Silent reflux symptoms?

[Rsukal]

I've posted a few times in various places here about some symptoms which I can't work out. My GP can't either, and their final diagnosis is it must just be stress and I should take antidepressants or put up with it because they aren't going to investigate any further. I don't like the look of those antidepressant pills and if there's any stress involved I think it is caused by these symptoms!

Anyway, what I have been noticing:

- A strange (sour?) taste in my mouth which makes me want to swallow a lot, and makes eating sugary foods difficult. It is hard to get to sleep with all the swallowing and having to sip water. I dare not go out without a bottle of water to sip.

- No sensation of burning in the oesophagus - that feels fine. Sometimes my tongue is sore, though.

- It's not clear whether omeprazole and Gaviscon advance tablets help; perhaps a little.

- Sometimes a feeling of being a bit short of breath, but I have a peak flow of 800 l/min.

Does this sound like it could be silent reflux? I wonder about going back to my GP and asking if they'll be willing to investigate further, but I guess that there's not much they will do if it is.

One other thing - a colleague told me recently that after Covid his wife had trouble with sweet foods (also gin!) but it wore off after a few months for her and I caught it 2 years ago.

[mjames1]

It certainly could be LPR (silent reflux). Unfortunately, most GP's and even the majority of Gastro's don't know how to recognize and deal with it. Suggest you see an ENT who will take a look. As to PPI's, the dosage for LPR is higher than for garden variety GERD, which may be why they didn't work. Of course, it could be Covid related, or a combination of both.

Jim

[Rsukal in reply to mjames1]

Thanks for the reply. I tried 2 omeprazoles last night instead of one and thought it felt slightly better there didn't appear to be any improvement in sleep. Perhaps something to try again.

I'll also have to investigate whether I can manage to get an appointment to disucss it.

[mjames1 in reply to Rsukal]

How many mg? I was prescribed 40mg of omeprazole, twice a day, for 80mg/day total. Very important to take it an hour before a meal for best absorption. Currently taking 60mg of Dexilant, once a day, which can be taken with or without food. For me, Dexilant works better than omeprazone. It also comes in a 30mg formulation, which you could start with.

Jim

[Rsukal in reply to mjames1]

They were both 40mg tablets, but I took them an hour before bed. I'll perhaps try some before dinner instead.

[mjames1 in reply to Rsukal]

I was told to take them 12 hours apart. And again, very important to take them an hour before a meal. The fat in the meal is necessary to activate them. If you want to take something before bed, I suggest the Dexilant. In addition, you could also take an H-2 blocker at bedtime like Pepsid AC and see if that also helps.

JIm

[hjskev]

I have this and have been diagnosed with silent reflux. As its silent I don't know if the diagnosis is right or not. I try to manage it myself as meds haven't worked long term. Its a baffling and depressing thing that doesn't sound too bad unless you've got it. I've cut things out of my diet. Red wine in particular sets it off. On the other hand I wonder if it is Burning Mouth Syndrome which is a little studied condition. I've kind of learnt to ignore the burning sensation in my mouth after many years of it. My symptoms fit this exactly.

colgate.com/en-us/oral-heal...

Chewing gum helps me get a bit of relief when its really bad and then I use a toothpaste with no taste.

[Rsukal]

I wondered about burning mouth syndrome as well, but taste-free toothpaste didn't help me.

It's certainly baffling and depressing!

[Celie1]

Hi

My reflux was helped by not eating after 7.00 p.m. I cut out spicy, oily food, and fizzy drinks especially in the evening as I would wake up choking and coughing. Chocolate is also a culprit for me.

Also I sleep on a ‘wedge pillow, or a couple of pillows to raise my head and the final thing was to take Gaviscon Advance (I don’t find the tablets help at all). I had this on prescription and was advised to take it after each meal and before bed. You could try these to see if your symptoms improve. Hope it helps.

[ReallyWondering]

Have you had your B12 checked?

[Rsukal]

I don't think so. I am taking vitamin B supplements, though.

[Rovelli]

I'd say that was definitely acid reflux; I have all these symptoms and I have the LPR version of GERD. I only took omeprazole for one month. It gave me severe headaches when eating most things. It didn't seem to me to be the right way to tackle things. I have Gaviscon Advance some days, or some bicarbonate of soda mixed up with water. I have made my diet simpler and stopped eating after 8.30pm. Also I bought an Iqoro. Still have symptoms but am optimistic for the future.

[Robfromwales]

sorry to burst into your thread but do any of you have chest pain / discomfort with your Gerd?

[Rovelli in reply to Robfromwales]

I very rarely get chest pain and never burning in my chest, but my whole head feels like a big football full of poisonous rubbish from the acid and old food.

[Rsukal]

Not me. I recall this discussion with a GP:

GP: Do you think your symptoms could be due to acid reflux?

Me: Well, I don't get any pain/burning apart from the tongue and taking an omeprazole before bed doesn't appear to help much.

GP: OK, it's not acid reflux, then.

[redruth123]

Hi Rsukal,

If you havnt already, I'd strongly suggest an appointment with an Ear Nose and Throat specialist. The symptoms you describe sound very debilitating and unlikely to be "just stress".

Even if it's not silent reflux, they should be able to provide a proper diagnosis and treatment.

For me, silent reflux was diagnosed by an ENT specialist - my symptoms were -constant mild sore throat and some difficulty with swallowing, but no typical reflux chest pain. Also I read that a bitter or sour taste can also be a part of silent reflux as the acid spray coming up from the oesophagus can cause the bitter taste.

The treatment was 6 weeks of Nizatadine, Gaviscon after each meal, and a throat spray called Larri, specially devised to offset reflux and available without prescription from the pharmacy. I also raised my bedhead for sleeping, and stopped most spicy and oily foods. He also offered a neck CT scan if these did not work after 6 weeks. I took the CT scan anyway just to be sure there was nothing sinister happening.

I hope you are able to find the right outcome for your situation!

[Rsukal]

Thanks. I have managed to get a GP appointment, and will see if they're willing to make a referral.

It is definitely debilitating.

[SMHRT]

I have been treated for Acid Reflux with PPI's and H2 blockers. However, I have been lucky enough to have some tests privately with Reflux UK. I had a test for SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacteria Overgrowth) which was positive. Am waiting to hear what the treatment will be but think it could be a course of antibiotics and diet modification. I had all the symptoms of acid reflux and have been told that SIBO symptoms are very similar, travel up to the gut and stomach.Hope that gives you something to explore.