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

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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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  • prakash54321
    prakash54321 Anxious_Alex

    Posted

    I am 32 years old guy. My life went very happy without thinking of food & lifestyle. Any  time I will eat without limit, anytime I will drink and anytime I will sleep without thinking of anything. Life went very well without illness. Few months back continuously 20 days i suffered with throat  pain and irritation. My voice changed totally but I never took it as serious issue. One day after dinner I went to bed lay-down  and started to watching the TV. Suddenly I got huge cough in that time my breath and voice was stopped. I thought I am going to die and try to recover my breath and voice    after long struggle few mins back I came to normal. Immediately I went to hospital they took me to ECG, Blood, chest/lungs x-ray and nasal endoscope. Doctor told me that due to throat infection it was happened and gave some tablets. I returned happily to home since I thought there is no major problem. After two days back while sleeping on night time i got same breathing stuck issue and struggled. I put my fingers on my mouth and try to take vomit and recover my breath. It took very long to recover again by releasing some air by mouth. I went to may hospitals and took various tests but no use. My breathing issue started to come regularly. I started to fear lot and thought I am going to die soon. Since it is suddenly coming in night time in between sleep I can't imagine or explain by words. After long struggle I met on doctor he told me that it may due to acid reflux problem and took endocopy. Results shown as Lax LES on OG junction. Doctor gave me few antacids to reduce acid. But still my throat pain, cough and breathing issue not recovered. Finally I met one doctor he also gave some medicine to reduce stomach acid and getting positive reply. I recovering slowly. Now night time breathing attack fully stopped but sometimes getting cough and making me wakeup. Due to fear or some stomach issue my food intake got reduced lot and my weight got reduced 11kg in 4 months. Doctor reduced step by step in dosage. Currently only night time I am taking antacids tablet before food.  I have lot of work stress, pressure, sudden angry type of character. Still I am facing little bit of throat issue, body pain, fear and night time cough. Can anyone help me on right remedy, treatment or medicine to fully recover from this issue.
    • rex_44766
      rex_44766 prakash54321

      Posted

      Hi Prackash - curious why you have posted the exact same message as you did at the beginning of the week? The info given to you by "the class" was indeed wide rangeing and quite balanced.
  • katiedoodie
    katiedoodie Anxious_Alex

    Posted

    Hi Anxious Alex and all,

    Sadly, I don't even have to post my entire story, as I am exactly like you and so many others suffering with this miserable ailment.  In my case, I also suffer with persistant bloat, gas, IBS with constipation, incomplete emptying, undigested food in stools, etc.,

    and notice an increase in my LPR symptoms on days when my colon is acting up (which is almost every day). 

    Barium swallow for upper and lower GI only showed reflux. Tried many of the acid reducing drugs and diet modification with no change.  After a stool analysis, I was told I had a high level of Klebsiella pneumonia in my gut and took Berberine for 30 days.  No improvement of symptoms.

     One doctor said I had high stomach acid while another felt I had low stomach acid, and told me to suppliment with HCL with pepsin (didn't take it until I was sure).  I had a stomach acid test called the Heidelberg,  which showed HIGH acid.  Thank God I didn't take the HCL!!

    Has anyone else experienced symptoms at both ends like me??

     

    • rex_44766
      rex_44766 katiedoodie

      Posted

      Hi Katie yes you are indeed in a bit of a pickle but have faith you can only get better. As the weeks roll by into years with this affliction you do get a bit skeptical when one gets opinions so differing. However one thing does get much better is your knowledge of exactly how your unique body works and its unique requirements. A lass on here put me straight about when she said you have to make your health your hobby and your soul goal in life to get better as you are the only one that knows your body. I think about this a lot as I now know you do get a little more knowledge everyday but you sometimes need help in linking it all together. Looking back I can see where I almost got it right but wrecked things by doing or taking too many things at once. The boffins also keep moving the goal posts tooo! Like you I have taken every PPI on the market and initially these worked fantasically well and you just thought you were invincible and could eat anything you wished again! I was so nieve that I felt doing cowpats every day was a good thing as one could never get piles. Now Katie I ask you how daft is that? In those days I dont think they even called it IBS but it got lumped into gastritis. And then you get the dreaded reflux that just gets a little bit worse every week. However enough despair. I am learning about leaky gut and I feel that this really is the bogey effecting both ends as you put it! Have you researched it at all? In case you havent once you understand that the intestinal lining is only one layer thick you realise why you are getting undigested food despite having normal acid. All the nasties are getting into your blood stream and making you feel yuk. I do however believe that food got us into this pickle as these problems just didnt exact back in our child hoods when animals were only fed grass and we just didnt have processed foods with an ingredient list almost as long as your arm. Anyway somehow by accident, certainly not by knowledge I got rid of the cowpats and all the pain and bloating that I always thought was normal. I started eating foods with only one ingredient. Now this kills what little social life you have left, but its still better than having to plan all trips to town via the closeness of toilets! Now I "thought" I had tried the special diets like Fodmap and Gaps but really I wasnt committed enough and like an idiot always thought I knew best and made minor changes. Well the lesson learned is the experts did these and if one wants success you must not tinker! Perhaps you could revisit this area with if possible a dietician etc as boy we all need help in this area. In my case I would "reward" myself each time I would feel a bit better and this as we all know is simply fatal. We are stuck with some things and just have to make the most of it. Best of luck for your future.
  • yaf3
    yaf3 Anxious_Alex

    Posted

    Alex I wish I could find an answer too. Agree with you totally. Im now waiting for a barium swallow. If.you are like me, you know your own body. Cutting out alcohol spicy foods (and whats the interpretation of spicy I ask myself?) Chilli yes, pepper yes but cumin corriander garlic??? I wasnt told! No mint and no coffee so why not tea? On further reading Im aware the medical industry do not know enough. If.you have a prob with esophagus and therefore heartburn and indigestion you can be cured but sadly not for us it seems with larynx issues or "silent reflux"
  • Simcox
    Simcox Anxious_Alex

    Posted

    Does anyone else get a crackling/bubbling noise in their throat while in bed. I can definitely hear it and ask my husband but he says he can't hear it?
    • dee50031
      dee50031 Simcox

      Posted

      I get this, did you find out the cause or if it is related to lpr x
  • Bob1949
    Bob1949 Anxious_Alex

    Posted

    Yes have you had the test for non acidic reflux? 2 wires placed in your throat and stomach for 24 hours. Determines if reflux is bile pepsin or acid . I had this for many years. Doesn't matter what I eat but a night time refluxer. I might be a candidate for laptogundilipation surgery. Ned's don't help. Have you read Dr Jamie Kaufmand book the chronic cough enigma?
  • allie65404
    allie65404 Anxious_Alex

    Posted

    Have the same thing...went in for the camera thing down my throat, gave me some pills...said see ya next month. He told me I had acid reflux...and was shocked to learn this since I did have any of the symtoms associated with typical acid reflux. Never asked me if I had had a problem with acidity.  I went online and discovered Silent Reflux....and I have all the same symtoms you do. Going o try the alkaline water. Will pray that it works because I have had this for three weeks now and have become really stressed and depressed over it. No sleep, tired all the time now, spitting slimy, foaming mucus. Thanks peoples for havng this site available.
  • jo22391
    jo22391 Anxious_Alex

    Posted

    If you're on PPI's you might be B12 deficient.  Ask them to test for that and other deficiencies.  What worked for me better than Lanzoprazole etc (and I was drinking Gaviscon as it went on) was B1.  I just take half a B1 every other day now and am on nothing else.
  • andy1953
    andy1953 Anxious_Alex

    Posted

    Hi Alex.

    My name is Andy, I have been having same voice problems since last June with constant throat clearing. I saw my Dr and he refered me to an ENT clinic in Milton keynes (where I live). The first meeting, (with consultants assistant) I had a camera through the nose to larynx. I was told, no visible problems. He made me an appointment for MRI scan and appointment with a speech therapist. MRI scan showed no problems. Speech therapist told me to drink more water and avoid caffine and quit smoking (I smoke 8 a day max). 6 weeks later , 2nd visit to ENT specialist, camera through nose to larynx, no problems visible, keep taking omiprazole, come back in 6 weeks. I must admit, Omeprazole has helped, no more acid reflux (problem has been 30+ years. I am 63 yrs old this year) Omeprazole Prescription is 1 x 20mg twice daily.

    3rd visit to ENT specialist. This time asked to see the head man. Glad I did. had camera through nose into larynx, he told me that I have thickening of the vocal chords and I am now going into Milton Keynes Hospital on Wednesday 20th Jan for a (wait for it) Microlaryngoscopy. As a day patient, I will be admitted at 11;45 and under general anaesthetic have a tube and microscope into my voicebox to see what is happening, a biopsy will also be taken to see if there is anything more sinister afoot. I will be back home before 6 pm the same day. Acid reflux has destroyed my teeth over the years, i have a total fear of dentistry and am living with the consequences.  As for taking Omiprazole, the packaging and dr says DO NOT to take any other stomach antacids while taking this product. I hope at the end of the day I will get my voice back (omiprazole killing reflux has helpe 65%+)

    I find that when at home or in a warm surround, after a meal or hot drink, my voice seems better and more near its deep tone. when in a colder surround, like at work in a cooler surround in a warehouse, I all goes wry. I really do hope this helps you with your problem. Push for a specialist referral for a MICROLARYNGOSCOPY The result could be the end to your problems.

  • Momaspag
    Momaspag Anxious_Alex

    Posted

    Stop the PPI's I am 90% better since I did. Always have hot water with honey with you I carry Hydro Flask Thermos and Ludens cough drops with me all the time

    Good luck

  • phyllis10549
    phyllis10549 Anxious_Alex

    Posted

    I have a lot if burning mouth throat and I cough up crap. Or clear throat like I can't get it out. PPI's didn't work put me on 80 mgs!!!!!!
  • Patient55
    Patient55 Anxious_Alex

    Posted

    I believe I suffer from LPR as I match lots of the symptoms.  My main overall problem is coughing. After suffering this for many years and catching a cold which led to two months of 24/7 coughing last year, I went to the docs (I'm in the UK) and was issued inhalers.  This did help the coughing for a bit. It started up again and I went back I was sick just coughing. I asked the doc if it could be LPR, he said no because I wouldn't have got relief from the inhalers.  Fast forward to a week or so back I get a cold which again turns into gut wrenching coughing then full on conjestion and wheezing. I'm thinking is the doc wrong, could it be LPR even though the inhalers help sometimes.  
  • rtyx
    rtyx Anxious_Alex

    Posted

    I started noticing a change in my voice about 2 years ago. I realized I couldn't sing high(er) notes anymore and when I talked for extended periods of time, my voice would just give out. Even though I went to different GPs they would scope my vocal chords and tell me nothing's wrong. It was so frustrating. 

    Then in the past 2 years, i started having foamy spit and dry mouth pretty often and occasionally regurgitation of food. I also had the lump in the throat feeling on one side of my throat which did worry me a bit.  Especially if I over ate. But I was never bad enough for me to get worried. Then fast forward to this year, I suddenly started getting these breathing problems which freaked me out. I had trouble breathing in all the way. I was sent for a chest X-ray but was told that my lungs were clear. Also since there seemed to be nothing wrong with me the doctors didn't seem to be keen on pursuing this. Then, in the first week since my breathing problems started, I had a case of really bad reflux. Like no heartburn, but the food seemed stuck and unable to go into my stomach. It felt so bad I went to another go and had him prescribe me some meds to help me. It worked. Then, the following week, it occurred again. This time, I didn't go away. It just stayed. I felt so scared because everytime I ate something, I would have to suffer the consequences cos the food would get stuck. 

    Put made me feel quite depressed because from what I read online I seemed to have silent reflux for which there seemed to be no permanent cure. The only thing I could eat was salads and if I deviated even a bit, I would get reflux. 

    So, after trying out PPIs (which did nothing for me), a salad and fruit based diet ( which helped but left me feeling unsatisfied and my reflux would come back if I stopped the diet). I was at my wits end and was desperately trying to find a cure. 

    Then, I thought of TCM ( traditional Chinese medicine ). It felt like my last chance, so I asked around for a recommendation and went to visit the doctor. The doctor told me she was confident in helping me with my problem as she had helped many people. She then prescribed me medicine to take for a week which is in powdered form that you mix with warm water to drink. I was also told to eat all my food cooked and have plenty of veggies with my meals ( cooked veg). Also I can't eat fruits except papaya and can't eat tofu and beans as well as fried food. No tomatoes, coffee or tea either. Eat foods that as easy to digest. Drink only water. 

    To my surprise, just after taking my medicine fir the first time (after a meal), I didn't reflux at all! 

    Now im about 4 weeks in and the doctor says I'm getting better. So I think for those who are desperate, this is an option to consider if you know any good TCMs. 

    Note: TCM can take a while for it to show effects. Some people I've heard took 3 to 6 months before they were cured. 

    TCM is also very expensive, but from my experience, worth it. 

    Acupuncture may also help. But I didn't dare go for it...

    i am not a doctor and not endorsing TCM. I cannot guarantee that it will help but just wanted to share my experience because I've read so many accounts of people who have suffered for years without reprieve. 

    I hope that this may be of help to some people. smile

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