Thursday, July 7, 2011

LPR (Laryngopharyngeal Reflux) or Silent Reflux

Gerd and LRP aren't necessarily age related and is common in all ages but I would like to ramble a bit about this subject.

GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) seems to be pretty popular these days. My guess is people used to say they had an ulcer when they had stomach pain. Now we know it as GERD. GERD is basically chronic heartburn, not the occasional distress but frequent heartburn. The kind of repeated Heartburn "you would actually go to a doctor to find out how to get rid of it" Heartburn.

LPR is Laryngopharyngeal Reflux often call "silent" GERD. Silent meaning the person doesn't experience heartburn. Same thing going on, they just don't feel it.


I have the silent kind and rarely have heartburn and when I do (rarely) I feel it under my ears. My biggest problem was coughing but only at night. Really annoying coughing to the point of gagging, choking and vomiting coughing.

It would not occur every night but most nights and sometimes several times a night. I also choked on food frequently, especially dry food like crackers. And I always felt there was something "stuck" in the back of my throat.

For 10 years I was treated (or medicated) for allergies which of course didn't work.
I changed doctors, my new wonderful doctor sent me to an Ears, Nose & Throat Specialist and he instantly said it was a Classic case of Reflux! He prescribed Achiphex. Less than 7 days later I was cough free!

Now the reason I'm rambling on about all of this is that I rarely see "coughing" as one of the symptoms of reflux.  So, if anyone has been coughing out there without finding help you might want to try talking to your doctor about Reflux.

If anyone is interested out there I can go on an on about Reflux, so let me know.

PS:  Trust me over the years I tried it everything the literature on the subject tells you to do including:  elevating my head, quit drinking coffee, alcohol, etc., etc., etc.

12 comments:

  1. Yvonnder, I have had a similar experience with reflux. I coughed too but pretty much all the time. Also sometimes had difficulty speaking because of all the junk in my throat. I'm assuming you meant "raise the head of your bed?" I did the same, even bought an adjustable bed so I could sleep with my head elevated. That didn't work for me either. I read where they said to sleep on your left side. I am trying this but so far I'm still coughing.

    I do have one thing that helps somewhat. After the first coughing episode in the night I hold a sugarless coughdrop in the roof of my mouth (surprisingly easy.) I sleep like that for the rest of the night. It seems to relieve the tickle that sparks it all. The cough drop has almost all disolved by morning. I also sleep on my stomach at this time as that seems to alleviate the tickle in the back of my neck. Sounds weird I know but getting up several times a night coughing and waking my husband is really unpleasant. Sandy

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  2. This idea of sleeping on my stomach and holding a cough drop in my mouth sounded pretty rediculous to me but I tried it anyway. I'm amazed! It actually did help. Doesn't take the problem away but sure makes for better sleep. At first I thought I might swallow the cough drop and choke but it is not difficult at all to hold it in the top of my mouth. Thanks for the suggestion Sandy!

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  3. I have had this problem for years. I was diagnosed with allergies at first (for years.) Then I started doing some of my own research on-line and discovered reflux. I've now been treated for reflux for several years taking Aciphex, etc. My coughing was reduced to nil. Lately though, the coughing is coming back. I'm still taking the medications that helped initially and am wondering why it would come back. Has anyone else had this experience where it was resolved with medication but then returned? If so I would really like to hear from you about your experiences. Vera B

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  4. I tried the cough drop idea - it does work! I'm amazed. I would still prefer to get rid of the cough all together - but until that time I'll use a cough drop. Beverly

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  5. Cough drop didn't work as well for me, but I appreciate the information. My doctor has been telling me for years that my coughing is caused by allergies too. I don't think it is, I think it is reflux.

    Does anyone else out there have unique ideas I can try? Thanks, Susan B

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  6. Sorry it didn't work for you Susan. Like she said, does anyone out there have any other home remedies that works for them? We'd all love to hear them.

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  7. I have been doing battle with LPR for a few years. I don't cough much but I do lose my voice which is pretty disturbing. Anyway, after 5 doctors, many remedies and medications, I have finally figured out a method to regulate my LPR. I am in the process of writing it up so that others might benefit. It will be a couple weeks or so before I get the whole thing written. Right now it is in the form of a blog.

    http://reflux-lpr.blogspot.com/

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  8. Thank you Dan! I read your blog. It's amazing how many varieties of symptoms LPR can cause. My husband used to say "cough" to me when I started sounding garbled. It was never as bad as the coughing though. I'm anxious to see updates on your blog!

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  9. I read somewhere that drinking apple cider vinegar helps with reflux. Sounds awful to me so I haven't tried it. Not that desperate.

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  10. Drinking apple cider vinegar sounds like torture to me. Surely there has to be something better than gagging on viegegar and the cough drop thing. Any other suggestions out there?

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  11. I don't have any suggestions per se but after reading the comments I would like to add one. I was diagnosed with allergy problems causing my nighttime cough. Years later I was diagnosed with GERD. At that time I thought it was GERD and no allergies. I have come to believe that it is actually both of them. When I cough up that nasty stuff and it is from GERD it actually has a burning sensation on my tongue from the acid. Where the Allegra and Aciphex used to control both, I now need Zegerid and Zantac, both twice a day and that seems to contain it - for now anyway. I have a lot of stress in my life, perhaps when I retire I will not longer need the medication.

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  12. I too have a lot of stress and like the last person who commented I believe I have both allergies and GERD. I'm taking a lot of pills and I sure would like to not have to. I did try the sugarless cough drop idea and amazingly, it does help and I have no problem swallowing it. It just sticks to the top of my mouth.

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