nothing relieves my acid reflux - Acid Reflux / GERD Message Board

gnznroses · 04-15-2005, 12:02 PM

I have really bad acid reflux. It's caused red sores in my throat that have been there for over a year. I'm currently taking Prevacid, and I also take a tablespoon of Maalox before bed. Next to my bed I have a bottle of tums and a glass of water so I can grab those throughout the night. My bed is also raised 8 inches at the head. Yet I still have a burning throat all night and in the morning. What can I do to relieve this? I'm having an Upper GI done shortly, and the doctor said I may need an endoscopy after that or surgery down the road.

blondy2061h · 04-15-2005, 12:12 PM

Make sure you are not taking the over the counter drugs the same time you are taking the Prevacid. I would say not to take them within two hours of each other. The OTC drugs can prevent the Prevacid from working, I believe.

zoot_suit_brian · 04-15-2005, 01:19 PM

Hello,
I went to a vitamin store they recommended, acidophilus. I have been on it for two days..havent noticed it helping yet, but the guy there was pretty convinced that it is very helpful. its bacteria that is suppose to help digestion, you might try it.

Red Maple · 04-15-2005, 03:26 PM

Zoot-Acidophilus is the same active bacteria that is in yogurt. Yogurt has always been known for helping digestion. You can probably get the same results as the acidophilus with just plain old yogurt, plus the benefit of calcium which is also a mild antacid. I don't know though the pills from the vitamin store may be in a higher concertration than yogurt and thus more beneficial, or you make not like eating yogurt. I'd do a web search on acidophilus to get more info. of whether the pills are more beneficial than just yogurt.

gnznroses · 04-15-2005, 08:37 PM

thanks, i'll look into that.

i also posted this to another forum I've been to before, and here's two replies I got. anyone have comments about their suggestions?

Quote:

Have you tried Carafate? It is a simple prescription drug which just coats the stomach and somewhat the esophagus. It has been very helpful for me. I cannot take any of the PPIs or H2 blockers, so it was my only option.

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Throat ulcers/sores send off a 'laryngopharangeal reflux signal'. Your acid is coming up high, high into your esophagus and voicebox area. The larynx and pharynx are more fragile than the esophagus, as well as more sensitive.

You need to be seeing an ear, nose and throat doctor who understands laryngopharyngeal reflux. You probably also need to be on double, sometimes triple dose ppi's (such as prevacid, nexium, prilosec, protonix, aciphex), and sometimes people even need to add zantac or pepcid to that.

Basically, get to a throat doc and research the heck out of laryngopharangeal reflux -- many stomach doctors just don't get it and so those of us with throat symptoms are often misdiagnosed for too, too long a time. We all wish you the best.

i just did some searching about LPR and now i'm worried, cause i found something about Laryngeal Cancer which can spread to your lymph nodes. my lymph nodes have been swollen since december and the docotrs haven't been able to figure out why...

-edit-
anyone else experience swollen lymph nodes? someone on the other forums says her lymph nodes swell when her reflux is very bad. but my lymph nodes swelled and stayed swollen. sometimes hurting fairly badly, usually right under my chin, where it feels most swollen. i've been trying for a couple of months to find a connection between my lymph nodes and acid reflux and haven't been able to. i've done a lot of googling and sifting through forums and never came across anything.