Silent reflux

[Curlywurly80]

I was referred to ENT 4 months after first visiting the GP with a sore throat and node. Had appointment last week. The ENT Dr felt my neck and used a small endoscope inserted into my nose. He said I have silent reflux and advised me to increase my Omeprazole from 20mg daily to 20mg twice daily plus Gaviscon after meals and at bedtime. My appointment took less than 10 mins. I was given a leaflet. It all happened so quickly I wished I had asked questions. Do I need a follow up appointment or any more tests to rule out anything serious. MY ANXIETY IS SO BAD. I am crying and can't sleep. I am SO SCARED AND FRIGHTENED at what this means. I have googled the condition and it has really made me worse.

[Windowview]

please don’t be frightened. Lots of us here have silent reflux. It doesn’t mean that automatically you will develop something worse. Following a gerd diet and eating your main meal at lunch time and your last light meal at least four hours before bed can help a lot to relieve symptoms. Also elevating the head of your bed helps. Take care.

[Curlywurly80 in reply to Windowview]

Thank you for such kind words

[Jumpey]

I'm so sorry you are anxious.I've lived with severe reflux for over 50 years without anything sinister happening .Maybe get some therapy for your anxiety? You could read Dr.Louise Kaufman's Acid Reflux Diet. She's a renowned expert on Reflux.You will get lots of useful information including Diet and lifestyle. Huge good luck.x

[Catspaws100]

I have silent reflux and take 2 omeprazole daily plus the Gaviscon after meals to keep the symptoms at bay. Hope that helps.

[Curlywurly80 in reply to Catspaws100]

Hi...thank you for your reply....how long have you been doing this for and are you able to eat out in restaurants with a couple of drinks occasionally?

[Catspaws100 in reply to Curlywurly80]

I have been doing this for over a year now. I eat out in restaurants with no problems, just making sure I take an omeprazole about an hour before I eat. I don't drink so can't answer that one.

[Curlywurly80 in reply to Catspaws100]

Thank you so much .

[Pinkgold]

hi sorry you are feeling so worried I went through this when I was first diagnosed. It is a bit of a vicious circle as anxiety increases the acid in your stomach and I thought I had like you something more serious. My advice is go back to your GP and discuss your worries because your anxiety about this needs to be dealt with and a further discussion about your LPR management. I went on a low acid diet and reduced the obvious foods tomatoes citrus, alcohol and not lying down for at least 3 hours after a meal and still try to keep to this. I went on a mindfulness course to help with my anxiety and this helped me very much.

Good luck and I hope you can be reassured about this.

[Curlywurly80 in reply to Pinkgold]

Thank you for replying to my comment. I feel like I am now and have been for many years labelled at my GP surgery. Every problem I have or have had is firstly due to my anxiety. It takes many visits and a length of time before they help me.

I admit I do feel very anxious most of the time, especially when anything to do with medical issues.

I'm hoping silent reflux isn't serious or will lead to something serious. My hubby and I love to eat and and have a few glasses of wine with our meal. It's one of our great pleasures atm. I'm unsure whether I have to stop this totally now we can still have these lovely times together. Is there something that can help if we do this occasionally.

We have a holiday booked in 3 weeks and I'm thinking maybe not to go as usually on holiday we do eat and drink too much.

[Pinkgold in reply to Curlywurly80]

I do have an occasional wine now only with food and never on its own or in the evening after food. I went on holiday when my LPR had flared up I had to be careful what I ate and drank mainly water or apple juice and made sure we ate early. As it is still early after a flare up that was pretty awful it makes it easier to alter my lifestyle as I don’t want that to happen again. On the anxiety front my GP was brilliant and I didn’t want to go down the medication root she recommended the mindfulness method, so I found a group on line and did a 12 week course locally. Yes, I still do get anxious but I feel I can control it better and I have down loaded the Calm app and listen to that occasionally.

I found that The Drs once diagnosed didn’t discuss the management much I had to find out much of it through google and found that this forum very helpful and supportive.

Good luck

[1abc1943]

I have suffered from reflux for years especially worsened by anxiety. I wouldn't drink wine even with the prescribed medication. I drink an occasional glass of larger. I don't eat spicy or acidic foods even certain foods with additives aggrevate it. I would follow the instructions you have been given which I'm sure will help eventually. I hope so.

[Curlywurly80 in reply to 1abc1943]

Thank you

[1abc1943]

I have suffered from reflux for several years but now have a tickly cough . Has anyone anyone any idea how to lessen it have tried sipping water and sucking a sweet (which sometimes makes reflux worse) also have a dry mouth that doesn't help. Thanks in anticipation

[Beanlover]

I have had silent reflux for several years. I take 1 pantoprazole and Gaviscon before bed. I think it's worth looking at Acid reflux diets and working out what triggers symptoms. There are probably things you'll be ok with, and other things that trigger sysmptoms. Raising the head of your bed is useful. I get a cough quite frequently. It's one that isn't like an infection. I cough a bit in the morning and sometimes at other times, but I live with it.The things that GPs and ENT might worry about is if you develop difficulties in swallowing. If that happens you would need to talk to your GP, but it is unlikely.

[Curlywurly80 in reply to Beanlover]

Thank you for replying