Anyone with Iqoro / FaceFormer experience for G.E.R.D treatment

tinkerbellang83

I have suffered with GERD as long as I can remember, I have had it when I was at my slimmest as well as at my heaviest, it's usually diet or exercise induced, but it has worsened over the last year, I am thinking it may be connected to an expanding thyroid nodule that my ENT is keeping an eye on the last 18 months. I don't generally experience any heartburn or stomach pain, just feel like my throat is congested and can't clear it and have difficulty swallowing.

Anyway long story, short I had one of my worst bouts of reflux yesterday just before bed, to the point where I almost threw up. So I did a little online research and came across the Iqoro (it's a mouthguard type device which creates suction and you do exercises with it) however, for what it is ( a silicone mouthguard with holes in it) it's bloody pricey at £145. So in my further research some people have gone on to buy a FaceFormer device which comes in at just over €30 instead, it's intended for snoring/sleep apnea treatment but there was some anicdotel support for it for GERD.

I don't mind parting with €30 (€20 by the time I apply an amazon voucher I have) rather than £145 but still curious to hear from others who might have given it a whirl.

Note: I'll be seeing my doctor in the future about it but not at the moment due to COVID restrictions.

kshama2001

I don't have any experience with the mouthguard but what you are describing sounds like the laryngopharyngeal or "silent" reflux my mother has.

She's managing by switching to alkaline water that her local health food store orders for her and following the dietary guidelines in "Dropping Acid."

https://www.amazon.com/Dropping-Acid-Reflux-Diet-Cookbook/dp/0982708319

Luke_rabbit

I have no experience with these devices, so feel free to just skip my reply.

Have you been diagnosed with a hiatal hernia? Because that's the only case where the Iqoro is intended to work. I've never heard of using a faceformer for reflux.

My reflux also has no relationship to weight. I honestly wonder if these conditions should have separate classifications, such as GERD and GERD-OR (OR for Obesity Related). I've been very frustrated by the assumption that weight loss would somehow solve my condition when I was only a couple pounds over normal weight when it started and now have a BMI of 21. I'm actually in more danger of becoming underweight due to difficulty eating.

I'm assuming you are following all standard GERD treatments. But, just in case, here's a quick rundown of treatments and behaviors that may help.

PPIs are still the medication of choice. There are several options and doses. I only found some relief from a high dose time release pill (which costs me a fortune because my insurance refuses to cover it).

Gaviscon, standard antacids, and Pepcid can also be used as needed alone or in addition to the PPI.

Many foods trigger reflux and the following should be removed from the diet and then tested to see if they can be reinstated. Personally I have to avoid or limit most of these. (Not a complete list, but these are a good start.)

Alcohol
Coffee and regular tea (herbal may be ok)
Caffeine
Carbonated beverages
Spicy food
Fried food
Saturated fats (higher fat meat, dairy, and baked goods)
Fats in general
Chocolate
Mint (peppermint especially)
Citrus (and possibly other fruits like watermelon and strawberries)
Tomatoes
Certain veggies cooked and/or raw, particularly garlic, onion, bell peppers, cucumber, and cabbage

Other behaviors that can help:

No food after dinner (3-4 hours before bed)
Eating at a table, never when reclining
Not reclining for an hour after eating
Eating smaller meals
Elevating the head of the bed in some way (bricks under headboard, wedge, etc)

There's also surgery, of course, which may be great or may not help much at all.

tinkerbellang83

bold_rabbit wrote: »

I have no experience with these devices, so feel free to just skip my reply.

Have you been diagnosed with a hiatal hernia? Because that's the only case where the Iqoro is intended to work. I've never heard of using a faceformer for reflux.

My reflux also has no relationship to weight. I honestly wonder if these conditions should have separate classifications, such as GERD and GERD-OR (OR for Obesity Related). I've been very frustrated by the assumption that weight loss would somehow solve my condition when I was only a couple pounds over normal weight when it started and now have a BMI of 21. I'm actually in more danger of becoming underweight due to difficulty eating.

I'm assuming you are following all standard GERD treatments. But, just in case, here's a quick rundown of treatments and behaviors that may help.

PPIs are still the medication of choice. There are several options and doses. I only found some relief from a high dose time release pill (which costs me a fortune because my insurance refuses to cover it).

Gaviscon, standard antacids, and Pepcid can also be used as needed

They are now marketing the Iqoro towards other conditions including Sleep Apnea, Snoring and Swallowing Disorders. There are anecdotal reviews for it, but yes I realise the medical studies are for hiatal hernia.

From my 20's up until last week I found it more an inconvenience or occasionally slightly uncomfortable. I've managed my symptoms mostly through reducing dairy and yeasty bread/cake products in my diet up to now, nothing in my diet has particularly changed recently so this is why I suspect it has more to do with the thyroid nodule that's increasing in size.

I can't seek any further investigation into that at the moment due to COVID, my next appointment with the ENT folks for another ultrsound is October this year (and that's as a private patient), I plan to push for bloods as I have other symptoms which I'd previously put down to work stress that could indicate an underactive thyroid - hair loss, fatigue, etc. I've seen a couple of mentions of a connection over the years, but nothing solidly studied.

The Face Former thing came up as an offshoot of some googling I'd done, I plan to give it a go anyway for the sake of €20, if it doesn't work for me, my OH snores horrendously so it won't go entirely to waste 😂.

Much appreciate the in-depth response, I'm aware of most of my triggers through years of food logging but it's useful to read back over and may also help someone else further down the line if they come looking.