Hi I have had Rheumatoid Arthritis for 42 years, during that time I have had lots of different medications. For years now I have suffered from reflux, at one time I had an hiatus hernia which has gone. Despite being careful with my diet, avoiding things that set it off and eating small meals, I am coughing for about 3 hours after meals, I have bloating and a small amount if regurgitation. I take esameprazole and gavisgon. I was referred to a gastroenterologist who ordered a gastroscopy and a ct scan to rule out cancer. Thankfully both results were fine, however he has discharged me despite the fact that my symptoms remain. I asked what I should do and he said go to my GP. Round and round in circles, anybody had a similar experience? Wondering how to get help.
Thanks
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I have just recently been diagnosed with reflux cough. Every time I started to talk or move it would trigger coughing. I have had this on and off for many years (I have several auto immune conditions sjorgens and psoriatic arthritis) also Liver cysts (which cause the reflux). I do sympathise as it is very frustrating and limited my mobility and was hard to hold a conversation/ make calls.
My GP put me on a cause of omeprazole and it has reduced the cough to a reasonable degree.
I also found having a slug of gaviscon after meals helped, also several small meals. There isn’t a lot of information on gastric cough which is also frustrating but think you just need to discover what helps. Feel free to message me even just for some support as know it can become hard to cope with,
Hi I to have been suffering with this irritating cough it's dry and causes irritation to my throat and makes me wheezy I feel like having to clear my throat all the time. I wake up at night in a coughing fit and cant get back to sleep for hours. The cough sometimes makes it difficult to talk I take omeprazole and gaviscon sometimes helps other times not. I was just wandering if there's anything you have tried since your post that's helped. Thank you in advance.
Hi, yes I have a dry cough through acid reflux. I've been prescribed Omeprazole but it doesn't seem to help. I live on Rennies! Like you, I was more or less told I'd just have to live with it by my GP and when I mentioned it at my last RA review he also said it was very common and to go back to my GP. Needless to say, I didn't bother. It has surprised me that so many others on here also suffer - as people have said before RA is the gift that keeps on giving! Sorry not to have been much help - but you're definitely not on your own with this.
I have asthma, but a few years ago noticed I was increasingly short of breath, and had a dry cough. Initially it was blamed on my asthma, but when it didn’t improve they did a HRCT. That came back saying I had pulmonary fibrosis, however after the specialist sent my scans off to the Brompton, they said the scarring was due to aspirating acid. I was also found to have Atelectasis, which is areas of collapsed lung, which is caused by my fused ribs and lack of expansion. I have AS. I had taken Omeprazole and lansoprazole for years, but it wasn’t doing much. The respiratory specialist changed me to Pantoprazole and to take Gaviscon advance, she stressed it had to be the advanced one as it creates a raft on the top of stomach, preventing acid coming up. I also have to sleep elevated. I’m now monitored with yearly lung function tests, as she says it could still change to pulmonary fibrosis. I’m not suggesting your journey is the same, but it may be worthwhile doing a CT to see if the issue is with the lungs themselves. I was also found to have a hiatus hernia, due to not being able to expand chest, the diaphragm is weak, resulting in a hernia.
For years I had a severe reflux problem but at last my GP sent me to a Speech & Language therapist who understood my LPR reflux & gave me great advice & the confidence that I was able to get control of my symptoms. The many Gastro & ENT consultants I found had basic knowledge of simple reflux & just prescribed more PPI medicines which in the long term are not advisable and helped little. Gaviscon Advance is excellent but the disadvantage is the sodium content. I persevere with the diet & lifestyle adjustments recommended by the S&L therapist and this works well for me. The symptoms can be managed, so take heart.
Thanks for your reply, I will look into it. I am intrigued about what you can do to manage it, apart from the small meals , avoid certain foods, take the meds and sleep propped up?
You are very lucky to have found a good SALT. My son was referred to SALT due to reflux, especially as he also has the connective tissue disorder Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. SALT did a telephone appointment and gave no advice, just said there was nothing we could do because he was fine with swallowing. ! I was so disappointed as I had been to a webinar where an excellent SALT in London talked about this, and it was the ENT consultant who also recommended SALT.
We need to have more specialist SALTs who know about reflux and what exercises to recommend!
I fully sympathise with what you’re going through. My reflux got so bad last year, I had a lump in my throat which was sufficiently worrying for my GP to refer me to a Cancer specialist. Fortunately the diagnosis was reflux. Instructed to take my two Omeprazole 40mg tablet at night instead of twice, one each morning and night, and a dessert spoon of Gaviscon Advanced at night. No longer waking up with a bone dry mouth and the lump in my throat went within ten days. Bliss!
Hi, I'm so glad that worked for you. I recognise the bone dry throat thing, I wake up with my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth! I will try taking my ppi at night, see if it helps. Thanks again
I take 20mgms omeprazole at night and in the morning which seems to keep it at bay. I’ve amended my diet accordingly, given up wine and was already veggie but I’m really missing cheese!
Try mouth tape or what I do is use a sleep mask but under my chin instead of over my eyes, it keeps my mouth shut while I sleep and it’s much more comfortable
good morning I totally get what you are going through iv had the same a persistent cough for about 4 years I also kept getting a crokevoice aftedifferent tests i was referred to speech therapy which i thourght i didnt need but i went along she said its silent reflux witch is doing the damage so now on more gaviscon and follow up appointments but I must say the cough and crokey voice have calmed down a lot i hope this helps good luck x
I also sympathise Food is so lovely! I had a couple of years trying to sort this out. I had lots of endoscopies and I missed out a lot of different foods for about a year eg spicy, acid, fried foods, anything with batter on and junk food as well as eating smaller portions. Gradually things improved [ I too have a hiatus hernia and have had RA almost 50 years!] I was taking 40 mg omeprazole but a friend suggested I try famatodine and this has really helped a lot. I also reduced my slow release nurofen by half. I would like to stop the whole lot but I have too much joint damage and it keeps me moving!
I still take care with what I eat but the only thing I have to miss out now is curries and also I eat very little fried foods. I take 40mg of famatodine at around 7 30pm after my dinner and I also have 10mg omeprazole on waking[ I'm not sure if I still need that] Originally I took the famatodine on waking as I had done with the omeprazole previously but that was not as effective so timing seems to be important. Omeprazole and famatodine work in two different ways in order to reduce acid so possibly famatodine could help you. We are all different but definitely don't give up
I suffer extreme GERD ( silent reflux) have ended up in A&E. I had to go private and had a special test . I was monitored for 24hrs. A tube up my nose into my stomach 🤢I have high acid and was offered an op on the nhs. But I’ve put it on hold as it’s a long recovery and on top of unstable inflammatory arthritis and fibromyalgia I can’t face just yet.
I tried different ppi,s and esomprasole worked best for me . Gp prescribed peptac rather than Gaviscon . Things are better but I have still watch my diet . Ask your Gp to try another ppi it’s all trial and error. Good luck
Hi I too sympathise with you ,having suffered with tummy problems since my mid 20s I'm now nearly 60.
I have RA , I've been on n off lansoprazole for years , Gaviscon advance, I was diagnosed with Barretts oesophagus 18 months ago along with that helibactor pylori or pylori helibactor which ever way round it goes. Treated with strong antibiotics. And famotadine, now days , also a hernia apparently but on last 2 endoscopies has not been seen.
Lately though my acid has been absolutely hurrendous, Doctors doubled my dose for a month which settled it but as soon as I dropped to one back it came. So this week had an emergency endoscopy which now shows a 4cm sliding hernia and NO sign of barretts which I'm absolutely thrilled about ,but my question is how have they got that wrong ?
And also all the usual advice
No this no that etc which I was already doing. N basically get on with it , I'm going to speak to my doctor next week as I want some answers.
As I've spent 18 months worrying about having barretts oesophagus n now nothing! I'm grateful so grateful but I'm totally confused n what now with this large hernia ,I think I may ask for this test to see how high my acid is as mentioned above by one is us . My advice is look into absolutely everything, dont give up as I'm not.
yes I have reflux and persistent cough, also terrible terrible sore throats. My diagnosis is Stills Disease which for me manifests as rheumatoid Disease. I was diagnosed aged 17, soon to be 61. Recent episodes of heartburn and the loss of over a stone in weight within a month are being investigated with a gastroscopy and colonoscopy to rule out pancreatic or ovarian cancer. Liver flow ests were ok. I’m aware that some AI conditions may attract others and I do have more associated diseases but it occurs to me I may have autoimmune pancreatitis or hepatitis as a follow on to Stills. Organ involvement was mentioned at diagnosis but having got to 60 I thought I’d escaped. Any way the locum GP at my surgery only does phone calls and has no interest in Stills or AI conditions, treating me as hysterical! I think I may have a gallbladder issue but I’ll see what the test find. I feel for you as I have been ignored for over 25 years about my throat, cough and reflux and suspect I will just be redirected to my invisible GP like you.
I feel the only way forward is to see a private rheumatoid specialist (money allowing) but finding one and making progress is another thing. I feel that I’ve lived with illness for over 40 years and will have to continue doing so. Of course if cancer is found that’s a whole different scenario to face. Try and be strong, I wish you better days and a better GP.
HiI have sle & arthritis it was probably antinflamatatories at least that's why I have a hiatus hernia. I take Rabaprazole, they are my last resort, I tried all the other types prescribed by gastro consultants, zantac was really the only type I could tolerated. If what you are taking now isn't working go to gp ask to try another type, possibly something stronger. Good luck it's trial and error.
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Thoughts on digestion/acid reflux
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