Posted 8/12/2015 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
I am starting a new thread on LPR as most of the threads here are old. Recently (this July) I was dx'd with LPR by an ENT who did a scope through my nose and down my throat. He said my vocal chords were red and inflammed and that with all the symptoms I was reporting that I must have LRP. I was feeling on occasion a lump sensation in my throat, and I had/have a reddish color in the back of my throat (this was the first thing I noticed) along with post nasal drip. After handing me information on LRP, he told me to take 40 mg's of Prilosec every day. I swear this made it worse. I have gone from the occasional lump in my throat and sore throat to an all day every day lump in my throat, sore throat, constant throat clearing, a cough (but only after I eat) I am trying to eat smaller portions and slower as well and I feel like stuff I am eating is getting stuck as well and PND. I can pretty much handle all the symptoms besides the LUMP IN MY THROAT. It bothers me constantly. Before all of this, I was experiencing some depression and anxiety (was given Ativan for globus sensation) and am in the process of tapering off of Wellbutrin for smoking cessation. My quit date for smoking was July 17th and my reasons for quitting had nothing to do with LPR although I am glad I began the process as I have found that smoking worsens symptoms. I have been smoke free since then. I also switched from Prilosec to Nexium, and am on my 3rd week of Jamie K's induction diet. I have lost 20 lbs. I have had a very stressful few years as I am a nursing student (I have 10 months left), and lost my father to cancer in Nov 2014. This was not supposed to happen to me and I am desperate for relief, resolution, and support (My family thinks I am over reacting, and my boyfriend although he is a main support is getting sick of me constantly feeling horrible I know it's wearing on him. PPI's don't seem to be working, although I have read that it could take up to 6 months or longer to see benefits. This scares me as long term PPI therapy creates other problems in itself. For the first week I was on them, my stomach hurt so bad, and eating was a chore. I then added 20 mg of Pepcid to my arsenal at night and a probiotic to no avail. I am taking Gaviscon from the US and recently ordered some from the UK that has entirely different ingredients! What a pain in ass! I have read that slippery elm and DGL lozenges help to reduce the burn but that is the least of my worries or complaints. I am in the process of looking into alkaline water pH 8.8 to try to denature pepsin as this has shown to be successful according to a Jamie K study. I have also read about the use of the Japanese herb Rikkuncrapo in conjunction with a PPI in a study to reduce the globus sensation and increase GI motility. I am plagued with questions and concerns and yet my PCP is clueless and the ENT that diagnosed me didn't even mention a follow up appointment. He gave me that LPR information like he was trying to sell me something, NOT HELP ME. So this is plea for anyone who has other ideas of how to fix or lessen my symptoms. Has anyone here tried Rikkuncrapo? Does any know for sure what causes the annoying globus? When I made a phone call to the ENT, he told me it was mucus, yet all other resources say it is a spasm of some sort of the UES, or cricopharyngeal sphincter. I have also read a little on the use of Vit D3 and it's effect on LPR. Has anyone had success with this? Also, I have seen many posts regarding Elavil as a treatment for LPR specifically the globus. Please, Please help! All ideas and information will be greatly appreciated! Thanks for reading my rant, and thank you in advance for any tips or suggestions.