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!

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

@ptfitzy

Dave,
I would just Gooogle "foods to avoid eating with LPR". There are several articles listed I also eat smaller meals which seem to help.
Phil

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Thanks Phil...you probably already tried this but I have been using a nasal rinse with saline and some type of cortisol steroid for about 1 week and have experienced a very positive benefit (less sore throat and nasal congestion). Just a thought..

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Dave, I've tried the Nasal Rinse with the sodium packets. What steroid do you add to your rise?
Phil

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Phil - it is Pulmicort .5mg/ml budebsonide suspension for inhalation...it was prescribed by doctor due to an inflammation in the back of my nasal passage. Seems to help a lot.

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Thanks for that info.
Phil

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Looking for suggestions on dealing with LPR. Laryngopharangyl reflux.

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@dancemom57

Looking for suggestions on dealing with LPR. Laryngopharangyl reflux.

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Hello @dancemom57, and welcome to Connect. I moved your discussion post and combined it with an existing conversation titled, "Laryngopharangyl reflux (LPR) - severity and outlook?" I moved your post here so you could meet all of the other Connect members already discussing LPR.

If you are responding by email, I suggest scrolling to the bottom and clicking on the VIEW & REPLY button so that you will be brought to the conversation in its entirety on the Connect site.

@dancemom57, what sort of suggestions are you looking from the other members talking about LPR on Connect?

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I am a candidate for a LYNX procedure. I have one more test and that is an Esophogram. If the esophagus had enough elasticity I will be scheduled for the LYNX procedure. The reason I even considered this procedure is because I want to stop taking PPIs. I have been taking them for 6 years. I would like to speak to people who have had the LYNX procedure and get their viewpoint on it.

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@ptfitzy

With my LPR, I have no burning at all. I have excessive mucus in my esophagus and it runs into my sinuses. I was told that dairy, caffeine, fried foods, and processed foods contributed to it. I stopped eating processed meats. I eat plain non processed turkey and stopped consuming dairy. I take Probiotics as well as Bromelain capsules 2 to 3 times a day. I tried every Proton Pump inhibitor as well as several antacid tablets, but none work.
I eat smaller meals, no processed snack foods and a lot of green vegetables. I will sometimes take a couple tablespoons of Maalox if it comes on after a meal. I have had some decent relief. I refused to go the route of surgery.
Phil

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Phil
I have terrible excessive mucous too, and post nasal drip and feel like I have to clear my throat all the time. I was told after a 24 hour Impedance Study that I do not have reflux, no acid anyway. I guess Naso Pharyngeal Silent reflux can present a excess mucous. I have tried PPIs and they don't help.

Phil, do you clear your throat or cough? I also had a lung infection-mycobacterial- not sure if the mucous has to do with that, but does not seem like lung, seems like throat and nose. Would love to get rid of it.
Phil, I eat small meals, don't eat processed. Do you drink coffee? Alcohol? I have a cup a day and maybe a drink or 2 a week when we go out to dinner. Is your eating improving the mucous? Anything else that works?

Mine goes away mostly, when I sleep. Does yours? Do you ever get the mucous on an empty stomach. Sorry, lots of questions.

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@ptfitzy

With my LPR, I have no burning at all. I have excessive mucus in my esophagus and it runs into my sinuses. I was told that dairy, caffeine, fried foods, and processed foods contributed to it. I stopped eating processed meats. I eat plain non processed turkey and stopped consuming dairy. I take Probiotics as well as Bromelain capsules 2 to 3 times a day. I tried every Proton Pump inhibitor as well as several antacid tablets, but none work.
I eat smaller meals, no processed snack foods and a lot of green vegetables. I will sometimes take a couple tablespoons of Maalox if it comes on after a meal. I have had some decent relief. I refused to go the route of surgery.
Phil

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Kay, I have exactly what you state. I will have one cup of coffee at 2 P.M. I am a tea drinker and I drink green decaffeinated tea twice a day. I am on a mostly vegetable and non processed turkey. I will eat barbecue brisket once a week with very little sauce. I drink a glass of watered down soy milk with lunch because it is thicker than milk. Sounds icky doesn't it? I developed a taste for it. Some say caffeine and dairy can aggravate "Silent Reflux" but I have a glass of skim milk sometimes instead of soy milk. I go to bed with the mucous. However, once I get relaxed and sleepy I sleep well. So it does not interfere with my sleep or gets any worse like those with "Acid Reflux". There are 2 or 3 days a week where it doesn't bother me very much. Then I go back and see what it was that aggravated it when it returns. I never find the culprit. When I think it is the coffee, the Soy Milk or something I ate I stop eating or drinking it. However, it still returns. It's worse in the evening from after dinner to bedtime (Midnight). I do a lot of hacking to get the mucous up. If after I eat and it bothers me, I take two tablespoons of "Mylanta". That helps about 3/4 of the time. I don't experience any acid but it seems to help anyway.

Ocassionally, I will get a coughing spell but not too often. Most mornings I wake up and I start off fine. I may have a little Post Nasal Drip. I take 3 Generic "Benadryl" when I wake up. I think that helps. If you can take it twice a day, do it. I use to. However, at night it caused me "Restless Leg Syndrome". If I got up and walked around the house for about 15 minutes or went in and watched TV, it went away. I am not overweight but a little underweight since I cut back on all the junk food.

I notice that if I eat smaller meals, it helps. If I eat an apple or two, it helps instantly in clearing up the mucous for awhile and sometimes for longer periods. I try to drink a lot of water during the day and more at night. I wish I knew what exactly triggers it and why it doesn't trigger it, which is less frequently. Sometimes I will go in and sit in a chair or lay down, listen to some music, relax and it subsides some. I hope some of this info helps. Try the apple and see if that helps.
Phil

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@cab26

I am a candidate for a LYNX procedure. I have one more test and that is an Esophogram. If the esophagus had enough elasticity I will be scheduled for the LYNX procedure. The reason I even considered this procedure is because I want to stop taking PPIs. I have been taking them for 6 years. I would like to speak to people who have had the LYNX procedure and get their viewpoint on it.

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I had the LINX done Dec 2014. Had I known what I know now I would have never had it done. First of all insurance said they would cover it and after 4 months changed their minds and said it was experimental, after all the appeals I ended up paying 6,600! After reading the book I recommended above found out I have fructose interlorance. Mayo even tested me for it and was negative. I still had to take meds twice a day after surgery, many people do so there is no quarantee you'll ever get off them. I did get off the PPI's and took 2 Zantac's a day. Once I cut out the fruit and carbs I haven't had to take meds at all! Now the problem is everytime I get gas by cheating it puts pressure on the device and it's really hard to burp. The pain is very uncomfortable. Also the pain after surgery was horrible for about 4 days until the swelling went down, it was very difficult to eat but you have to to avoid scar tissue. I would highly recommend trying to cut out food groups before surgery. I can have it dilated but that is also very expensive. I eat Paleo without fruit or honey ect. You can also try the FODMAP diet. Also anything high in fiber can ferment in your upper intestine and cause gasses that push the acid up your esophagus. All the so called reflux diets never worked for me, they always push fruits and vegetables and that was causing the problem for 30 years!

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