LPR - Hard to figure out my trigger

Hi. I've been diagnosed with LPR and am on 40 mg prilosec once a day. I've been on it for a few months. My condition seems to have improved but I have good days and bad days. I'm 35, in decent shape, not overweight. I eat pretty healthy but like beer too much (I'm pretty deep in the micro brew scene so it's a hard habit to shake for cultural/social reasons, not to mention I adore a well-made beer).

So here's the weird thing: I cannot for the life of me figure out the LPR trigger. Does anyone have tips for figuring that out? When I wake up in the morning I feel as close as can be to 100%, but it gets worse as the day goes on. Here's an example: I recently had a birthday party and decided screw it, I'm having fun, and had a few beers - even one before bed. Still was fine in the morning, but as the day went on I started to feel it come back. One weird thing is the pain is most intense when I yawn and aside from that it's pretty mellow. Another weird thing is that it really is yawning. I've tried flexing my neck muscles and it just does not produce the same pain as a genuine yawn.

I have figured out a few small triggers. Spicy foods are one. Onions seem to be a problem. Processed meats are bad, even lean meats like turkey. When I work out it can sometimes be bad. A totally empty stomach also seems to be bad. But aside from that it's really hard to figure out what's what. Beer does not seem to be any kind of problem, either when I'm drinking it or the morning after. This makes me wonder if I even have LPR.

Anyway, so my question has anyone ever had something like this? Also, any tips for figuring out your trigger? Is it saliva? Or pain? And are the triggers pretty close to instantaneous or is it a few hours later?

Thanks for any help.

CoCo. Hi! These are some thoughts. You have LPR diagnoses based on what? We're tests done. Kind of doctor--GI or ENT? Given any dietary guidance? Tell some of your symptoms. On medicine for two months. Follow up due. One thing comes to mind is carbonation is a no no, including alcohol kind. Try going without carbonated beverages and see if its a trigger for you. It's worth a try and be in touch with the doc. Also keep a diary of foods and symptoms along with date and times of occurrence. Docs really appreciate this. Hope you feel better. This forum is a great place to get and give suggestions. Welcome. Regards.

re: drtinsac. My symptoms have changed. When it first started I had a dull throat ache and an intense globus. The globus is totally gone but now I have dull throat aches with occasional ear ache (not bad but definitely noticeable). Also, my adam's apple hurts when I laugh intensely and yawn (but only then). Finally, I sometimes get crazy saliva when I eat. At first I thought that was irritation but it does seem to happen with some foods more than others. So I guess that's what I'll watch for with my journal. I spit a TON when I work out. Which is disgusting.

Before I continue, I should add that this all started during a viral infection and a time of INTENSE stress.

As for symptoms, I mean the throat pain. The other day for the first time I felt 100% fine for about a day but the aches came back with an airport turkey sandwich (probably very processed). That was the first time I felt a definitive trigger, so processed meats are out. I rarely eat anything fatty super fatty. I haven't had fast food since I was like 16 (I'm 35 now) and I never drink soda. Editorial side note: Does anyone around here get bitter when they see colleagues eat like a big mac and fries for lunch and have ZERO problems with it? God that drives me nuts and makes me jealous (not for a big mac, just for the relief).

That I felt 100% for one day was a huge ray of light because there has to be something that was working that week.

Carbonation has never been a problem, and neither has beer. I may just be telling myself that, but I've never had anything hugely noticeable. I will admit I drink to excess now and then (not frat boy stuff or anything but if I'm out with my boys we'll have three or four beers say once a month) but mostly I'm a 2-beer drinker and that's NEVER been a problem. Now, I have cut back since I got LPR but say two times a week I'll get two beers with a friend or at a festival and it just has not been a problem. Last week when I was 100% I was in Denver and had two beers probably 3 of the nights I was there (Denver a huge mirco brew city). I made sure to have them at about 7 and go to bed at 11 or so.

Anyway, I hate to be so beer centric but that's really my only weakness. I could be vegan if I had to. I was raised on leafy greens and low-fat meals.

I've seen that thread. I think I may have that but I never had an event. I like my doctor so I kind of want to just let the PPIs run their course and go from there. Thanks guys. I'll be in touch as this goes on.

I know for a fact that processed meats are bad. So today I ran a little test. I worked out for a while and had to spit a bit (less than on Saturday, though). Then I went to a bar to watch a San Francisco Giants game (huge fan) and had a couple beers when I was there. Felt totally fine and had NO SPITTING at all. It feels like it's kicked off by certain solid foods. Anyway, this thing is so weird. I hate the idea of taking an anti-depressant but I'll give it a try. Thanks again. Is Drtinsac a doctor?

Hah no I'm not a doctor.

When you said it happened after a virus, that made me think of the hypersensitivity thing.

I didn't like the idea of taking it either since I'm not depressed. But since you had the virus connection, you have good reason to try it. The dosage they give you is maybe like 25mg, which is not the dose people take for depression typically. In fact Elavil is hardly used anymore for depression since there are newer drugs like SSRIs which are preferred for depression/anxiety. It is often used as a "visceral pain modulator". I am not overly sensitve to pain either, in general, so I did not want to take it for that reason on top of not being depressed. But if it's just your throat which is irritated after a virus, it's worth a shot.

Note that Elavil should be what you request, not just any antidepressant as newer drugs like SSRIs are thought to work at a different "level" then an old tricyclic like elavil.

My point of relaying my experience is that it had no effect on my mood one way or the other, it made me a bit tired but that went away soon. Definitely worth a try for you if you have the viral connection to all this.

Any new updates I was told I have LPR and have some of the same issues as all of you do with the exception of constant like drainage in the back of my throat that causes me swallow constantly. I have been off of dairy from two months now but still the same issue, constantly having to swallow. Anixty is bad and seems to get worse in the evinings as does the swallowing.

Thanks
Scott

Well, this LPR thing is a little bit of a nightmare. I was just diagnosed, but they´re looking for the result of a PH test, to confirm. I have had GERD for 10 years, since then I have been in omeprazole 40 mg daily. The LPR started wjen I was really stressed at work, and had a terrible night. Fiest thing was like I had a niddle on my troath, I had scan and nothing was there...they said I had nothing but the pain doesn´t go away! My GERD is better but not my troath. This is very new to me but I hope yo share with you guys and also learn from your experiences. Coco, if you´re around, let us know how are you doing!