constant sore throat and horseness

hi I'm a 35 yr old singer and have been suffering with acid for nearly 3 yrs now.
for the past 4 months I've been suffering with hoarseness which i did completely loose my voice.
now i have a constant sore throat and is finding swallowing quite difficult now.  especially tablets.
I'm doing everything i possible can to reduce the acid but I'm not getting any better and is finding singing more and more difficult.
I'm currently taking omeprazole 40mg a day, risen the head end of the bed, on a diet cause i am over weight.
my diet at the moment consists of cereals and bread,pasta and rice as everything else seem to aggravate me.
my mouth and tongue feel like they're constantly burning and my throat is so dry.
I've had to stop taking gaviscon  as it burns my mouth, throat and wind pipe.
i'm off to see the doctor again but really need some advice what to do next.
I'm worried this constant acid will lead to damaging my vocal chords, throat and other.
i'm at a total loss what to do.
i did have a endoscopy 2 yrs ago and they found slight gastritis and the p.h monitor was fairly normal then.
i've had depression on and off for 5 yrs and take the appropriate medication.
i believe that the combination of this and being over weight has caused this.
pleas can anyone help with some advice.

[Ratnakar Kini, MD]

Hi,
Obesity is a risk factor for acid reflux.
Though medications like omeparzole can provide relief from acid reflux, weight reduction is very important to get complete relief from acid reflux symptoms.
Try to keep your BMI to less than 25 with dietary modifications and exercise.

[rak_05]

Hello Mate,

I am 25, overall very  healthy and sportsmen, with ideal weight, I am suffering with the same problem, many ENT visits, 25 visits to GPS, 2 blood tests, and Recent Endoscopy, every thing came normal and still throat pain remain same and same.

I had acid prob about 3month before and was taking aomeprazole 20mg, and had gone for endoscopy, but acid reflex stopped by itself and sore throat and pain it still there.

I can advice us as I did, Dont take pasta as its made of tomato sauce, generates too much acid,  I reduced rice food, no any soft drink or fruit juices, stopped eating chocolates and stayed away from garlic.I take cold milk soon after dinner or lunch, cold milk help to stop generating or diminish excessive acid. This all was my personal practice for my self, and now I dont have any acid reflex, or chest pain since 3months, and have stop taking Galviscon and Omeprazole completely.

But still have throat pain, and sore throat since more than 13 months. If u get any more info about throat pain and sore throat, from any once let me know Please.

Thanks,
Rak

[chicagot]

I have very similiar symptoms.  Basically, the acid inflames and swells the vocal cords so we feel sore throats and the likes.  I've had this condition for 4 years and I'm not overweight although I hear that can cause it.  But songbird, I know alot of people that are not overweight and have this very badly.  So, do what you can and take it one day at a time.  Also, I know ibuprofen can cause worse acid reflux, I wonder if what you are taking for depression can make reflux worse.  There are a list of meds on webmd that show about what causes reflux to worsen but I don't know exactly how to link or get to the info.  I'm sorry to hear of your suffereing.  I am at the point of considering surgery.  I'm sure you've heard of the nissan fundiplication.  But there is another surgery coming soon that is not as invasive.  It depends on my Bravo test.  To be eligible for surgery I took endoscopy's, barium swallow, and lastly I need to take the Bravo.  I am not in a big hurry because I hear varying opinions but I may go to a bariatric surgeron if i decide.  Other than that I can only tell you you may need to increase you reflux meds.  I don't like that idea but it's the only thing that helped me.  Although, i had to go off due to bad side effects.  Good luck and let me know how your doing.

[Double_D1331]

Sorry to butt in on this thread but what is the other surgery coming soon that is not as invasive?

Thank you