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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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  • Patient55
    Patient55 Anxious_Alex

    Posted

    Hi

    I have a dilema, have I got LPR or is it Post Nasal Drip.  Take yesterday for instance, OK all morning ate lunch 3 hours later throat clogged, bit of wheezing through throat and nose also coughing.  Later on all OK again.  This is typical and ideas anyone

    • janet136
      janet136 Patient55

      Posted

      HI - I would say examine what you ate for lunch and compare with other meals. I know I dont need to take gaviscon if I have an innocuous alkaline type meal
  • sonya60950
    sonya60950 Anxious_Alex

    Posted

    Hello guys!!!

    I am coming back to this site after almost a year. I have silent reflux and having tried all kinds of medication which made me more sick (i lost 10 kg and got other problems with sleep and spasms in my upper chest, was nervous as I was not getting proper sleep for a LONG time, sleeping pills made my conition even worse, got parasites as my immune systems was very weak, even got thyroid issues, etc etc) i gave up on mainstream medicine and decided to go to see a homeopath and an acupuncture specialist which are more fitted to your individual case and this I believe is essential since most of the cases of silent reflux is psychosomatic... so everyone's problem is different and treating all of us with the same medication doesn't help everyone. Basically, both approaches plus a strict diet (and I guess this was essential even though very tough!) helped me to get out of the worst days. I still have some issues with mucus in my throat, but that's the only thing that reminds me that I have a silent reflux. it comes and goes depending on I have no idea what...but I eat normally now, I even drink coffee and alchohol with no problem and also my sleep has got not like before reflux but much much better. I sometimes even forget I have it. 

    I guess writing my homeopathing medication here or what the acupuncturist (they can put their needles in a way that tones the valve on the top of the esophagus so that it starts closing better) did would make no sense as it is very individual, but I can share with my diet which contributed at least I believe 70 %. Basically, no red meat, no gluten (even if you have no intolerance, this is just to make your digestion easy and detox) and no dairy (some goat or  sheep milk products were allowed although, like feta cheese, also avoinding diary products helps you to reduce mucus production). This is hard, but then again you do it for 3-4 months and the difference is huge. I kept this diet up to 8-9 months slowly introducing gluten and then red meat and lactose in that order. Coffee I started drinking right after my 4th month of the doet, when my digetion got much better, but it was far from the point when i don't think about it. Now a year after I can say that there is hope for all of us maybe not to get rid completly (I hope als for that), but to manage it with no medication and not thinking about it all the time. 

    I have been told previously by many doctors that I am going to have that condition lifelong....this put me also in depression. IT WAS CRUICAL when my homeopath who is also a gastrosurgeon (so a person that know both worlds) told me that OF COURSE YOU CAN HEAL FROM ACID/SILENT REFLUX!!!  So half of the job is to stay positive I think.

    On the top of the diet, I also took a vitamin  complex called disbioflor containing vitamin B complex and some herbs for the liver (you can buy it at chemist's) and I keep drinking lemon water in the morning when I wake up to alkalinze my system. I started this 4 months after my diet, so not at the beginning but in the middle. ALso, I took some 3 types of probiotics first of which  cleaned my guts, second gave some protection for the gut lining and the last one was containing good bacteria (bifido).

    SO THERE IS HOPE!!!!!!!! 

    • janet136
      janet136 sonya60950

      Posted

      Thanks for sharing that. I have put myself on a similar diet from reading round the subject and it did help but I don't want to stay on it for ever, even though I am now at a weight lower than I remember in my adult life. I am trying a different ppi but not with confidence and had decided to try an alternative remedy. I feel mine was brought on by stress, which won't go away at the moment, but was thinking I should try and deal with the stress. As you say we are all different, but you have certainly given me food for thought.

      thanks

  • geraldine_47653
    geraldine_47653 Anxious_Alex

    Posted

    Hello Alex. Ito have LPR. Like you, I have tried everything and have had all the tests.

    Mine started nearly exactly a year ago and got better round about last Xmas. I know this sounds odd, but I've read about anti histomines being used for this. I find it strange that it came on a year ago when the polen count was high.

    anyway, lm going to my Doc today to get some anti histomines tabs and hope for the best.

    This info is on line. All the best. Geraldine.

    • peter361
      peter361 geraldine_47653

      Posted

      Please keep us informed with this.

      I can remember many years when I felt nauseous for a couple of months prior to getting the usual hay fever symptoms.I had no idea about lpr then but it has crossed my mind that there might be some link.

  • deborah58284
    deborah58284 Anxious_Alex

    Posted

    hi im new here and am a fellow sufferer have you been tested for h pylori.i thought you might consider this ask your doctor.ive also tried triple antibiotic treatment.if you have gone down this path then i apologise for any inconveinience.
  • robodelfy
    robodelfy Anxious_Alex

    Posted

    Hi guys

    I started another thread, but people dont seem to be replying now.

    I'm confused as to whether I have LPR or just globus hystericus. These have been my symptoms over the ast 5 years. 

    - globus sensation, sometimes very intense for weeks, especially in the left side where the tonsil is always large.

    - stretching or possibly burning feeling in the solar plexus when taking a deep breath. Right below the sternum.

    - More recently, losing my voice very easily, feeling my voice is strained when talking even for a short time. Then having a sore throat

    - I get a very dry throat and mouth, also when anxious

    - I get relief from globus when Im eating, but only when Im eating!

    I have suffered quite severe anxiety and had a few nervous breakdowns. I know this has something to do with it. Up until I found out about LPR, I was sure it was just anxiety causing the problems. But now it seems maybe it is not as simple as that. Because even when I feel calmer and more peaceful I can still have the lump in my throat, sometimes even more than if I just have broken down.

    Does this sound familiar to anyone. I am in Thailand and cant go to a good doctor where I am, so it could be months before I get to see one in the UK. I just want to have more ofan idea of whats going on, but I understand you cant diagnose me online!

    I am already trying to alter my diet, chew everything until its liquid, chew gum after, eat less, exercise more. But I dont know how long it will take for this to have any effect. Im reluctant to take PPIs from what Ive read.

    I would love to feel some relief in my throat, the pain is constant

    I hope you are all finding your way with this, its really horrible. Good luck, and thanks for the support

    Alex

    • robodelfy
      robodelfy

      Posted

      I wanted to add....

      Sometimes if I meditate and consciously let go of the tension, I can feel my throat relax slightly. It feels almost like trying to twitch my ears, like I just cant make the connection between brain and body. As soon as I start doing anything else, the throat pain comes back full force. 

      I wake in the night and I can physically feel that my throat muscles are pushing together, because I then relax them a little and I can feel them moving apart.

      So this makes me wonder what is going on. Does the globus sensation from LPR work like this, is it actually your muscles contracting and tightnening, or is it irriated nerve endings, or is it psychological?  

      This is where Im confused between the lump feeling, and the difference between globus hystericus and LPR, if any. 

      Any info greatly appreciated

       

    • sonya60950
      sonya60950 robodelfy

      Posted

      Hi Alex,

      That sounds very much what I went through. Since you are in Thailand you can take the advantage of acupuncture. It helped me immensely together with a homeopathic treatment...A year after all those treatments (20 sessions of acupuncture and a year of homeopathy) I hardly remember I have a reflux...of course i try to be careful with my diet but not much and I get some mucus in my throat on and off...but the bigger picture is much much better...

      Acupuncture helps to reliese tension in your muscles (diaphragm that puts pressure on our stomach and the throat muscles that cause the sensation of globus pharyngus) and it also tones the valve on the top of the esophagus which is basically treating your reflux. Somthing that is absolutely ignored in mainstream medicine .To say nothing about stress relieving benefits of acupuncture...

      I went through all kinds of PPI treatments nd to be very honest with you their side effects made me more sick causing problems with my blood pressure, the levels of Calcium and Iron in my blood decreased and I got a vitamin D deficit on the top. And I was only 30!!! The thing is that my acidity was ok, it was just the valve that was nnot closing but since mainstream doctors do not know any other way than just putting you on antiacids that was the only treatment I got... and if before the PPIs I was able to digest well after taking those I started also having digestive issues and lost 10 kilos in some months. 

      The thing is that if you consider your issues psychosomatic (re;ated to stress, anxiety, etc.) taking PPIs is not going to help you to beat the cause. So you might want to keep a diet of simple foods and give a try with acupuncture as it might cost less over there than in the UK...The last and not least - again if you thing the cause might be psychosomatic, gentle physical and breathing exercises might be of help. And of course trying to decrease the stress in your life...

      Good luck and don't think it is impossible to get rid of.

      Greetings from Italy,

      Sonya

       

    • sonya60950
      sonya60950 robodelfy

      Posted

      Forgot to tell you - yes, mindfulness meditation helps you to release muscular tension as well!! So practicing it for 6 weeks as suggested by Jon Kabat-Zinn helps...you can find his videas on youtube.
  • peter361
    peter361 Anxious_Alex

    Posted

    I find the same.The throat symptoms are soothed during meditation especially on gentle out breaths it actually feels nice. But like you when I stop the symptoms return.I know there's an emotional connection because if I get angry or stressed I can feel the discomfort growing but whether this is a cause or a symptom I don't know.
    • gwen45436
      gwen45436 peter361

      Posted

      I have this also.  HH and esoph reflux, nnothing was mentioned about LPR but I think I have it.  The throat hurting is an issue and it goes into my chest.  If I get upset or stressed, just like you I can feel it straight away.  I have some heavy dental work to have done and am dreading it now I have this reflux.  I know I will get anxious and my throat and chest will really hurt me for hours after.

      Awful.

      G.

    • peter361
      peter361 gwen45436

      Posted

      Hi gwen

      I wanted to reply to the message where you mentioned the effects of perfume on you but I can't seem to find the thread and reading this now some of the symptoms we get sound very similar. Like you a good day can be really spoilt by certain kinds of perfume. As I get older I find find more and more my throat is irritated by things most people don't notice at all

      .If somebody sprays deodorant in the same room or even up to about 15 feet away it affects my throat and gives me a headache.Worst of all is cigarette smoke even out in the open.If I'm somewhere where someone lights a cigarette I have to leave or put up with cough and sore throat for the next 8 hours.

      When I go to the dentist I have to keep stopping the dentist and have to sit up and swallow. I've decided from now on I will make it very clear that I need to do this instead of feeling panicky.

      I have just been able to book a holiday.This is the first time in a long time this has been possible and as it gets closer the symptoms seem to be getting easier so I really do think think feelings have a major role in my condition.So far I've had no chest symptoms but I haven't been diagnosed with HH so maybe that's why.

      When people tell me not to worry I get annoyed but dare I say to you try to make sure the dentist is fully aware that you need to keep stopping maybe have sips of water and try not to worry .When I've taken my fearful grandson to the dentist I've seen them being so gentle and careful that I'm sure if they know they won't want to put you through any unnecessary suffering.

      I think chewing gum the day before znd prior to the work if it's allowed might help circumvent the dryness or maybe even the non acid form of Gaviscon which seems to lubricate the throat for about an hour but check if that's OK with the dentist depending on whether you have to fast.

      Good luck.

    • gwen45436
      gwen45436 peter361

      Posted

      Hi Pete - many thanks for this.  What a relief someone else has developed this - you are the first.  I am sure my husband thinks I am making it up - it is a complete nightmare!!

      Yes I will tell the dentist - she is very gentle with me because she can see I am nervous.  She says to lift my hand to stop her, so I will tell her that I now have this reflux problem and nerves go straight to my throat and chest - feels like an elephant is sitting on my chest. 

      Chewing gum does seem to help so I will do that before I go.  Good idea.

      Thank you for your help with this - really appreciated.

       

    • janet136
      janet136 peter361

      Posted

      That is interesting. Can I ask what kind of gum is best to chew?
    • gwen45436
      gwen45436 janet136

      Posted

      I use sugar free menthol.  It increases saliva by 140% and coats the throat and esophagus then breaks down the acid.  Works for me.
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