Does surgery work for LPR

Posted by Bpositive @bpositive, Jun 13, 2017

Since December 13, 2016. My symptoms started with a soar throat, soar inflamed taste buds on the tip of my tongue and inflamed salivary glands on my soft palate. My tongue, throat and soft palate had a painful burning sensation that was on and off. My General practitioner referred me to an Ear Nose throat specialist who referred me to an oral surgeon who referred me to an oral pathologist for burning mouth syndrome. After wasting 3 months of running around with these Dr's and being tested for oral thrush, hsv tests, vitamin deficiency tests, auto immune deficiency tests, cultural bacteria tests all which came back normal. I decided to go for a second opinion with another E.N.T. specialist who performed a camera scope and diagnosed me with acid in my throat. I was put on Dexilant and noticed the pain dissipate almost immediately only problem was I couldn't tolerate the medication. I was then put on Tecta and referred to a G. I. My general Practitioner did some blood work for h pylori and I tested positive. I started to develop tinitus in my left ear. I had a gastroscopy where they found a 2 cm Hiatel Hernial and my lower sphincter was weak. Thats when I was told I have a mild case of gerd, but I don't suffer from any heart burn. I was put on triple dose of antibiotics for h pylori and continued with the Tecta, domperadone and sucrolafate. I'm getting a little relief from the PPI and meds but I still suffer from bitter reflux taste and burning pain in my throat, soft Palate, the tip of my tongue and dry mouth that comes and goes. I'm in the process of having a 24 hr ph level test done. The G. I. I was seeing says my esophagus biopsy tested clean and he doesn't believe what is happening in my oral cavity is related to my gut. He stated in order for acid to travel to the throat it has to travel through the esophagus and the esophagus tested clean. Thus he can't help me anymore. I'm so confused my ENT says I have acid in my throat and the G.I. doesn't agree.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator | @kanaazpereira | Jun 26, 2017

Hello @bpositive,
My sincere apologies for the tardy reply; your message slipped passed me. I'd like to welcome you to Connect, and thank you so much for sharing your history. I can imagine the frustration and stress these symptoms may cause!

You may be interested in reading these threads:
Laryngo-pharyngeal reflux - made a decision to visit the Mayo Clinic http://mayocl.in/2uaMnRY
Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LRP) - severity and outlook? http://mayocl.in/2tcNxiK
Acid Reflux and its Symptoms http://mayocl.in/2uaXPgD

I’d like to introduce you to a few members who have posted about Laryngopharyngeal Reflux, LPR (also known as Silent Reflux), and may be able to offer some insights. Please meet @smorford, @davehudsn, @stardisc, @cowboy1997, @kaystrand, @ptfitzy, @cab26, @ptfitzy, @davearnatt, @kaystrand, @dancemom57, @boogirl, @danielad, @dandl48, @robbinr, @cbs618752, @cmaso67, @dynesapp, @pauletta.

I’m also tagging @travelgirl on this discussion as she has experience with h. pylori

@bpositive, it sounds like you are dealing with a lot and are frustrated, but you have found a very supportive community and we thank you for finding us. If I may ask, has your ENT specialist communicated the findings with the gastroenterologist?

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jun 27, 2017

@bpositive I am sorry to hear that you have been to see so many doctors and have experienced so little relief. That has to be discouraging to say the least! We have many members who come to Mayo Connect with many unanswered questions. As Kanaz said above please keep sharing. Often when individual specialists can't seem to agree on a plan it is a good idea to consult with a large medical center (Mayo has 3 clinics in Minnesota, Florida and Arizona) or a university medical school where there are many specialists who communicate with each other and also have state-of-the-art testing and research going on within their medical community. Do you have such a medical center nearby? Are you in a place where you could travel to Mayo or another center? Teresa

Bpositive | @bpositive | Aug 27, 2017

In reply to @kanaazpereira "Hello @bpositive, My sincere apologies for the tardy reply; your message slipped passed me. I'd like..." + (show)

Thank you for your response Kanaazpereira, sorry for such a late reply. Yes my E.N.T. Specialist and G.I. are communicating. I'm now with a G.I. That my E.N.T. has referred me to for a second opinion and still waiting for Esophageal Manometry & 24-hour Ambulatory study. Not sure if this will help for LPR? Update to my status. I had a carbon 14 breath test done and tested negative for h Pylori. Saw a Rheymatologist who ruled out Sjorjens for my Xerostomia.
I had a biopsy taken from my soft palate inflamed salivary gland which was also tested for Sjorjens, cancer etc... all came back negative except for unknown mild inflammation. Had an MRI brain scan from a Nuerologyst also came back normal. I am wheezing off the PPI medication and I'm only down to one 40mg Nexium a day. I don't find the PPI's are helping much...
If I don't get a diagnosis soon I will be visiting Mayo Clinic. I live in Canada so I will be paying in cash...