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Gerd and LPR severe damage to my throat

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 7/30/2019 11:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone who reads, I'm a 30 year old male. I've been looking for help with my throat for 9 months now, been to the hospital 6 times because of it and it has only gotten worse.

The back of my throat is so Raw and feels Cut up. My Entire esophagus is horribly damaged, once or twice a week now my throat becomes completely Swollen, to the point where I can barely swallow a thin slice of cheese. Right below my adams apple I can feel that my Upper Esophagel Sphincter is becomes completely inflamed and it also feels like it is covered in tiny painful bumps.

I've seen an ENT (he requested only a GI specialist can help me), i'm on PPI's, but my doctor seems to not know anything about my issue. My problems extends further then this but i'm trying to keep this short and to the point.

I can no longer live a normal life, for 14 hours a day i'm in complete agony and stressing about my throat, which has been going on the entirety of 2019. The stress about my throat has sent me to a the hospital in suicide watch multiple times this year and I can not live like this any longer. I'm so desperate for a help.

I will take any suggestions for dietary changes, over the counter natural medications or links to other Posts/Threads on GERD that may be useful to me.

Thank you very much for reading this.
Posted 7/31/2019 9:59 AM (GMT 0)
Why don't you see a different GI specialist and get an endoscopy? Your ENT is right. Not sure where you're based but discuss taking Nexium with a good GI specialist. And surgical options. When we're not getting the answers we need, we're supposed to change course by seeing someone different. Keep a food diary and figure out what foods make things worse and avoid them. You need to get an official diagnosis from a good professional to know if it's GERD/Acid Reflux related or not.
Posted 7/31/2019 11:04 AM (GMT 0)
Rick:

There is a pinned thread at the top of the board with some helpful tips/diet suggestions. My suggestion would also be to seek a second GI opinion. Sometimes it's something as simple as a change in medication. If you haven't already, you need to have an endoscopy. Stress or anxiety can also cause/make your symptoms to seem worse, and it might really help you to speak to someone about what you are feeling. I suffered for most of my adult life with exactly what you are experiencing, before I had surgery at age 53. I was able to control most of my symptoms with Protonix, before I subsequently developed pulmonary issues. There are many medications out there, but there is not a specific one that will work for everyone. Ask your PCP to suggest a different GI doctor, and go from there.

Please keep us updated on your progress.

Sharon
Posted 8/1/2019 12:14 AM (GMT 0)
Reena and Sharon Thank you very much for your input. I will take all your suggestions and apply them as soon as I can.

One more question if I may. I stopped drinking Soda and it healed in a significant way, but just not enough. I think my biggest problem is my throat has never fully healed, I've tried gargling with salt water and gargling with an anti-inflammatory by the name of (Benzydamine). Neither of those have worked sufficiently enough.

Do you have any recommendations or something I may use to rinse and gargle to help possibly heal my throat.

I've heard of apple cider vinegar mixed in water and Baking Soda and water. I havn't tried either. I tried Apple cider vinegar swallowing a tablespoon but it burned a lot. So i'm weary about trying apple cider mixed with water.

Once again thank you so much for replying Reena and Shannon, for you to take time out've your lives to reply really means a lot.
Posted 8/1/2019 1:57 AM (GMT 0)
Rick_D,
I am sorry to hear your difficulties with what is most likely reflux. Unfortunately most doctors do not understand and know how to treat it. See if you can find a competent ENT so you can be scoped. I have had similar symptoms to yours. It is life altering. What has helped me more than a doctor is to follow the diet by Dr Aviv. He has a book The Acid Watchers Diet. You can purchase the book online at Amazon. You can understand acid reflux and he has a diet for you to follow that will get your symptoms under control. There is also a group on Facebook called The Acid Watchers Diet that correlates with the diet in the book. The group is so supportive and has so much helpful info. The book and Facebook group changed my life from being desperate. I am almost healed after a 5 year struggle. It is all diet related and very specific. I wish you luck and k ow the book, diet, and group could help you too.
Posted 8/1/2019 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much, I will take this suggestion to my about my Diet and look up Dr. Aviv. It sounds very promising, because just simple little adjustments in my diet, seem to make a change in my throat. But then it gets to worse case scenario all over again and i'm never sure if its my diet, or if there's a concoction I need to mix in water to gargle and get rid of the swelling. I'll keep at all of your suggestions, I feel like my problem can be resolved, it's just been torture this past year.

Thank you very much
Posted 8/3/2019 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
First off have faith you can get better. I have this same problem and saw an ENT for this. Its largely lifestyle that will help you on top of medicine. No soda, coffee, citrus, spicy food, eating before bed. I was taking protonix at night and pepcid in the morning. The dual meds tend to help more. Also gargle baking soda all day. The problem is the pepsin that can get in your throat. PPIs dont fully help this, but you can deactivate the pepsin with baking soda and water. If you can make a spray. Also invest in a good wedge pillow and dont eat at least 3 hours before bed. It will get better. My ENT told me the throat takes a long time to heal and with all these things, a good 6 weeks to get better. It sounds like your throat is being reinjured a lot.

Post Edited (Allisonc7) : 8/3/2019 2:18:07 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/4/2019 11:30 PM (GMT 0)
Allison that sounds absolutely brilliant. Since my last post, I have actually gotten my throat to finally heal a small but significant amount. The recommendation I've been looking for was baking soda and water mixture. I will go out and buy baking soda ASAP. I feel like salt water or apple cider vinegar has helped a great amount, but just 30 minutes later my throat is harshly dry from the rinse.

It's the re-injury that you noticed that has become the real issue, I havn't been able to get rid of the inflammation and swelling for 9 months. And finally after all your suggestions I've reduced both ever since.

One more question, if I may.

After I gargle with salt/water and vinegar/water... I go to drink Water* and the bottom of my throat closes up a bit and feels tight, and so does the back of my throat (at the back of my nasal cavity). Is this something that the baking soda will resolve? and to maybe shy away fom salt/water-vinegar/water rinses?

For the Record, You're all so amazing, I really appreciate every last one of you who has helped me. Also every last one of you who is so dedicated to these Forums, you're all Wonderful Human Beings.
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