More problems with acid reflux, cough and 'lump in throat'

the only advice I can give you is what solved my problem and that is do not eat or drink anything 3 hours before going to bed

I've been suffering with breathlessness (on inhalation primarily) for 5 months, along with severe voice hoarsness and constant blocked/stuffy sinuses with occasional earache.  I also get a sensation of fast cold air on inhalation in the back of my throat.  I also find that my breathing when I'm lying down in bed becomes quite shallow, as when I wake up I need a few deep long breaths to feel remotely normal to get up, during which my windpipe and bronchus feel tight.  I purchased a reflux sleeping wedge 6 weeks ago; jury is still out on its usefulness.  I also had an 8 week persistent dry cough over August & September, and even now I still feel my throat is on the precipice of entering another coughing fit, it feels so tender.  Finally, I also have right sided chest pain (front pectoral area extending toward armpit, and right shoulder blade which can be severe, like a burning pain).  

After 2 months of trial & error on asthma & antihistamine med's through my GP and a lot of sick leave from work, it was a trip to A&E with severe breathlessness that a Doctor first suggested that it may be acid reflux, or to be more specific as it's harming my airways - Laryngopharyngeal Reflux, which sounds like what you've got.  I also had bloods (thyroid, liver, kidney, anaemia), an ECG and chest X-ray done, all of which were OK. I've had paramedics at my work and another A&E visit ontop of this. I was put on omeprazole for 2 weeks by the A&E Doc, which was extended to 2 months following an ENT referral for a laryngoscopy (throat inflammation and granuloma on voice box found).  I was on 2 x 20mg per day, along with Gaviscon Advance 4 times a day per ENT's recommendation.  

I've recently come off omeprazole having suffered bouts of sickness & diarrhoea which have taken my weight down from 15st to 13st in 5 weeks.  I'm 29, male, and 6' 2" and generally in good shape.  PPI's may work for a lot of people, but combined with Gaviscon Advance (which bungs you up), it was destroying me.  I also felt severely fatigued and spaced out for much of these 2 months on omeprazole.  Heartburn was never an issue (symptoms were always silent).  

I've done the "Dropping Acid" Dr Kaufmann Indiction & Maintenance Diet. I also only drink alkaline water.  I haven't had caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, spicy/fried/fatty food, dairy, etc for 3 months now. Weight loss can be apportioned to my diet change, but not 2st in 5 weeks and certainly not the bouts of illness which only commenced once I was on omeprazole.  I'm now on Ranitidine 2 x 150mg.

Despite all of this, I'm still breathless, with a blocked sinuses, and now an out of tune digestive system.  I can only describe the breathless feeling as being akin to when you've mistakingly inhaled smoke (from a BBQ or passive smoke, etc), and there's a lingering feeling of rawness in the windpipe and lungs.  My opinion of GP's is that this condition is poorly understood and the symptoms are rarely taken seriously, and there is a general reluctance to provide a referral to a GI/ENT/pulmonary specialist because they'd rather prescribe PPI medication.  The breathlessness is incredibly debilitating. I do have asthma, but my peak flow readings are 600+ (in other words, healthy) and as I say it's on inhalation that I feel the tightness and raw feeling.  I have been taking a steroid inhaler (Seretide 100), but I can't say for certain if this has helped.  I've observed that for no apparent reason - and at any time of the day or night - I have considerable bouts of breathlessness which I can't relieve using inhalers or actual tablet-based steroids (the latter which my GP gave me as a contingency).  

I've got a chest referral coming up in early January where I'll be pushing for a CT scan to see exactly what's going on, as my ENT follow up concluded that, after 2 months on omeprazole and Gaviscon Advance, my throat has healed from inflammation and granulomas, although I'm still hoarse and sore in this region, and I'm still breathless which is my main concern.  Although my GP has anecdotally given me a diagnosis from the laryngoscopy results, I'm not convinced as I'd not long stopped coughing prior to the laryngoscopy, so in my ignorant opinion I wasn't surprised that damage was found.  Following the Chest specialist outcome, next stop will be a GI. 

In my experience, having done all self-help measures to the extreme for nigh on 3 months now (diet, sleeping wedge, alkaline water, not eating 3 hours before bed, etc etc), I feel as bad as I did at the start, and that's with strictly adhering to Kaufmann diet.  It probably depends on the severity of each persons symptoms and their ability to handle the meds, but the diet is worth a try. 

You can also search YouTube for Laryngopharyngeal Reflux and select the first video (Beaumont Medical, 15:43 minutes) for some more useful information. 

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress. 

I find I have had to give up all the known triggers for reflux - and that includes alcohol. I also am on ranitidine - which doesn't help your digestive system one little bit! In fact I would say it causes IBS - I've never had so many problems! But's thats another story! It's trial and error finding out what works - but as a rule I don't eat after 7pm or drink after 8.30pm - usually go to be about 10.30pm (always up early!). I try to eat as much variety as I can. Not so keen to take on a alkaline diet - as I have read up - and it can cause as many problems as it solves. Have you had an endoscopy or any other tests? Sometimes when you have a clearer picture of what you are dealing with , you can look at more options. 

With ref sore throat I am afraid that nothing seems to help much my sore throat is not terrible and I think I have almost got used to it- I am finding the irritation which makes me want to cough is worse than the sore throat.  I thought I Might try dgl as licorice is supposed to help with reflux but it seems tobe trying different things and seeing if anything works.  Non sugar, non mint chewing gum is also suggested as a way of creating more saliva, but I found I couldnt stand this after a while and its very antisocial!  Although I donot follow this advice much myself distraction seems to be the best option I do find if I go for a walk that I dont  notice my throat much at all. The suggestion by one respondent of not checking things on computer all the time also good advice, I fo through spells of not looking on pc and I probalby feel less anxious. 

I have by the way had all the tests, endoscopy, blood ct scan etc when I was having terrible stomach pains and constant nausea and ibs was diagnosed now I dont have those symptoms just the ones from reflux.

I agree with comments about drs including specialists not really knowing what to do to alleviate problems caused by reflux,  ppis are the go to solution but I cant take them so?