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LPR misdx'd as allergies/asthma for about 15+ years - how scared should I be of serious damage?

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 1/27/2015 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,
I am a 41 year old male in pretty decent shape, fairly healthy diet, don't smoke. In the past 6 months or so I have discovered LPR and now believe that I have been misdiagnosed for years. I am planning an endoscopy soon, but I am pretty terrified that all these years have damaged my esophagus and I will have Barrett's Esophagus.

My main symptom is a cough. Had for about 15 years and my then GP told me it was probably exercise induced asthma and prescribed me an inhaler, which did nothing. The cough is not constant, so I just thought "oh well...minorly annoying, but I can live with it". I also have experienced frequent stuffy nose and lots of dried out nose and sometimes throat symptoms. Not much else - never heartburn or other GERD type symptoms.

Fast forward 15 years...I am worried about 15+ years of neglect. I have also read all these reports that reflux cough is predictive of esoph. cancer.

I am scheduled for an endoscopy, but I am really concerned that I will show Barrett's (and I know only a small percentage of those get cancer, but it would be hard with that hanging over me forever). I also know that only about 10% of LPR sufferers are diagnosed with Barrett's...still, I'm just very concerned.

I know no one is a doctor, but does anyone have similar situations which they can share? What were your results? How concerned do you think I should be?

Thank you for indulging my fears - this has really gotten under my skin. I appreciate all of your shared experiences and any advice you might have for me! I know I won't know until I know, but I welcome any thought you guys have.

Thanks again!
Posted 1/27/2015 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi FRX!

Welcome to the forum!

I'm sorry you've had such a horrible experience with reflux. You and I are the same age and from the sound of it, have had the same experience.

I'd struggled with GERD for well over 15 years. I tried so many different medications and cocktails and none of them worked. My first endoscopy revealed 3-4cm ring of Barretts cells and several ulcerations along with grade 4 esophagitis and gastritis. In short, I had the Nissen Fundoplication procedure done in 2013. I had a follow-up endoscopy a year later which revealed that the Barretts cells had disappeared and the ulcerations, esophagitis and gastritis all healed. Cough is gone, too.

Fast forward to now, and I feel fantastic and my surgeon and GI have told me I have no reason to be concerned about Barretts recurring again.

While you have reason to be concerned, I wouldn't be over the top about it until you have the endoscopy results and have spoken to your GI about them. There's hope, though. So keep your chin up and concentrate on finding a medical (or surgical, if that's the only option) correction for your symptoms.

Feel free to ask as many questions as you'd like!

Be well and take care,
-TonyG-
Posted 1/27/2015 8:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi TonyG,

Many thanks for your story. I am glad you are in such good shape and sleeping on your back again! :)

So on edge - I will do my best to focus on the positive. Thanks for your help.
Posted 1/27/2015 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
My pleasure. There's hope, you just gotta go looking for it! :)
Posted 1/28/2015 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
Understandable you feel worried. I understand completely, I was told my silent reflux had/has been getting into my lungs and was actually told by an a & e doc that I have COPD, despite never smoking. It's a right old disease this GERD/LPR! Try not to worry though, think your risk factors are very very low and you are doing something about it now and on the right path to getting things under control. I do have a quick question though, have you ever been formally disgnosed with Asthma by way of challenge testing etc? I have very similar symptoms as you and despite my peak flow being fine, spirometry always apparently "normal" I've still been advised that there is a chance I may have asthma. The physiologist who has just performed my impedance ph testing has told me that methacholine challenge can give a good clue as to whether my symptoms are true asthma or reflux or both!
Posted 1/28/2015 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Trotters,

I was never formally diagnosed. I told my doc what was going on, said it was mildly inconvenient/curious, and she said "sounds like you have minor asthma. Here's an inhaler" It didn't help, but things didn't bother me all that much so I thought "oh well, no big deal..." Sheesh, hope I was right about the whole no big deal part.

If I am confirmed to have reflux and do the standard protocol, would be nice for this to go away. One positive to look at.

Thanks for chiming in. Good luck with figuring out exactly what is going on with you!
Posted 1/28/2015 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you, you too. Easier said than done I now as I've been in the same boat being incredibly worried but I'm sure you willbe fine. I think the reason why LPR have lower cases of barretts is that the acid doesnt hang around the eosophagus too long. think if you had serious damage you would certainly be experiencing a lot of heartburn and chest pain.

Take care
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