Silent Reflux

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JMarigold
JMarigold Posts: 232 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease but I have silent reflux, which basically means I fortunately don't get the heartburn. I do get the damage to my throat from the acid, a constant chronic cough, mucus coming up the throat when it shouldn't, and embarrassing belching and burping.

I just want to know if anyone else might have experience with this and how they might have altered their diet to help alleviate the symptoms.

Thanks

P.S. Before recommending I go to the doctor let me add, I haven't had the money to go through a battery of tests yet as to the cause. In addition, the internet reports that doctors can be particularly unhelpful with this problem, especially by incorrect prescribing, so I will need to see a specialist if I don't want a GP messing up my internal workings even more. I am planning on doing this, I just need to get my budget in order. And yes, I have health insurance, but its pretty much just catastrophic health insurance so the doctors and the tests would be out of my pocket expenses.

Replies

  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 17,959 Member
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    I had chronic reflux, complete with pain, cough, mucus and the like. Going low fat helped me a lot, and once I lost a fair whack of weight it all but disappeared. High fat food, acidic food (tomatoes particularly), alcohol all made my reflux flare.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
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    I think this is the same or similar, to what my husband was diagnosed with. About 5 years ago he was sick with a cold that just wouldn't go away, constantly coughing, and lost his voice for about 6 weeks. At first we just thought it was laryngitis, then when it didn't get better after a week, he started getting very concerned. Went to an ENT specialist and they referred him to a gastroenterologist who diagnosed him with secondary reflux. No symptoms of heartburn, but the acid comes up into the esophagus and throat.

    They recommended he give up:
    Alcohol
    Carbonation
    Caffeine
    Acidic Foods/Drinks
    Spicy Foods
    Tomato Sauces
    Mint
    Cigars

    Amongst other things. He was someone who started his morning with 3 cups of coffee before switching to Diet Coke, moving to iced tea for dinner and then finishing with beer or a G&T.

    Also ate a lot of spicy foods and tomato sauce, and smoked cigars about once or twice a week.

    He focused on the beverages and got his voice back within a week or so. He has continued to abstain from: soda, caffeinated drinks, and alcohol. He reintroduced decaf coffee after about a year and recently started drinking NA beer. He didn't really give up tomato sauces and spicy foods since those aren't really every day occurrences. Cigars are less frequent now.

    Good luck!
  • SCSTWG
    SCSTWG Posts: 182 Member
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    I have severe GERD with atypical symptoms. My symptoms are left side chest pain, shortness of breath and left side abdominal pain. I do not get a burning sensation or regurgitation. When it sets in, I have to make sigbificant diet changes, go on a PPI such as Nexium and lose 30+ pounds before I start to feel better. I have been throught this cycle multiple times and doing my best to beat this once and for all. GERD is closely tied to being overweight. Most people who get to a healthy weight and eat a GERD diet have no issues. Known GERD triggers are caffeine, alcohol, smoking, carbonated beverages, mint, acidic food, spicy food and chocolate. It is also good practice not to lay down within 3 hours of eating. I know how miserable this condition can be and wish you the best in getting through it.

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