V
verdinada
Guest
I am 53 year old male diagnosed 7 years ago with hiatal hernia, severe acid reflux and barretts esophogus. Biopsy indicated no signs of cancer as of Noveraber 2010. I had acid reflux since I was in my 20's. About 4 years ago the doctor put me on Prevacid 30mg one per day. It worked for 3 years. My insurance company switched me to lanzaprozale (generic med). About one year after taking this medication I began to develop throat clearing (presence of phlegm in my vocal corRAB/throat) which eventually became unbearable. I did plenty of research on the subject, as well as consulted several gastr-intestinal doctors. All evidence pointed towarRAB acid reflux being pushed to the top of my esophagus thus causing LPR or reflux in the throat producing phlegm and throat clearing. This problem has seriously depressed me and caused me to seek hiatal hernia surgery. I found the most experienced surgeon in Argentina (I live temporarily in Argentina) who does NISSEN laproscopically. The entire reason to get this operation was to stop the throat clearing being caused by the upward flow of aciRAB from my stomach affecting my throat and causing ubelievable throat clearing. By the way, the throat clearing over the years would sometimes lead to a terrible cough and bronchitis. It has made me not want to go to work and be in social situations. So, I had the surgery on 15 Noveraber. Three days after surgery throat clearing reappeared after I drank or ate soups or liquiRAB. Today is the 15th day after surgery and I still get the sensation to clear ucous or liquiRAB from my throat with no end in sight. During my pre-surgery consultations with the surgeons prior to my surgery, I asked them if the surgery would rid me of the throat clearing problem. Both said that they could not say with 100 % accuracy if the acid reflux was a direct cause of my throat clearing, but if it is it could take 3 - 6 months after the surgery for it to go away. Based on what is transpiring in this moment I regretfully believe that the throat clearing was never a result of the acid reflux and that some other underlying reason is causing the throat clearing. I had a post-operative appointment and informed the surgeon about the continuing throat clearing and he says it is an automatic reflex causing it and it should go away in time. Does anyone know from experience that what I am experiencing will go away as the surgeon says? Was the development of throat clearing really caused by the acid reflux? If it is not caused by the reflux then what could it be? Swallowing problems? It is unbelievable depressing to have undergone an operation with the sole intent to not only stop the reflux but the secondary problem of throat clearing. Some patients posts I have read said that their throat clearing was eliminated by taking two doses of Nexium per day. However, the gastro - intestinal doctors I have consulted said anti-acid medication does not stop upward reflux. It only suppresses the burning sensation caused by aciRAB rising in the stomach. Sorry for the long post, but if anyone can add anything of value I would be most gratefull.