New with LPR

Hi All...
I'm Holly, I'm 41 and have been diagnosed with LPR as of a week and a half ago.

I first noticed a lump feeling in my throat that lasted about 2 weeks and then went away. I stared looking around for clues and came across LPR. It went away a few days later and I canceled an appt I had made with an ENT. Boy was I relieved. On Valentines Day I had a few glasses of wine with dinner and noticed my throat started getting sore. The next day I went to a walk-in to get tested for Strep. The sore throat got worse, I was hoarse and then my sinuses and chest became congested and it felt like a full blown upper-respiratory infection with lots of coughing and nose blowing...maybe even some fever.

I know the sinus and chest stuff can both me from LPR, but I think I also may have had a real infection.

Made a call again to the ENT because the LPR idea was still bugging me. I went in, he listened to my symptoms, scoped my throat and diagnosed me with LPR. He gave me 40mgs of Prilosec. I believe it's time released.

I take one in the morning. Been on it 12 days now.

I know notice a sour taste after eating and pressure in the back of my throat sometimes after I eat.

I have cut out all/most of the bad things in my diet.
I have one cup of low acid coffee in the morning.
I've raised my bed.

I will see the ENT again in 3 days.

I really hope you all can guide me to the next step. Where do I go from here??
I would really like to make some friends I can talk to as I've read a lot about LPR and my anxiety is sinking in.

Thanks so much for reading and I hope to hear back.
~Holly

Wow. You're the second person I've seen lately (Snowinsummer is the other), who went to the Dr. with a tight throat sensation, and now that you're on PPIs, your throat is better (I hope, anyway?) but you have a sour taste and still some tightness.

I had the same thing. Went through lots of tests and treatments, finally had surgery about 7 weeks ago. Feeling better as the weeks progress.

I have a very large/detailed thread here called DRTinsac journal, with all my test results etc, you may want to take a gander.

I'll say though, the sour taste is most likely a form of brash (waterbrash) which is something your body produces in response to reflux, and not actual reflux. Of course, it could also be a mix of this brash stuff and actual reflux. In some literature, I've seen the recommendation that when someone has a sour taste on PPI, they should try a low dose tricyclic antidepressant such as Elavil. I tried it, it didn't affect anything for me, sour taste, throat or otherwise. But in theory, if the body is "hypersensitive" to non-acidic reflux, which is the type of reflux you have now that you're on a PPI, reducing sensitivity with a 'visceral pain modulator' like Elavil might help. But again, no help for me, which is why I opted for surgery.

Welcome to the board, you're in the right spot. Please continue to post and let us know what your ENT says, what helps or doesn't help your symptoms etc.. All the information we can get about people's symptoms, what doctors report, etc. can be helpful for others.

Did your ENT happen to see any excessive candida in your throat/tongue?

Holly, I just went through a bad week of coughing, sore throat and a real stuffy nose. I took some decongestant and I'm much better. I think I have allergies that irritate my already sore throat. So, its like a secondary condition on top of the Gerd. I still have a little cough and sore throat. Does anyone with this condition stop coughing and lose their sore throat? My throat is what bothers me the most. It is closing up again. If I don't chew my food really good I feel like it gets stuck. When I had my Endoscopy last August the Gastroenterologist stretched it and said if I had trouble again they'd stretch it again.

I wanted to tell you that to stop feeling sick to my stomach 24/7 I started taking a digestive Enzyme Supplement called Utra-Zyme and I feel 100% better. So I take 2 capsules of Omeprazole (20mg), the Supplement and now a decongestant.

It seems I've had this "Condition" forever and that most of my Doctors don't get the frustration I feel.

Wow, this is great. I finally feel like I have someone to talk to!

Holly, mine is a dry, I guess you'd call it a tickle cough. It seems that at times it gets really bad then eases up to not so bad. Same with the nasty mucus in my nose and my sore throat.

I wonder if I take the decongestant all the time if that helps the cough & nose? Is that the key to my problem? Are the allergies making the cough, nose & throat worse? Don't know.

My doctor did say I will be on Gerd meds the rest of my life.

I have never had a bad taste, so I guess I don't have "brash" that drtinsac told you about.

Yes...Let me know when you get off that med.

Went back to ENT today and a GI yesterday. Both gave me samples of other medication to try, but I think they are $200 and up even with my insurance. The ENT says my throat is still irritated, however it's only been 2 weeks of treatment. I've stopped taking the OM...whatver....and am trying Aciphex for 6 days to see it my stomach likes it better.

My cough tickles me in I inhale or talk. Both the GI and the ENT think it will go away...but it's been two weeks now and then some.