LPR/Silent Reflux - desperately in need of a miracle. Has anyone recovered from this?
Posted , 270 users are following.
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
Natty4578 Anxious_Alex
Posted
Dear Anxious Alex,
I too have been struggling for months with practically the sane symptoms and like you my role requires that I talk at work which has been challenging.
My symptoms are constant whether I eat spicy food, carbs or an alkaline rich diet. I too drank warm water with apple cider vinegar and manuka honey and took a high dose of acidophilus yet I still felt like something was blocking my throat and was constantly trying to clear it.
I have just read that a vitamin B deficiency and low niacin levels may cause LPR so I am going to try it for a few weeks and can let you know.
I noticed that your post is 4years old so if you have found a remedy please let me know.
From a fellow sufferer, I just want you to know that I completely empathise with you. Please don't give up. I am convinced there is a solution for us both.
gerd_gastr96696 Anxious_Alex
Posted
dena44669 Anxious_Alex
Posted
Hello Alex I jus recently ordered a product called acid reflux complete by complete natural products I have been taking it for a few days and so far I can see an improvement I also take priloc with it ...I do know the more anxious I become about things the worse my stomach acid would become it wouldn't hurt to maybe talk to a dr about an anti anxiety Meds along with these other products if you can maybe stop worrying maybe your stomach would calm down also .... best wishes and good luck :-)
anniepie Anxious_Alex
Posted
Please, please don't contemplate hurting your self. I have been suffering with this now for almost a year. At times I feel depressed because it does not go away. I did see a new doctor ENT. She put me on Zantac. Morning and evening. It's better than PPI. Not so strong and less side effects. I followed the diet explicitly, drunk lots of water to lessen the mucus. You really have to have s mind set that you can get better. After three weeks the mucus has almost disappeared, the coughing has stopped, the sore raw throat is much better. My life will never be the same as it was before. I cannot eat the foods I love or drink the beverages like coffee, or a glass of wine with dinner. But the minute I started to feel better I really did not miss it. You can do it too!!! Take good care.
Natty4578 anniepie
Posted
For some reason I cannot reply to the whole group??
I have been taking a high dosage of vitamin B complex and my problems have reduced dramatically....
gwen45436 Natty4578
Posted
Yes me too B complex - but also a biggie for me is a less tight bra - don't wear underwired now - just soft sports - big big improvement.
Jill0070 Anxious_Alex
Posted
Hi. I also have many of the same symptoms as you and wondered if this would ever go away. I have been on a strict low acid diet and my symptoms have stabilized. I am trying to prevent any further damage. After reading a lot on the forum, I didn't seem that anyone had recommended melatonin. I have read that it is made in the stomach and helps you sleep. When you sleep, your lower esophageal sphincter needs to tighten up because you are in the prone position. I have started taking 1 mg of melatonin each night and will increase to 2 mg. 3 mg is the recommended dose. I also have a friend with the same symptoms. She was over weight. She lost 40 lbs and her throats symptoms went away. She said she noticed they were gone at about 25-30 lb weight loss. I am trying to do the same as her and lose weight and see if it helps. I think it took years to develope and might take a while to resolve . I am hopeful that with work it can be healed
anna86162 Anxious_Alex
Posted
Hi there,
I have had silent reflux since I was a child. It ate away at the enamel on my teeth and I even thought I had asthma because of it.
After years of suffering from it, in my late twenties I found the cure. I used the book 'Dropping Acid' by Dr Jamie Koufman to heal it. She is the one who coined the term 'silent reflux' and has been researching it for decades. It's about lifestyle and diet. No eating after 8pm. Being at a healthy weight. No lying down after eating. Unfortunately to recover you also do have to cut out (or limit to special occasions) any food or drink with a ph below 5.0, including alcohol, fizzy drinks/soda, tomatoes, chocolate, caffeine, and a lot of acidic fruits.
I can't really have anything acidic these days but it is a sacrifice I am willing to make to be healthy and not be bothered by chronic cough. asthma, sinus issues, etc. (Some people who think they have hayfever and asthma actually have silent reflux.)
Also, coming from someone who is on the other side of this health issue, I can tell you some of the advice in this thread is misinformed. Having a curry is the worst thing you can do for your silent reflux.
All the best.
Anna
janet136 anna86162
Posted
Hi I agree with with most of what you say. I aslo eat an alkaline diet and believe in the health properties. However - some things in Jamie Kaufman's book dont apply to me eg I drink peppermint tea and it always helps. My gastroenterologist was sceptical about 'silent reflux' based on the tests that had been caried out. He is talking about globus sensation.(?!?) I am also having tests for breathing difficulties so I was interested in your comments on asthma.
Although things are better, than they were, it would be just lovely to be abe to eat out in a reataurant again!!
Giraffe123 Anxious_Alex
Posted
Hi everyone! I'm really glad I found this place. It can be really easy to feel totally lost reading all the opinions and inconclusive studies about lpr, so I'm glad I get the chance to talk to people directly here.
Anyway, I wanted to ask a few questions. To all the people who have mentioned asthma like symptoms or difficulty breathing, could you go into more detail about what that feels like specifically? Are the problems constant or do they come and go? Also, compared to others, how severe would you say you're symptoms are. How long have you been symptomatic? I've been reading a lot (too much) about potential complications from lpr and breathing problems are the freakiest to me. Anyway, thanks for being awesome everybody. Stay strong!
janet136 Giraffe123
Posted
I have had breathing problems since this thing began, but only when I exert myself, bend down to lick something up or try to sing. ENT said it was acid reflux. Recently had spirometers test and am doing peak flow tests. Don't know results yet
Giraffe123 janet136
Posted
Thank you so much Janet! That's a pretty big relief to hear you say that.
I'm sure you know what it feels like but, man, it can be really pretty frustrating reading different sources state different things about how likely it is to develop complications from lpr. I feel like I have my symptoms well managed (minus the anxiety sometimes) and in this condition lpr is really easy to live with. I feel like I'd be able to just forget about this disease if I could just be sure that it won't lead to permanent complications. I feel like the sources I read aren't confident enough to say one way or the other. It's just so great to be able to ask someone who has lpr directly how they feel. If anyone is reading this wondering about complications, I have found trustworthy sources ([b]https://aboutgerd.org/signs-symptoms/laryngeal-pharyngeal-reflux[b].html) that say permanent complications from lpr are rare, and that symptoms usually resolve after a time so please please please stay strong. =^)
gwen45436 Giraffe123
Posted
Hi, I have lpr/hh I developed soreness in throat and chest with it. Then a sensitivity to chemical smells - trafic, perfume, household cleaners etc. They are not as bad at the moment - they come and go in stages. My latest symptom to turn up is at the dentist. When the dentist water sprays my teeth the spray goes up my nose and catches my breath - she has to stop and start and tries to aim the nozzle downn. I lie there like a board as am so anxious. I get so worked up about this shudder breathing that it starts off anxiety big time in my stomach and chest, then I hurt for hours. I can't believe that what was slight heartburn over the years and nothing special turns into this.
Just glad for places like this so we can share and compare.
G.
Kate20171 Anxious_Alex
Posted
Elondon123 Anxious_Alex
Posted
Hi Alex
How are you? Did you have any resolution to your symptoms.
I have also exactly the same as you. It first started with gastritis and coughing up acid literally overnight 8 months ago. I had a very sore throat and couldn't swallow food properly. This aspect has got slightly better but nothing seems to work for all the other lpr symptoms. I have small children and I have struggled with my mothers recent death. I feel very depressed and anxious about this not going away and getting cancer.
Do you think anxiety and psychological stress can trigger this condition or keep it going at least? Have you made any progress with your anxiety?
I am considering having the lynx surgery as I feel I am at the end of the road