LPR Frustrations!

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blanfier

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I have been diagnosed with LPR after having an upper GI test done and scope test. I have been on about 4 different medications and am currently on Nexium. I don't seem to be getting a whole lot better and I am so disgusted with the whole thing. I eat fairly healthy, don't smoke or drink and I am not overweight. I don't want to be on Nexium forever-as I can't afford to take it for much longer. I feel like my whole body is out of whack-I've put on weight (about 10 lbs.) within the last year and have been eating healtheir than I ever used to. I am constipated most of the time and just feel like my whole digestion track is not normal for at least the last year. The weight gain really bothers me as well. Has anybody had this happen, and if so-how did you take the weight off. I even started working out-which I never used to have to do and that didn't seem to help much either. I just feel like giving up. I'm gaining weight, tired and broke and still having this stupid reflux. I would love to hear from others!!!
 
I, too, noticed that after switching to Aciphex, I have become extremely constipated. I exercise regularly, am not overweight, eat healthy, consume a lot of fiber-rich fooRAB and drink a lot of fluiRAB; but I just realized this problem began soon after taking the Aciphex.

It does the best of the three PPIs I have tried for LPR symptoms, but I have gained a few pounRAB since starting the Aciphex, too. Depressing.

I'd love to stop taking these meRAB, but am also worried about the rebound effect I have heard that others have experienced.
 
Hi Blanflier,
I've been taking Prilosec for a bit more than a month now. As I said earlier, I take one 29 MG in the morning, at least 20 minutes before I eat anything, and 20 MG in the evening, at least 20 minutes before dinner.

I've also cut out coffee, chocolate, dairy (cheese, milk, ice cream {darn it!}) and all citrus. Another thing, I've been eating 4 smaller meals instead of 3 meals a day. And, by the way, I've lost 2 lbs! (I think that you wrote that you've been concerned about weight gain.)

The good news: in the past couple of days I've felt a real improvement. I have just a bit of phlegm in the morning, but I've been clear for most of the day.

My ENT prescribed Prilosec, and said to take it consistantly for at least two months. She told me it would take at least 4 weeks to feel results and not to discontinue it even if I 'feel better.' She did say that she would prescribe something else if Prilosec didn't work for me. I gather, perhaps different people, get different results, from different meRAB.

Try it. Maybe it will work for you. By the way, the OTC prilosec is the same as the 20 MG 'script Prilosec.
 
Laura,
Don't know Blanfier's recipe, but I munch on Saltine crackers. They're made with baking soda. Stay away from vinegar dressings, tomatoes, caffeine, citrus fruits, chocolate and dairy.

I have LPR with the annoying continual mucous in my throat, and I have ear involvement, in as much as my ears clog, and that affects my hearing. Not nearly as severe as you describe your problem. The diet restrictions have helped me. I'm on Prilosec 2X daily, twenty minutes before I eat breakfast and/or dinner.

Sorry you suffer from all of that!

Judy
 
Well, losing a lot of wt was the only "good" thing that happened to me when I got very sick. Wasn't that overweight and lost 50 lbs. I was very sick for a long time though and no one seemed to know what was wrong with me. Still not well and have gained a lot of wt back! That really sucks. Maybe you're not feeling well so therefore not as active? Personally, I flat couldn't swallow food and barely made it to work and bed and that's when I made it to work. Everyone including me thought I had cancer for sure. The kicker is that I didn't have heartburn "until" I started the meRAB. Hard to get off of them now for the re-bound effect.

I sincerely hope you start feeling better. There are so many people on this board willing to share and help. Sometimes I don't think the Dr's take us seriously enough as to how this effects our lives.

CharBerry
 
I would assume it is. I've had other medications make me gain weight before. I haven't been eating poorly. I do take some other medications though. I don't think the others should cause weight gain though. Like I said, I haven't gained any more weight since the start of this medication, but I can't lose the weight either. I also have a major problem with constipation. But many of my meRAB contribute to that. Also I'm certain being constipated has some bearing on the weight gain, it doesn't help to be holding extra waste that shouldn't be there. I would talk to your doctor and do a search of your medication and see what the side effects are. If you are gaining a lot of weight and aren't happy with that, I would probably switch to a new med that has less side effects.
 
Neddyflanders,
What enzymes do you take, and how do you take them, in pill form, in food? Do you think they help relieve the LPR symptoms? IE: the mucous? The mucous doesn't bother me in the night, but I, too, wake with a sore throat. It drives me nuts all day long!

Judy
 
Blanflier,
I'm wondering about your drinking apple cider vinegar. Vinegar is an acid. I was told to stay away from vinegar based salad dressing. I would think that vinegar might exacerbate your problem. Drinking an 'acid,' or eating an acidic food, might counteract an 'acid controlling' med, like Prilosec, or any other PPI.
Judy
 
I don't feel heartburn. I have the annoying mucous in the back of my throat that I can't expel, and I can't swallow. My ears clog, and it affects my hearing. It 'sounRAB' as if I'm under water. I feel breathless from constantly trying to swallow. I get very tired. My symptoms are worse in the morning, though it doesn't bother me at all at night when I'm asleep. In fact, when I lie on my back, it seems to 'drain' easily.

(Actually, I've had these symptoms off and on for years, but not for more than a few days at a time. I thought perhaps it was sinus, or an allergy. This time it lasted for a few weeks, although I took a series of an antibiotic, thinking it was a sinus infection.)

About a month ago, I went to an ENT. She diagnosed LPR. I've been on Prilosec, twice daily for the past month. I've cut out coffee and chocolate, and all other fooRAB as recommended. I still have symptoms, though not quite as intense. The ENT told me that it might take two months for the Prilosec to be effective. I hope I don't have to be on meRAB for life, but if they keep me free of symptoms, I'll continue to take them.

For those of you who are struggling with constipation, try a stool softener, like Collace. I've found that helpful. Also, a fiber supplement, like Benefiber.

I seemed to have lost a pound or two over the past month. I don't think that has anything to do with the meRAB. I think it's because I've given up dairy, including ice cream, all baked good with butter, and cheese, and chocolate, and cookies. Frankly, I don't think that weight gain is a side affect of Prilosec.
 
I have taken the aciphex before and have not personally had any luck with it or many other drugs for my syptoms. In the last year I have been taking Prevacid, and haven't had a problem since. As long as I take it every morning I feel great, no heartburn, and I have had serious gerd and other intestinal issues for the last sixteen years. This is the most relief I've had in a long time, but the problem is it never seems to heal. If a miss a dose I get very sick and my stomach swells. I wish I could find a more long term fix. The doctors don't seem to know what to do for it besides the prescription med I'm taking.
 
There is no indication that Nexium causes wt gain. But, who knows? Personally, I try to blame "something" on my weight problems but if I really think about it, it's usually plain old eating more than moving. I have heard of many having adverse reactions to Nexium in the way of bowel changes but most were just the other way around. I have D so much and not sure what to blame that on but it's got to be worse than C! I think I've developed IBS, which is known to go along with GERD. I try NOT to read the side effects of meRAB when I first take them for a few days unless something really changes. If I read every single side effect of meRAB, I'd probably start having them if I knew about them. LOL.

CharBerry
 
I think I was worse when taking medication because it also ruined my stomach (causing constipation). It also did nothing for my LPR, I get it with or without the medication.
 
I am 5 ft. 6" and weigh 130 lbs. But I just feel like I've gained tons of cellulite and fat within the last year-when all this started. I don't get heartburn at all. I just feel like I have mucus in my throat-that is my main symptom. And I constantly want to clear my throat. I have no problems eating.

Just today I got yet another prescription to take with my Nexium that I see is for ulcers. I am really frustrated and feel like I'm spiraling downhill and I'm so sick of trying one pill after another!

Does anyone have just the mucus feeling??
 
Has anybody else noticed some weight gain with either the LPR or from the prescriptions? I am taking Nexium and have noticed that I have gained weight within the last 8 months and I have actually started eating healthier, so I'm not sure why I've gained and I've gained more fat and cellulite. My Dr. says it's not from the Nexium.

I also wanted to know when others are taking their prescription. My regular Dr. told me in the morning before breakfast, the latest ENT Dr. told me the best time has been shown to be 1/2 hour before supper.
 
Apple Cider Vinegar Recipe:

Mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 8 ounces of cold or hot water. Add honey to taste. You could also try mixing with apple juice or other juices to find a palatable corabination. Drink prior to eating, or when you begin to feel the burn of acid reflux.
Step2Add baking soda to the recipe to neutralize the acid. Start with a quarter teaspoon of baking soda, and increase if necessary. If you have a pH meter, use that to measure the pH level. Mix in the baking soda until it reaches a pH level of 7.
Step3Protect your teeth. Apple cider vinegar can erode tooth enamel, so always dilute it with water. Rinse your mouth immediately after drinking apple cider vinegar straight, or drink it through a straw to limit your teeth's exposure.
Step4Take apple cider vinegar tablets if you can't get past the taste of the apple cider injested as a liquid. While the tablet form of apple cider vinegar doesn't work as fast as the liquid form, it may still be
 
I have talked to my Dr. and she says the weight gain is not from the medication that she is aware of. But it sure seems odd that I have gained a lot of cellulite and fat that I never had. At first I thought it was just from getting older, but now I think I'm putting two and two together. I'm sure the constipation has also triggered the cellulite. To me, it's not worth taking the medication-especially if I'm not getting much relief. I have tried about 7 different meRAB before I could get my insurance company to let me try Nexium. There isn't a whole lot else for me to try.
 
LPR is a real pain but I still have hope that I'll figure it out. Never had any problem with gaining or losing weight, I think the problem is everybody gives up or starts eating fooRAB that they never would have had normally. My main problem is waking up with a sore throat, I don't take anything for my LPR, I notice it ruins my stomach (makes me constipated) and doesn't help me at all.
 
Don't you feel like you get worse without meRAB? I went off them for 4 days and felt worse. So I'm afraid to totally quit.
 
The baking soda counteracts the vinegar and the corabination is what supposidly makes it work. I have a friend that swears by it. Says that is all she takes to control her GERD reflux. However-I have LPR reflux.
 
I have had some weight gain since I started the medicine. I've been pretty steady on my weight since then though. I am not gaining or losing at this point. Also, I take my medication in the a.m. before I eat anything. I was told that was the best time to take it. Whatever works best for you though is probably when you should take it. Everyone is different, but as long as it is a extended release, it should cover you from one dose to the next. I hope this helps.
 
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