People with LPR, do you only get the symptoms of this when you eat certain foods or do certain things or is it always there? I feel like I always have a lump in my throat, sometimes mild almost unoticeable and other times worse. Im wodering if it is normal for the feeling to always be there?

Hi there,
I have recently been diagnosed with lpr. For the past 1-1/2 years I have constantly had a lump in my throat. Always there sometimes really bad. Nothing I ate bothered me, I never once had heartburn. I was convinced it was some type of cancer. My gp and 1st ent thought it was thyroid related because my thyroid is enlarged. It took going to see another ent that I was scoped and diagnosed with lpr. I've been on nexium at only one a day dosing, and it is better but I am still aware that its there. It can be really annoying and very stressful. I'll be calling my dr. to see what he thinks, maybe switching meds but definately switching to twice a day dosing

Patti

Hi guys

I recently bumped a bunch of threads on LPR. Hopefully you can find something useful from them.

Patti- great idea about going to twice a day. Once a day is useless for LPR.

Hugs to all
A

Patti- Thank you for the reply. What you have sounds a lot like what i am feeling. I dont have any heartburn either, regardless of what i eat. I know what you mean about it being annoying this lump in my throat feeling never goes away-do i ever wish to remember what it feels like to swallow normally. I was convinced too, ive felt like a hyperchondriac (sp). Anyway thanks again and hopefully we+ne1 else can be healed of this.

Hi fullstride,
Have you been diagnosed yet? If not, find a good ent from family or friends. It actually took an ent and 3 different gp's before I found out what I had.
The 3 gp's are all in one practice and I was going to the doctor so often, i got to see all 3. The 1st ent was convinced it was thyroid. A pharmacist I work with suggested I see her husband's ent because he was having thyroid problems. So when I went to her I was surprised she did a scope and in matter of minutes she told me my larynx was red and inflamed. That's how I got the rx for nexium. I had in the past tried prilosec otc which did nothing. I do feel somewhat better on the nexium 1x day, but that annoying lump is still there. I actually felt great the 1st 2 weeks, llump gone, but it has since returned. So I guess I need something else or 2x a day. But it is a relief to know what is wrong and that it's not me imagining it. Let me know how you're doing. The people on this board are wonderful and full of knowledge.

Patti :wave:

Patti- Thanks once again for taking the time to reply, your so right this board has been great for knowledge and comfort. I havent been diagnosed for LPR but i have been diagnosed (being used loosely) for acid reflux. I had a chest pain for a few day and when i took zantac it was gone. The lump in my throat has been here atleast a month maybe a little longer. My doctor just switched me over to Prilosec yesterday, because the Zantac hasnt helped my throat. I think this is going to be a trial and error process until i find a medicine that works. I havent been to an ENT but i suggested an endoscope to my doctor and he wanted to run a few tests before that. They took blood to check for H.pylori, and is scheduling a barium swallow. Hopefully they can get to the bottom of this and can be taken care of.

Best Wishes

Well I called my ent today to see if they have any suggestions for me. I told the nurse the first 3 weeks on nexium, I felt so much better. But now I'm entering the fifth week and I'm starting to feel the lump in my throat and the feeling of a swollen neck all over again. She said the doctor may switch meds, up the nexium or she may want to scope me again to see if my larynx is more swollen or more irriatated. She said she would call me Thurs. since they're not in the office tomorrow. And wouldn't you know it, I had to leave after that phone call and she called back an hour later. So now I do have to wait until Thurs. Has anyone had this experience of a drug to stop working that quickly??????? I'm willing to try any drug out there. My husband takes prevacid for gerd and loves the results. any input for LPR??? any suggestions..........

Patti :confused:

Hi Patti. Generally, LPR has to be treated much more aggresively than regular GERD. Unfortunatley, a ppi's stopping working seems to be a common complaint. The dr. will probably either up the dosage or try switching you. I've know some people who mix zantac with a ppi. Also unfortunatley, this is often a long term frustration. Good luck with the dr. and I hope you feel better soon!

Patti- Do you experience any hoarseness or any change in your voice? I don't have have any hoarseness at all or anything similar, Im curious to why that is, I believe the acid is traveling all the way up because I have that bitter taste in my mouth, but for some reason my larnyx isnt being affected (which is a good thing). Anyway how did the ENT go, any new helpful info?

I was diagnosed with LPR last October. It takes a long time to see any results in relief of symptoms. Stay on the PPI's and hang in there. I began to feel some relief only after about 5 months, and still the "lump" feeling is not completely gone, but it is better.

A few simple things that helped me is to improve my posture, and chew gum. I work at a desk all day at a computer and it's easy to end up slumped over it. That just "squishes" my stomach and I am sure forces the acid up. I have noticed a difference when I sit up straighter. Also chewing gum is soothing to my throat. It's not going to cure the problem but it helps me to feel better. I know that mint is not good for reflux, so I chew sugarless fruit flavored gum. It can't hurt to try...