Posted 10/16/2008 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, fellow GERD and LPR-sufferers. I thought I might see if anyone could recommend anything, or share a similar experience, as the one that I experience on a daily basis. Long-story-short, I'm a GERD and LPR sufferer, and have been for the past 10 years. After seeing numerous doctors and ENT's, I finally had the Nissin Fundoplication surgery in 2006. I'm a voiceover artist and after numerous medications, scopes, therapy, etc., my surgeon really felt that I was a good candidate.
Since then, I had been off of Prevacid, but within the last year, symptoms started to occur again. I don't get heartburn, but whatever the effects of the LPR are, they radically get in the way of me doing my job, which is speaking for a living. My voice is relatively strong in the morning, but it weakens throughout the day. By afternoon, I am straining (I've been diagnosed with muscle-tension dysphonia) and struggling to have a normal conversation, much less read a promo for a client. I should also say that I've been through several rounds of voice-therapy over the years in a variety of places. I'm an asthma sufferer, too. I take Pulmicort respules and Singulair.(inhaled steroids like Advair rob me of my voice) I use Nasacort. I also get allergy shots once a month. And, I take Zantac at bedtime. We also raised our bed 6 inches again.
Back in May, I had rotator cuff surgery. The anesthesiologist "nicked" my vocal folds during intubation because I had longer than normal problems speaking afterwards. My family doctor told me that this is "normal". But, it seemed like a long time. He told me to wait a few weeks. But, it didn't go away. I was having a lot of trouble "projecting". So I went to another ENT, who also is affiliated with a voice-center. He scoped me, then did a videostrobe. He continued to see redness and irritation from LPR, but he doubted that the anesthesiologist did any permanent damage. His suggestion was to do a radical experiment with "diet", a 3-month experiment. No coffee, no chocolate, no mint, no red wine, no citrus, no alcohol, nothing spicy, etc. (same things other doctors had been telling me for years, but I was on Prevacid AND had had the Nissin surgery.) Well, I am a beer connoisseur! I LIVE for hand-crafted ales! But, I agreed. Since July, I have had no coffee, red wine, chocolate, or citrus.
After one month, I didn't really see any progress. (and I was dying for a wonderfully hoppy pale ale!) I went to my regular voice center in Pittsburgh. They did a scope and a 'strobe...and also said that it didn't look like any permanent damage. They suggested following a strict regiment, and they put me back on Prevacid.
But, I still have issues. I did completely quit caffeine. (that was TOUGH...and boy do I miss Starbucks!) I've had no chocolate, mint, citrus, SALSA (which I love!). I have had beer. But I haven't had any again this week because i've been feeling a "burn" in my throat again. I am CONSTANTLY clearing my throat. It seems that there is gunk on my vocal cords ALWAYS! My job is NOT fun to do anymore. (I find it hard to believe that a couple of carbonated adult beverages would wreak so much havoc when I've stopped all these other things that I love, but maybe it's so.) I'm also thinking of losing moe weight. (I'm about 25 pounds overweight)
I would have thought that symptoms would stop with 2 x Prevacid-a-day AND having had the Nissin surgery. Perhaps I need to let the "diet changes" take their toll.
Anyone have any similar experiences? I go through all kinds of rituals: drink Throat Coat tea in the afternoon, do a portable humidifier, etc, but it just seems like my throat is never "clear". I'm considering a new occupation, but I don't know how to do anything else. I've been a radio broadcaster for 21 years.
Help!
Matt