Diagnosed with LPR - Questions

kimberlyrkb · 06-24-2007, 06:26 PM

Hi All,

After living with a chronic cough for several weeks while doctors tried to figure out what was wrong, I was finally diagnosed with LPR. My ENT thinks I also have an allergy component to it....I've been taking allergy meds for several years now.

The other symptom I have had for the last few weeks is a feeling of something in my throat I cannot swallow or cough up.

Anyway, for the last 4 days, I've been on Prevacid 2x daily, Mucinex 2x daily, Tums at night, plus my allergy meds (Allegra-D and Rhinocort). My doctor said I would probably see improvement in 2-3 days, but so far, I'm still coughing like crazy. It's non-stop. I hardly have a minute or two go by where I'm not couging.

And now, since yesterday, I have a very severe pain in my side, just under my lower right rib. Not only does it hurt when I cough, it is very tender to the touch. And I believe it feels harder than my left side.

Does anyone know what this rib tenderness could be? I don't think it's from coughing. Should my coughing be less frequent, or is it too early to expect some relief?

Thank you,
Kimberlyrkb

CHALUPA · 06-24-2007, 10:19 PM

hi i also have lpr and from what i have read the pain could be a muscle. When you cough alot you could pull something. I would check with your docter.

Shanibelle · 06-24-2007, 11:28 PM

If you have LPR you will NOT see improvement in 2 -3 days. I also question the use of TUMS, especially at night, when it has a strong history of acid rebound effect. The Mucinex is thinning your mucous which probably is not helping matters. Typically with PPI therapy it can take up to 6 months or more to alleviate LPR symptoms, and usually takes a month or so to see any changes in symptoms.

My husband has a diagnosis of LPR. Two years and he is somewhat better but still clears his throat every minute (used to be every 10 seconds) and has that globulus feeling in his throat. It is a VERY VERY frustrating disorder. Many who do not respond end up going on antidepressants to deal with its impact on their lives. I hope that you are one of the lucky ones.

I would have the pain checked out ASAP. It may be nothing but if it is severe and not going away your body is trying to tell you something. Hopefully its just a pulled muscle, but get it checked out anyways.

MountainReader · 06-24-2007, 11:39 PM

Hi kimberlyrkb,

It sounds like your doctor is on the right track for finding something that will work for your cough. I frequently get a chronic cough and last year suffered from a long spell (about 5 months) with a lot of doctors visits before I found out something that worked for me. In the meantime, I was coughing so much that I couldn't catch a breath and my stomach and ribs hurt. I spoke to my doctor about this and I was told that it isn't uncommon to pull muscles and even break a rib with intense coughing. If you are worried about that I would visit your doctor to have it checked.

According to my doctor, there are four main causes of a chronic cough: allergies, acid reflux, PND and asthma. It sounds like your doctor is on course on determining which one/ones you have and finding a course of treatment that will work.

Turns out I have develped all of these and have the symptom of a chronic cough with all of them. It took working closely with my doctor over a period of time to find the correct medication combinations that worked for me. I was on Prilosec, Protonix and Nexium before ending up on Prevacid 2x/day. It actually took weeks before I noticed the difference of the Prevacid. I was also eating a diet avoiding foods and drinks that aggrevated the acid.

I have also found that, for me, when one if one of the 4 listed above flairs up, is can sometimes cause other areas to get worse. I have to find a way to keep them all under control at the same time. Currently my routine consists of: Prevacid 2x/day, Advair 500/50, Singulair (for allergies and asthma), Astelin, Flonase, Allegra. As needed: Albuterol, Sudafed, Mucinex. I also completed allergy immunotherapy about 5 years ago and I am going back tomorrow for more testing to begin a second round of shots.

Also, if your cough continues you may want to be tested for Pertussis (Whooping Cough). The immunizations we had when we were young wear off and are no longer effective as adults. For adults, the symptom is an intense chronic cough. While I was trying to get my reflux and sinus infections under control, I found out I had also contracted Pertussis. It is nicknamed the "100 day cough"

kimberlyrkb · 06-27-2007, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shanibelle

If you have LPR you will NOT see improvement in 2 -3 days. I also question the use of TUMS, especially at night, when it has a strong history of acid rebound effect. The Mucinex is thinning your mucous which probably is not helping matters. Typically with PPI therapy it can take up to 6 months or more to alleviate LPR symptoms, and usually takes a month or so to see any changes in symptoms.

Thanks for the comments. I have read about the Tums rebound effect and found that it happens for some people and not for others. Not sure which one I am just yet.

As for the Mucinex, my ENT DOES want to thin my mucous. Part of LPR for some people is the mucous that hangs in the back of the throat, which I am experiencing. The Mucinex helps reduce or eliminate that "something in the throat" sensation.

I talked to my doctor again yesterday; he said he talked to some colleagues who have suggested I be on the medication 6 weeks to 3 months before there is potential improvement or the determination for further testing to be done. He also switched me from Previcid to Nexium, 2X daily. Said that Nexium is thought to be better than Prevacid for LPR. So, we'll see. I don't love the idea of taking all that medication, but I also want this cough to go away. You are right - there is definitely the potential for depression with chronic illnesses. I can sit around here feeling sorry for myself, but it's nothing compared to what so many others are going through.

Also, thanks to MountainReader for your comments. I'm pretty sure I don't have Whooping Cough, as my coughs are very dry - completely non-productive and not loud or violent, and I have no other symptoms that would indicate Whooping Cough. It is something I checked into though, so thanks! I appreciate hearing about your drug regimen and what you are going through.

Thanks,
Kimberly