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Laryngeal reflux?

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 10/10/2008 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
about 6 months ago I discussed some symptoms I was having with my doc - belching, acid-like backwash into my mouth, etc, and he prescribed pantoprazole. I've been on it since then and been fine - but 3 weeks ago I developed a horrendously hoarse voice. I've had a hoarse voice off/on for years that seemed to be related to allergies (despite being on singular and symbicort) but it usually cleared up and was never quite this bad. This is baaaaad. I went to see the doc and he put me on low-dose prednisone to lessen the inflammation in my larynx as well as started me on domperidone as well, and wants me to see an internist to have an endoscopy done. I'm wondering, though - could the hoarse voice be laryngeal damage from reflux? Does reflux cause larynx polyps and nodules? And what about laryngeal cancer? I've managed to get myself all tied up in knots over this confused   Any help/advice/words to calm freaked-out-people-like-me? Sigh....
Posted 10/10/2008 3:26 PM (GMT 0)

Good Morning njam

I am sorry you are going through all of this, however, I would agree with your physician and have the  endoscopy done.

As far as the anxiety, talking usually helps. Share your feelings with friends, family, on here are all good ways to work through the anxiety.

Relaxation techniques: Try deep breathing, muscle relaxation, visualization (imagining peaceful scenes), and/or listening to soothing music.

Realistic self-talk: While we can't always control what happens to us, we can always control what we say to ourselves. It's important to keep things in perspective. Talk to yourself in reasonable ways. Ask yourself "how likely is my fear?" Remind yourself that you have coped before during other challenging times. Don't just dwell on the negative but consciously look for things you can appreciate every day.

Make an effort to stay focused on what's happening now. What do you see, hear, and smell? How do you feel? Truly be 'present' in the moment! That will help you keep the anxiety down.

I hope this has helped you in some way.

Again Welcome
Kitt 

Posted 10/13/2008 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
Dear njam, welcome, you have found the most wonderful site. I too had years of hoarseness, coughing, throat clearing and difficulty breathing. My asthma/allergist did a scope and found LPR, since I was already on Protonix once a day, he upped it to twice a day and for a while it helped. I got worse though, much worse and his partner starting talking about vocal cord dysfunction. In the meantime my breathing difficulties persisted and got worse too; eventually I was sent to National Jewish in Denver; they finally diagnosed vocal cord dysfunction, mixed bronchiolitis and with an incredibly thorough workup by a GI specialist out there, found that my reflux was through the roof. My Johnson-Demeester score was 126 and I had a whole host of reflux induced problems, including a hernia that we also didn't know about. When I came home, my GI and Family Dr. decided to send me to Cleveland Clinic, so last spring we went there and again underwent a ton of tests which confirmed this. In July I had a Nissen and since then I have had no problems at all with the vocal cord dysfunction, hoarseness, coughing, throat clearing.

It was not cancer, nor were there any signs of a precancerous condition, but the fact is that the acid can and will damage your throat and larynx. Please follow your Dr.'s advice, get a good..really good..gastroenterologist and have a work up done, including endoscopy (which is no big deal). Good follow- up-news, my vocal cords, while scarred, are not damaged beyond repair (so to speak), my larynx healed on its own; the lung damage is permanent but since the acid isn't getting into my lungs anymore I'm breathing much better, and my "allergies" are much better too.

Get it checked out, feel better!!
Janice
Posted 10/15/2008 4:08 AM (GMT 0)
Dear LdyJane
I am looking for info on LPR and your post was very informative for me. I am currently experiencing a lot of discomfort with LPR. But I was more curious about what you said about lung damage. What was your lung damage? What kind of damage does the acid cause to the lungs?
If you get a chance please email me or post it here. I would really appreciate it. Thank you LdyJane I am very glad that you feel so much better now. I wish you the best. Rachel
Posted 10/17/2008 4:36 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your replies! I'm having a gastroscopy at the end of this month. My only question is : Will a gastroscopy visualize the larynx and any possible damage that is occuring there? I thought a gastroscopy was more directed at the esophagus/stomach...Anyhow, thanks again, and I will update after the gastroscopy!
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