Posted 5/25/2014 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
It sounds like LPR, also known as the silent reflux. If your esophagus is damaged, acid and pepsin from your stomach can be splashing up into your larynx. The larynx does not have any defenses against the acid and pepsin, so it can be injured easily, which results in scratchy throat, the feeling of a lump in the throat, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, chronic coughing, and/or throat clearing due to excessive mucus in the throat. If esophagus is badly damaged, the acid and pepsin can also spill over the esophagus into the lungs (it may get into lungs via inhaling as well in this case). This would cause chest pain, pain upon inhaling and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. In some cases sleep apnea may occur due to larynospasms. When a laryngospasm occurs, a person will wake in the middle of a sound sleep, gasping for air. This is caused by stomach acid and pepsin reaching the larynx (vocal chords) due to a malfunctioning of the esophageal valve. The larynx becomes irritated and begins to spasm. The convulsing and contracting of the vocal chords block the flow of air to the lungs, resulting in the inability to breathe or speak. This only lasts for a few moments, but to the person experiencing it, it seems like eternity!
You should know the condition of your esophagus after your endoscopy on June 16. If it turns out to be LPR, don't worry, there are ways to treat it. The most important will be foods that you need to avoid and some minor lifestyle changes. If you would like to try eliminating some of the foods now in hopes of a little relief, here are the ones that I can remember; chocolate, caffeine, carbonated beverages, onions, fried foods, fatty foods, spicy foods, tomatoes, peppers. I know it sounds hard, but it might alleviate some of the pain and discomfort that you have been experiencing. Good Luck, I wish you the best!