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Throat Clearing, hoarseness, swallowing difficulties

Posted , 15 users are following.

AmyYamy
AmyYamy

I was initially diagnosed with LPR for my symptoms, which were constant post nasal drip, hoarse voice, and a click when I swallowed.  I have since figured out it wasn't LPR at all, and that all the protocols for LPR only make things worse. 

I came here to hopefully help others who may have been told they have LPR when really, they have something else.

The symptoms of LPR are exactly the same as the symptoms of nutritional deficiencies of B vitamins, vitamin A, and iron.  

In particular, a riboflavin deficiency will dry out the soft tissues of your throat so that you feel every tiny drip of what is actually normal mucus.  Riboflavin is a B vitamin that is not stored in the body and you must eat it every day.  Dairy products, something many of us with mucus are told to avoid, are very high in riboflavin, and one of the best sources.  Stress, illness and certain chronic conditions can increase the body's requirements for riboflavin, causing deficiency symptoms, like a dry, post nasal drip in the throat.  (In my case, I became deficient due to an undescovered thyroid issue.  When the thyroid is not functioning properly, you do not metabolize riboflavin.)  Mild riboflavin deficiency will also cause dry, itchy or burning feeling of the eyes.  

Other B vitamins which affect the throat are niacin and folate.  Iron deficiency causes tongue and throat swelling and can even cause webbing of the esophagus.   Vitamin A and zinc also affect the mouth, tongue and throat.  Iodine is essential for the salivary glands.  

Certain health issues can affect the metabolism of nutrients.  You can be deficient even though you get plenty of it in your diet.  Your genetics, your diet, and your current health conditions all affect your nutrtitional status.  

Proton pump inhibitors and acid reducers can make things worse by reducing your absorption of nutrients.  

If you want to try some vitamins to see if they will help, start with the water soluble B vitamins.  I recommend taking co-enzymated sublinguals which melt under your tongue, so that you don't have to worry about whether you are digesting and metabolizing them properly.  

9 likes, 52 replies

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  • bic24773
    bic24773 AmyYamy

    Posted

    I wish I'd found your post earlier. I've been having treatment for reflux but stopped the meds due to scare stories and I'm managing not too bad. However I've got ms and have had neuro symptoms which neurologist says isn't my ms, I've got dents on my nails, dry eyes, palpatatiibs and I'm seeing a Dr today, I hope I can persuade them to give me a proper blood test because when I did the much berated 'google' search it came up with a variety of vitamin deficiencies. B12 and zinc amongst. Thank you though I wouldn't have connected the two - reflux and vitamin deficiency if I hadn't suddenly developed a hoarder voice thus morning and not on waking so it wasn't reflux as the cause. Good luck everyone

  • Joynan
    Joynan AmyYamy

    Posted

    Hi Amy

    I was wondering how you are doing a year later? I was diagnosed this year with LPR, reflux and  just found out I am very deficient in Riboflavin as well as well has having a high level of Mercury--l would appreciate any feedback you can give me. 

    Thanks,Nancy

  • poinsettia
    poinsettia AmyYamy

    Posted

    I found this forum because i plugged in all my symptoms to the computer and this link is what I got back. Everything is exactly the same for me and I am wondering what you finally in the end discovered to be the real reason for all your trouble. I have throat issues with post nasal drip, feeling like there is always a lump or something in my throat, heavy chest, fluid in ears, popping in ears, dry throat, I lose my voice constantly which is why I sought help to begin with. I was also told it was GERD or LPR but meds don't help. I also have a web in my esophagus. It is like I could have written all your posts. I was told this might be an allergy and so I am trying strong allergy meds which are not helping so far. Oddly enough, I went in for an IV of iron ferritin because I can not keep enough iron in my body. This was a totally separate doctor ordering this but they seem to be related according to your posts on this forum, and possibly riboflavin deficiency as well. PLEASE tell me ALL the things you have done to combat your problems. Thanks so much. This is amazing to have found your posts. They seem to hold my miracle cure that the doctors are not able to come up with on their own. 

  • poinsettia
    poinsettia AmyYamy

    Posted

    What vitamins and minerals would you recommend for hoarse voice, and constantly feeling phlegm and lumps in the back of my dry throat? Iron and what else should I try? Again, like others, it is not GERD or LPR or allergy.
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