LPR what now?? - Acid Reflux / GERD Message Board

teeezz · 12-04-2008, 12:45 PM

anyone trying to convince and educate doctors that LPR is debilitating AND significantly reduces quality of life?i am seeking anyone who has had surgery to try and curb this horrible thing we live with ?LPR is different to GERD so why are we getting GERD combating recomendations?

MountainReader · 12-04-2008, 07:29 PM

I had surgery two months ago. I was never officially diagnosed with LPR, just GERD, but my symptoms were really LPR. I had a chronic cough with no heartburn or other symptoms. I had it under control for about 3 years, but then everything stopped working. In addition to the regular cough, the acid started aggrevating my asthma pretty badly.

My GI doc really doesn't diagnose LPR. My Pulmonologist just called my reflux a "swallowing disorder". I do have an ENT who strongly believes in it. They even do the 24 hr pH test with the probe in the throat to measure for acid in the throat. Maybe you could call around to see if you can find a doc who already treats for it. If not, taking in research studies from the internet may help you convince your doc.

CharBerry · 12-05-2008, 01:35 AM

I've had LPR for over 10 yrs and have contacted a number of surgeons. Seems Dr's are finally agreeing to the acid coming that far up but the problem is that with LPR the test often are negative even though you may suffer greatly. My Dr. say's it's not the amt of reflux but where it's being thrown. Like all the way to my sinus! So therefore without any positive test showing significant reflux, I haven't been able to find a surgeon that would operate. And in some ways, I do appreciate that as I think some Dr's may approve anything to make a buck. I've also read and been told that LPR is much harder to control and that surgery often doesn't help. I am hoping and praying for MR that things work out since surgery. Good luck to you too.

CharBerry

nessie01 · 12-05-2008, 03:42 AM

i have lpr to and my reflux test came back normal..........go figure. like char said you only need a little to go a long way...........try PPI they may help they do reduce my symptoms a bit but still have heaps of issues i do however find galviscon (UK version) to help alot i take it before bed.........
also LPR may not be caused by acid which is why some people dont respond to the tests or acid medciation. it could be pepsin or bile causing the irratation............dont give up thou, lots of people do improve on PPI so try them out for as long as you can handle!!! also lpr can go in remission.......im praying this will happen!!
ness

ProfessorG2 · 12-09-2008, 01:44 AM

This is the first time I've posted here. Like many of you, I've been struggling with LPR for years going from one physician to the next. You see 5 different doctors and get 5 different answers. What has complicated my life in a big way is the fact that I'm an announcer. I've been highly successful at it for 20 years despite what I then though was simple acid reflux. 3 or 4 years ago I would get periods of weak voice or voice drop outs which gave me limited range and caused me to miss out on many opportunities. This past year and a half, things worsened with recurring sinus problems, infections, voice problems and no heart burn symptoms. My ENT said years of allergies and sinus infections had caused chronically blocked sinuses and that I had two choices:
surgery or antibiotics like amoxicillin on and off for months and months. My gastric physician said there was no proven connection between reflux and sinus problems and that I continue to take 40MG of prilosec in the morning and zantac at night, elevate the bed 6 inches and maybe take something which I can't recall now that would empty my stomach contents faster. I didn't take that last medication because it had a lot of side effects. I also went to a Laryngologist who definitely believed in the sinus connection and LPR. He saw the damage on the vocal chords and told me to do all the things the gastric guy suggested. About a month ago, I removed the bed blocks because I kept sliding down while sleeping and I didn't think it was a good thing for my leg circulation. Besides I was having a good period with my voice. Big mistake. Things have been getting worse. I'm back on amoxicillin, my voice has been cutting out and with my business at stake, the stress level doesn't help either. Well that's my story. The idea of the stomach surgery scares me, because I've heard it may not work with LPR.
Where can I find this UK version of Gaviscon? And why does that work? What are the ingredients?