LPR and Anxiety

[Hopeful33]

I was recently diagnosed by my internist as having LPR. My ENT does not dismiss this, but thinks that my symptoms are due to anxiety. I had an allergic reaction to ampicillin in Dec, and since then I've developed LPR (after three more rounds of antibiotics and prednisone each as they were trying to diagnose me).

ENT thinks that once I had the allergic reaction with minor throat swelling, my body now perceives my throat as its weak point and all my internal stress is being felt in my throat. I would like to believe this rather than believe I have LPR. However, he would like me to try four to six weeks of Xanax to see if my throat pain and globus go away.

After reading a few threads, I am reluctant to try the Xanax for fear it will make my symptoms worse. I have no doubt that I have tons of anxiety from the LPR - I am in complete hell.

Has anyone else been treated for the anxiety aspect of LPR? With Xanax? If so, has it helped. I am curious to hear the experience of others.

BTW, I have been on Prevacid for two weeks. Although my breathing is better, I still have a sore throat and feeling of a lump. I have not eaten solid foods for over three weeks due to difficulty swallowing. My ENT thinks that I should have had relief by now from the Prevacid - giving him reason to believe it is not LPR. My internist said I may not feel relief for two to four weeks. Any thoughts?

[aswander]

If the Prevacid isn't fully effective at 1 pill a day, you can try 2 pills a day. It's the standard treatment for the coughing variety of acid reflux called LPR. It doens't really sound like you have LPR, but it would be a lot safer taking 2 Prevacids a day than any Xanax at all.

Regarding Xanax - taking it for 4-6 weeks consistently is not only bad for your esophagous, but it can easily get you physically addicted to a very small amount of the drug. Xanax should be taken occasionally, not regularly. I am passing this on from personal experience - before I was diagnosed with Acid Reflux, my doctor thought it was just anxiety. I can imagine it might be OK to take this drug once a week, but never never taked it every day!

[Hopeful33]

Aswander -

I am curious as to why you think I may not have LPR. I would love to hear what you had to say - I've read many of your posts and I see you are very knowledgeable on the subject.

My symptoms are constant sore throat, difficulty swallowing, feeling of lump in throat, earache and in the beginning, I had a swollen uvula which I felt I was constantly choking on. I also have chronic insomnia. I have never felt heartburn. I take prevacid twice a day - it has been a little over two weeks and I feel no relief. Throat pain has gotten worse in last three days.

I had an allergic reaction to ampicillin in December - was given prednisone. A week later I started to feel slight symptoms of an earache and sore throat. Doctor told me I had tonsillitis and gave me biaxin - felt ten times worse. He then switched me to levaquin and methylprednisone z-pac. Felt worse. First ENT said it was lymphatic - as my lymph nodes in neck were swollen. I had a CT Scan of my clavical adenoids and neck - no abnormalities. Blood test showed I had an infection, but that was it. Second ENT scoped my nose and throat - saw nothing. But gave me Ketek and prednisone. GP gave me singulair thinking I had allergies - went to the ER with breathing difficulties -although I was getting enough oxygen. Internist suggested LPR after allergy tests came back with nothing, was tested for thyroid, blood sugar, etc.
CT Scan of my sinuses showed poor sinuses and a deviated septum, but no infection. I think all the antibiotics and prednisone set this off. I have been miserable for almost three months now and things are not getting better. I am at my wit's end wondering what is wrong with me. ENT suggested that it was due to my allergic reaction in which my throat swelled (did not swell closed). He thinks my body has perceived my throat as a weak point and now all my stress is focusing on my throat. I'd rather believe this than the LPR theory - but he prescribed xanax to see if it works. I am frightened of taking medicine as that is when my symptoms worsen. I feel best upon waking up, but symptoms worsen during the day - with evening being the worst. I have not had solid foods for three weeks.

Please weigh in if you feel it is not LPR. I will appreciate your reply.

[tdonline]

I took 40mg of nexium and protonix for 3 months without any improvement of my sore throat. I then doubled my dosage and my symptoms have gotten a lot better. So it's possible you do have LPR and still not respond to ppis if the dosage is too low. Unfortunately I've traded in the sore throat for daily sore chest. I don't know if it's a reaction to the protonix, heartburn or esophageal spasms. My chest pains usually peak after I eat, then tamper down, only to rise up again after I eat and since I eat every 2-3 hours, it's a real hassle.

My acid reflux problems only became very apparent after 3 weeks of augmentin. Prior to the antibiotics the doctors were treating my symptoms as a respiratory/sinus problem. ENT said I had 'silent' reflux. It's not silent anymore.

[Hopeful33]

How did you deal with that? I don't know about you, but this is not living! The quality of my life is now very poor. It has brought everything to a standstill. If I had to live like this long term, I would consider ending it. I don't know how people do it.

I am on 60 mg of Prevacid. Now my stomach gurgles and I belch a lot.

I pretty much haven't had a social life or a meal consisting of solid food for three months. This has consumed my life. It has to get better than this.