4 and 2).

- I thought this was normal till I asked my husband, but does anyone else burp while laying flat and feel like they have to swallow? I guess I thought that was everyone. I haven't been good with the 3-4 hours of staying up after eating and probably need to raise the bed more.

-Lastly, I am a huge eater. My husband kids that I eat like a football player who is in prison. I eat super fast, which I am trying to slow down. I am in the middle for BMI (I think 22 or 23?) but I have a history of a lot of alcohol, spicy foods, smoking cigarettes (quit 7 years ago) and fatty foods as of about the last 4 years (since pregnancy and kids).

I am now trying to eat more veggies. Unfortunately, the guide I got from the ENT listed that all cereals and lowfat dairy was all okay- so I had been eating 4 bowls of cereal a day, and stocked up on that and things like lowfat yogurt and cottage cheese and have been downing lots of that.

I don't know if I can eat less- haha. That is my toughest challenge. I am hungry a lot, and I tend not to graze. I think this is going to be such a huge change, and I am worried I won't be able to do it.

I also am thinking of the high pH water. Can one overdo that? I read some scary stuff about growths and such if you drink a lot. I am not sure how much would be right for me, given my symptoms, etc.

I thank you for any thoughts you have, and I am very grateful for all of your posts. You have made me feel a little scared at first, but also much less alone.

Oh, also, the lump goes away when I am eating, but comes back shortly after. Is that normal? And, I have had ringing in my ears for the last 15 years or so. Lastly (yes, I am awfully long-winded!) I found a lump behind my right ear about 3 months ago, which the doctors thought was a sebactous cyst and has been going away, I think, for the most part.

Again, thank you for all of the support on this page, and the hope that maybe someday, this will not be as bad.

All

So glad I found this site. My problems started about 18 months ago with nasal congestion and PND. Had 6 months of antibiotics/nasal sprays - nothing worked. Saw an ENT and he confirmed it was either allergies or reflux. I thought it was allergies as I didn't get heartburn (I hadn't heard about LPR then). Really started freaking out when I felt like I was breathing in fumes. After much research I decided I had LPR. I got referred to a Gastro consultant quite quickly and was diagnosed with a HH. It was now falling into place. Have had all the usual tests - CT/MRI scan, Ultrasound, Barium Swallow (couldn't manage the 24 hr probe as I vomited too much). While the tests showed a HH it didn't show reflux (which I have heard is quite common with LPR).

My surgeon (who is excellant) doesn't want to operate as he has got no evidence I need one. My breathing is getting progressively worse and it is all quite frightening.

I have recently sent off for a Pepsin test and while I was really glad I did - I was horrified at the results as the morning sample was off the scale. I have just ordered an alkaline water jug from a UK company and I will be drinking, inhaling and steaming and bathing in the stuff when it arrives to see if it helps.

It feels like you are dying a slow agonising death and no-one seems to listen. My life is pretty miserable at the moment

Hi, I'm new to this forum, but have had LPR for about 4 years now. I paid to see an ENT consultant and he explained what was wrong with me. I use Zoton Fastabs as well as various herbal remedies. Doctors

don't like to prescribe Zoton as it is expensive, so last year they took me off it and substituted generic

lansoprazole. Within 2 weeks I was so ill that they put me back on Zoton.

My ENT consultant also explained that my irritable bowel problems, which I knew were caused by food

sensitivities, would contribute to my condition, so recommendedI take a laxative to keep food travelling

through my system, smoothly. Bran based products are a complete no-no, but I am prescribed Laxido,

which I find to be great.

I see a medical herbalist now, who is also a GP, but I couldn't function without my prescription medication

Hi guys,

I'm in the US, but I wanted to share my experience. My gastro had diagnosed me with GERD and IBS and the ear doctor diagnosed me with LPR. My worst symptom of LPR is ear pain and it was inexplicable to most of the doctors. I was put on Bentyl and Omeprazole with terrible side effects. So I decided to go natural.

I started out drinking Organic Aloe Vera Juice (2 oz. 30 min before each meal), but it was so disgusting that I switched to Aloe Vera capsules... I take three of them every morning and sometimes drink Apple Cider Vinegar.

The aloe capsules have almost fully eliminated my ear pain!!! It helped with my throat clearing and helped soothe my IBS a bit. If you are looking for something natural, please try it.

Aybreybear,

Can you tell me the brand and mg of the aloe vera capsules you are using? I have heard repeatedly that vinegar is not good for LPR though.

Susan