1. < Digestive Health

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR)

Posted by sanchopanza @sanchopanza, Jul 7, 2019

Hi. My problem started about a month ago when I started chugging down a glass of water and suddenly I had a spasm in the area of my pharynx. It scared me, and took several minutes to abate, but no other symptoms. Soon, I found that I could no longer drink orange juice without the same problem, and then ice cream gave me very thick saliva that was difficult to spit out as well as the tightness in my throat. I had had problems with normal heartburn in the past, but a few days of ranitidine (Zantac) and I was OK. I think this was because of my taking ibuprofen on an empty stomach. If the Zantac didn't help, which was seldom, I took Prilosec for 3 days and it was gone. Now, after the spasms, I began burping and having hiccups frequently, which was new to me, so I started on Prilosec 20mg once a day. I also changed my diet to conform with the diet for GERD and I think I'm beginning to get better, but it's taken a lot out of me because I've been on the same diet for a long time and all of a sudden I'm missing crucial nutrients that I ordinarily get. By the way, I"m 69 and have been healthy and disease free for at least 20 years. I want to discontinue the Prilosec because I've only been taking it for a little more than two weeks. I'm wondering if I could switch back to the Zantac 150mg twice a day without experiencing rebound symptoms because I've been on the Prilosec for such a short time. I can see that there are many people here with digestive health problems and I'm hoping someone can steer me in the right direction. My doctor is very good at giving labs and writing prescriptions, but he doesn't seem to do much doctoring, but that was OK, because I haven't had any serious health issues. He just told me " You know you have to see a gastroenterologist". Because of the holiday I haven't been able to schedule an appt. yet and now, with some of the symptoms lessening, I'm hoping there's a chance that I can switch to Zantac, or preferably cimetidine (Tagament) which helped me greatly when I developed an ulcer many years ago, and solve this problem without any intervention. The reason I want to stop taking it is because of the side effects. I've had diarrhea a few times and lots of headaches.I"m also worried about the things that can happen when you have so little stomach acid. I"d appreciate any comments from people who have had experience weaning off Prilosec after short term use, or anyone who has suffered with LPR or laryngopharangeal reflux, or anyone at all. Thanks for listening!!

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sanchopanza | @sanchopanza | Jul 9, 2019
In reply to @riflemanz64 "Sorry to hear about your illness. First thing is don’t take any aspirin or ibuprofen unless..." + (show)
@riflemanz64

Sorry to hear about your illness. First thing is don’t take any aspirin or ibuprofen unless your Dr. says to. These caused me to have a bleeding ulcer. I was in the hospital for 3days and had my small intestine cauterized. They told me I had silent reflux and the Barrett’s esophagus. So I guess it was a good thing that I found out early about these conditions. So no I’m on a low acid diet. No fried food, no Mexican food, no Italian food, no tomatoes, no booze, soda, chocolate, mint, no regular coffee, only low acid coffee like health wise brand, ph is 6.18
I’m eating baked chicken, turkey, baked fish and fresh steamed broccoli, cauliflower, baked potatoes, spinach. Try these and see how you feel.
Don’t eat anything 3hrs before bed. Drink lots of water. I also walk 5-7 miles a day. Good luck! Steve

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Thanks, Rifleman64, I know that I can't continue to take my ibuprofen.Not sure what I can take for my arthritis pain. Tylenol isn't much help. What's strange is that I don't usually eat anything spicy or fried. I've been on the same diet for years, which includes whole grain bread with seeds 6gm protein 4 gm fiber, low fat, part skim mozzarella sticks with 7g protein and only 1.5 sat fat, almonds or walnuts daily, Siggies non fat yogurt with 15gm protein, peanut butter, and for desert, raisin bread, or instant flavored oatmeal. I don't eat red meat, but occasionally eat chicken breast without the skin. I have an Ensure Plus also daily and eat a protein bar every day too. It's made from Sunflower butter and egg whites and has 20gm protein. Oh, yeah, a glass of orange juice, which is now impossible to drink. So I've been eating only the foods that don't bother me and still experimenting with new food ideas. I"m also trying to finish eating 3 hours before bed, but I've been eating most of my food all the way up to the time I go to sleep and it's never caused me problems before. I went out last night and bought some bananas and some red bell peppers and a few red potato's. I don't drink alcohol, but I do miss my espresso. I've never warmed up to vegetable, but I had been getting enough fiber from the grains I eat and had been drinking v8 every night, but that's out now because of the tomato content. I'll have to go buy some chicken breast, but I'm not much of a cook!

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sanchopanza | @sanchopanza | Jul 9, 2019
In reply to @pamelajean "I also have GERD that has been going on for over a year if not longer..." + (show)
@pamelajean

I also have GERD that has been going on for over a year if not longer and getting worse instead of better. I had endoscopy done, results said inflammation of esophagus and stomach. I went to a different Gastro Dr. He did a test called EGD Bravo, they put a capsule the size of an eraser on a pencil in my esophagus and I wore a monitor for 48 hours. They do it like a endoscopy. I just did 2 more tests. A esophageal manometry, then a stomach emptying test.
I go July 16th for my results. So far the first test did show I had a higher acid level but not as high as most people. I told him I probably wasn't off the protonix long enough to show a more negative result. I told him I did try to go off of GERD prescription med because I also don't want the side effects, and that I was in a lot of pain being off of the med. The Manometry test , looks at how your esophagus is working. I feel that may be my problem, because I feel full after I eat something, like its just sitting on my stomach and not moving down the tract like it should.

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I"m sorry you're going through all that! Is that one of those little camera's that you swallow with the monitor? That would seem like the easiest way for them to have a direct up close look inside your esophagus. I've decided to switch to Nexium because I've heard a lot of anecdotal evidence that it works much better than the omeprazole. Good luck with your test results! It must be very frustrating for you.

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1 reply
sanchopanza | @sanchopanza | Jul 9, 2019
In reply to @pamelajean "My husband has the gastric disease Gastroparesis. He has had it for a long time and..." + (show)
@pamelajean

My husband has the gastric disease Gastroparesis. He has had it for a long time and has trouble eating. I would try some protein drink or mix to supplement your diet. I use a tasteless Collagen powder in my drink, food for protein. I also bought the book "The Acid Watcher Diet" off of Ebay. for more information.

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Thanks, pamelajean! I"m sorry to hear your husband has gastroparesis. It must be difficult to live with. I"ll look in to the book "The Acid Wathcher's diet". I hope your husbands finds some relief.

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sanchopanza | @sanchopanza | Jul 10, 2019

My doctor scheduled me for an abdominal ultra sound next Monday morning.

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anirudha02 | @anirudha02 | Jul 26, 2019
In reply to @bonnieh218 "I was taking omeprazole 40 mg twice a day for only two weeks when I stopped..." + (show)
@bonnieh218

I was taking omeprazole 40 mg twice a day for only two weeks when I stopped it because of side effects and I had lots of the rebound effects for a couple of weeks until I started another PPI. Sorry, that’s probably not what you wanted to hear, I imagine this is probably true with most if not all PPI meds.

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Are PPIs helping with the symptoms?

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1 reply
pamelajean | @pamelajean | Jul 26, 2019
In reply to @sanchopanza "I"m sorry you're going through all that! Is that one of those little camera's that you..." + (show)
@sanchopanza

I"m sorry you're going through all that! Is that one of those little camera's that you swallow with the monitor? That would seem like the easiest way for them to have a direct up close look inside your esophagus. I've decided to switch to Nexium because I've heard a lot of anecdotal evidence that it works much better than the omeprazole. Good luck with your test results! It must be very frustrating for you.

Jump to this post

The test I had was called an EG Bravo, they put the camera or whatever it is to monitor acid level. It gets inserted in esophagus during an endoscopy. Mine showed some elevated acid but not off the charts as some have. I had the Manometry test next. Its not a fun test in the least but it is a good test. It showed that my esophagus is not working properly. My Dr. said it shows that my esophagus is only pushing food down like it should 20% of the time. So I have a lot of throat clearing, bloating, have to eat small amounts of food at a time, watch what I eat for GERD. Dr. put a diagnosis of "weakened parastalsis, possibly Accolasia. He said there is no surgery for this. He is referring me to a gastroenterologist who deals with this specific diagnosis. I started drinking Lily of the Valley Aloe Vera juice and I believe it is helping . I will continue the juice no matter what. I watched a video of info on the juice on youtube and everyone could benefit from drinking it.

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bonnieh218 | @bonnieh218 | Jul 26, 2019
In reply to @anirudha02 "Are PPIs helping with the symptoms?" + (show)
@anirudha02

Are PPIs helping with the symptoms?

Jump to this post

Yes the Omeprazole helped with the reflux.
I am now taking Rabeprazole 20 mg once a day. That does help with the reflux and I have no side effects that are bothersome.
Wishing you a good day!

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sensid | @sensid | Mar 13, 2020

I appear to have the symptoms of LPR - throat mucus and burning, hoarseness and sometimes feeling an object in the throat - and I very seldom have heartburn. This fits the description of "silent reflux" except for one thing. It isn't so silent. I may not get heart burn but I readily get bad stomach aches to accompany the other symptoms, especially if I ever more than a small amount. I have never seen this symptom mentioned in any LPR discussion. They just usually mention the absence of hrartburn

So my question is whether bad stomach aches is common in LPR or is something else possibly going on? (FYI, I've been scoped at both ends and everything looks normal. Medications don't help, PPI's, stomach motility, antacids, Gavascon, etc.)

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michelle34 | @michelle34 | Feb 17, 2021

Hi,
I’m hoping you found some relief. I also have LPR that is not silent. My main problems are sour taste in my mouth, sore throat, burning in my ears, soreness in my chest ( not sure if it’s my esophagus burning or a burn in my lungs), and labored breathing. I’m on 40 mg of nexium 2x a day and sulcrafate but I still get stomach aches which feels like acid churning.
Has anything helped for you?

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ken82 | @ken82 | Feb 18, 2021

@michelle34 That is a lot of Nexium. .. Have you been to a really good clinic like Mayo MN.. I saw Dr. Halland, an esophagus specialist 6 years ago .. He gave me 3 tests in the morning, and a way to cope in the afternoon.. I have had telephone consultations with him during the pandemic.. I have Gastroparesis as a result of a botched Nissen surgery done in Iowa to reduce GERD... Ken

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