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

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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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  • Posted

    I had to change PPI as the Omeprazole didn't work when I started taking it again
  • Posted

    How do I ask my doc to alter prescription?
  • Posted

    Do the PPIs help you guys alot? What other PPI did you change to?
  • Posted

    My father has been on Omeprazole for years for acid reflux. My girlfriend at work just started taking it also.T he doctors seem to think it is know big deal being on them. Im so afraid from all the stuff I read,but they do seem to help. I just told my doctor I need a different PPI and he gave it to me. Dexilant. Very expensive.
  • Posted

    Well these worked until I was told to stop them for 2 weeks, so angry I did. I will see my doc again in a few weeks and explain.
  • Posted

    Omeprazole helped to start with. I was taken off them after a few months and my reflux became unbearable. Went back on them and they didn't work so my GP doubled the dose. My reflux became so severe that I completely lost my voice ( I am a pro singer) for 2 months. I returned to the GP on a number of occasions and eventually managed to persuade them, in a whisper, that I needed a different approach, endoscopy, new meds.....

    I' m on Lansoprazole 30 mg now. Voice is better and reflux up and down. Been waiting for 6 weeks for a PRIORITY endoscopy. Still haven't received an appointment!

    The doctors don't seem to understand the terrible psychological strains reflux puts on us all. I had to genuinely argue with my GP to get a change in medication. I really don't understand why.

    Gee_mck, if Omeprazole isn't working for you and you are struggling, you need to get your GP to try something else. Best of luck

  • Posted

    Thank you all, this forum proves we are not alone.
  • Posted

    That is terrible you lost your voice. I have read alot about singers getting LPR. Have you? Just wondering why that is. All the doctors I have gone to seem to think LPR isnt a big deal, but it is doing a number on me. I think I have cried for the past 4 days,lol. It has been really hard for me to handle. How long have you guys had this? Do you ever eat normal? Or eat something you arent suppose to. I have lost 17 and 1/2 pounds in 5 weeks. I am afraid to eat. Someone said I might need something for anxiety,but I dont want to keep taking pills. This sucks.
  • Posted

    All

    My Dr gave me amitriptyline (Elavil) - also mentioned in the reflux bible. Some of our symptoms are down to the vagus nerve getting irritated by reflux. Some more research for you - quite interesting.

    I now seem to have a problem digesting my food properly. I had about 4 spoons of mashed potato and was awake half the night feeling like I had eaten 3 T bone steaks. I'm sure this is because PPI's stop acid production so you have problems digesting. Then you get given domperidone to speed thing up and then you get in a real mess with your system. Sigh

  • Posted

    Hi Linda55954. Really sorry you're suffering so much at the mo. I was also at my lowest when I was struggling to find things to eat and rapidly losing weight. I empathise completely with being scared to eat but you must find ways around this. My triggers are FATs, dairy, pasta, citrus, vinegar, sugar, garlic. At my lowest Jacket potatoes were a life saviour- olive oil and salt inside. I find drinking half a glass of water with ph drops 30 mins after a meal really helps. Eating earlier in the evening also v important.

    I don't know why so many singers suffer with LPR. It would be interesting to find out. Is it something to do with a singers strong diagram and use of breathing?

  • Posted

    My guess about singers and LPR is that singers are just very sensitive to any changes with the voice box. If one doesn't sing, a little inflammation doesn't really present a problem. To sing a person has to have a very clear throat.

    Susan

  • Posted

    I have an update; I hope it helps some of you. I started taking digestive enzymes before meals that had protein, fat, and/or carbs. Since I started that routine, I have had many more good days and significantly fewer bad days. I take Digestive Enzymes.

    I also take Gaviscon Advance most nights at bedtime, although I have had a couple of nights where I went without successfully. And my old standby, xylitol gum, when I do feel some irritation. With this routine, I have almost felt normal the last couple months.

  • Posted

    Well surprisingly I am better today, less of a lump in my throat but no idea why, still had breakfast (with milk) this morning. Let's see how the rest of the day goes.
  • Posted

    Im so glad to hear you feel better today. I pray your day is wonderful!
  • Posted

    And yours! :-)

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