Hey folks I am new here and so glad I found this forum. I had a few questions about LPR if any of you can help. I know everyone is different but did your symptoms arise slowly are all at once?
I have been to my gp a few times since august and she things I have LPR or GERD. I actually went because my inner ears are blocked and swollen and red and she did a few x-rays and sent it to specialist and they came bk normal except for the fact that I have a deviated septum. Well, my symptoms started a few months ago. I noticed that I was had a bit of hoarseness and was clearing my throat a lot but didn't really pay any attention to it as I talk a lot and also yell a lot in my profession. Nothing else for a few months or so then I noticed the hoarseness again. Well in august, my ears were really blocked up and I was very dizzy so this is when she did the x-rays. Will since then, I have hoarseness, sore throat off and on, burning in my throat sometimes, what I feel is mucus in my throat, and I am often clearing my throat. Are these symptoms of LPR? I am so scared and worried about cancer. I don't smoke (I quit 6 years ago) and I don't drink either. I did however gain some weight during these months due to stress. When I talk the hoarseness gets worse and so does my sore throat? does this happen to any of you? My doctor has given me sandoz omeprazole (think that is the generic name) and I have been taking it for 2 weeks and see no difference. I have no heartburn though but sometimes when I bend over, I will have a bitter taste come up in my mouth.
I am strangely happy to read your message. Because I have the same exact symptoms as you. And my Dr. prescribed the same thing as yours. 20mg twice a day at first, then he told me to take 1 a day. Well, it took about 2 months to feel better, and since I felt better I quit taking them. Which now I think is a big mistake. Now I have that phlegm feeling alot, especially if I yell for the kids to come in, or just yell at the kids :-) and also when I talk to much. The throat muscle gets sore. Plus, intermitant burning. And that is what scares me the most....thinking the worst of course. My Dr. once told me, because I told him I was afraid I had esophageal cancer, he said that you have to have severe acid reflux for years, for that to happen. Without treatment. What I have is off and on, and depends on the food I eat, and especially drink. I have to Latte's twice a day from Star-$$$ (I don't think you are supposed to say name brands on here.) And I know the espresso has a lot of acid, and still caffeine even though I get decaf. I eat alot of Salsa also, 2 days in a row (this week) I ate mexican food, and Tuesday night severe heart burn and since then, I had that burning feeling off and on during the day, and at night. I don't know if it's the reflux, or post nasal drip, because I have that too. But when I e-mailed the doctor, he said yes, it is reflux and go back on the acid-blocker! Soooo, he said I need to take it for a lifetime. Has any one ever heard that ? huh..... Because I was never even tested. I just told him my symptoms. But anyway, sorry to make this so long, but it is comforting knowing I am not alone. I hate the burning, and I quit the coffee today, and will stop the spicy and acidic food, because now it seems since stopping the meds, it's worse. Or I was getting use to not having it. Well, I hope this helps in some way. And I hope my medication works soon because when my throat burns and tightens the way it does, it starts up anxiety, and my body gets all hot, and I just panic. I know that sounds dumb, but I have always been like that when something doesn't feel right. And yes, I have already visited the hypochondriac website!! :-) So good luck to you, and try not to worry.
I have read that in order for LPR to be treated (depending on severity) you may sometimes need to be on PPIs twice a day and that is sometimes even for 6 months. I had the hoarsness which got better when I increased my nexium from one 40mg a day to twice 40mg a day. But the throat tightening and burning still comes and goes, the strange thing is that one day it is OK, and the next day very bad.
I also have stomach issues.
So perhaps increasing the dosage might be something to try, or adding someting like gaviscon, I add gaviscon the days that symptoms are really bad.
I also never had heartburn.
As for worrying that it may be something serious, I believe is a natural thing to worry, when we have so many different symptoms you are bound to worry, but try not to, since worry makes the symptoms worst, and as karate mum said I have also been told that you have to be suffering for a very long period without any therapy.
Have you seen an ENT yet? because they can confirm if you have LPR, and may perscribe a different med.
God luck, hope you get some relief very soon
Last edited by londoner70; 09-17-2008 at 02:51 PM.
I have read that in order for LPR to be treated (depending on severity) you may sometimes need to be on PPIs twice a day and that is sometimes even for 6 months. I had the hoarsness which got better when I increased my nexium from one 40mg a day to twice 40mg a day. But the throat tightening and burning still comes and goes, the strange thing is that one day it is OK, and the next day very bad.
I also have stomach issues.
So perhaps increasing the dosage might be something to try, or adding someting like gaviscon, I add gaviscon the days that symptoms are really bad.
I also never had heartburn.
As for worrying that it may be something serious, I believe is a natural thing to worry, when we have so many different symptoms you are bound to worry, but try not to, since worry makes the symptoms worst, and as karate mum said I have also been told that you have to be suffering for a very long period without any therapy.
Have you seen an ENT yet? because they can confirm if you have LPR, and may perscribe a different med.
God luck, hope you get some relief very soon
Hi,
No I have not seen the ENT yet, my doctor wanted to see if the pills would work first, she was sure it was LPR, or GERD. When I mentioned hoarseness she checked for swollen glands which there were none,and then I mentioned clearing the throat a lot, and she kinda knew right away. Its only been two weeks Saturday since taking them so I will give them more of a chance to work. I don't think I have been suffering for a very long period because I am sure I would have noticed the hoarseness before what is along period of time without treatment though? Months or years? What made me mention it to my doctor was the hoarseness. I don't understand why talking makes it worse or makes the throat sorer, do you know? Also, can this effect the ears? mine have been blocked for a while now and swollen. I am glad to have found this forum as it helps to talk about it. Thanks for your replies appreciate it a lot. I just read that caffeine does not help the situation? Well I don't drink coffee but I drink a lot of diet pepsi. My doctor freaked out and said to stop it all. Maybe thats why I can't sleep at night either, hehe.
My ears are also blocked and stuffed up, feeling a little off balance from it sometimes too. Sometimes the pain goes in my ear, and feels like it then travels to the throat. Weird. I guess it's all connected.
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