LARYNGOPHARYNGEAL REFLUX - HELP PLEASE!

[Lola1985]

I think I have Laryngopharyngeal reflux, I read about there being 3 types, minor, major and life threatening.  I think I would place myself under Major as for the past 8 months my life has totally changed.
I have lost friends and I am a shell of my former self.

Can someone please advise if there is anything that I can do to self help.

The burning is too much, I am constantly clearing my throat and I now have Tonsilloliths in my throat which are causing much pain eating and even drinking water!

Can somone please help?

[bsmsl]

Ladies,

You both might want to try raising the head of your bed to a full 6 inches.  You might be able to use pillows for the remaining three inches vivivlovesNBB.

Also, I have found pro-biotics to be essential in controlling my reflux.  Get them from the refrigerator in a a good health food store so that they are still alive.  You must have live bacteria in your stomach to properly digest food.  Digestive enzymes are very helpful as well.  For break through symptoms I take Rolaids which are just calcium and magnesium.  

Lola1985, I pray that the drs are able to give you an accurate diagnosis with the PH probe.  Your lungs do thank you for quitting smoking even it it seems like the rest of your body does not.  Hang in there.

I hope those additional thoughts are helpful to both of you.

[vivilovesNBB]

I have treated myself very well as I prefer home and natural remedies.I never drunk soda,quit chocolate,coffee,fried food,raise the head of bed up to 3",etc-i have done everything of self-help.But I still have mouth ulcers,tongue ulcers and so pain/burn.I use holistic way too.I'm a good Christian Baptist. That helps my mind to hang in there.My dog support me so much too.I don't complain as I don't have voice to do so.Instead of thinking negative.I write to my friend who has the same sickness every week.She is worse than you are.She had cancer twice. So i try to support her and she does to me too.Another thing is that plz consult your physician if you can be on Motilium 10 mg 3 times before meal.It helps me pretty much.Love you=)

[Lola1985]

Hi

Thank you for your reply!

I have been for a camera down and the only thing was gastritis.

I was on Lanprozanole 15MG twice daily for about 6 months but I found they was making me worse.

I was then prescribed Motilium 10MG twice daily but yet again I was just as sick as I am not taking nothing so I stopped all drugs.

I am due to go for a camera on Wed (up my nose and down my throat for 24 hours to monitor acid flow).

This all started when I gave up smoking about 6-8 months ago - they say you are better to give up but all I have had is trouble and pain and misery.

I have done everything recommended like no coffee, spicy foods, alcohol, smoking but still I have this constant heat in my throat and my face, I am finding it very hard to swallow at the moment and I have mouth ulcers the size of a penny coin by my tonsils.

Just so sad and I think everyone is sick to death of listening to me complain all the time.

Sorry for going on and thanks for listening and advice you give

[bsmsl]

What medicines are you taking?  

You should probably see a gastro-interologist very soon.  They will probably want to do an endoscope to check for barret's esophagus, Barret's esophagus (you don't want this one), hietal hernia, or a loose sphincter muscle.

There are a variety of medicines you can take.  Proton pump inhibitors  (PPI)- Nexium, Dexilant, omeprazole (an OTC) and a few others.  H2 blockers - Pepecid and ranitidine.  I take a PPI in the mid afternoon and an H2 blocker at bedtime.  I also treat break through acid with Rolaids.

There are many life style changes you can make that will greatly improve symptoms.  1) sleep with the head of your bed raised about 6 inches, 2) do not eat anything within 3 - 4 hours of going to bed or 2 hours of liing down, 3) avoid spicy and acidic foods, chocolate and caffeine.  Then identify and avoid any other food triggers you may have (keeping a diary can help with this).  

You might find the Acid Reflux Tracker here on MedHelp beneficial to keep track of triggers and symptoms.  It can also be printed to take to dr's apointments.

Feel better.