Reflux and heartburn regular

Hi everyone not been on for a while trying to keep up with my studies, hope everyones Ok under the circumstances
for quite a while now i have been experiencing reflux in my throat( burning sensation sometimes after eating , could it be due to my liver not working as well as it used too. Has anybody else been suffering in this way, i'm on no medication at the moment, and liver functions tests are all within the limits, ALT very slightly above normal limits

[jmjm530]

I have something called LPR (Laryngopharyngeal Reflux) which is also known as "silent reflux" because of the absence of the classical symptons of heartburn in the chest. LPR causes problems higher up. Symptons can include burning in the throat, trauma to the vocal cords (hoarseness), difficulty swallowing, even ear and sinus infections.  

I have no idea what may be causing your problem, but there are many articles that what has long been considered simple "sore throats" is really one degree or another of LPR.

Suggestion is to initially see a good ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist. They might stick a very narrow tube up your nose and take a peek at your throat. It doesn't hurt and takes only a couple of minutes. Depending on what they find, other test may be ordered.

If indeed it turns out to be reflux, they will probably prescribe a PPI like Nexium. I've been on two Nexium a day for most of treatment.

Lastly, if symptons persist, or if they just feel it prudent , they might refer you to a gastro who can look lower than the ENT for problems in the esophagus like Barret's and probably sniping a bit of your stomach to biopsy for bacteria.

By the time most people have the symptons of LPR, they've probably had the problem for years. The pain, hoarseness, etc, is often caused by normal reflux irritating tissues that have been damaged over time. The point of the PPI's is to reduce the acid production to allow these tissues to heal. Once the tissues heal, they try and bring you off the meds. Bottom line, don't wait, see a doc as soon as you can. BTW this is a VERY common problem but often mis-diagnosed.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

Just want to add that if indeed your diagnosis is LPR -- and throat buring right after eating is indeed a sympton --  one Nexium a day often doesn't work, as LPR is more difficult to treat than ordinary reflux/gerd which occurs lower down. So, if your doctor only prescibes one PPI a day, and you don't see results soon, ask about trying two. I wasted months like this without results before I saw an LPR specialist who immediately put me on two Nexium a day.

Regarding reflux and hep c -- wouldn't spend a minute speculating on it. LPR is very common in the adult population as a whole. Treatment would be the same whether you have hep c or not.

-- Jim

[Dale_Ray]

Hey Folks:
What ever it is I have been fighting it since the second week of treatment and have never had a problem like this. Continual burping was the first indicator for me. While the unexpected burping has gone away, thank goodness, I have had week voice and sore throat. Eating cold things seems to just make it feel better. Dale

[missey]

Thanks for the comments, just looked it up on the net and it sounds( the symptoms) very simiular to mine. I alway assumed it must be a type of heartburn but i never had the pain coming from my chest, just to the throat, so i dismissed that.  Just made an appointment with my G.P to discuss.
Thanks again
Missey(England,uk)

[jmjm530]

Just be aware that many GP's -- and even some Gastro's -- still hold firm to the notion that without "hearburn" you don't have reflux. LPR, at least in this country, is a fairly recent diagnosis and as such has its detractors -- not from ENT's but from some Gastro's. The new joke (actually my joke from recent experience) is that ENT's now blame everything on reflux and Gastro's blame everything on ENT's. LOL. You might want to bring a few articles from the web to your GP and hopefully that might help with the dx.  

-- Jim

[GoofyDad]

Riba can cause these problems. You might talk to your Doc about a PPI. I was on Aciphex for a while. Also, not going to bed with food in your belly, avoiding coffe, etc. can help.

Good luck.