A struggling LPR

[Pinkgold]

Hi I am new to the forum and as you see by the title I am struggling. I was diagnosed with silent reflux 10yrs ago and using lanzoprazole and gaviscon advance after some months it improved and I have been using lanzoprazole as and when and on the whole forgot about the silent reflux. However, back in January I got what I thought was a bad bout of laryngitis and cough which was so bad I was retching. Following a visit to GP who said it was viral but gave me antibiotics in case it wasn’t but little to no improvement. I was feeling really awful I didn’t know LPR could make you so bad I was unable to talk long without coughing and retching also had dry tickle throat all the time. After failing to get GP appointment I went and found a private dr and he immediately referred me to ENT who confirmed that my symptoms were due to reflux. Since, then I have had an endoscopy which showed a bit of gastritis and everything else normal. I am on omeprazole twice a day with gaviscon advance. Having googled what I can and can’t eat and sleeping on a raised wedge my acute symptoms have gone although I still have globus, the cough without the retching but still the tickly throat. I am having great difficulty maintaining my weight as I am tall and thin I am anxious about what to eat and try to eat before 6pm at night. I am normally a positive person but this whole episode is bringing me down it doesn’t help when kind friends are concerned with my weight loss and point it out. Are any of you out there struggling with unwanted weight loss and is this part of LPR as I didn’t have this before?

[treecalm]

Really sorry to hear your struggles. It's unbelievable how it can take over your life. I too lost about a stone in weight when I changed my diet. Because I was already slim it is very noticeable. Although I have a very nourishing well balanced diet, my weight has remained stable for over 6 months now at this lower weight. The only thing that has helped how my body feels and looks is doing some light weight training.

[Pinkgold in reply to treecalm]

Thank you so much for your reply it is reassuring to know other people’s experiences you wonder if you have cancer and that the drs have missed something. Logically I know it is because I am eating smaller meals without the fat and not eating after 6pm which is almost like a fast until next day. The worst thing is googling what you can and can’t eat it just increases the anxiety and food enjoyment. I have just joined a small group to improve my physical fitness and it certainly helps. Thank you again.

[Washington1]

Hi. Sorry to hear things are tough going. I've lost quite a lot of weight (nearly 2 stone) because the tightness in my abdomen has been so bad that I've been struggling to eat. It's starting to ease off and so I find myself being able to maintain my lower weight atm. Due to health struggles I've had an issue with slightly lower weight over the last ten years or so and still can't quite believe the comments I've had from people. I've been in a situation where I've been called out publicly for my weight loss, whilst still being in the normal weight range for my height and age, albeit at the lower end.... in front of people that are very clearly overweight. I find that people have felt able to say rude things that they wouldn't dare to say to someone overweight. I've taken it as a life lesson and something to be aware of when faced with different struggles people have in life.

I totally understand illness getting you down. Gastritis, etc... can be very draining... I'm looking into the possibility that it is caused by low acid, rather than high acid. Apparently the resulting symptoms are the same although low acid should be treated differently. I am hoping to have an endoscopy where they measure the pH of my stomach to check, as my experience of lansaparazole and omeprazole haven't been great.

I hope you find some healing and have time to rest this year.

[Pinkgold in reply to Washington1]

Thank you for answering it is so good to know you are not alone. I had just seen my physio who commented how thin I was followed up by a close friend saying the same an hour or two later and it does get to you. I don’t think people think before they saytheir comments and don’t know really what you are going through. Silent reflux doesn’t sound too concerning to other people but it is the pits when you are going through it and changing your life style to cope with it. Good luck with the low acid theory I have heard this before so it would be interesting how you get on. I have had a recent endoscopy and hardly knew it was happening so if you haven’t had one before it was nothing to be concerned about.

[Washington1 in reply to Pinkgold]

Hi, yes I've had an endoscopy, which I had without sedative and found it completely fine. And yes, silent reflux doesn't sound like a big deal until you're the one living with it. I hope things get better for you soon!

[treecalm]

I think exercise is actually key and finding out what works for you. I have had to adapt my yoga routine due to the hiatus hernia but have found alternatives. Also not sitting after eating and walking. Making nourishing smoothies are very digestible and allow to eat more. Also soups can be added to, for example I make a simple butternut squash soup with added peanut butter. Avocado, eggs, kefir are all very easy to eat. Luckily I am no longer working as this has all become very time consuming as need to have something to eat every few hours

[Pinkgold in reply to treecalm]

Thank you for your suggestions I have just bought a smoothie maker which will be put to good use. Also alternative yoga and exercise positions reducing the chance of reflux is helpful. I know I need to change my mindset and embrace these changes and stop feeling sorry for myself I am going to try mindfulness meditation again I used to do it quite regularly but house moving and living with our son for seven months has been a huge stress in our lives. We have just moved out and hopefully life will settle down a bit .

[treecalm]

Yes mindfulness and exercises that calm down the nervous system are very helpful. Also the Gupta program offers some free material which is designed to offer help for chronic conditions.