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LPR/Silent Reflux - hoarse voice, throat pain, cough, remedies/cures?

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Posted 8/18/2015 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Paul. Great advice about the foods! The peanut butter was Skippy's Natural, with strawberry jam. This conversation is really making me rethink where I shop for groceries. Taking the extra step for organic ingredients is one that I always preferred to do -- but until now, I realize, wasn't a priority. Is there a book you use for more health tips? I just recently bought Dropping Acid and am looking into trying out a few recipes.

I tend to drink a lot of water during workdays -- finishing a 20 oz water bottle twice, on top of water from fruits and vegetables and water taken for medications throughout the day. I am just shy of 5 feet tall and weigh 98 to 100 pounds. But lately if I haven't been drinking, the amount of urine that comes out often seems a little excessive and I tend to go every couple of hours. This is something that has been going on for about as long as the GERD/LPR symptoms (so, about 3 months).

The only tests I've had thus far are an upper endoscopy, a CBC blood test, thyroid test, and a couple of urine samples. Blood tests showed everything to be normal. The most recent urine sample (last week) showed "traces" of blood and ketones in my urine -- which concerned me. My GP wasn't overly concerned yet about the ketones because my kidney function (per the CBC) indicated that all was well.

I've never really dealt much with doctors because up until now, I didn't really have problems other than mild psoriasis that was under control. One thing that I am slowly learning -- as I walk away still frustrated and with questions -- is that I really should REQUEST for x-rays and further tests. I tend to think that they will recommend these things based on symptoms as I explain things, but then I come away thinking that they are guessing and going with the most common causes, rather than seeing me as an individual.

Peabs, in your experiences, even if we can't determine an exact cause: Does my attack sound similar to yours? And did it subside as you made adjustments to your diet? My ENT's next open appointment isn't until September 2 and my GI's appointment is also that same day -- but it's hard to imagine living with this weird *thickness*/lump in my throat for another couple of weeks.
Posted 8/18/2015 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
I get most of my health and recipe ideas from websites and blogs these days. I don't always agree with everything they put out, but overall, many of the things they discuss are usually pretty good and I've gotten some great recipe ideas for better, healthy eating.  An example of this is the Food Matters site where they currently have recipes for Chocolate.  Well, if you have GERD eating Chocolate is a no-no. 

http://www.forksoverknives.com/

http://www.mercola.com/

http://www.foodmatters.com/

http://www.foodbabe.com/

http://engine2diet.com/

There are plenty more than that, but it's a good start. There are some pretty neat and creative healthy recipes on those sites.

The more I've researched my condition, the more it's led me back to what I've been habitually eating and drinking my entire life. Take canned tuna as one example. I always thought it was healthy and while the tuna is a good source of protein, the additives they add to the tuna as well as the chemicals that come in the can are not good for you. My esophagus has developed a highly sensitive to certain food additives and canned tuna is one of them (actually, most canned food bothers me now).

So after what seemed many endless of months of reading, researching, keeping a food journal, trial-and-error, I've finally figured out most of the foods that trigger my symptoms as well as figured out which foods to stay away from. Which is why I have chosen to live an organic lifestyle. It simplifies my life in the sense that I don't have to worry about what's in my food.  At some point, I want to grow my own produce, but first things first. 

Our foods are laden with so many chemicals and pesticides, that's it's not even funny.  Eating organic isn't a 100% fool proof way to protect oneself, but it's definitely a step in the right direction.

I used to be a daily coffee drinker, but I had to stop because of my esophagitis. Yet, I found out fairly recently that coffee usually has some of the highest concentrations of pesticides in it. I didn't believe the article, so I had the coffee beans that I normally bought tested for pesticides. And the chemist that I hired confirmed it, the coffee beans had enough pesticides in them that it made him shudder.

I've developed so many food sensitivities that it got to the point that the only foods that would not cause me any major problems were organic foods. At first I thought it was just a coincidence, but after many months of testing between many food groups, I finally decided to take the plunge. I'm not at 100% organic yet because I will occasionally eat some foods that aren't, for example, if I go visit my aunt and she makes food, I will eat the foods that I can eat with the least amount of problems.

I'm finally starting to feel better and I'm convinced it's because I'm not feeding my body crap anymore, I'm giving it the nutrition it needs to heal itself, and I have no choice but to be patient and let my body do it's thing. I'm confident 6 to 8 months from now, I'll be able to eat just about anything I want again, but my mindset and palette have already changed. I no longer desire processed or unnatural foods. I actually crave organic foods now.

Your attack sounds similar to mine but with one major difference: I don't have any issues swallowing and nothing feels stuck when I swallow. My symptoms took about 4-5 weeks to start getting better on this strict diet. Bear in mind that I'm still in constant pain, but the pain is about half of what it used to be.

I'm also doing something controversial and that is that I have chosen not to take any medicine for my condition because I have a normal LES (Lower Esophageal Sphincter) and don't appear to have any problems in that regard. I am doing this as a 90 day test and I'm also being monitored closely by my GI doctor and a nutritionist, so I am not advising anyone else to do this.  I am doing it to see if I can do it. If my condition does not improve enough at the end of the 90 days then I will consult with my GI doctor again and see what she thinks I should do.

 

Posted 8/19/2015 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
Eevie, your description of your swallowing issues sounds very, very similar to my experience.

Right now I am scared to take pills amd eat even though I know I have to. I have not taken my probiotic pills over the past two days, even though they have been super beneficial to me over the past month and a half.

The effects of the PPIs scare me, and I feel like doctors don't do enough to tell patients what the risks are. But I'm going to continue following the doctor's advice and see where things lead this week.

I do have bad health anxiety, and my therapist said that I, too, tend to catastrophize everything: thinking the worst. I'm anxious by nature, and I always wondered how I would react if I ever got seriously sick. But that idea, as much as it crossed my mind, was always an abstract idea. Now I'm finding out. I like to think I'll come out of this stronger and wiser.

Relaxation and positivity are key, but I admit that -- especially in light of my most recent setbacks -- it's a real challenge. I have an obsessive personality, such that thoughts tend to repeat in my mind a lot.

Maybe it's similar to the lump in the throat/globus feeling: once I was shown at the ER and at the ENT's office that nothing was physically there, I was able to stop thinking about it so much and it eventually went away. I need to change the programming and focus on educating myself so that I can feel more in control. I'm glad I found this community! (My current throat issues, however, DO feel a little different. I feel like something might be lodged in my throat.) I'm looking into yoga and trying to reinvigorate some hobbies I used to have. Pursuing these interests has been the only real blessing over the past several weeks.

Paul, in response to your earlier question about the pot roast: I will be sure to ask my friend about the ingredients. There was some seasoning involved but I'm not sure exactly what.
Posted 8/19/2015 3:15 AM (GMT 0)

Eevie said...
Hi jenagade

believe me I know about anxiety attacks,

I myself have severe agoraphobia, panic attacks and anxiety and have been completely housebound due to this for over 6 years now, I have dealt with the panic attacks for years. I have multiple panic attacks every single day. My health anxiety doesn't help the situation as I always jump to the worst conclusion, as with all of my symptoms I am scared about something serious! My issue is that many people just look at me and say well it'l be your anxiety and that infuriates me, I am able to tell the difference between anxiety sensations and health problems.

I am used to anxiety sensations and feelings having dealt with it for so long, but these aren't the same so I know somethings wrong,also anxiety sensations always ware off even for a little while while i take my mind of things i.e watch a film, whereas the symptoms I've been getting for months with all of this don't ware off, they are constantly there. The only time I feel ok is when i first wake up in the morning, but then the painful breathing starts, like sharp sensations on inhaling and right chest pain, the lump comes and goes on the right side and i also have back pain on the right by the shoulder, the worse part is the breathing pain its terrifying me, it doesn't feel like acid its more like the pains if you've exercised and you get that horrible pain in your throat like cold air hitting the throat.

I will try ice next time i feel the lump, i have been using heat mostly so far!

I hope you manage to find a cure for all of your symptoms.

I tried heat to begin with too, but I think its just the fact the ice numbs it for a bit. It sounds like we have almost exactly the same symptoms. How is it affecting your life in general? I've had to leave work because I'm exhausted all the time and whenever the lump is up my breathing is so bad that just moving from room to room makes me feel like I'm having a mild asthma attack.

I get results back from my 24hr pH and manometry tests next Wednesday so hopefully I can get some answers from that. I hope you get some progress and answers soon, I know how horrible it can be especially when people don't believe that its not anxiety related.
Posted 8/19/2015 3:33 AM (GMT 0)

Alejandra1219 said...
Hi everyone! I posted in another LPR thread but that one doesn't seem to have any traction at the moment. Please help me, as I am feeling scared at the moment regarding my GERD/LPR! I am 38. I started having heartburn in June, and seemingly overnight, I had dysphagia. It went on for three weeks until finally the PPI I am taking started to kick in (omeprazole). In early July I had my first endoscopy, which showed mild (Grade A) esophagitis and mild chronic gastritis, with no H Pylori. The gastro doc also did not find a hiatal hernia (even though I suspect I have one). Around that time, my difficulty swallowing finally showed signs of going away. I was told to resume my regular diet, but I've tried to be very careful about my eating habits (no caffeine, chocolate, soda, tomatoes, etc.)

I was told to continue taking omeprazole twice a day, and I supplemented that with a probiotic (PB8). The probiotic seemed to work wonders. For about a month, I was able to eat normally again, just in smaller portions, and to regain the weight I had lost (about 5 pounds). I was so relieved! I was suffering from other side effects of the medication (constipation, excessive urination, possibly a UTI?). I had just gone to my GP to discuss the excessive urination. We chalked up to me drinking a lot of water, almost overhydrating. I was told it was OK to lay off the water a bit.

Eating-wise, everything seemed to be going well until Saturday night. I took my evening omeprazole with
a glass that was about 3/4 full, and I thought the pill went down smoothly, like normal. I didn't worry about it. I went downstairs to talk to friends before dinner as I waited for a half hour to begin eating. At some point, during dinner, I realized that food was not going down as well as it normally did. It wasn't getting *stuck* but my throat felt a little dry, and an acid-y feeling kept creeping in while I was eating. I realize NOW that I may have been dehydrated and perhaps I had started eating before the omeprazole had made its way to the stomach? Is that possible? Not realizing that I had made any mistakes, I also took my probiotic with a 12-ounce Gatorade a couple hours later.

Yesterday was more of the same, if not worse. I was able to eat if I made my food VERY small and liquidified. I started worrying that pills were stuck in my throat, even though a nurse friend told me that that was unlikely. At night, I tried sleeping on my left side, as I heard that was better for acid reflux. But I woke up in the middle of the night feeling as though I was choking on phlegm.

Today, I am able to swallow somewhat, but the dreaded lump in my throat is back! I took my morning omeprazole, and I thought it went down fine. But when I had lunch, I could feel pain under my left breastbone. And when I tried to take the pill before dinner just now, that pain was intense as I was drinking my carrot juice and water to try to get the pill to go down. For awhile, it felt like the pill was stuck at the base of my throat before I drank about 16 ounces, and the feeling went away.

My question is this: Have the events of this weekend erased the progress I had made up to this point? Or is this just a setback that will right itself soon? I was very much hoping that my esophagitis would heal by mid-September (about 12 weeks total) and that I could slowly wean off the medication. Now it feels like I am back at Stage 1, and I am panicking that perhaps I have developed a stricture -- or worse!-- and that healing is now an additional 3-6 weeks away (if this EVER goes away).

I am new to GERD/LPR, and while I haven't been perfect, I have tried to follow the rules. I sleep on a wedge pillow, try to not eat 3 to 4 hours before bedtime and stay upright after meals. Everyone else I know who has had GERD or heartburn says that they had to be on the medication for months but now are back to normal. I am afraid that my case is very severe, and that I may never be able to get off of these medications. I have been so anxious, frustrated and afraid because every day seems to bring discomfort of some kind.

Could someone please offer me some guidance or words of wisdom? I'm beginning to feel hopeless. This level of discomfort and fear (of Barrett's or throat cancer) might be something I learn to live with. Please help if you can.

Hi Alejandra1219,

The reason you didn't get traction on the other LPR post is because it is not a thread you are hijacking someone elses post rather than starting your own. Its unfair to the original poster because you have refocused their post looking for help to be about you so now the replies are mostly to help you rather than the original poster. If you are unsure the main GERD thread is where you should start your own post even when its about LPR, https://www.healingwell.com/community/?f=45 using the button at top left which says post new topic. You will usually get a reply pretty quickly.
Posted 8/19/2015 8:47 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Janagade, thanks for explaining! I'm very sorry. It was my first-ever post and it didn't even cross my mind to think of it as hijacking. I did read the rules beforehand but didn't know where to post. Your point was well made and understood.
Posted 8/19/2015 10:26 AM (GMT 0)
Thats ok I thought that may have been the case, but like I said, put a post up on the main GERD page and people will reply :) there are people with LPR who can provide some insight for you
Posted 8/19/2015 11:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hi jenagade and Alejandra1219,

I am agoraphobic and have been completely housebound for over 6 years due to my generalised anxiety, health anxiety, panic attacks and agoraphobia (having left my house once for a chest X-ray during that time) but all of these symptoms over the last 4 months or so have really affected day to day life for me. I have to admit my life daily anyway isn't a ball, having multiple panic attacks a day in my home and being in a constant state of anxiety, but I am not myself at all since having all of my symptoms. I am very scared of being ill so this has made me very panicky, I don't talk much because i find when i do i get a hoarse voice quickly, I can't sing or enjoy the things i like to do. I am constantly worrying about my throat and voice which then perpetuates my anxiety, so not only am I ill, it has made my anxiety worse than it already severely was!
I pretty much wake up, get some water and a hot water bottle and sit trying not to move around all day, il get up to make some food or get a drink and then sit back down, all I want to do is sleep but I don't as I don't want to just sleep day in day out. I feel like I can't eat of all the things I love, and i love my food!!
I get scared to eat things in case of feeling that lump/food stuck and when my throat is sore and I've got the breathing pains it makes me not want to eat because my throat area is hurting so much.

Alejandra1219 - relaxation is a good idea if you can focus enough on what you're doing and clear your mind of anxiety even for just a little while, yoga and pilates are good for this i find.

I know the globus sensation is linked to anxiety so if i try really hard to give it no thought (which for me is difficult) i do feel it subsides, even if i an still feel it there, it goes from literally feeling like I am going to choke to just there and an annoying sensation, constantly swallowing.

The scary thing for me and I am not sure if anyones said they experience the same thing which is worrying me more is the breathing pain into my throat, its not the same as refluxing into the throat, I have had that in the past, its more like the pain you get after exercise when the cold air hits the throat and its that sharp pain, I get that daily on inhaling, hopefully its nothing awful.

Im also getting bad back pain between my shoulders on the right as will all of my symptoms, they are either on the right or more central.

I have to leave my house with the help of lots of valium to get to an ENT appointment in a few weeks which will be extremely difficult for me, not only having to worry about my health but the fact that I have severe panic attacks when inside let alone outside my home. I however took the step to get an appointment as I need to know whats going on and finding out could really benefit my anxiety and agoraphobia as well as my overall health.

Its really affected me as I really want to start trying to sort my anxiety and agoraphobia out, but my illness is based around my health anxiety so right now the last thing I can think about doing is trying to step outside my front door, even just a few steps and then back inside, because it makes all of my panic attacks and anxiety worse.

I really hope you all find the help and cures you need!
Posted 8/19/2015 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there everyone, I wonder if anyone else has this symptom? A feeling like hair is in ur throat?? I have lpr not actually been diagnosed but had it for a year in which time I've done 4 peptest 2 negative and 2 off the scale so high!!! Very scary!! I have the throat pain and dry as sandpaper virtually all day but I have this new symptom, so uncomfortable, as I discussed with eevie on here we only have this throat pain on our right hand side which is just odd!! Anyone got any ideas??? Fletch x
Posted 8/19/2015 8:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hi thanks for replying, I've had larynxscopy in Feb and ent said it was fine no red or nothing, think it might b now tho!! And ad endoscopy and gastro said I ad mild gastritis but when I said to him that I've ad peptest and was told by professor that it was non acid reflux, he wasn't really interested to be honest!! And ppis do absolutely nothing, does ya head in eh!! X
Posted 8/19/2015 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
Eevie I'm glad you took the step to get an appointment, it must make everything so much harder when it comes to getting yourself better. I hope you get a kind ENT who can put you at ease about everything.
Posted 8/20/2015 10:24 AM (GMT 0)
Eevie, good luck with the ENT! Hope all goes well. LPR and GERD are hard enough to deal with, let alone with agoraphobia. Are you seeing a therapist? What have the doctors said about the sharp pain in your throat?

I have recently found that they are eextremely helpful in dealing with my stress and depression surrounding my health issues.

I too find it difficult to enjoy life at the moment. I go to work but can't focus on it very well. I was starting to feel better about things and making plans to see friends, but now it looks like all my symptoms have returned with a vengeance and I'm back to square one. I am very sad and depressed.

I have an appointment with an ENT this morning. Hoping he'll be able to help me get back on track.
Posted 8/20/2015 11:34 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you jenagade and Alejandra1219!

I spoke on the phone to my GP a few times and they came out a couple of times, they didn't say much about it really they don't really ever tell me what things could be they aren't that great! One did mention silent reflux though but I am not sure if they even understood my symptoms, perhaps i have damaged by throat and now its sensitive when i breathe I don't know but hopefully the ENT can help me more.

I am only young now but, I have seen a ridiculous amount of therapists over the years and have had every therapy imaginable for agoraphobia, anxiety, panic attacks, I have dealt with it all since i was about 5 or 6 so as you can imagine I have tried everything and anything! I initially saw GPs who put me through the mental health system of gateway workers, therapists etc, I then saw people privately and had EFT, NLP, cognitive behavioural therapy with one of the leading practitioners in the UK, I had hypnotherapy, I saw general therapists, I worked with a world renowned agoraphobia specialist who has a program available to purchase but he came to see me in my home to work with me one on one, I have tried everything, but unfortunately I learnt a long time ago, you can have all the therapy in the world it is only the sufferer who can ultimately face their fears and illness (which is a lot easier said than done) I have rather severe agoraphobia and anxiety as you can probably gather, I won't give up. It does make daily life hard though especially when you are very young and are missing out on all the best years as they say!

I hope you manage to get the help you need today at your ENT appointment Alejandra1219! I really hope you all start feeling better. People take so much for granted in life, it's horrible when your health stops you from leading a normal and happy life!
Posted 8/20/2015 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
When they said silent reflux maybe what they meant was that you have LPR, your symptoms certainly seem to point more that way.
Posted 8/20/2015 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hello :) Yes, LPR is often called silent reflux (well it is in the UK anyway) I guess its just quicker for GPs to say silent reflux than Laryngopharyngeal Reflux :)

A lot of my symptoms match it so I think thats whats going on but I guess I will no more after seeing the ENT, I just hope to get it fixed soon, I don't really want to go on PPI's so am rather scared about that because my LPR symptoms started after taking omeprazole, before that I had the chest pains, shortness or breath, heartburn/indigestion but after taking the omeprazole my symptoms changed to the LPR symptoms :( I wish id never taken them, or the antibiotics that gave me the heartburn/chest pains in the first place! Its a shame this all seems to have been caused by medication !
Posted 8/20/2015 8:31 PM (GMT 0)
Interesting to hear that omeprazole caused your LPR symptoms, Eevie - as I seem to LPR and GERD (lucky me) and omeprazole is the only PPI I've taken. I absolutely hate it, but I'm at a loss at what to do and the drugs seem like a necessary evil.

When is your ENT appointment? You need answers, and I hope you get them soon!! Sometimes I'm scared of the answers to these tests but the not knowing drives my obsessive mind to evev darker places.

I think difficulty swallowing-which I'm facing again, ugh! - is the worst. Talk about taking things for granted!

Went to the ENT today, and he called for a barium swallow test on Monday. Curious about what news that will bring!
Posted 8/21/2015 11:51 AM (GMT 0)
I have known a few people to have had bad interactions with omeprazole which is odd.
I have b12 deficiency anaemia too, my stomach can't absorb it so I have to have injections every few months as b12 is vital. I have seen that PPIs can actually cause b12 deficiency so i don't want to be taking something that causes the deficiency when I already have b12 deficiency anaemia! But my main issue is that my LPR symptoms started after taking them, someone else in my family said they had a bad reaction to them too.

My appointment is in the second week of September so still about 3 weeks away! Ive got to the point where I just want answers, every single day I'm in pain so I just need to know and need to know if theres something i can do to stop the pain.

Yes, especially when you get scared to eat because you're scared about swallowing :(

I hope your barium test goes well, at least you're getting the tests you need and are going in the right direction now :)
Posted 8/21/2015 11:54 AM (GMT 0)
I have known a few people to have had bad interactions with omeprazole which is odd.
I have b12 deficiency anaemia too, my stomach can't absorb it so I have to have injections every few months as b12 is vital. I have seen that PPIs can actually cause b12 deficiency so i don't want to be taking something that causes the deficiency when I already have b12 deficiency anaemia! But my main issue is that my LPR symptoms started after taking them, someone else in my family said they had a bad reaction to them too.

My appointment is in the second week of September so still about 3 weeks away! Ive got to the point where I just want answers, every single day I'm in pain so I just need to know and need to know if theres something i can do to stop the pain.

Yes, especially when you get scared to eat because you're scared about swallowing :(

I hope your barium test goes well, at least you're getting the tests you need and are going in the right direction now :)
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