Hi Charla,

I have noticed that you are one of the lucky ones who have LPR symptoms most of the time. I have them to a degree every day all day, too. I can't figure out why since sometimes I can eat the most fatty, spicy foods there are and not have a problem and other days my diet is bland and my symptoms are worse. Just when I think that I have discovered something that may be worsening it, I'm wrong because the next time I eat it I am fine! It's all so frustrating.

Have your drs. given you an explanation for it? My ENT says I am a mystery to him. I see a neurologist twice a year for migraines and the ENT is sending him my records to see if there is some neurological problem. I have always suffered from migraines on the left side along with weakness and numbness in my limbs on the left. My LPR symptoms are always on the left so he thinks there may be a connection but I don't think so. I think they are two separate issues.

Anyway, just thought I'd share this with you. I hope you haven't had a bad day. My day was so so.

Take care.

I haven't had a really good day in I don't know how long. Not losing my voice is considered good to me and I was doing pretty good with that until today. Very hoarse and can't understand me. All of my problems seem to be worse from my throat to my sinus. I cough all the time but it's not a dry cough. More like I'm trying to get something up or PND. Gross but hope you understand. Past couple of weeks, I've been getting this thick yellow stuff all of a sudden come into my mouth. Figure it's sinus infection since LPR causes them, but why after I eat or drink anything? Like today, I ate green beans, carrots and jello for lunch. How bland is that? Now I'm sitting here feeling like I'm about to choke to death, sinus full (only right side) and must cough. Getting panic feeling and sort of hard to breath.

In answer to your question. I believe LPR is quite different from GERD (have both) and I don't think the Dr's even know all the answers. I'd never heard of it before and 10 yrs ago when diagnosed it was just called GERD. Later seeing ENT, I learned about LPR. I found that a lot of Dr's didn't believe acid could reach that high. Maybe it's not acid?
Has to be acid or something destructive because I know it ruined my teeth and I spent 30,000 on implants. Dentist said acid ate enamel, which is supposed to be one of the hardest things in your body. My hearing got very bad and ENT and Allergy Spec both agreed it was due to LPR. Don't have much faith in test for LPR either or GERD for that matter since you can be fine one day and awful the next. My pH test never showed reflux that bad but who can go about your daily activity with a tube stuck up your nose. Gastro spec I saw then said wasn't the amt of acid that was causing the problem but where it was going. I've asked for surgery and Dr's don't think it will help me? Have heard too many stories where it hasn't helped or had to be done over again. I never had any allergy or asthma problems before this all began either. I'm a mystery to all my Dr's too because I've been treated for every reason for chronic cough and nothing works. I feel I'm getting worse and I know my quality of life has. I'm going to be out of a job soon and don't see how I could work anywhere else. Thankfully, I'm alone here most of the time. I probably wouldn't be eligible for disability? Going on my husband's ins would cost a lot not to mention the loss of my salary, which is very good.

I always take interest in your post too and a couple of others because we seem to have the same symptoms and no cure or answers. Keep me posted about your appt. and how you are doing. I suppose there are worse things than this but I hate it.

Charla

Charla,

Thanks for your reply. I know that things could be worse for us but there are days when I just can't believe I am suffering another day with this! I am scared that someday I won't be able to breathe because my throat will swell shut! I mean if it's already inflammed who's to say it won't swell so much it blocks the airway! I know I may sound extreme but it really scares me sometimes! Right now my ear is killing me and my chest hurts a little. That seems to be a new thing. It's not the heartburn type pain but feels like I am coming down with a chest cold. I have had bronchitis once in my life and when I have a cold it never affects my chest so I figure it's just another LPR symptom.

The PND thing doesn't gross me out. I have it much of the time and I try to hock it up but nothing comes up. It's almost like it isn't really there but I can feel it draining down the back of my throat. Sometimes I feel like I am gagging on it. BLECH!

I know what you mean about the diet. I don't understand how food plays much of a role in this because I feel rotten when I wake up in the morning and I haven't had anything to eat for several hours. THis is so bizarre. What really puzzles me is how it seems to affect so many people on only one side. I don't understand how that happens since the acid ( if that is what is actually happening) would hit your whole throat. Maybe we should start our own LPR research company ! At least we'd know we have a job. My voice isn't too bad, just mostly hoarse for awhile in the morning. Sometimes by the end of the day it's worse. I talk all day at my job so I'm surprised it's not worse.

It's good to have someone to vent to! I hope you have a better day tomorrow.:)

I know we shouldn't dwell on our problems and check these boards 10 times a day. LOL. But, like you, I'm scared and it helps me to know I'm not the only one in the world with this problem. I think it might be the only way to figure out what is going on with us. Vent anytime. Think that's good for us too.

Charla

Hi,

I am scared that someday I won't be able to breathe because my throat will swell shut! I mean if it's already inflammed who's to say it won't swell so much it blocks the airway!

I think all of us who have experienced breathing difficulties can identify with you! I had the same gnawing fear, day in and day out. There was only one instance when my severe breathing problems became extreme. This may have been one of several adverse reactions I had to a new medication.
Shortness of breath is highly unpleasant and difficult to cope with. It is something I could never get used to. I don't think you have to fear your airways will become fully obstructed.


I don't understand how food plays much of a role in this because I feel rotten when I wake up in the morning and I haven't had anything to eat for several hours. THis is so bizarre.

You know, I have the same question: how can I wake up feeling sick and nauseous when there's no food in my stomach? I thought GERD was a digestive problem. When there's no food to digest and very little acid in the stomach because of the PPIs, what it the problem? Sometimes I eat too much and feel fine. I just don't understand this at all. I seem to get reflux whether I eat or not.

Flower Girl,

I was working in my yard one fall (lots of leaves) Of course, I was bending over a lot but hadn't eaten or drank anything for awhile. All of a sudden, I got the chest pain and seemed I couldn't take a breath. I didn't even call out to my husband but got in my car (running over the new leaf blower) and went straight to the hospital. They thought it was an asthma attack but no inhalers helped so back to the GERD thing. It's an awful feeling not being able to breath. I've woken up a couple of times during the night that way but not often. I always panic when I get SOB, which I do get SOB a lot and panic doesn't help anything as you well know. Like you guys, I go to bed feeling pretty good then wake up feeling like s_____. Wondering what happened to me last night? Stomach cramps, want to puke, throat full of crap. That happens way to often but other days, I can wake up and be ok.
It's got to have something to do with our central nervous system maybe? Something has a short in it and goes haywire. I've had many scopes and no hernia. I do have symptoms daily (mainly upper resp) but remissions of the stomach stuff for short periods of time. I've been bad for past 2 days and so glad I'm off tomorrow and not have to worry about getting up. Even glad I have a Dr's appt to hope he's going to cure me. Ha!

What can we do? I get so down and out over it. I can't enjoy things I once did or eat what I want without paying dearly. These coughing jags, clearing my throat have got to be ruining my vocal cords. My voice has changed but I think people are so used to it being haorse or deep that they don't comment on it. Unless, it's someone I don't know when I answer the phone and they always think I have a cold or allergy. My chest is getting tight again but afraid to use inhaler thinking it will make me more hoarse.

What has your Dr's said? Any words of wisdom? I've pretty much learn to live with it as it's been 10 yrs now but feel I'm getting worse and running out of options.

One thing I have learned is to get plenty of rest so that's what I'm going to do now. Check with all of you tomorrow.

Charla

Thank you for sharing, Charla!

My attack happened one evening after dinner while walking. I started experiencing the usual SOB, stopped to catch my breath....and could not move. I think my brain had become too oxygen deprived, resulting in a temporary paralysis of limbs. It was extremely scary. I could not move my fingers, or my feet, or wiggle my toes. Not even slightly. Luckily, it did not last very long.

We are all looking for answers. My doctor (GP) is ignoring the GERD issue completely. The way he sees it, I should worry about the bigger issues. He told me so, making me quite angry.
Another one of my doctors is making the referrral to a gastro. I really don't expect anything to come out of this. I have been taking PPI for 4 months now. It will be nice to have everything checked out though.

Flower Girl
What you said is true for me too. My symptoms are actually worse first thing in the morning, when I haven't eaten in 12 to 14 hours. That is when the burning in my throat is the most intense and when I taste the most acid. Once I eat breakfast, I feel better. Weird, if GERD is supposed to be aggravated by the food you eat. Similarly, when I eat a big dinner, I feel ok too and don't burn and taste acid nearly as much (as long as the food is nothing fried).

Go figure, Kassie! :)

I guess that's why we are looking for answers which we may never find. It's so good to know there are others with the same stuff happening to them! It somehow makes things a little bit easier. Exchanging information and tips on how to cope does not hurt either! ;) What is also very interesting is that some of our symptoms match exactly, why others seem to be unique. This condition seems to manifest itself in so many different ways.