Throat Irritation And Constant Clearing - Digestive Disorders Message Board

ashpie · 04-29-2004, 11:41 AM

For the last 2 weeks I've had throat irritation esp. when eating I have to clear my throat and I feel like I choke on dry things..I also was having a constant tickle...I went to the ENT who put the scope through my nose and looked down my throat..he said I am swollen my voice box is swollen.../I am pregnant o the only thing I can take is zantac...this is horrible...would the scope show anything else like growths etc..also I had a endoscopy done a year ago for reflux and it was normal..

hope2004 · 04-29-2004, 05:37 PM

ashpie......... I have the same symstom too, the ENT doctor told me that my voice box is swollen because of the acid reflux , I also have the endoscopy for reflux but it show normal , the Zantac and Axid didn't help me at all, I am taking Prevacid now for about 1 week , I still don't feel better...

hlynna · 05-01-2004, 08:46 AM

Ashpie and Hope2004 - I recently posted about a "lump" driving me insane (hlynna) and I was reading your post and wanted to post back to you. I am also pregnant (ashpie). I have however been taking Prevacid 30mg for 5 days, i refused to take it this morning because it is not helping at all. The OB has approved after my regular doctor presribed it. I have been doing some serious surfing for help this morning. I came across several old posts here (late 2003) about something called laryngopharyngeal relux (LPR). Just this morning, after my vent post earlier, I think I think this may well be what the problem is. It may be something that will help you as well. Apparently LPR often occurs in people who don't have normal heartburn symptoms. It is when the acid irritates the larynx area instead of the esophagus. It may be something for both of you to look at because the ENT said your voice box was irritated and everything else was normal. That sounds very similiar to LPR. Some articles said that it takes 8 weeks of acid supression to find relief others said 6 months for relief. I guess that would be why 5 days haven't helped me. I just don't like taking meds while PG, I am only 13.5 weeks. Prevacid is a Class B drug for Pregnancy. If it truly only takes 8 weeks and the OB and reg DR said it was okay then I might go for it. But if I could take something less powerful and have that work also then that is what I would prefer. Hope this helps you both. I know how annoying this stuff can get, especially when you don't know what it is or how to fix it!

hope2004 · 05-01-2004, 09:50 AM

Hlynna........thank you soooo much for the information, I did some research about laryngopharyngeal relux (LPR) ... I have exactly the same symptoms , next time I'll ask my ENT more about this... thanks again Hlynna

hlynna · 05-02-2004, 02:17 PM

Hope, I really hope (sounds funny saying it twice) that LPR is the problem. Just giving it a name makes me feel better. You said that you are taking Prevacid 30 mg also after the others didn't work. How long were on the Axid and Zantac? Maybe they were working some, but not enough to notice just yet. After all, alot of the articles I read said it can take up to 6 months of acid suppression. It seems so weird to think that it could be irritating up so high and our esohaguses not be irritated, or atleast not enough for us to say we have "heartburn" or think that acid might be a problem. But that is textbook LPR. I keep thinking that there has got to be a natural way to take care of this problem and again it may take many months before noticing relief, but I think that the PPI's and antacids are covering up a problem and might just create a visicious circle. Your body will learn to create more acid and then when you try to stop taking the PPI after 3 - 4 months, it could be worse than when you started. I have changed my diet. No spicy, no fatty, no acidic, no carbonated, obviously no alcohol because of PG. I have started eating more vegtables, as they are alkaline. I am overweight, 40 lbs or so, but have been for years. Did everything all of the sudden just combust? I had the problem before being pregnant so I know it is not just that. I had taken 2 weeks of Prilosec, 2 weeks of Nexium and 1 week of Prevacid (before stopping because of being pregnant). And I remember thinking that it was some better. That was almost 10 weeks ago. The last week it has just totally gotten me again and it is not relenting. My gag reflux is so strong that the sensation makes me gag and often vomit. I have lost 5 lbs this week alone. Not good when you are starting your second trimester of pregnancy. Maybe I was on a roll and then the frequent vomiting, causing acid to be directly applied to my esphageous and entire throat/larynx area, re-inflamed the area. I don't know what to think. I just know that it is extremely annoying at times. I am constantly touching or wiggling my throat/esophageous area trying to "move" the lump or ease it somewhat. I do notice the muscules in my neck/throat are very tight. Do you find yourself feeling around there often? I would love to know what the ENT says next time you see him/her. I hate to go an be put through a battery of tests. I hate all that stuff. And my gag reflux is so horrible right now. I can't imagine having something actually put down my throat. So keep in touch and let me know what the DR says. Do you think you will keep taking the Prevacid? Talk to you later!