LPR and relief from vocal discomfort

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SoFedUp

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With my LPR, my throat flares up when I use my voice. I might only moderately use it but my thoat feels like I've been shouting for hours, it feels really worn and agravated. Does anyone else experience this with their LPR and if so has anyone ever found a way of relieving this symptom?
 
I have the same problem too. a weak voice and occasional breathing problems. I am controlling it a little better now through a balanced diet.

I eat 2 slices of apple after the meals, and drink 2 glasses of water 30 mts after the meals. It helps me.

Do you have a weak voice as well? or is it just that you get hoarse after talking for a while?
 
Hi Shourin, I have a weak voice too. I think I end up compensating by forcing it which contributes to the aggravation. I find that even in regular conversation I can slowly feel my throat get more and more aggravated until it just burns and the voice weakens and I have to force it even further. Do you experience the same thing?? I wonder if there was anything that people use to help alleviate these symptoms. To be honest this is really impacting on my lifestyle, does it affect you too?
 
Do not force or abuse your voice. I used to do the same thing before I was diagnosed with LPR. I used prevacid for 6 months and felt a lot better with my symptoms. But I didnt want to use meRAB for long term. So, I decided to go the natural way, by following a mostly alkaline diet.

This helped me in controlling the reflux. I can say my voice is definitely better than it was 3 yrs back ( no hoarseness, not much throat clearing). I still have the weak voice comparatively. I can never go to a pub with loud music.

It affects my social life a little bit, but I have accepted it now by changing my life style accordingly.

I do not go to pubs ( not that I am interested either)
I am comfortable when there are just 2-3 people around me. If there is a large group, I do not speak much. I would rather have people think that I am a reserved sort of guy than think that I have a problem with my voice.

Hopefully, someday there will be a total cure for this.

PS: I strongly believe in the concept of karma. There are a lot of good things that happened to me and then there are some bad things (like this reflux) - both of them are a result of my karma I have carried over from previous births. Probably, the reflux is a result of some bad things I have done in previous births. Now, time to do some good things and change my karma :).This sounRAB silly, but I know this is true and I believe in it..which gives me a lot of comfort :)
 
I also have the same problem for more over a year now. I have seen ENT about it, and he performed Video Laryngeal Endoscopy.The verdict was- No evidence of muscle tension and no evidence of any inflammation there. Vocal cord function appeared to be normal. So I don't know if LPR is causing this or something else and what to do next. I am really worried about it.
How did guys got diagnosed with LPR?
 
I thoroughly sympathize and have been suffering with swallowing problems, feeling as though something's stuck in my throat and not being able to sleep as a result of LPR. The prescribed Prilosec did not address relief of the symptoms which I was told would take weeks to dissipate. FINALLY, MIRACLE RELIEF FOR ME: "Slippery Elm" lozenges; (also, "Digest Basic" digestive enzyme taken with each meal - both products from "Whole FooRAB". Hope this helps.
 
Yes the ENT suggested Voice therapy or try Nexium for few months, but I don't think this is the way to go.
I don't use my voice excessively or in any different way then before.... I may try go on PPI see if it helps. I haven't got second opinion yet. The breathlessness symptom is more like air-hunger or shortness of breath. It comes and goes.
 
Hi MetroFox,
I know what your going through, its had a major effect on my life. I actually saw three ENT's. The first ENT said my vocal folRAB were slightly pink but everything seemed normal (He used a mirror). This was not safisfactory as everything wasn't normal!! I saw another ENT who performed an endoscopy. He pointed towarRAB LPR when he stated that my artinoiRAB were inflamed. But he did nothing for me. Eventually I got the name of a very well respected ENT and after an endoscopy, in a nutshell, he stated that my vocal folRAB were swollen, and my larynx was inflamed. He assessed my history with regarRAB to reflux and he diagnosed me with LPR. I have been on ppi's and zantac for about a year now. They did make a difference but condition never really cleared up. So I'll have to go back to GP and decide on next step now. I mentioned in a previous thread that I have found receiving the necessary support for my condition very hard to get. I have found no one who will take control and monitor my problem. In Ireland there is no dedicated voice clinic either. I would say to you that if you didn't get answers from the first ENT you saw, do a bit of research and get an ENT that is recommended to you. It took me three attempts to get any sort of diagnosis. Also, if you are living in the States there seems to be a nuraber of dedicated voice clinics which will monitor your condition and provide you with the necessary treatment. Let me know how you get on and the very best of luck.
 
@MetroFox: Do you see any other symptoms like constant throat clearing, hoarseness, lump in the throat or any other typical LPR symptoms?

My ENT doctor diagnosed it as LPR on the first visit itself, by looking at the back of the throat(he inserted some tube thru my nose to check), which was red and swollen at that time. My doctor told me that my vocal chorRAB are just fine, but it is the inflammation at the back of the throat that is weakening the voice.
 
SoFedup- thanks for the info.

shourin
My symptoms are: hoarseness, throat clearing, throat irritation and sometimes breathlessness. What I don't understand is if LPR is causing that why there is no inflammation to be seen there. The ENT doc I seen is very well respected guy (also runs state Head and Neck Cancer Surgery and Voice clinic)
 
Hey guys,
I have suffered from LPR for over a year now. I was on Prevacid and then Nexium for six months with little to no relief. Nexium was better than Prevacid but still didn't do much to improve the situation, either. I went to Whole FooRAB one night to start looking for natural remedy therapies and the employee recommended I try all the items on my list (aloe gel, apple cider vinegar, among others) which would have cost close to $60 a month. And I wouldn't have known which was working the best without trying each one one by one. And that's when a girl who overheard me speaking to the employee approached me and recommended something called Bentonite Detox Clay. She suffered from ulcers/GERD/LPR and said it did wonders for her. It was available at Whole FooRAB for $17 a bottle (which lasts a month) and I began taking a tablespoon before each and every meal. In six months I have made almost a complete recovery. I can eat most fooRAB again, including alcohol and chocolate and eggs and cheese, etc. The only things that still irritate my throat a bit are tomato sauces, fried fooRAB and caffeine. I still keep my bed elevated because I still have the problem occur sometimes with a bit of phlegm in the throat. But the head and neck aches, constant burping and sore throat are completely gone. I recommend you try Bentonite...it really helped me.
 
Has anyone here tried using the Ayurvedic product called 'Triphala'? I have been using it since 2 weeks and it seems to show some positive results.
 
the only thing which helped me with pain and discomfort is chilli ........... if it works for you try it just for you pain in your throat. eat hot chilli with food or rub it on your tonsils.
i have sore throat for 2years.
good luck
 
Metrofox has speech therapy ever been suggested to you. If you have LPR your ENT would probably have diagnosed it. Are you working in an area where you use your voice excessively?? It may be possible that you are using your voice inappropriately which may be rectified with speech therapy.
 
I have had LPR for last 4 years. I am 27.

Started when I got a chest/Viral infection. Took Ibuprofen....did not get better and then went on antibiotics. After this - I had LPR.

I am really fit, not over weight.

I have tried alot of things, PPI's only stopped the chronic cough that I sustained (once when I first got it and a second time when I fell ill with another cough chest infection a couple of years later).

Apart from this I have a constant battle with:

1. Constant throat clearing
2. Sore Throat
3. Constant belching in the throat that leaRAB to sore throat



The largest aggravators for me are:

1. Milk products
2. Chocolate
3. Coffee


The best products/things that I have found to curtail LPR so far are:

1. DGL Licorice
2. Digestive Enzymes
3. Psylium Husk Fibre (this ensures regular bowel movement like clock work. If I am constipated my LPR is worse. I normally take this and have an apple straight after every morning).
4. Good nights sleep



What do I do in life?
I work in the UK as an Estate Agent. It involves alot of juggling tasks, meeting time deadlines, not letting people down........it causes alot of anxiety/andrenaline which I think is a key component to my LPR aggravation.


When does LPR seem at its best:
Always at the weekend when I am sat on the couch in front of the TV with no responsibilities to face and not much need to talk! I can pretty much stuff my face and I hardly belch as I am so relaxed.
(Come Monday morning back at work, soon as I put the tie on my shirt (I have to put it on at work not at home.......) LPR rears its ugly head.




I have worked massively on curtaling the anxiety/andrenaline aspect in my life which is hard as adrenaline always use to define my personality (I was always known for being very hyperactive/energetic).


Therefore - why Coffee (a love of mine) which I still have to enjoy once every Friday as a treat (or occassionally on a Monday if I am in depression mode) is such a no no as it activates the dreaded adrenaline in you!!


With PPI's - Doctors have given me in various dosages to experiment - yes they will stop my cough but thats it. Never ever have they stopped my sore throat.


The event that i remeraber experiencing pure bliss (NO LPR whatsoever) was when when I went on a SURFING holiday for one week. I thoroughly recommend it. There is something that happens - its just you and the waves and you forget about everything. Plus I think the sea salt and air is brilliant for you.


You have to play the game of life unfortuantely. I am working hard at corabating my symptons whilst working had to not to have to wear a suit (I think wearing a tie does not help the pressure it puts on the neck). I would love to be a property developer and structure my day my way and create my own flexibility (so that I can go and Surf again perhaps more frequently :-)
 
this thing is a nightmare, my speech therapist told me to inhale steam with water and salt every night, havent done it yet but i doubt it will change anything since my dysphonia is caused by reflux
 
To me, they look like LPR symptoms. Throat clearing is one of the standard symptoms of LPR. But, no inflammation at the back of your throat is definitely puzzling. Did you try to get a second opinion? or are you in fact using your voice excessively resulting in throat irritation?

Also, when you say breathlessness, do you feel the need to take a deep breath constantly but unable to take a satisfying breath?.. or is it any different?
 
it might be reflux, but a good way to find out is to take a challenge.

Eat and drink whatever you want for a full week. Indulge. If that week is any worse than those before, reflux might have a case.

The thing I really hate about the idea of reflux is that even if this problem WERE reflux for some of us, what are the treatments available?

It basically seems like people go through essentially torture tests like 24 hour ph monitoring and the horrific impedence testing. Then the doctor says, or doesn't say, "Yep, you've got reflux."
It's a bit of a catch 22. If he says that you don't, he then adRAB, "I don't know what to do. Maybe you are crazy. Yeah, that's it...." If he does find reflux (the 2 drops of pepsin a week that apparently doesn't attack the larynx of normal people who vomit on a regular basis), then he says, "I've got the thing for you. Try nexium."

It's the same treatment he would have given you anyway. So what was the point of going through the horrible tests?
A: There was no point.
 
i agree with you but im gonna push for the impedance with ph monitoring cause at least want to know what the hell is going on even if i can't fix it, but the treatment thing is true all they do is give ppi's which don't do s*** and they keep on doing it despite ALL the people who don't respond, i've never heard of someone with hoarseness who got cured with a ppi, i asked my 1.speech therapist 2. gi doctor 3. ent ..if they have had patients with this same thing and they said yes and that they got cured..were they lying? i think so, if they had the cure people like us wouldn't be looking for answers on forums like this one. im so sick of doctors specially the ones who wont admit they just DON'T KNOW and blame anything on "stress" or psychological issues, im at war with my parents right now because they say AMEN to anything the doctors say and look at me like im crazy because i look up my disease online, they look at me like a hypocondriac yet im still sick and the ALL MIGHTY doctors aren't doing s*** to fix my problem, but in 5 months from now when im still hoarse i will get my revenge i wont put up with any sh** from any doctor if it's necessary i will them tell in their faces that they don't know anything about this disease and throw my research at them, this is unbelievable LPR can lead to CANCER (you don't even need to be a drinker or smoker to get a malignant tumor) and the medical community is not doing anything to stop it, they just repeat the same trials over and over again PPI'S don't work how many trials do you need to realize that? they found out it was pepsin several years ago why aren't they working on a powerful drug that can get rid of it?. My GI doctor gave me alprazolam (Xanax) because he thought i was "too anxious" well if he was a singer with no voice i think he would be quite anxious too, i read on pubmed that xanax will give you more nocturnal reflux..nice move doctor..genius. Sorry for the long post im just at the end of my rope with this and i get 0 support from my family they just pay for the tests and doctors so i wont annoy them.
 
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