Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LRP) - severity and outlook?

Posted by davearnatt @davearnatt, Jan 9, 2017

I have had LPR / reflux for about 5 years and have made the normal lifestyle changes (diet, bed, etc) which reduced symptoms slightly. PPIs do not seem to help so we suspect pepsin rather than acid. The severity of symptoms changes over time with throat "experiences" occuring roughly as follows:

No problem (10%)
Cold feeling like finishing a breath mint (30%)
Like a mild burn from food + tightness (40%)
Moderate to intense pain/redness (20%)

By now, the odds of resolving this seem remote. My doctor talked about me entering "another phase" which feels like it will get worse. My questions:

1. Does anyone have any feedback/experience about the potential impact of this type of continual inflammation leading to severe problems including cancer? Is it possible that just learning to live with this is an option that will not end with something awful?

2. Does anyone have any experience/feedback on surgery options besides classic Nissen fundoplication? I have read about Linx (magnetic ring) and partial (270 degree) fundoplication.

Thank you for any advise or help you can offer!

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@riflemanz64

Anyone with this condition should get the book The acid watcher diet . I bought mine off amazon. Great info! Tells you what to avoid.

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Thank you. Gaviscon Advance from the UK really helps, but the ear pain is still up and down depending on what I eat. I need to watch my diet so I will get the book. Do you know if alkaline water helps with LPR?

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Anything alkaline is good for you. Unsweetened regular almond milk Is great too. Dairy free, gluten free,soy free and 1 carb a cup. Stay away from booze, SODA, anything carbonated. I drink low acid coffee in the morning with almond milk as a creamer. Almond milk is a neutralizer. Stay away from citrus. Anything acidic will burn on the way down. Ripe bananas have less acid. No processed meats. No tomato products. No spicy foods or seasoning. No pepper of any kind. No vinegar products. I only drink water and almond milk all day. Stay away from highly processed foods. No fried foods. Don't eat 3 hrs before bed. I'm very strict on my diet and will get scoped this fall to see how my Barrett's is doing. Stop the reflux early before it turns into something serious. Good Luck!

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How long have you had Barrett's? Sorry to hear that. Wha brand is low acid coffee? I usually drink Decaf, but that is probably still acidic.
I ordered the book and am anxious to see what I can eat.
God bless

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Healthwise is the low acid coffee I get off Amazon, I have a bunn drip 10cup coffee maker and I only use 3 tablespoons of coffee for it, you don't need much. I don't know how long I've had Barrett's but it was found after I had a bleeding ulcer repaired. Most of my reflux was silent. If you like tea you can have green tea decaf. Stay away from a lot of sugar and especially high fructose corn syrup.

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Thank you for this forum!
I believe I have LPR . 2 upper endoscopies and a laryngoscopy in the last 2 years indicate a clear esophagus, tested for Sorgen's, but still have an irritated throat. I'm taking 20mg prilosec in the am and 40mg Omeprazole 30 mins before evening meal. I'm still having reflux episodes that continually irritate my throat. It seemed to be "under control" for a few months. I tried the Acid Watchers Diet (book) very carefully - no change. It seems that a 24 hr reflux multichannel impedance test would prove if I had LPR. I'm going to try the Gaviscon Advance (UK) to see if this helps. I need to be more strict about my diet - I thought the meds. would take care of it !
I'm concerned about developing throat cancer if this problem isn't treated.
I am interested in the Linx surgery - but it seems that's not necessarily the gold standard of treatment.

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I tried the Gaviscon Advance from the Uk but found it on Amazon here. Sorry to say it didn't help me. I think we all hope for a magic cure don't we?
I too am interested in the Linx surgery. The young son of some friends had this done at around 20 years old and 3 weeks later he was cured.

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@lycia

Thank you for this forum!
I believe I have LPR . 2 upper endoscopies and a laryngoscopy in the last 2 years indicate a clear esophagus, tested for Sorgen's, but still have an irritated throat. I'm taking 20mg prilosec in the am and 40mg Omeprazole 30 mins before evening meal. I'm still having reflux episodes that continually irritate my throat. It seemed to be "under control" for a few months. I tried the Acid Watchers Diet (book) very carefully - no change. It seems that a 24 hr reflux multichannel impedance test would prove if I had LPR. I'm going to try the Gaviscon Advance (UK) to see if this helps. I need to be more strict about my diet - I thought the meds. would take care of it !
I'm concerned about developing throat cancer if this problem isn't treated.
I am interested in the Linx surgery - but it seems that's not necessarily the gold standard of treatment.

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Hi Lycia,
Hope you don't mind me chiming in.
My ENT here in NY has done a study on treating LPR with a plant based, Mediteranean diet - animal products in very small portions, 2- 3 times a week, alkaline water and avoiding the usual triggers, high fat, greasy foods, citrus, chocolate, chips, pizza etc. Here is an interview with him: http://www.northwell.edu/news/mediterranean-diet-can-halt-need-for-reflux-medications
I'm trying it but having a hard time limiting animal products so much. But I do see improvement in my LPR symptoms and hoping it helps with GERD so I can get off Prilosec.

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@mistea

Hi Lycia,
Hope you don't mind me chiming in.
My ENT here in NY has done a study on treating LPR with a plant based, Mediteranean diet - animal products in very small portions, 2- 3 times a week, alkaline water and avoiding the usual triggers, high fat, greasy foods, citrus, chocolate, chips, pizza etc. Here is an interview with him: http://www.northwell.edu/news/mediterranean-diet-can-halt-need-for-reflux-medications
I'm trying it but having a hard time limiting animal products so much. But I do see improvement in my LPR symptoms and hoping it helps with GERD so I can get off Prilosec.

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Helllo Mistea

Thank you for your post. I already follow a Mediterranean diet , I exercise and I'm not overweight. I drink a lot of Alkaline water. I have not be able to identify other trigger foods.
There is a lot of conflicting information available. I have been on PPI's for a year and a half. My globus throat has not healed. Next I will try Gaviscon Advance. I will have a 2nd laryngoscopy to see if the damage has increased.

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I hear you - this can all be so frustrating! I'm on Prilosec for maybe very short segment Barretts, first endoscopy was inconclusive, second was negative, but GI doc is still suspicious of Barretts on second endoscopy. I have osteoporosis in my spine, and Prilosec is bad for that.
I forgot to mention, my ENT recommended Reflux Gourmet, which is similar to Gaviscon Advance, using sodium alginate to create a "reflux raft" above stomach contents. I didn't care for Reflux Gourmet, but find that Esophageal Guardian by Life Extension, with alginic acid very helpful at bedtime.
Good luck - I truly hope that you find some relief! It's so difficult coming up with a strategy that works and I too am still trying to manage my reflux so I can go off Prilosec.

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@mistea

I hear you - this can all be so frustrating! I'm on Prilosec for maybe very short segment Barretts, first endoscopy was inconclusive, second was negative, but GI doc is still suspicious of Barretts on second endoscopy. I have osteoporosis in my spine, and Prilosec is bad for that.
I forgot to mention, my ENT recommended Reflux Gourmet, which is similar to Gaviscon Advance, using sodium alginate to create a "reflux raft" above stomach contents. I didn't care for Reflux Gourmet, but find that Esophageal Guardian by Life Extension, with alginic acid very helpful at bedtime.
Good luck - I truly hope that you find some relief! It's so difficult coming up with a strategy that works and I too am still trying to manage my reflux so I can go off Prilosec.

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Thanks Mistea,
for the other resources you gave me in this email. From medical reports that I have read PPI's are not effective for treating LPR - and yet that is what we are prescribed! There maybe a placebo effect. I will start trying alternative therapies .
I hope that you also find a more acceptable way to manage the problem. Best wishes.

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