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Hoarseness caused by GERD

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 9/14/2012 12:47 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,
I am having some issues which they think is related to GERD. I have known I have GERD for quite awhile. But, I have never experienced this. For the past nine months I have been having issues with loosing my voice. I would lose it for a week or two then it would come back for a week or two and then I would lose it again. This time it has been 8 weeks and I have not had my normal voice for even one day. It is really an effort for me to talk. This is going to be an issue because I have to start teaching classes for work in a few weeks. During this past 8 weeks I have also had two weeks where I also had a really bad cough, felt congested and felt like I was choking on mucus all the time. It also took a lot of effort to breathe while I was speaking and I woke up a few nights gaspi g loudly for air and couldn't breathe in or swallow. They took a chest x ray which came out fine and put me on an antibiotic and 2 inhalers. The cough has cleared up for the most part but, I have been on antibiotics 6 times since January and my voice issue is only getting worse. I have seen an ENT twice who thinks my issue is reflux and I have been on zantec, Prilosec and Prevacid. None have worked. Next they will try Nexium if insurance will cover. I go see a GI speciailist Tommorow and a voice disorder dr next week. Has anyone else dealt with long term hoarseness that isn't going away. How long did it take you to get your voice back?
Posted 9/14/2012 1:25 AM (GMT 0)
I did. I was constantly losing my voice.
I got up to 80mg of nexium and 300 mg of zantec and still having problems with it going.
I stopped losing my voice after I had my nissen surgery.
Posted 9/14/2012 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for replying. Mine started with just being hoarse in the morning, then it would last a week or two at a time. I thought it was an allergy or sinus infection at first. Now it's been 8 weeks straight with no voice. Did you have The PH test done? Does it hurt when they put the tube in? I had an NG tube put in once with no sedation or drugs and it was very painful so, I am nervous about that.
Posted 9/14/2012 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
I had the Bravo done. I was sedated for it.
They attach a small capsule to your esophagus and you wear a small receiver for 48 hours. The capsule falls off after a few days and passes on. You don't have to retrieve it. :)
It didn't bother me a bit. Some people have complained about the doctor hitting a nerve during the attachment and causing some pains.
Make sure your doctor is an expert at inserting them and you'll have no trouble with it.
Posted 9/14/2012 9:02 AM (GMT 0)
I've been having a voice problem for 7 years...
Posted 9/14/2012 11:08 AM (GMT 0)
7 years! Wow, that's a long time! Have they tried to do anything about it?
Posted 9/14/2012 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
Tried a lot of things; reflux medications, chinese herbs, acupuncture, voice therapy, etc, but to no avail.

I think my problem is mainly a non acid reflux. Now waiting forever to get to see a GI to discuss my options.
Posted 9/15/2012 12:41 AM (GMT 0)
http://www.fauquierent.net/nonacidreflux.htm

33333. Info on non-acid reflux. I hope you get to feling better. This forum is so helpful. Regards, Bumper
Posted 9/15/2012 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
I saw a GI specialist. I do have severe reflux which she said could cause hoarseness. However she doesn't think that it is my whole problem because I have shortness of breath while trying to speak. She put me on 40 mg of Prilosec 2x a day.
Posted 9/15/2012 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the link Pat Fill. I had stumbled across that website sometime ago. A LOT of useful information there! I showed it to my ENT but he didn't agree.

You can see Dr. Chang from the fauquierent website is logical and open minded, and what he says has common sense. Why my ENT isn't like him.
Posted 9/15/2012 1:30 PM (GMT 0)
Some docters dont realize or understand that you can have symptoms,that is not in their health vocabulary..but everyone is different,some people wil have just a sore throat or shortness of breath and others can have just a burning chest or stomach.I also think anxiety plays a huge role with Gerd.When i had Gerd at my worst i felt awful..i had chest pain,sorenes,shortness of breath,upper back pain and burning,tons of sleepness nights and er visits.So i i feel for everyone,i stil have Gerd..not as severe i cut down on coffee,and anything that had tomatoes or sauce..it is easy for me because i eat very litle anyways,i think the coffee and hot tea caused my Gerd and also i take ibprofen often for headaches..which some medicines will cause reflux so be careful.
Posted 9/15/2012 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
sorry about the mispellings,my keyboard sticks pretty bad...lol
Posted 9/15/2012 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
I am hoarse most of time, have polyp on larynx related to gerd
Posted 9/18/2012 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with sulcus vocalis, which is scar tissue on the vocal cords, most likely due to GERD. You must go the BEST voice specialist, because not every ENT has the equipment to see a sulcus or other vocal cord damage nor do they have the interest in treating it. I recently had a fundoplication, and I'm having no reflux, so I expect to see improvements in my voice.

I could barely talk for a year, until I found this great ENT. He sent me for voice therapy, which made a tremendous difference. You need to get a referral to a VOICE therapist, because not all speech therapists know how to treat vocal cord problems.

My ENT also has me use a water steamer for 10 minutes each day, to moisten my vocal cords. I bought a Vicks steamer at CVS. Use only water. He also tells me to drink hot water throughout the day, to moisten the cords. Don't drink cinnamon or peppermint tea--they cause GERD.

However, remember that if you have surgery, the anesthesia breathing tube irritates your vocal cords, so you MUST have your ENT talk with the anesthesiologist about protecting your vocal cords prior to surgery.

I am hopeful with the surgery and voice therapy that my voice will be functional again. Yours will definitely improve with the right treatment!
Posted 9/18/2012 10:35 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Sparklingsoul. My ENT did refer me to a voice specialist so, I am going to see him October 3rd unless I can get in before that. Did the voice specialist say you had to limit your talking? For work, I go into high schools and teach kids with disabilities independent living skills. I am not sure how I am going to project my voice to a whole classroom when I can barely have a 1-1 conversation! Right now I am just in the office and talking on the phone or with co workers is difficult and I get an irritated feeling in my neck area by the end of the day. My GI specialist mentioned medical leave but, I am waiting to see what the voice specialist says.
Posted 9/18/2012 12:16 PM (GMT 0)
Did your ENT do a test to specifically check your vocal chords? I have vocal fold dysfunction due to acid burning my vocal chords. My voice became raspy and I could no longer sing well. I also had a very difficult time breathing. I was sent to a speech therapist which helped me a great deal. Although my chords will never recover I have gotten most of the raspiness gone and am breathing much better. Sometimes I do have some breathing issues and wheezing though, due to high humidity or less that clean air. Perfume kills me!
Posted 9/19/2012 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
The ENT stuck a tube with a camera down my nose and into my vocal cords and didn't see anything on them. She also had me make an E sound as she looked at them. But I think she wants the voice specialist to do more testing. My voice sounded a little better today but the more I try to project my voice so people can hear me, or the more I use it, or try to talk on the phone then it seems to get worse. However 4 days of almost complete voice rest when i am not at work doesn't make my voice come back.
Posted 9/19/2012 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
Oh, and my breathing is better since I gotut on inhalers but, sometimes still when I do something like eat or laugh it will set off a fit of coughing. It feels different than an cough I have experienced in the past because I end up sniffing (like taking a big breath of air) in through my nose quickly over and over again. But, it's like an involuntary response. I am also getting
Little bruises all over my legs, and all my veins seem to be more visible than usual if that makes any sense. All of my bloodwork came back fine though.
Posted 9/19/2012 2:46 AM (GMT 0)
Did they run an ANA blood test on you too?
Posted 9/19/2012 12:08 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not sure. I know they did CBC and thyroid and ont to test for anemia. I just read up more on the steroid inhaler I am taking and I guess that could cause the bruising. Although the first time I noticed it was before I was on inhalers. But, maybe the first time I really did but myself a few times. Not sure
Posted 9/19/2012 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
ANA test is to check for autoimmune diseases. It's a very specific test and not on the standard list of testing.
I'd ask the doctor for the test to make sure you don't have an AD.
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