Is anyone here dealing with LPR (silent reflux)?

dldrucker · May 2019

I've been dealing with this for about a year and nothing seems to help (though I'm waiting for an elevated-bed thing to arrive so I can try that.) Constant throat clearing, hoarseness, hiccups, belching (I know, I'm just a joy to be with, my coworkers must be at their wits end). Very difficult to not eat after 6pm because I don't get home before 7:00. I've lost some weight (192 down to 174, mostly due to LPR) over the past year, still need to lose at least 16 lbs to get into a healthy zone), but I'm pretty out of shape. Oh, and I use a CPAP. My doctor has me on a PPI, but I don't want to stay on it long-term as their can be some problems with that. I'm already on a handful of antidepressants. The last year and half has been incredibly stressful due to my sister's dying suddenly (she had a massive stroke on the sidewalk while we were just walking down the street - she was 57 and in reasonable health) and boyfriend/job issues.

Also, if anyone is in the New York City area, I could use a referral to a doctor.

The LPR has really gotten me majorly depressed, it just feels like one more impossible thing on top of everything else.

Would love to hear suggestions or how others are dealing with this. I hear so many people on these boards with multiple, sometimes severe, medical problems, and I'm amazed at what people can deal with.

nooboots · May 2019

Is it your gall bladder?

kshama2001 · May 2019

My mom got her silent reflux under control with dietary changes only. (However, she is not overweight and is very active.) She switched to alkaline water - Evamor is the brand she uses - looks very expensive on Amazon. I will ask her if she buys it locally.

She made lots of drastic dietary changes initially but was able to ease back on those after getting it under control. It could be that the only thing she is still strict about is the water. She may take supplements too - I will ask her.

I know she owns the "Dropping Acid" book cuz the title stuck in my mind

- will ask her if that was her primary source of info.

(One of many sellers) https://smile.amazon.com/Evamor-Natural-Alkaline-Artesian-64-Ounce/dp/B004746N2E/
https://smile.amazon.com/Koufmans-Acid-Reflux-Never-need-diet-again/dp/1940561035/

Oh, and it's very easy for me to observe that what she did works cuz she no longer sounds like a cat with hairballs

kshama2001 · May 2019

ps - sorry about your sister

WholeFoods4Lyfe · May 2019

I'm very sorry to hear about your sister.

Have you looked in to doing an elimination diet? I suffered for years with GERD, Erosive Esophagitis, and a Hiatal Hernia (all diagnosed via Endoscopy). My GI doctor wanted me to go on a PPI after I had weaned myself off of them because I was worried about the long term usage and side effects. Through elimination I had determined the foods that seemed to aggravate mine - dairy and gluten, and so I cut them both out of my diet completely. He reluctantly agreed to let me try to heal through diet and 6 months later I had a follow up Endoscopy that showed that my Esophagus was healing and my symptoms were virtually gone. I do still have a few issues because my Hiatal Hernia causes issues with my Lower Esophageal Sphincter, and sometimes a little acid can still sneak through, but that is getting better as well. I've also been able to reintroduce some dairy with no ill effects.

I realize that that is all very n=1, but I wanted to tell you my story in case it helps or inspires you at all.

kshama2001 · June 2019

Talking to Mom - she highly recommends "Dropping Acid" and is going on and on about how helpful it was. She says there is also a website. She went to two doctors, her primary and an ENT, and they were no help at all. She said the author of "Dropping Acid" treats "high end" patients like opera singers.

She is not supposed to eat less than three hours before bedtime, but she says she can as long as she doesn't eat anything triggering, like fat or acidic. She says different people have different triggers.

She's not taking any pills or supplements - she says what is key is to know what to avoid. She can have small amounts of triggering foods like chocolate if she has something non-triggering first. She has to be very careful with tomatoes, which is a real bummer for her.

Caffeinated tea bothers her, as would coffee, but caffeine pills do not. (Caffeine pills also help with her depression.)

dldrucker · June 2019

Thanks for all the suggestions. kshama2001, I'm going to check out that book. I guess it is a question of just accepting that this is a chronic thing, and needs to be constantly managed.

leejoyce31 · June 2019

So sorry to hear about your sister. I have the symptom of clearing my throat at times, and upon awakening in the morning, I will cough up some mucous.

When it first started, I had a few tests that came back clear. It bothered me a lot when it first happened 3.5 years ago. I go through periods when it's worse than others, but overall it got better over time.

I take prevacid/zantac sometimes and gaviscon. Some of my flareups are self-inflicted.... I love grounded cayenne and eat it daily. When my throat clearing becomes annoying, I'll cut back a bit on the cayenne.

Good luck. I hope you get your issues under control.

Is anyone here dealing with LPR (silent reflux)?

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