voice symptoms and supposed reflux?

[scattergirl]

Hi there:
I have had a raw, irritated feeling in the back of my throat for 6 months now. It started with what seemed to be a cold/laryngitis virus this summer. It was right after a very stressful period/move in my life. After the cold cleared up, my voice returned, but the raw, irritated feeling persists. It often feels worse when I talk a lot, which is really hard because I am a teacher (I tried not talking at all for awhile, though, during the summer, and that didn't make it go away). My voice fatigues easily, and when it does I feel a little bit of extra mucus back there and feel the need to clear it.

I have been to two ENTs, worked with a voice therapist, had my larynx scoped twice--one said it didn't look irritated at all, one saw a little bit of irritation along the back wall, not the vocal folRAB themselves.

The second ENT, and my GP, are both guessing "silent reflux." I've had digestive irritability for a long time, but no feeling of reflux in the chest or anything. On the ENT's advice, I took Prilosec twice a day for awhile (she wanted me on it for 6 months) but have had a HORRIBLE reaction--terrible stomach and bowel problems, and acid that I never had before!

My questions:
1)Is there anyone out there with symptoms like mine? Just raw throat, vocal fatigue--that was diagnosed as having "silent reflux" (LGR)? I don't have globus or coughing, just this irritated throat/voice. Or anyone who has symptoms like this that successfully treated it with something OTHER than PPI's--a natural method?

2) Anyone else had similar experiences with PPI's? I have been off Prilosec for 11 days and am STILL having trouble digesting anything.

Any help/advice would be appreciated.

 

[neptunian808]

i don't have your exact same symptoms but i'll share my experience, i've been hoarse for 3 months now and when i wake up my throat feels irritated and i feel an acid/salty taste in my mouth, i experience globus at times usually after a meal, also the back of my throat is irritated not only that but it's also swollen

like that, i've been on prilosec (omeprazole) for a month and 10 days and it didn't change anything now my gastro dr changed me to nexium but he has never seen a case like mine (he's puzzled because my barium swallow came back normal which is absurd cause a b.s wont detect LPR) so he's gonna talk with other doctors about it, that posterior irritation you talk about every single ENT will atribute it to reflux unless you are a heavy smoker, google Jamie Koufman and you'll find a lot of info about all this. im guessing you don't have heartburn or any classic reflux symptoms, many people try digestive enzymes, gaviscon advance, DGL licorice but personally i have only tried gaviscon and i don't see any difference, you might wanna watch your diet if you arent already you don't wanna cause that irritation to worsen and grow (in case you have LPR)