Hi..
I have lurked around here since finding you guys, and it has been great.I have learned many things about having possible LPR, that I intend to take to my Dr next week. But I guess one question or should I say one thing I have noticed(i am starting a journal of all this) is that right around the time of my period(i am 50 butno menopause things going on) that the reflux gets worse..I retain fluid, and that increases the bloating in my stomach, and maybe it pushins onthe esophagus..who knows..this is maybe one of the menopausal changes that i am experiencing, as all this cough thing just started one day this past May..My reg Dr told me it was allergies and post nasal drip..did the testing..guess what no allergies..then he wanted me to go to a Pulmonogist(sp?).nope I decided that it was reflux, and found my own gastro..and sure enough it is.
Just curious if any other women notice any changes or am I really cracking up!!!!

I totally agree with you. All my problems started about 3 years ago, I'm now 51. At that time, my ob-gyn tested my fsh level and told me I was menopausal.. No matter what I take for my lpr, I continue to have problems, nothing seems to help. I have tried nexium, prevacid, zantac and now protonix. I go through each day with the lump in my throat, mucus and the feeling of a swollen neck. It has to be hormonal because one day it just appeared and has not left. But no doctor can get me relief.

Patti

I had a hysterectomy with both ovaries removed and two years later developed LPR. I definitely link it to hormonal changes. I never had any GI problems prior to that, did not smoke or drink and was in good shape.

OMG I am glad I am not alone. I thought I was over menopause and after 11 months I found out I wasn't.....surprise. It started last Feb when the surprise came and so did the reflux with vengence. I always had a little reflux and one protonix usually did the trick. But now I am in agony since then with reflux, hot sweats, dizziness, anxiety....etc. Yes I do believe it can be hormonal. I was over a menopause message board and many of the women have been saying the same thing. I just wish that these pills would work.

Sue thanks for bringing this up.

Tlily

im only 38 i do beleive it has something to so with hormones i am not menapusal but about the time my period is supposed to start the reflux does get worse

Oh my gosh..you guys.. I thought I was truly cracking..when i mention this to people, they think i am desperate and or crazy. I am going to my Dr next week, and I am going to push him on this..but what can we do but try the meds, fiet..I refuse to think about any surgery procedures, as mine is liveable, but frustrating. It is comforting to know others are seeing a connection..OR we are All crazy!!!!!!!!

Of course there are guys reading this that are wondering what could be their cause!!!!!

One more thing..I was doing great the past few weeks, then this past weekend..things got worse..cough, mucas..well, according to my calendar, my period should not be for another week or so..not..I started yesterday, and cough is a wee bit better, but it has to all tie in. And I guess since it's only been 4 weeks, that the menopausal thing may be creeping in too..one more thing!!!!!!!!

I now can confirm that HAS to be a connection..I posted that last weekend as I was pms..and the cough was coming back despite the same med each day..well I started my period Wed...it was heavier than usual..and I have felt like crap..coughing almost non stop..no matter what I eat or drink..the sleeping interuppted..and almost at my wits end..then today..period tapering off, I feel great..almost no symptons...it is driving me nuts, if this is what I have to endure each month for the next few years!!..yikes..I guess in the scheme of things that I could have, I will find a way to cope..but don't let anyone tell you there can't be a connection...

Suelynn

My Pcp thinks I am crazy. I am going to see the Gi doc tomorrow and I am going to mention to him that I feel ther is a corralation of hormones and reflux. I see my Gyno the week after and I am going to talk with him to.

I agree with you. I am in menopause and it seems that when the hot flashes or sweats are giving me the most trouble the burning and throat stuff gets worse. For me all this reflux intensified when I got back my periods after a very long time. Menopause symptoms became intense and so did the reflux. Now I am not saying that this is the cause of the reflux, but it it does make things worse. The hormones does play a part for me. Maybe plays too big of part. Now lets see if the other doctors think I am nuts. :dizzy:

Tlily

I also couldn't agree more!!! I think the change and fluxtuation in hormones affects our metabolic rate, thus changing the digestion system just enough to cause fluxtuation in the acid in our stomachs. I am better now than when I was first diagnosed with LPR two years ago. I am 53 and definately menopausal. I have found that a diet that has plenty of fruits, veggies, and fibers to keep the digestion moving helps me the most. Also chewing gum, helps me to keep my throat moist and lessens the lump feeling. I have been batteling this for a little over two years and over the past 10-11 months it has slowly been subsiding. It has diminished to where it hardly bothers me at all any more. Good luck to all of you too. Check out the menopause board. There are many insightful people there who also may have suggestions.

Thnaks for more tips..you know I have not gotten really SERIOUS about the diet..my is not the best..I cut myself to one coke a day, yet when i slip up and have another, no bother, but let me eat a small piece of choc, and my coughing fit hits. What will it take to start eating right, I am not sure, yet I swear as I am up in the middle of the night because of coughing, that I am going to change.I have a job in a courtroom of people, and this coughing thing is anoying. I have a left over script of Codeine, that I have taken, and it does the trick for the cough, but i can't take that forever....so frustrating.

Can anyone recomend a good web site to find more about LPR? The ones I saw never mention taking 2 pills

I posted on your other thread about perimenopause, reflux and gallbladder disease. You all are making me feel good about my problems. I thought, no way could this be, but I don't want to always think my anxiety is that bad. I, too, have my period right now and the past two days have been the heaviest and also the worst for the lump in throat/cough etc. I really hope when the period starts slowing down so will this reflux. I will post what happens with it. I know I also had my gallbladder out recently and that may also be affecting it, but it is worse now than last week right after the surgery. I will keep my fingers crossed for this to be related to hormones. I don't really want to have this as an additional monthly/hormonal thing, but if I know there is relief then I am willing to suck it up and take something or be better with my diet...gotta have that one cup of coffee each day.

Thanks for being here everyone...I feel better just knowing that others are willing to share and help eah other!
pbjmom

Well, all I can say is this past week(had period)was a horrible week for cough, clearing throat, sleep..just felt crappy with the period, and then top it off with the cough thing..Today is the end, and guess what..barely any cough..yet my nights seem to be getting interrupted again, and I keep elevating the matress, but I feel soooo much better now that it has ended. I try not to dwell on it with my family, but told my husband that this is not going to be pleasant each month..I don't know what Dr to talk to..I don't want or feel like I need HRT at this point, and the heart/stroke risk is there for me, plus my throid thing, so I sdon't know what relief to try. I guess as you said, if it only lasts a week, I can live with it..but I just don't get it.

Hey Everyone!

I thought I would shot a post to let you know that I now am a believer of reflux and hormones being connected. My period is ending and so are my pains in my chest/shoulders and the coughing. I still have a slight lumpy feeling in my throat, but it is not annoying like the past week or so. I started noticing the change last night and my period was lightening a lot! So, I think there is a stong connection.

Just wanted to let you guys know of my results...here's hoping it is really true and I won't have a flare up.

pbjmom

We, as females, can link the hormone things, but what is the answer to relieve the symptons..I am not going to have a hysterectomy, so my reflux get;s better, or go on HRT if not needed, as I have thyroid trouble, and heart and stroke history in family, so we just have to cope for a week of misery?

And men get gerd and lpr, so it's not hormones for them, or is it??? Are there any really good web sites for LPR out there? Or any books, I know there are some for GERD, as I got one,"Tell Me What To Eat if I HAve Acid Reflux"very helpful book

i agree that hormones seem to play a part in making whatever you have wrong, worse, or symptoms worse. I started falling apart physically when I hit menopause about 3 years ago. Everything starting getting worse and new things came on. However,I'm on HRT (for early osteoporosis), and it hasn't helped my reflux at all. I'm starting to slowing wean myself off of them since I don't believe that I want to be on them forever, and with no insurance it's not cheap.I'm also on thyroid meds for low thyroid.
Again, it can't be only the hormones otherwise young women and men would be immune from it right:confused:

Both doctors I have seen lump LPR and GERD into one category. although they obviously don't have LPR or they'd see a concrete difference in symptoms, but the root cause is the same so maybe that's why they put it together. I haven't found much on LPR either other than those medical literature citations, but maybe more will be forthcoming as this seems to be more and more common judging from this board.

Backslide-I also am hypothyroid, and menopausal. I really think that both conditions play havoc with my metabolism, and thus my digestive system. If my thyroid meds are just a little bit too much, I think that causes my digestive system to run a little "fast", and thus causing production of more acids in my stomach. I also think that a flux in estrogen can do the same things. Combine those two, and all heck breaks loose! I don't think that's the cause of all GERD problems or people without thyroid problems or men who obviously don't have menopausal problem would not have acid reflux. However for me, I really think it really plays a big part of my LPR problems.

Backslide and Red Maple..you are like my twins!!! We all see these connections, yet there is no one cure..Thought the 50's were suppose to be wonderful years..I have not started out too great.

I was doing more searching and have found some wonderful sites. www.heartburnalliance.org and a good book, "Spurn the Burn"

Hope they might help anyone..I am going to look into them

I am in the last stages of peri-menopause - haven't had a period for 11 months, and have been suffering with all kinds of problems since this whole peri-menopause thing started about 5 years ago. The hot flushes and night sweats are a nightmare - wild yam cream has helped though. However the reason for my response is that I also got this lump in the throat thing about 2 years ago, whether it was casued by reflux, or not, I tried the following which stopped the lump in the throat and eased the mucus.

Firstly, to easy the mucus I use lactose free milk in my tea and Caro drink. I use enzymes to help with digestion, particularly after the evening meal, and finally - and I am not quite sure why it helps, but I take Vitamin B. Two tablets (of a good quality Vitamin B) after lunch every day. You can cut back to one a day once the lump goes away. If there is one other piece of advise I could give is to relax and enjoy each of your meals, don't hurry them, don't eat on the run allow at least a half an hour to eat. Thanks