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new gerd pateint. Listen to me whine

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 8/23/2012 9:39 AM (GMT 0)
Ok, I am going to try and summarize a long story so I don't bore you.

I am a 22 year old male and have been recently diagnosed with GERD. I have had constant phlegm production going on for about a year now.I have NO heartburns.. no acid feeling in the throat and pretty much none of the other GERD symptoms. My ENTs and allergists ( i have seen a few of each ) all came up with the conclusion it was GERDS based on the acid damage in my throat.
So pretty much I have just been hacking up a lot of phlegm over the past year.

Its been 3 days since I was diagnosed and they gave me ranaditine or whatever they call the generic for zantac. Since I started taking the medication I all of a sudden have more phlegm but it feels like its stuck in my throat. I literally have to cough it out and it leads to dry heaving because of the thick consistency. Last night was really bad. I had one sip of beer and it felt like my throat was closing up. I had to keep swallowing every 5 seconds and it became hard to talk. The day before I had 3 beers and was completely ok. All of today I have been having that feeling of phlegm lodged in my throat after eating just about everything. Before it was only orange juice that affected me insanely.

Does this sound familiar at all to anyone?? I read a lot of threads on several forums but dont see any similarities to my problem. Thanks in advance!! turn
Posted 8/23/2012 10:23 AM (GMT 0)
It sounds familiar to me, although I don't have to cough it out like you describe. I've also had the problem of having the feeling of phlegm stuck in my throat for some time now and was told earlier this year that it was post-nasal drip, which is basically when you're producing excess mucus and a lot of it is going straight down your throat.

As for the GERD symptoms, your throat usually bears the brunt of the symptoms due to the fact the excess acid (or the fumes from the excess acid) rise up into your throat. For me, this makes me feel like there is always something stuck in my throat - although I'm guessing my post-nasal drip is making that feel even worse.

One thing I would say is it's only been 3 days since you started taking your medication so give it time - sometimes when you start taking medication it can actually make the symptoms feel worse for the first few days before it starts to work. A lot of medications don't simply start working straight away (I wish they did!) - they take time to build up in your system.

I'm no doctor, and there are others on here who know a lot more about GERD than I do, but GERD or acid reflux cause a variety of symptoms - I'm pretty sure there will be others here who relate to what you're describing.
Posted 8/23/2012 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like you've got LPR.
I hate to tell you this you might have to lay off the beer. Your throat is already irritated from the reflux and then your pouring alcohol on top of it causing your throat to build up more mucus to protect it. Thus you're choking on the mucus.
Posted 8/23/2012 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with couchtater..it is LPR.....Laryngopharyngeal reflux. You manifest copious amounts of phlegm, clearing your throat, PND, clogged ears. You do not usually experience the burning you get from GERD reflux.
You may experience a hoarse throat, sore throat, etc. Symptoms come and go and are different with each
episode. You need a PPI like Prilosec. You can take the Zantac as well. Stay away from alcohol, citrus ,
fried foods. There is alot of information on this condition. Some physicians do not even know what it is.
You may experience a feeling like something is stuck in your throat or a tightness in your throat which sometimes you may experince in your chest. The first time I got LPR I had the mucous and a cough that I could not stop. I would feel like I was choking to death. Took 3 months but I got rid of it . Good luck with this.
Posted 8/24/2012 6:20 AM (GMT 0)
I actually forgot to mention the doctor had brought up LPR so I agree with the above posts. Thanks for the replies, I will be looking more in to this problem.. is it normal for it to go away on its own?Its just strange to me how worse it has gotten since I started the meds
Posted 8/25/2012 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
Gerd doesn't go away it is just managed unless you have corrective surgery.
Posted 8/25/2012 4:56 AM (GMT 0)

couchtater said...
Gerd doesn't go away it is just managed unless you have corrective surgery.

what about LPR?
Posted 9/23/2012 12:19 PM (GMT 0)
bmoney,

I have yet to go to a GI doctor but my ENT and I suspect that my problems are being caused by LPR. I am also 22 so I can imagine how you feel. From what I have read, LPR can be controlled through diet and medications. For the past three days I have been eating an ultra-bland diet and my breathing has gotten a little better. How have your symptoms been the past month? Any improvements?

Looking forward to talking with you,

Mayhaffs
Posted 9/23/2012 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
I had LPR and the surgery helped me. Diet and medication did not help me.
Posted 9/25/2012 6:50 AM (GMT 0)
I think LPR is also called "silent reflux". Unlike those of us who experience heartburn, I've read that silent reflux is scary because you don't know when you're actually having it until you start having crazy symptoms like your increased phlem production surface. A coworker of mine had a nearly constant runny nose for years until he realized that it GERD. Once he started taking his PPI the runny nose virtually disappeared. It's crazy that yours is getting worse though. Maybe it will just take your body a while to respond to the meds??
Posted 9/25/2012 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
Im still taking the prilosec and I can't tell if its doing anything or making the syptoms worse. I seem to be chocking on phlegm no matter what I eat or drink. Im violently hacking and coughing out crap throughout the entire day. I'm afraid I am going to tear my esophagus or something. I get blood every now and then.

What kind of specialist should I go to for this????
Posted 9/26/2012 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
Try a pulmologist to rule out lung issues. They will send you to a GI if it's not lung related.
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