LPR - very sore throat

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davegbrandon

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I have had a habit of throat clearing for at least the past 6-7 years. About 16 months ago it got so frequent that my throat, especially across the upper back of my throat (at least that is where it felt like it was) that I finally went to the Doctor. To shorten up the story, I had the Barium swallow test, at CT scan on my sinus and finally a scope of the esophagus. Both the barium and scoping indicated GERD. The interesting thing I noticed was that the throat clearing was very minimal at night, started up in the day almost immediately when I got up, and increased during the day, at which time my throat got increasingly sore. It seemed to be affecting my larynx, and at times it hurt somewhat to even talk. I had zero heartburn, no burning in my esophagus, no upset stomach. After reading snipetts on the Internet, blogs and forums it sounded more and more like LPR than GERD. I have been on Nexium twice a day with a Zantac at night for 5 months. I estimated that I am about 50% better than before the treatment, but I still clear periodically during the day and the upper back part of my throat and larynx are still somewhat sore. I do drink a glass of wine at night and a few cups of coffe in the morning, but trying to cut that back. I have read that LPR, especially the soreness can take longer than the treatment for GERD, perhaps as long as 6-8 months. I have decided to continue the treatment since the trend is getting better. I was wondering if others with LPR had the soreness seemingly in the upper back part of their throat?
 
Yes I do, my voice will even get strained at times. I do have both but since I started Nexium twice a day and pepcid ac once a day it has helped so much I wish I had started it sooner. If I talk like in a conversation I can feel the throat start to ache but it has gotten so much better! I just wish Nexium wasn't so expensive but I've tried all the others and they didn't work as well, my insurance won't pay for the nexium either.
 
I have these annoying throat symptoms too. The chronic sore throat is the worst for me.
Nancy, what dosage are you taking of the Nexium? My ENT presribed two 20 mg pills per day but it doesn't seem to be working. Do you perhaps take two 40 mg pills? I'm wondering if I should be upping my dosage and/or supplementing with another med.
Dave, wine is a real trigger for me. I avoid it, along with anything spicy or fried. I have found these will make my symptoms worse. I do sneak a glass every now and then though :) Tomato doesn't seem to bother me much. I don't drink coffee, but do drink tea, which I still do without problems.
Kassie
 
Kassie, I take two 40mg pills a day, and a Zantac at night. I'm slowly improving, having been on this dosage for around 5 months. It really got bad about 16 months ago, and i cleared so much, my whole throat just throbbed, and finally went into the doctor this past spring, early summer. My throat still hurts, but not 'quite' as much. thanks for your input...and let me know how you get.
 
Nancy. That's a bummer that you have to pay for Nexium out of pocket, espcially twice a day. How long have you been on nexium? and when did you see significant improvement. Also, does changes in diet seem to any effect?
 
Been on Nexium on and off 4 years with trying other ppi meRAB in between. When I upped the Nex to 2x a day and threw in 2 pepcid ac it worked within days! I do avoid my worst triggers like tomato based sauces etc and fatty fooRAB. I still have to clear my throat once in awhile but the burn is what causes most of the damage but that is so much better I hope I don't jinx it by bragging about how good it has worked. LOL
 
Kassie, I to take the 40mg twice a day and a pepcid max at least once a day sometimes twice. That seemed to halt the most severe symptoms. Not saying it is cured just a whole lot more blissful and manageable. I was on the brink of dispare with 24/7of heartburn, throat pain and all the other stuff that GERD seems to affect. On the scale of 1 to 10, 10 being severe I went from 10 to 3 and the price is worth it to me and my hope is after a few months I'll be able to be only on pepcid as a maintenance with Nexium as my back up for a bad bout which we all know happens now and then.
 
That's great that your doing. I'm curious? When do you take the Nexium and at what strategy to you intersperse the pepcid ac? Do you always take the Nexium on an empty stomach? I usually take my first in the morning about 45 min before eating any breakfast. I pop another in the afternoon, try to do it before dinner but not always, and then a zantac at bedtime. what is your strategy, since it seems to be working for ya. also, do you drink any wine, and does that affect your status one way or the other?
 
davegbrandon. I don't know if I have a strategy but I take a pepcid ac first thing in the morning, I don't eat usually before noon, my bad I know! Then I take a Nexium around lunch whether I eat or not, works better for me on an empty stomach., no special time before or after actually. I take another Nexium in the evening after dinner sometime. There are times I only take one Nex and two pepcid ac but I can feel it start so I'm sticking to the 2 Nex and at least 1 pepcid ac. I find if I take the Nex after dinner it helps with my night time reflux which is when it is worse for me and I remeraber my one Dr saying take it in the evening for night time reflux, where my gastro said only at the morning meal time, the other Drs idea works better for me. I may pop another pepcid if I feel indigestion and it controls it some. I do drink a glass of red wine once in awhile, white wine bothers me not the red, go figure!
 
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