Do I have silent reflux? Please offer help and advice!

[cloverfiat]

I wonder if anyone can help identify my symptoms?

I have had these symptoms for 7 months now. It began with a very itchy and sore back of mouth and throat. It was so irritating, kept trying to use my tongue to itch the roof of my mouth and clear my throat. I have also had itchy inner ears. Especially the left hand side of my throat and ear. The back of my throat is inflamed and red and my tongue is slightly swollen. At times, I have not been able to sleep or work and have been in tears with this unbearable sensation.

I was initially given treatment for oral thrush, the swabs came back negative and treatment did not work. I then was treated for a throat infection, again a weeks worth of antibiotics did nothing. I was given steroid nasal spray and antihistamines. This has helped slightly and eased symptoms and made it manageable. However, still unhappy that the Dr hadn’t found the cause of this, I asked for him to look into it further.

I had bloods taken and it came back that I have a B12 deficiency. I was given 6 booster injections of B12 over 3 weeks to quickly top me up. I am aware that a b12 and iron deficiency can cause oral irritations, however I feel my symptoms are not entirely fitting with these. Also, the symptoms have not improved since having the B12 booster injections. The bloods also came back to say I have had glandular fever at some point in the past, but not sure when. Not sure if this is relevant?

I was referred this week to the ENT Allergy clinic where I had a skin prick test and came back with no allergic reactions. The ENT specialist looked in my mouth and said that it looks imflammed but he cannot pin point the cause of this. He has prescribed gaviscon advance to see if that works, and told me to stop all other medication. He said about acid or silent reflux. I wonder if anyone else has similar symptoms as mine and can help me pinpoint what’s causing it? Do you think it’s acid reflux?

I have had gaviscon advance for 3 days now and has helped a little but still feeling irritated and especially itchy back of throat, left ear. It stings my throat a bit when I take it, is this normal? How long should I take it for? Can anyone please shed light on this?

I would be so grateful of any ideas/advice/personal experiences people may of had because I feel it is taking over my life. Thank you!

[farful]

Sorry, I don't know about your symptoms. I was diagnosed with silent reflux and since had Nissen fundoplication surgery. I also had hiatal hernia. My symptoms to start were just hoarseness. An ENT diagnosed it as reflux. I had no heartburn, or perhaps only once or twice in my life. I was told to change diet, then go on PPIs. None of that worked. Now I have Achalasia and have never recovered my ability to eat since the Nissen. I am perplexed, too.

[Judley in reply to farful]

This is really disappointing. I have had similar symptoms but dr keeps fobbing me off with burning mouth syndrome. I've had an endoscopy, barium and 3 ENT nose-throat scopes but all don't know what it is. I'm in the UK though so specialist knowledge & who you get on the nhs just depends on where you live unfortunately. I did think that at the last resort if I have this then surgery but I cannot imagine going through what you are and not eating at all. Why is that?

[Rachel357]

I've had this since I was very little. The roof of my throat used to go black from rubbing it so much with my tongue. I've found that it mostly seems to link to allergies and when I'm about to get a cold. It's especially bad during the summer when I get hay fever.

[cloverfiat in reply to Rachel357]

Thank you for your reply! What do you do to treat it? Do you know what you’re allergic to?

[Rachel357 in reply to cloverfiat]

I only made the connection that it's related to colds and allergies last year. Since then I made sure that I took extra vitamin C when it was happening and ate lots of garlic, onions, and manuka honey, and also drank nettle tea if it was allergy related. Can't do any of that now though, as I have gastritis/ulcer. I'm mostly allergic to pollen, dust and dogs.

[Judley]

Unfortunately I cannot offer a definitive answer either but there are probably a lot of us with similar symptoms and probably different causes. I also have this and burning of the mouth which dr kept saying burning mouth syndrome but there is primary and secondary b mouth for which some is caused by deficiencies: B and vitamin D. I am also very concerned but I have had an endoscopy, barium and 3 ENT nose-throat scopes - have you had any of those tests? They came back clear yet it all remains a puzzle. It has been suggested it is in my head but they don't feel what I feel. I was also given the Gaviscon Advance which initially stung then I could no longer take it. So I know how you feel with no answers but I would suggest to insist for further testing