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[Katejo]

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.

[honeybun]

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
X

[Katejo]

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.

[honeybun]

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
X

[CLKD]

Honey is a known healer 

[justaboutcoping]

Hi katejo

I have LPR ( and acid reflux) but no thyroid issues, not as far as I'm aware anyway 

[Katejo]

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

[justaboutcoping]

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

[Katejo]

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

[justaboutcoping]

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

[honeybun]

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
X

[CLKD]

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 

[justaboutcoping]

Def haven't lost my appetite 

[Katejo]

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
X

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.

[Katejo]

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.