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Does surgery work for Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR)?

Digestive Health | Last Active: Aug 20 10:00am | Replies (221)

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Has anyone been diagnosed with silent reflux or LPR? This is a condition where there is no heartburn, but acid makes its way to the throat. I have had a sore throat/throat irritation for over two years.Would like to treat without PPI and do what I can homeopathically.

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Replies to "Has anyone been diagnosed with silent reflux or LPR? This is a condition where there is..."

Low acid diet, don't eat 3 hours before bedtime. No soda, booze, tomato or vinegar products.
Low acid coffee only or green tea decaf. Eat healthy and avoid processed foods. Stay away from all fried fatty foods. Good luck! I got Barrett's esophagus from my reflux. I take 40mg pantaprazole 1/2 hr before supper.

I have it as well and also have taken pantaprozole but not on a permanent basis. I have found that I get a flare-up after an upper respiratory infection. And I also got one after I got COVID. There is a good book called “Dropping Acid” by Jamie Koufman that lists problem foods and has good recipes.

If your non-medical attempts do not resolve the reflux, then you should treat it medically because untreated acid reflux can cause esophageal cancer. You can first try Tums and/or gaviscon, and if this is not enough then a non-PPI, such as famotidine. (H2 blocker) If these don't work, then you should go to a PPI.
Keep in mind that if you have throat irritation, even if you've started medication it will take a week or two for the throat soreness to go away, so you need to give it that chance to heal and then see if it gets better with the meds.

I too have been diagnosed with LPR. I agree that the book Dropping Acid is very good and it also explains why we have this problem. I have tried following the diet and didn't find it helped very much but it is hard to keep it up for long. I don't eat fried foods and I never drink sodas but I do like a glass of wine with dinner. I notice that ice cream aggravates me a lot and also cookies and of course chocolate but generally I find that eating anything makes me worse. I have tried Pantoprazole for a year but it didn't help and I also have some Gaviscon Advance which is difficult to find in the USA but I found it on Amazon. There is a Dr Peter Dettman who is an expert on Pepsin which is the main cause of LPR. Also Dr Christopher Chang who is an ENT specialist that does work in this field.
I would be very interested if you or anyone else has found some homeopathic treatments.

I see Navia is interested in treating non acid reflux homeopathically… but in another vein, aren’t there medications to treat non acid reflux,? I has / have been aspirating into my lungs due to it. I’m not sure, but it seems like ppis exacerbate the non acid reflux,??? Is that possible???

I just had the barium and all was okay. Now waiting for biopsy results. I didn't even know I had this Silent Gerd until my throat starting hurting. I'm hoping I just need meds. Will find out this week. Good luck treating yours.

Wine is very acidic and should be avoided.

Drinking Apple cider vinegar is like pouring acid down your throat, very bad!

I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in the spring of 2019 and underwent chemo, lumpectomy and radiation. I’ll never know what caused my throat issue. Was it cancer treatment, or the Prolia I had injected after because I developed osteoporosis, or just aging (70 now).

Regardless of the reason, I have many GI problems now. I visited an integrative medicine doctor throughout my cancer journey and he helped me greatly so I continue to see him when I need to. His suggestions for silent reflux are:
Marshmallow tea
DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice)
Zinc Carnosine
Aloe Vera
Alkaline water

If interested, you should investigate each of these before ingesting.

My husband has Parkinson’s (and I know this is rationalizing), and a glass of wine with a healthy dinner is something we both look forward to (like Navia). I know it is acidic but we limit it to one standard glass and have dialed it back from two glasses. I know I may have to give it up completely as I already have many other things that I enjoy. I have found some good low acid coffees online and have made that switch.

Like others, I have appreciated Dr. Koufman’s books, including The Chronic Cough Enigma. I don’t have a cough, just chronic sore throat, but this book was still very informative.

Lastly, I did quick drinking alcohol for a month and took Esomeprozole (Nexium) for the same amount of time and did not get better. Trying to find a doctor in my area that will perform the through the nose acid test. I know I can get the Bravo meter implanted, but it requires another endoscopy which I don’t want to do just yet. Would like to give the homeopathic methods a chance to work.

Best wishes to all of you dealing with this confusing condition. Cindy

Cindy, I am a retired Oncology Nurse and I empathize with you, and for all you have been through. Sometimes I have to remind myself that what I complain about is nothing compared to what others have been through. I am all for that nightly glass of wine girl!! You have to weigh the pros and cons, and if it makes you happy, just go for it!!