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Hi guys am Philip am 26 from last three years suffering from gerd..3yrs back done an endoscopy...and cnfrmd gerd..still suffering from severe cough in the mrng...and nausea...been on rabeprazole for 2 yrs and still sometime symptoms vil flare up..since last one month..suffering a lot from belching burning sensation in stomach,nausea severe drycough espcly in mrng...highly nauseaous while brushing pls do help guys..
1 like, 17 replies
Barretts subin2037
Posted
The cough is due to reflux rather than acid. To control that, you may need to make lifestyle changes. That you get it in the morning is telling. Nocturnal reflux has caused refluxate to enter your respiratory system overnight.
Make sure you leave at least 3 hours between your last meal and going to bed. Raise the head of the bd by 6 to 8 inches on blocks and sleep on your left side.
laura98485 Barretts
Posted
Your knowledge on this forum has been a massive help for me.
I would just like to ask you a question, I have been diagnosed with lpr not gerd as I NEVER have heartburn or indigestion.
I do suffer with coughing and wheezing in the mornings, the rest of the time I have it all pretty much under control with meds and lifestyle.
But I wanted to ask do you think with the refluxate entering the respiratory system it will cause any permanent airway or lung damage?
I'm concerned about this as like I say the rest of the day I have things under control now (before I read your advice it was crazy out of control) but I get this wheezing chest unproductive cough for about 3 hours a day from when I 1st get out of bed. I can live with it as I'm used to it now but I am concerned if it could be causing permanent damage? Is it actually acid that is getting into my respiratory system? Thanks for any advice x
Barretts laura98485
Posted
Reflux doesn't need to be acidic to cause problems in the respiratory system. I am now 67 but have had extra-oesophageal reflux all my life. I was always being sent to ENT. As a boy I had my ears syringed weekly and had my tonsils and adenoids removed when I was 6 (ineffectively).
It was until 20 years ago, discussing it with an intuitive doctor, that we reasoned the reflux was "coming up one tube and down the other".
My cough was so bad that I would get a fit where I practically blacked out at least once a day and would sit up for 2 hours between 3:00 and 5:00am every night couging and swigging far too much cough suppressant from the bottle.
Eventually I had to have a fundoplication to reduce the reflux and all the symptoms of LPR either disappeared or reduced to minimal and acceptable level.
Refluxate aspirated into the lungs can cause serious problems such as pneumonia and even bronchiectasis. Keepin the acid reduced may mean less harm but even the 80mg omeprazole daily I wa taking had had no effect on the upper oesophageal reflux.
I do hope you are able to get your reflux under control but if not, you may want to discuss the surgical options.
All the best. I fully empathise and know how miserable this can be.
laura98485 Barretts
Posted
Its very interesting you mentioned ears as for a long time iv suffered on and off with earache, temporary deafness and ringing/underwater noise, the docs put it down to sinus issues, I never would have related it to reflux!!
Can I ask was the fundo op as awful as some people say? And do you mind me asking if you have ever had a sickness bug or need to vomit since having it and what you do about it?I have 2 little ones at home so unfortunately sickness bugs do happen in our house hold every now and then! Also what is your opinion on the lynx surgery?
Thanks for replies, sorry if I'm hounding you a bit, its just I don't seem to get any help from my doc at all
Barretts laura98485
Posted
The blog of my own experience of fundo may be found on my personal wesbite ChrisRob co uk if you click on the Barrett's tab.
I went from all the chronic LPR symptoms and anaemia from hypochlorhydria induced by high level of PPIs over a number of years to being med and symptom free overnight.
Burping and vomitting can be an issue for some for a couple of weeks as the scar tissue heals but is usually OK fairly soon.
Unfortunately I did succumb to norovirus and was violently vommitting for 5 hours solidly. I feared my wrap wouldn't stand up to so much internal gymnastics and it had loosened. Gradually the symptoms all returned.
18 months ago I had it repaired witha Collis-Nissen revision which is far less likely to come loose again.
Purely personally, I am not a fan of LINX. It may be the best artificial alternative to fundo but I have concerns. It is highly promoted on scare stoires that fundoplication won't let you burp or vomit and that LINX can be reversed if necessary. Actualluy fundoplications can be reversed if necessary but I've never heard of it being necessary. It is possible (rarely) for fundo wraps to be too tight and cause swallowing difficulties but easily dilated. LINX causes swallowing problems in 63% of patients receiving it. If the food bolus is not solid or heavy enough, it can remain stuck in the oesophagus.
But I am concerned about its long term effects. Results are only available for 10 years reporting 85% satisfaction from recipients. (Whereas Laparoscopic fundoplication results are available for 20 years with recipients reporting 90% satisfaction.)
Over time, the movement of the titanium magnets against the advetia (outer "casing" of the oesophagus) might cause erosion. And will tissue overgrowth reduce the movement of the magnets causing the device to lose effectiveness?
I discussed LINK with it's manufacturers, Torax medical, dome years ago and they confided inme that they were concerned about the possibility of erosion and migration over a long period.
If you visit the Down With Acid website, you can also read of Angelchik - an artificial device similar to LINX but using what was effectively a rubber band to keep the oesophagus closed. 40 years ago, everyone was clamourng for it in a similar way to LINx now. But 20 years later problems of erosion started to become apparent and there was a clamour to have it removed.
I hope that doesn't happen with LINX.
And don't worry about "houding" me. It's a role I have taken on by founding and chairing a patient support charity that works closely with consultants filling a need they do not have the time to provide.
laura98485 Barretts
Posted
Its so reassuring to hear a positive response to fundo, as I suppose people only usually post up negative experiences.
The lack of time research about the linx does give me cause for concern, and in my head I had written off fundo as id heard such bad things about it, but maybe I need to look into that option if my severe symptoms return or my wheezing and coughing in morning does not improve.
Thanks for advise you have given me some food for thought, and I'm so pleased that you are now able to enjoy the rest of your life without this horrible debilitating illness taking it over, and I thankyou and commend you for taking so much time to advise, help and support fellow suffers. 😊
subin2037 Barretts
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subin2037 Barretts
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Barretts subin2037
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subin2037 Barretts
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PizzaMan Barretts
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I also had a question for anyone out there. I find my teeth getting more sensitive. I'm sure this is overnight reflux despite PPIs and Gaviscon Advance before bedtime. Amy ways of mitigating reflux damage to teeth?
Many thanks
Barretts PizzaMan
Posted
Teeth are affected by acid reflux. PPIs and Gaviscon will help reduce the acid but not the reflux.
I used to get very sharp edges to my teeth. In discussing this with my dentist he said refluxing acid softens the enamel which can then be partially removed by brushing. He suggested not to brush if there's acid possibility but to use a good flouride mouthwash.
PizzaMan Barretts
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wknight subin2037
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My reflux has just flared up with a cough and it took me ages to stop it. My approach that worked in the end was to use Gaviscon at meal times and it took a while but it worked after quite a few weeks and the cough is gone
subin2037 wknight
Posted
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