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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

899 Replies

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  • ninja9
    ninja9

    Posted

    Hi Jon08211,

    This is very interesting. I am also a singer suffering from GERD/ LERD. I am also asthmatic but have been wondering recently if this is being caused by the reflux.

    I find the only way I can get through a gig these days is not to eat anything before and drink lots and lots of water. I also find that when my voice gets hoarse massaging the back of my neck helps- seems to release the tension I'm getting worrying about my voice and the pressure I feel not knowing from one day to the next how my voice is going to be. It really is a nightmare and so difficult when your voice is so much part of your identity. I have also found that if I do eat before a gig I get so stressed out by the battle of singing through the reflux that my throat just seizes up.

    Other things that help......gently humming up and down through your mid range to slowly warm up. Never ever clearing your throat, humming through a straw in water so you see bubbles.

    I really hope you get your voice back by the weekend

    • skinnygirl11
      skinnygirl11 ninja9

      Posted

      Hi ninja9,

      Thanks for these comments - they are very helpful.

  • Cheetah
    Cheetah

    Posted

    Thanks for those tips, ninja9, they are really helpful. I sing with a choir and have found the LPR I've been suffering from since November to be particularly difficult. I had to abandon the Christmas concerts because of it as my voice was very croaky and kept disappearing. Like you I drink lots of water at rehearsals and find this helps somewhat. After five months of medication - four months of Lansoprazole and one month of Ranitidine - things have improved to a certain extent, but I'm still bothered by the throat clearing etc. I've gone back to the choir, but my voice has been hoarse even into the following day.

    Hope the concerts go well, jon8211.

    • skinnygirl11
      skinnygirl11 Cheetah

      Posted

      Hi Rosiemags,

      I also sing with a choir and have had to give up as my throat is constantly sore, dry and hoarse. i had been drinking water with honey at rehearsals, but this still did not prevent the hoarseness.

      I am trying to follow a strict diet, but am finding it very difficult - I am constantly hungry and also find the diet impacts on my social life.

      Please let me know how you are getting on.

  • musicchick581
    musicchick581

    Posted

    Yes, they are worse after using my voice a lot. sad
  • jon08211
    jon08211

    Posted

    Thank you all for your comments - I actually had to pull out of last night's concert but sang this morning and will sing tonight with a small group.

    I just choked sitting in front of the computer, - guess I fell asleep for a second. I think that it is a cricopharyngeal spasm, after eating a largish lunch... a specialist told me that if your airway is blocked, then swallowing opens it - but that is not always easy...

    It is of great relief to know that others share some of these symptoms, and I appreciate the advice.

  • Gee_McK
    Gee_McK

    Posted

    Just came across this article today and would like to share with you my experience.

    In recent years after various colds, I ended up with what I can only describe as catarrh in my throat. It came and went until early last year when I had 3 colds in 4 months. At first I thought the aircon in work was to

    blame but I saw a doctor who referred me to ENT because of my symptoms.

    At the appointment in May I had a camera put down my nose into my throat but was told there was nothing

    there and that excess coughing during my colds had damaged my vocal chords. Because I was feeling

    hoarse I was referred to a speech therapist.

    At first they were stumped but in Nov I was diagnosed with silent reflux. I was happy that it was

    not my imagination as the hospital consultant had insinuated. My doctor prescribed Omeprazole

    which I took for 2 months. I was told to come back for a review which I did in Dec and the doctor asked me to

    take another dose for 2 months. All was fine and the symptoms relented, in fact they disappeared.

    I was told to come back after a 2 week break which I did. Some symptoms returned so my doctor said he

    would put the medication on repeat prescription and I was happy to keep taking them with no further

    investigation necessary. However last week and more so today, the lump in my throat is as bad as ever and Iwas coughing and clearing my throat today which I haven't done for a long time.

    I am wondering was the 2 week break with no medication to blame or is the medication now just not

    working? I have no other symptoms eg. no indigestion,no heartburn etc.

  • ryan32010
    ryan32010

    Posted

    Hello

    Anybody found that after taking meds for LRP you struggled to breath? At first when I started with medication about two months ago I was short of breath, and this morning I forgot to take a pil & finding it difficult to get air in my lungs? Anyone else experienced this?

  • cazhgs
    cazhgs

    Posted

    Hi Everyone

    My husband has just been diagnosed with this, and is going to cut out all foods that may cause a problem eg onions, tomatoes, peppers, etc He is already dairy free as if he eats anything with milk he is worse. Is it

    better to cut out one thing at a time and see if there an improvement or cut out all and then reintroduce. Confused. I will suggest the ph water it seems a lot of positive reviews have been posted on this.

  • moonbuggy
    moonbuggy

    Posted

    I am a great believer in cutting out one thing at a time and also introducing any natural remedies one at a time. That was it is easier to see what is helping. Keeping a food diary/symptoms is good
  • debra27175
    debra27175

    Posted

    ryan32010 I have a hard time breathing also if I don't take my Prilosec, Even with taking my pill my breathing is not perfect. My first symptom of LPR was having a hard time breathing, It took 6 months for me to finally get an answer out of the doctors as to what this was. I have had asthma my whole life but I knew this was not my asthma, there is a deffinate difference between the 2. It has been hard for me to give up the foods I love, I have really struggled with giving up coffee and chocolate. Today I am starting a whole foods plant based diet I hope this fixes this. mine started in feb 2013, I had just stopped a water fast I was on for 10 days, also my daughter had some weird cold and she breathed right in my face so I think between the fast and the virus this is the result. what bothers me the most is I did the water fast because it is suppose to be sooo healthy for you and then this is what happened
  • linda55954
    linda55954

    Posted

    I started with lump in throat sensation. It is driving me crazy. I have been to the hospital, my primary doctor twice. the ENT doctor and a gastro doctor. I have had Xrays,sonograms,bloodwork,and an endoscopy. I finally told my doctors I have silent reflux,lol. They seem to agree. I have been on three PPIs. Aleo vera,DGL,enzymes and tums.I have seen little change. or some days better then others. I have lost 16 pounda in 4 weeks,because Im afraid to eat. But yesterday I ate an overly ripe banana and ice cold tap water and I noticed a little difference. Today I ate 2 overly ripe bananas and more tap water and the lump sensation feels some what better. I also chew cinnimon gum all day. I hope I am on to something,because I feel like I am getting depressed. I dont drink, I dont do drugs, I dont smoke, Now god is taking away my food. COME ON!!!!. I hope this helps someone... anyone. I will keep posting on any changes.
  • mcd888
    mcd888

    Posted

    I had your same symptoms for about 14 months. I am about 95% better now. This thing takes time to heal. Stay away from the triggger foods and drinks...if it aggravates your throat, leave it alone for a while. Alkaline water helps. Chewing gum also helps a lot. Try chewing mastic gum 2-3 times a day also.

    God Bless

  • tasha1977
    tasha1977

    Posted

    Hi- what is mastic gum? Am in the US - is their something comparable here? Thanks!
  • musicchick581
    musicchick581

    Posted

    Have you guys taken a food sensitivity blood test? I just got my results and was surprised at the foods I am sensitive to. This might help create less mucous.
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