Long before being diagnosed with RA I started having the sensation of something stuck in my throat and have difficulty swallowing., along with a recurrent dry cough. Finally 2 years ago I was checked with a camera by an Otolaryngologist and she diagnosed reflux acid - other than said symptoms I don’t have heartburn or feeling anything going up . I recall my late Mum having reflux acid but supposedly was due to all the RA medication she was on. maybe is coincidence and not a symptom of RA right ?
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Mei19
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I also have LPR/silent reflux, diagnosed February of last year, although I've had it a lot longer, probably pre my RA diagnosis.
What's helped for me is a restricted diet, cutting out most acidic foods and drinks, plus the ENT specialist prescribed taking omeprazole morning and night. Gaviscon Advanced can also help, but it can interfere with certain RA meds so it will depend on what you're on and what time of the day you take it. Finally, my bed is raised six inches on the pillow end.
But I would say the restricted diet has helped the most. It's been tough letting go of some of my favourite foods, even the healthy ones, but the benefits far outweigh the losses.
Hi thanks for sharing these tips . I was also prescribed omeprazol but I feel it makes it worse . I have two months or so w/o gluten and dairy but still this past 2 weeks my throat is getting much more sore and my voice cracks more also. I’m gonna try the bed raised .
The ENT told me to avoid things like peppermint, caffeine, citrus fruits, fizzy drinks and alcohol, chocolate, canned tomatoes, peppers and chilis, onion and garlic (onion and garlic are not acidic, but in some people they can cause bloating which produces more stomach acid and pepsin). He also recommended eating smaller portions but more frequently (I have breakfast, small lunch, small dinner, plus a mid-morning and afternoon snack such as apples or melon etc.) I also make sure my last meal is before 7.30 pm and don't eat anything after.
It's hard going, but my reflux is pretty much under control most of the time and my throat has healed. Before that I had lost my voice, was short of breath and had a constant crackling in my throat.
Hi . I do wonder what’s triggering this bad reflux these las 2 weeks . My rheumy had me removed many items from my diet since May when I was diagnosed. I’m allowed fresh tomatoes but I don’t like them I’d would find very hard not to cook with onion and garlic but I will try this week to see how it goes.
I havnt heard of silent reflux but occasionally I will suddenly get a pain beneath my ribcage and a pain up the right side of my neck and into my jaw/teeth. If I take gavascon it goes, so not a heart attack then but it woke me one night and was really painful , no taste of acid, woke me an hour later, took more gavascon. It worries me so although I like my treats at night I have started having extra pillows and not eating after my main meal and not going to bed untill 2 hours after I have eaten. Having porridge oats, seeds and fruit on a morning to mop up any acid. It's all very boring but seems to keep me okay. I havnt been to the doc with it yet. I need to read up on silent reflux. I suppose I expect acid to burn the middle of the throat which it doesn't. I'm just assuming this is reflux or heartburn. I havnt got a clue. I try to eat low acid foods.
Hi! Usually symptoms of silent acid reflux are all felt in the throat. first time I visited a gp she gave me a nasal spray as I also complained of stuffy nose at the time. it didn’t do much for my hoarseness and sore throat. I need to be careful not to give in and clear my throat constantly cause that makes it worse but the sensation is always there.
I have ankylosing spondylitis, and my ribs are fused, which has caused lung issues. One is my diaphragm has weakened as my chest doesn’t expand. This has resulted in a hiatus hernia, breaking through the weak diaphragm. At the same time, as being short of breath I noticed reflux which I’ve never had before. Turns out it’s due to the hiatus hernia, but I have been aspirating acid in my lungs. Initially they diagnosed pulmonary fibrosis, but have now decided the damage is due to micro aspiration. I’ve been prescribed a stronger PPI Pantoprazole that helps, as well as gaviscon advance at bedtime. I have an electric bed so sleep slightly raised. All of these have helped. I’m still closely monitored by respiratory as it can develop into pulmonary fibrosis.
I’m really sorry you experience this .I have heard hiatus hernia are very painful . An acquaintance just had surgery for it . Have you also had or can have surgery ? my mum developed pulmonary fibrosis towards the end of her life and it was very hard. I really hope it doesn’t get to that in your case.
I got a ‘lump’ in my throat about a month after RA symptoms started but it coincided with taking naproxen and lansoprazole. It comes and goes so suspect silent reflux but not sure whether it’s related to RA or drugs.
Morning 👋I’m not a doctor of course, but lump in the throat thing sounds like GERD. I think it’s when the valve doesn’t close properly to your stomach and the acid splashes up. I have had that for years, plus a sliding hiatus hernia.
Like you I had a camera down the throat and it showed lots of little ulcers on the esophagus from the acid. The Consultant gave me Omeprazol and Nortriptyline for the pain while the ulcers got better. Many years later I’m now on a lower dose of Lansoprazol and I have a daily glass of Kefir which for me really seems to help.
This was all before being diagnosed with RA. They do say there is a correlation with gut health and autoimmune conditions, I don’t know if it’s true, but it’s an interesting theory.
Thank very much . I’m gonna go back to the gp to get a referral - I might have ulcers as it is quite painful - I hope not 🤞🤞will ask whether I could benefit with Nortriptyline.
Mine was very bad for about 4 months, eventually I went private for the tube down my throat thingy. It took a few months after that to clear up. It started when one night I ate chocolate cake and crisps at a christening party, I was in absolute agony that night with the indigestion pain in my back and chest, lasted all night. Then a few weeks later I had that feeling in my throat like something was stuck, it was awful.
I try to be careful even now with what I eat.
I did also have my gallbladder out, which relieved some of the pain as I had gallstones, but I still had the GERD.
Yeah I find dairy makes things much worse. I have now limited my dairy intake and have switched to black coffee. Dietary changes can help and I don’t eat anything after my main meal in the evening and make sure I don’t lay down after eating however tired I am. I was told to take peptac before bed if I was feeling acidic but mine is as a result of a hiatus hernia. Touch wood works for me and I don’t suffer with it like I used to. The biggest difference though was having my gall bladder removed because that was I think the main issue in my case.
Hi, I’m down to one cup of coffee a day but can’t have it black yet so Im having it with a splash of oat milk. The thing with silent reflux acid is that I don’t feel any acid going up at all just the lumpy sore throat and the dry cough at times.
was your gall bladder surgery elective or was it due to an emergency ? My sister had also her removed but it was an emergency surgery.
Stomach wise I had always been rather healthy, my sister on the other hand, had/has several issues, she even got gastric/weight loss surgery a decade ago and that got rid of her acid reflux , but her wasn’t “silent” like mine.
Some argue that there might be a connection between stress and reflux acid. In my case It appeared around the time I started IVF and then got worse after my mum died.
Yeah stress can always make it worse. My hiatus doesn’t make me feel as though I have acid reflux either but I still know it’s there and too many rich foods and lactose can always make it worse and then I do know about it because the vasovagal nerve can really be painful. My gallbladder was removed electively but I had a period of weight loss and really bad gastric issues too. They found a very large stone near to the neck of it and what resembled Brighton beach in the bottom of it they weren’t expecting it to be quite as bad as it was. Touch wood I don’t have many problems in that area anymore and the gastric issues are much better too. Oral prednisone can give me problems but I think that’s down to the lactose content in it. Maybe your meds are having an impact on it ? I did have a persistent cough and lumpy throat which kept on driving me nut’s especially at night but after having an antihistamine every day for a month or two it’s sudden disappeared so maybe allergy isn’t helping either ?
I have a large H Hernia and suffer with acid reflux, a cough and a lump in my throat feeling, it’s just so annoying, especially the cough. I take lansoprazole and also have Gaviscon advance to take, the latter is difficult with some of my meds. I find wheat makes me feel worse, but lately it seems most foods affect me. I’m happier with small meals. I’ve changed to lactose free milk in the 2 cappuccino’s I have in the morning, otherwise I drink herbal tea’s or water, I don’t drink alcohol. I’m sure most of these problems arise from the drugs we take for RD also in my case hypertension, thyroid, bone meds and nerve blockers for my back. I just seems to be, we have to manage it as best as we can. X
Yes, we have to try and manage. It’s that sometimes it’s annoying and so sore . I was on lactose free milk for several years because my mum was changed to that one so it was more practical . The rheumatologist told me to cut it and change to oat or hazelnut milk (soya milk, is a no-no due to my hormonal issues) . It’s hard cause a diet with those alternative milks and gluten free bread is more expensive .
I’m finding this tread very useful, thank you for posting. I really have been getting worse so going to give the hempseed a try, have ordered off eBay. I know what you mean about expense, I dislike gluten free bread, so freeze my seeded brown bread and only have on occasions, oat milk in my cappuccino, no. I use Kefia with my wheat free cereals and bulk up with a banana, seeds and milled flaxseed. Mostly salads at the moment, I’m having my kitchen refitted so stress can play a part too. All best wishes. X
Hi . Also ordering the hempseed supplement. I wonder if it could substitute my omega oil. I will ask my rheumatologist about this cause I find the omega capsules very heavy. oh yes, stress is main factor for inflammation in both reflux and arthritis .
My partner suffered with this for years and since he started taking hemp seed gel supplements its actually stopped. He had to have camera down and doctor said they could see scarring from it. He told doctor about the hemp and he actually said they are actually researching this very supplement for acid reflux. X
I've just been told I have reflux but never felt as though I had! I've been put on gaviscon my voice goes weak and horse and I get a cough if I don't take the gaviscon. I've been on losec for years but it's not helped. I also get a really bad dry mouth. Sorry about the moan but feel better now I've written it down lol
No worries! we are on the same boat. I have gone back to having apple cider vinegar with sodium bicarbonate with water upon waking up and have ordered the hemp seed oil supplements - I had my rheumy confirmed I can switch to these and stop taking omega 3 (fish) which had made my silent reflux worse.
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I’d would find very hard not to cook with onion and garlic but I will try this week to see how it goes. 
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