HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

a clue to solving LPR......

Support Forums
>
GERD & Acid Reflux
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/1/2011 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
Ok guys, I'm in the same boat as all you LPR sufferers. Yes, there might be GERD related issues mixed in but its what's above the esophogus that's killing us. I also have some gastritis but I believe it's all connected to LPR.

Anyways, I tried experimenting one day and pressing a pressure point on my abdomen below your left chest. You can use a golf ball with belt but once this is done. I can actually feel the LPR symptoms subside. This is not acid....but more like a acid gas or some type of gas in the stomach area. Yes the UES is allowing this to come up but by pressing that spot which I believe is affecting the LES the LPR symptoms subside drastically. Imagine tightening it up inside.....or what I hope.

This makes me think that surgery to increase the resting pressure of the LES would work. Fundo, maybe regardless of all the negative responses. TIF, I don't think so. But the LINX......that's the one I believe will help most of us out.

I'm going to meet with a surgeon tomorrow to discuss fundo but I really want to wait for the LINX as it may be our ticket out of LPR or as close back to reality we can get.
Posted 12/1/2011 12:52 AM (GMT 0)
I understand there are a lot of high hopes for the LINX.  I'm not sure that, overall, it will produce better results than what is already available...and the procedure depends upon a device that is man-made and can fail, or at least lose strength.  The thing I don't like about the concept is that it depends upon an external force pressing on the LES to work, as opposed to surgical tightening of the area.  The external force applied to a ring might decrease blood supply, press nerves, etc.

It's interesting, though.  Forgive me for playing devil's advocate...

-Bruce

Posted 12/1/2011 3:41 AM (GMT 0)
Bruce,

Did you have LPR symptoms....and did the TIF procedure help you with that? Thanks. I have some gastritis which causes some stomach pains so I'm not sure if Nissen will be the best choice.....TIF seems less invasive and doesn't really affect the stomach per say. What are your thoughts. Thanks.
Posted 12/1/2011 5:35 AM (GMT 0)
whether it works or not i bet there will be along waiting line around the block just to take your turn

and think about it

the company and the surgeons who are behind this procedure, they dont want to take chances on desperate cases...

they are going to use a gate keeper mechanism that screens out the people who have the more chronic, difficult, intractable symptoms and highere odds of the procedure failing to deliver

they want success, they want big numbers of patients who did great,,, no room, at least at first, for a bunch of negative statistics

for people like me its gonna be a long wait

for those who are younger, dont have barretts and have good motility and are controlled by PPIs.........they gonna say "step right up"..

.thats my prediction........ and i hope im wrong
Posted 12/1/2011 7:40 AM (GMT 0)

Hi maximus--

I had moderately worse LPR symptoms than I do now, before my TIF in August.  My DeMeester score was around 25, and now it's about 3-4...however, since LPR is all about a weakened pharyngeal sphincter in addition to the LES, those reflux spikes, in addition to the aeresolized acid vapor and non-acid components of reflux, are enough to still give me symptoms.  The most troubling are continued dysphagia and asthmatic conditions, as well as subtle hoarseness/laryngitis that prevent me from speaking for long periods, or singing.  Even with a "normal" DeMeester score, I'm still getting 25-30 reflux spikes per day.

Everyone is different, of course, and there may be those whose throats are tougher than mine.  But given my experience with the procedure, I would say that the TIF is less appropriate for LPR/NERD patients than GERD patients who are mainly experiencing heartburn (which I do not).

Yes, the TIF is a great procedure for many people, but even the EsophyX manufacturer recognizes the TIF as a "bridge" surgery between those who can't tolerate or don't get good results from PPIs, and the Nissen.  LPR is a special case of GERD, and I'm not sure anyone suffering from these symptoms can achieve a 100% reduction in reflux with the TIF, which is what they need.

If your concern is gastritis preventing you from Nissen surgery, there is medication you can begin taking to help heal this ahead of time, and perhaps keep the condition managed afterwards.

-Bruce

Posted 12/1/2011 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
I really think that we have some sort of infection, like a mycobacterium that is causing the LPR. Why do so many of us have gastiris? Why so many with IBS? Why do we commonly have normal LES pressure and "normal" amounts of reflux? I honestly feel like my entire digestive tract is being rocked. All of this started around the same time, so there must be some connection.
Posted 12/6/2011 10:55 AM (GMT 0)
Chuck T,

I'm in the process of meeting with a surgeon for Nissen Fundoplication for LPR. However, I contacted one of the doctors in Europe who are willing to do perform the LINX procedure although it is not FDA approved yet. I may pay the additional cost for the LINX.
Posted 9/25/2013 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I am very interested in this thread. I fit all the symptoms except for the lump in my throat. I have bubbly white reflux on a daily attrition which comes into my mouth. Mucus in my throat. regular nausea and some stomach pains (flank) When I am at my worst I burp after eating or drinking water, just like there is a fermentation in my stomach.

PPI's made my condition worse. I have been diagnosed with SIBO (small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) and this is managable with periodic specialist anit biotics. I do think that this is a contributor to my gastro problems and reflux.

I am very interested in LINX but have so far been rejected due to a normal demeester of 15 and normal valve pressure


Cathy confused
Posted 9/25/2013 11:29 PM (GMT 0)
Cathy, if you have SIBO you should read the book The Inside Tract and Toxic Relief by Don Colbert. Im pretty sure antibiotics are not the thing to treat this. If its a candida overgrowth you should be using probiotics.
Posted 9/26/2013 1:03 PM (GMT 0)
Fast Track by Dr. Norm can also clarify SIBO
Posted 9/26/2013 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
I as a sufferer of LPR and also now dysphagia - thank you for that incompetent doctors - think the Endostim is by far the best procedure for fixing the LES as it is actually helping to make it stronger.
Posted 9/30/2013 10:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi GC1pink
Do you have personal experience with "Endostim"?
Have you done any surgeries like nissen? What's the severity of your LPR?
Posted 10/4/2013 11:47 PM (GMT 0)
LinXcurious, if your ENT can still see inflammation/redness/swelling in your throat area than you still have acid/pepsin/gas coming up doing damage, you should bring this up. Stupid demeester test!
A lot of people score normal for this test yet they still continue to get damage to their throat area. Mine started with antibiotics(Doxycyline) also. I think is the root of the problem, bacterial overgrowth. Isn't there any herbs to fight these bacteria and kill them off and return our digestive system to normal?
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply