Questions on Larynopharageal reflux

I have been having a tight squeezy choky feeling very low in throat for 3 mo now. I have heard numerous ideas from a few docs from stress to allergies to reflux. Two ENTS have looked w/ a tube through my nose and shown me very red and swollen looking vocal cords,larynx,etc and have said it is reflux. But then I saw a GI doc , I was due for my colonoscopy due to family history so she also went and did an upper endoscopy. She said she saw no signs of reflux in my esophagus, and also took biopsy,all normal.So first question is, can you have LPR w/o any signs of reflux in the esophagus? Meanwhile I had been put on two things, Nexium by the ENT and an antibiotic (Avelox) by my internal doc, who thought I may just have a lingering bacterial infection going on. At the time I went on the antibiotic I was already on week 3 of nexium. 4 days after the antibiotic began I felt a noticeable difference in my throat, not the tingling feeling,not as hoarse, etc BUT at same time by day 4 on the antibiotic I had severe diarrah, nausea,dizziness,etc and stopped it after becoming dehydrated and ending up in emergency room. SO I was not sure what helped, the nexium maybe kicking in or the antibiotic.I went off both to let my body recover for 2w. ALL symptoms came back. Then the ENT said to start up nexium again w/o antibiotic. It is now 1 week since restarting it, I think it may be a little better w/ squeezy feel but now I have a burning feeling into my chest when I take deep breathes, like if you went out and breathed in cold air or smoke or something. So again I talk w/ internal doc. She is saying it sounds like asthmatic reaction and that I probably have some kind of strange virus lurking around????
So do you have any ideas what is really going on? I was thinking since GI saw nothing is it really just viral? I saw myself on the camera w/ ent everything is red in there, so something is causing it. Can it still be LPR, but what would burning when deep breathing be?Thanks..

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Difficult to say without evaluation.

An upper endoscopy would rule out many of the major causes of upper GI dysfunction.  If GERD continues to be a concern, a 24-hr pH study would quantify the severity.  If medications aren't helping, surgical options can be discussed.

If the test remains negative, you can look outside the GI symptoms.  For instance, lung disease can also lead to pain on deep breathing.  

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
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