Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: Katejo on May 27, 2015, 03:08:29 PM
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I would just like to hear from anyone who has been given the above diagnosis, particularly if you also have hypothyroidism/have had a goitre removed in the past. I won't go into more details now but will if I get responses.
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I did look at the symptoms but can't say they fit with what I have got....at least I don't think so.
When did you get your diagnosis and what were your symptoms.
Honeybun
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I have had some of the symptoms for 10 years or more, particularly the feeling of a lump when i swallow, throat clearing and a slightly husky voice. I Had a thyroidectomy 10 years ago. I had thought that the lump feeling was caused by the goitre and would go with the surgery but it didn't. I did tell the doctor at the time but he wasn't worried. Then i was referred to a doctor again last year and had an appointment with an ENT doctor in January. That was the first I heard of the condition above.
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Have you been given any treatement for it....what are you taking and is it helping.
I'm on Lansoprazole at the moment. I don't especially like taking them....but needs must.
I was reading today about yarrow complex. It's supposed to be taken before meals. It's a bitter herb that prepares the stomach for food.
Be interesting to hear if anyone has tried and if it has been successful.. Also how about alo Vera juice to sooth the stomach lining.
Honeybun
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Honey is a known healer ;)
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Hi katejo
I have LPR ( and acid reflux) but no thyroid issues, not as far as I'm aware anyway :)
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Hi katejo
I have LPR ( and acid reflux) but no thyroid issues, not as far as I'm aware anyway :)
Hi justabout coping
How long have you had it? Which treatment have you had? Gaviscon Advance? I am wondering whether to try it. I had an NHS referral to a private hospital in January and the consultant diagnosed LPR (and wanted to prescribe a very strict diet) but I am not 100% convinced. I thought he was going to write to my GP and i would get called for an appointment but nothing happened. My GP practice appears not to have heard from him. I am chasing it up.
I have been browsing forums and there are many symptoms which I don't have. My reason for mentioning thyroid is as follows. I was born with underactive thyroid and had a goitre removed 10 years ago. At that time i already had the restriction in swallowing but had attributed it to the goitre. I thought that it would clear after the surgery but it didn't. I also have a mildly hoarse/husky voice and the need to clear my throat frequently. I did tell the doctor about the swallowing at the time but he didn't seem too worried.
I also discovered the following book which can be bought from Amazon on Kindle. It is the only layman's detailed account of LPR . It casts doubts on the use of strict diets and PPI drugs. It also looks into the role of pepsin and pep tests which are available in the UK now. I found it really helpful.
This is the book http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00AGVD0SC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_d_detailpage_o00_
All about LPR: the silent reflux story by Thomas Lee
I have read it this week
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Hi Katejo
It was diagnosed about 18mths ago but I think I've had it much longer than that, just symptoms got quite bad a year ago. Ive had bad acid reflux for about 20 yrs now, and also have a small hiatus hernia.
I've never found what food I eat makes any difference to my acid reflux symptoms, and it's always been pretty well controlled with first omeprazole, then esomeprazole (prescribed by a specialist consultant). Then I changed GPs and they wouldn't give me esomeprazole anymore. Took a while for my symptoms to settle with other tablets, eventually had to go as high as 30mg lansaprazole 2 x day. To be honest I think that's what set the LPR off. Docs weren't happy about the high dose although they were the ones who forced me to change!
Since the LPR diagnosis I've been using Gaviscon Advance - consultant recommended it - it's stronger than normal Gaviscon and you have to ask for it at the chemist. Ive now been able to reduce the lansaprazole to 15mg, sometimes only need to take it every couple of days. Docs gave me 30mg tablets again my mistake once and that made my symptoms worse again!
I don't take the GA every day, only when needed, and any symptoms normally settle within a few minutes (I sometime get a really horrible cough in the morning as soon as I get up). It is pretty disgusting, really thick and gloopy, but the tablets were even worse so I stuck with the liquid. It's over and done with quick and the results are worth it :)
I do have the book you mentioned, have to admit I started reading it but never finished it. Will finish it now though :)
I don't have any thyroid problems, although I sometimes think I have the symptoms, I have been tested but have always been fine.
jac xxx
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Hi Jac
In the book I particularly recommend the chapter about food and the problems of imposing a restricted diet and the sections about PPI drugs. After seeing the consultant, i wrote and asked a couple of questions. One was about diet. A patient with heartburn symptoms (which I don't have) can test particular foods to see if they cause a reaction. However LPR is silent so that evidence isn't available. Also, if the patient takes PPI drugs, they can't tell whether any improvement is due to diet or drugs. I already had doubts about the PPI drugs before reading the book but this just reinforced those doubts.
You say that you have had bad acid reflux for years. Do you mean burning symptoms/heartburn? I have none of that other than slight burping. I also don't have problems with coughing in the morning or excess phlegm. I do have a persistent tightness at the base of my throat/top of chest and a feeling of extra muscular effort when I need to raise my voice. That started suddenly last summer.
My voice seems less husky if i take an anti histamine tablet
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Yep I have acid reflux (heartburn - really bad pain) and LPR - bonus! The cough mainly comes in the morning or if I have to talk a lot (particularly on the phone for some reason!).
Luckily all pretty well controlled though :)
Maybe you should give the Gaviscon Advance a go? x
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After having bought the wrong type of Gaviscon I have eventually got the advance one.
Wow, what a difference it has made. I now take one 15mg of Lansoprazole when I waken up. Then Gaviscon after lunch and before bed. I actually feel a bit better. The extreme lump in my throat has eased although not completely gone for the first time in weeks. Throat clearing is much less too.
My only slight issue is something, pill or gloop, is reducing my appetite. I'm just not that hungry although once I start to eat it's ok.
Anyone else found this happening.
That is a small price to pay for seeing an improvement though as I was beginning to despair.
Honeybun
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You are filling your gut with Gaviscon …….. even though a liquid it will fill the gap ;). Or has your sense of taste/smell altered which will impact on appetite - if you can't smell food cooking :-\
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Def haven't lost my appetite ;D ;D
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After having bought the wrong type of Gaviscon I have eventually got the advance one.
Wow, what a difference it has made. I now take one 15mg of Lansoprazole when I waken up. Then Gaviscon after lunch and before bed. I actually feel a bit better. The extreme lump in my throat has eased although not completely gone for the first time in weeks. Throat clearing is much less too.
My only slight issue is something, pill or gloop, is reducing my appetite. I'm just not that hungry although once I start to eat it's ok.
Anyone else found this happening.
That is a small price to pay for seeing an improvement though as I was beginning to despair.
Honeybun
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So are you taking the Gaviscon Advance every day now? Did you just buy it from a pharmacy or get it on prescription/doctor recommendation? I know that it can be bought without prescription. I would just like to test it to see if it improves the lump in the throat feeling.
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Yep I have acid reflux (heartburn - really bad pain) and LPR - bonus! The cough mainly comes in the morning or if I have to talk a lot (particularly on the phone for some reason!).
Luckily all pretty well controlled though :)
Maybe you should give the Gaviscon Advance a go? x
Yes I will (see my reply to Honeybun below). Are the Gaviscon Advance tablets very big and difficult to swallow? If not i would prefer tablets.
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Hi katejo, tablets aren't big but you have to chew them first and I found them a bit slimey and stick to your teeth! Didn't like them at all. But just personal preference I guess. The liquid is not nice either but it's over quicker lol
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I just bought the Gaviscon Advance.
It's gloopy but goes down quickly and I did not have much success with the pills and they take ages to chew or dissolve.
Can't remember who it was that said its like swallowing a goldfish ;D
I really have noticed quite a difference. I'm hoping to stop the Lansoprazole and just use this as needed eventually.
Honeybun
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That's good Sparkle, it's nice to hear of any improvements.
Have to say my stomach feels as if it's gone on strike a bit. No gurgles at all. Just a sort of slow feeling. Better than the other option though.
You never know one day things might be perfect for us both ;D. Some hope eh ?
Honeybun
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I feel bunged up but I'm not, everything working fine.
It's a strange feeling. Having got some relief I don't want to stop taking what's helping just yet.
I wonder at what point there is too little acid which I know is not great either.
Just have to try a few things and see what works.
An apple sounds good, might try that tomorrow.
Daughter is just in from work saying one of her work mates had a stomach bug and was sent home. I dodged it from mother I really hope we dodge it this time too. There seems to be something doing the rounds here. It's the last thing my digestive system needs ::)
Honeybun
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I have just had a stomach bug too. It hit me last Sunday. The sickness only lasted 1 day but the other symptoms lingered all week.
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After having bought the wrong type of Gaviscon I have eventually got the advance one.
Wow, what a difference it has made. I now take one 15mg of Lansoprazole when I waken up. Then Gaviscon after lunch and before bed. I actually feel a bit better. The extreme lump in my throat has eased although not completely gone for the first time in weeks. Throat clearing is much less too.
My only slight issue is something, pill or gloop, is reducing my appetite. I'm just not that hungry although once I start to eat it's ok.
Anyone else found this happening.
That is a small price to pay for seeing an improvement though as I was beginning to despair.
Honeybun
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Is your lump in the throat/throat clearing continuing to improve with Gaviscon Advance? I have just bought some to try.
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Yes it's much better than before. Instead of being there all the time it's getting less and less.
I hope you have success with it too, let us know.
Honeybun
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Yes it's much better than before. Instead of being there all the time it's getting less and less.
I hope you have success with it too, let us know.
Honeybun
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Have you had a tightness in the base of throat/top of chest? I have had the lump sensation for more than 10 years but only started getting the tight feeling last summer.
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I put the tight feeling down to indigestion because when I burped it eased a lot.
I have almost got rid of the throat lump. It's there in the morning on the run up to lunch but then when I eat it eases a lot. As the day goes on it gets less and less and by the time I have had dinner it's almost gone.
I take 15mg Lansoprazole half an hour before breakfast, then if I need it ....which I haven't for about a week now....some Gaviscon after lunch then I always take two spoonfuls just as I go to bed. I don't have anything to drink after my Gaviscon. I'm often thirsty before bed but I have plenty to drink and then take it. It seems to work for me.
I have also cut out drinking tea. I like a really strong cuppa and that was the first thing I had in the morning. Inhave changed to Red Bush as its much more gentle on my tum.
Honeybun
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Hi,
I was diagnosed with LPR at the end of march, as far as I a aware I have no thyroid problems.
I started with having problems with swallowing dry foods which then progressed to phlegm in my throat and what felt like post nasal drip.
I was advised do life style changes first ie avoid alcohol and chocolate ...which surprisingly I have managed to do, don't eat late at night which again I have been fairly successful, not to wear tight clothing. I take gaviscon at night and try to avoid acid foods. If that didn't work start with omeprazole x2 daily and gaviscon advance. (liquid) after each meal.
The phlegm is still there I did try the omeprazole but it just gave made me feel worse. The problem is I don't suffer with heart burn etc. unless I eat crusty bread, white wine which obviously I have stopped so I don't know when I am having the reflux! Which is extremely frustrating.
I have managed to loose 6lbs in weight not surprisingly considering stopping wine and chocolate.
The only thing that makes it feel any better is chewing gum..it looks awful but it does work.
I have changed my diet, changed my life style, read practically everything on the internet, bought 2 books about dropping acid and am still none the wiser. ;(
I am going back to the ENT tonight have a feeling he might put camera up my nose again to see if things have improved.
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Hi,
I was diagnosed with LPR at the end of march, as far as I a aware I have no thyroid problems.
I started with having problems with swallowing dry foods which then progressed to phlegm in my throat and what felt like post nasal drip.
I was advised do life style changes first ie avoid alcohol and chocolate ...which surprisingly I have managed to do, don't eat late at night which again I have been fairly successful, not to wear tight clothing. I take gaviscon at night and try to avoid acid foods. If that didn't work start with omeprazole x2 daily and gaviscon advance. (liquid) after each meal.
The phlegm is still there I did try the omeprazole but it just gave made me feel worse. The problem is I don't suffer with heart burn etc. unless I eat crusty bread, white wine which obviously I have stopped so I don't know when I am having the reflux! Which is extremely frustrating.
I have managed to loose 6lbs in weight not surprisingly considering stopping wine and chocolate.
The only thing that makes it feel any better is chewing gum..it looks awful but it does work.
I have changed my diet, changed my life style, read practically everything on the internet, bought 2 books about dropping acid and am still none the wiser. ;(
I am going back to the ENT tonight have a feeling he might put camera up my nose again to see if things have improved.
Hi Patunia
I am still not 100% convinced that my LPR diagnosis is correct . I have had the lump in the throat feeling for over 10 years but i don't have a phlegm problem at all and i think my throat clearing is perhaps to do with the thyroid surgery which I had. I have recently started Gaviscon but haven't seen any benefit yet. I also don't have heartburn. I haven't made major diet changes after reading the book which i mentioned in one of my previous entries. I have just switched to caffeine free tea/coffee and avoid eating large amounts and late at night.
I saw an ENT consultant back in January. Have you ever had the experience of seeing a consultant for something and then they write to your GP but say something completely different? The consultant appeared to suggest a very strict diet to me and said he was going to write to my GP. i heard nothing so i chased it up last week. In his letter, he made no mention of diet and just suggested Gaviscon advance and possibly one of those PPI drugs which I don't want to take.
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Hi,
I went last night, now because nothing seems to be any better he suggests having a pep test to definitely confirm that it's acid reflux before changing the PPI s. Acording to my reading on web sites, forums etc. it's not unusual symptons for mucous to continue.
So really none the wiser !
Patunia x