LPR Thoughts

[lpriffic]

Hello again,

I just got back from the ENT and the diagnosis per the optical scope is...LPR. Apparently my vocal cords show only minor irritation with my throat showing moderate irritation. She also noted that I have a slightly abnormal septum (whatever that means). Anyhow, the procedure was quick and simple, and should have been done months ago! I can't believe I have been worrying myself sick over this for so long.

My perscription is now Prilosec 40mg/day plus Nasonex to alleviate sinus issues. I am definately not going to take the Nasonex, and most likely will not be taking the Prilosec as well. As I mentioned in my previous post, I had no heartburn symptoms until I started taking Nexium, and still attribute the little purple pill to many of my problems. I've been back on the SCD for several days, and still feel great. Although the diet is very tough to follow (especially when I want a snack), it's great to have no stomach/abdomen pain after eating. Hopefully with time, this will help heal my throat as well. I will be sure to keep all of you posted. In the meantime, I still look forward to sharing tips and advice to figure out how to get this stupid thing under control and out of our lives for good!

[ldtoo]

Originally Posted by cl84

I am sorry your husband is suffering so much. Has he had any testing done? If not, find another doctor ASAP.

As for me, all my symptoms are on the left and include ear pain, pnd,and the lump in the throat feeling.Sometimes if one med doesn't work, another one will.
I think milk and dairy products increase mucous so cutting that out will probably help a little.

Good luck!

[ldtoo]

Thank you. My husband has had several tests by 3 different ENTs and no one even mentions LPR. All say they can't see any reason for his symptoms!!! His PCP said she thinks he has major depression and the is why the pnd is bothering him so much!!! Said everyone has it, he just perceives it as worse than it is. Wish she was here with him...especially in the mornings. Well, that isn't solving his problem. I have noticed that dairy does make him worse. That's why he couldn't use the nutrition for the G tube...it is milk based. Seems like that proves that this problem is coming from his stomach, since the liquid didn't go anywhere near his throat. Anyhow, will keep everyone posted if I am able to find out anything else. Thanks again all for sharing.

[ldtoo]

Originally Posted by flowergirl2day

Does LPR affect vocal cords? I wonder....is that why our voices are so hoarse? Do the vocal cords become swollen and is that what makes us sound like frogs? My voice was super bad today. I hated hearing myself on the PR but had no choice. It is so embarassing!!! I guess sounding bad is still better than not having a voice at all.

flowergirl

One of the symptoms of LPR is hoarsness.

[ldtoo]

Originally Posted by walktalk

Hi

I am sorry to hear about your husband, I have been and am going through a similar experience, slightly milder but with many similar symptoms.

I am UK based and it seems over here most doctors are not too clued up on LPR as a rule, I had to more or less tell my GP what was wrong and that I suspected LPR, then show her my research.

Nobody knew what was wrong with me for a couple of months and I had wierd symptoms, one-sided sinus and ear infections, globus etc. For these I had all sorts of antibiotics and corticosteroid treatments which made me feel worse and brought on other problems.

I had a CT scan which showed some anatomical differences between my left and right sinuses being a factor, but nothing actualy 'wrong' with them except that I have swollen turbinates in my nose, ENT thinks it is an allergy but blood tests etc. show nothing.

I have had a barium swallow etc. with no definitive results, everything appears 'normal' looks like I probably have 'silent reflux' but GI specialist and ENT will not say for sure wether the ENT symptoms are from the LPR or 'something else'?????

I am not sure what dose of PPI your husband is on, my research suggests 2 ppi's a day for LPR and sometimes an additional H2 blocker. Check this of course with a medical practitioner. I have been on Zoton (Lanzopresole here) for about two months, 30mg morning, 30mg night and Zantac 300mg night, there has been quite some improvement in my symptoms but it is a slow process.

Having said that, I m now trialing Nexium 40mg as I believe it is supposed to be better. I will try this for a few weeks and see how it goes. My GI specialist says that some PPI's suit some people better than others and that all are considered equivalent by the docs.

Please keep in touch with me as I am also persuing other avenues such as homeopath and traditional chinese medicine, there is some suggestion that accupuncture / accupressure can be helpful with reflux, it certainly helps with the anxiety!

I am going to try the new treatment for a month and then have a pressure test of the sphincter to see if fundoplication is necessary.

I don't know if any of this helps but if I have any success with any of this I will let you know.

Hi,
Apparently, not many doctors in the US are familiar with LPR either. What a shame for all of you suffering with it.

My husband has had similar test to what you have had...CT scan, etc. with similar results, which makes them all say, "Can't find anything wrong!!!".

My husbands GI doctor just switched him to Nexium 40mg 2 times a day. He said to take them one hour before breakfast and one hour before dinner; that the food activates the PPI. So we are trying to do that although my husband has no appetite and so I have to force him to eat even a little bit in order to activate the PPI. I am going to get him some Zantac and have him try 300mg at night and see if that helps.(Thank you for that information) He has been having a real problem tonight with mucus and so I am wondering if switching PPI's was the right thing to do...guess will have to wait and see.

Please do keep in touch with me as I would be interested in ANY treatment that will help him. He is so close to giving up and I am really scared. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

I called his ENT at the Teaching Hospital today and asked if theyhe does PH monitoring for LPR and they said they have a facility they refer to. Doctor was not in today, but I will ask him about it tomorrow. I am going to insist that he send him for testing. I am not familiar with a pressure test of the sphincter, please explain that to me., and also fundopilation.

Thank you so much for your concern and help.