Reflux and ear pain

[Redrosegirlie]

An odd one this..,,

In December 2 days after starting on levothyroxine I developed a sore throat and ear ache which in turn caused a perforated ear drum.

I had a tonsillectomy in 1988 and that’s the first sore throat I have had since then.

3 courses of antibiotics later and I am still experiencing intermittent sharp ear ache pains that occur daily but this pain occurs when I am also experiencing reflux that I can feel in my throat.

Is it the reflux tracking up my eustachian tube? A daft theory maybe??

Do you think I have low stomach acid levels? Just asking because I am seeing my GP tomorrow and he is likely to want to commence a PPI 😩

Incidentally years ago I tested positive for H Pylori so I am going to ask for a repeat test in case I have that.

If anyone has answers to this I will be very grateful

[greygoose]

Try the home test at the end of this article:

scdlifestyle.com/2012/03/3-...

H Pylori can only thrive in low stomach acid. Normal or high levels would kill it off.

[Redrosegirlie in reply to greygoose]

Thanks greygoose. I should have added that last month I did the soda bicarbonate test and I didn’t burp at all.

I’ll see if I can get some betain for the other home test

[Hidden]

Hi, I’ve been complaining of the same chronic ear pain and blocked ears for years and only recently realised it’s caused by acid reflux. Yes it’s definitely recognised that it can affect your Eustachian tubes. I’m waiting to see an ENT specialist and a gastroenterologist.

I wonder if thyroxine can cause acid reflux. I take other daily medications too, do you?

It’s a good idea to check the H pylori. I just did it and it came back normal.

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

It's unlikely to be the thyroxine that is causing it. It's caused by the low stomach acid that hypos often have. When stomach acid is low, digestion is slow, and the food ferments in the stomach. And, it becomes like a volcano, erupting from time to time, sending what little acid there is up into the eosophagus, because the esophageal sphincter can't close properly.

[Redrosegirlie in reply to greygoose]

Yes I agree greygoose.

When I have had all my testing done such as for CD and H Pylori I’m going to get some ACV

[Redrosegirlie in reply to Hidden]

It’s strange isn’t it FlamingHazel.

I take citalopram but not every day cause I forget that some days. I don’t think that’s causing it.

I have now been referred to ENT

And prescribed the dreaded PPI.

I have read about H Pylori in the middle ear from reflux so I want to exclude that.

[greygoose in reply to Redrosegirlie]

Taking a PPI will just lower your stomach acid even further, and make the problem worse. Doctors don't understand that it's possible to have low stomach acid, and the symptoms are the same as with high stomach acid - in which case a PPI would possibly be appropriate, but only on a short-term basis. They should not be taken for longer than a few weeks.

[Redrosegirlie in reply to greygoose]

I don’t know whether to start it or not.

I’m inclined to just try the ACV first but I am not doing anything until I have had my CD bloods taken on the 18th

None the less, if I do take it I am only having it short term

Sorry greygoose confused about the whole matter. I just want the ear pain to stop 😊

[greygoose in reply to Redrosegirlie]

Yes, I can imagine. I was tricked into taking PPIs a few years ago, and it messed up my digestive tract completely! So, I would never take them again. I should think the first thing to do would be to ascertain if you have high or low stomach acid. Have you tried the bicarb test?

[Redrosegirlie in reply to greygoose]

I did the bicarb test on 4 occasions and don’t burp at all

I would like to do the betaine test but I have zero funds at the moment so I can’t afford to spend money on something that I may not take again.

Would lemon 🍋 in water be ok instead? See if I feel any different with that in my tummy?

Or Aldi sells ACV with the mother for £1.99 I could try that

[greygoose in reply to Redrosegirlie]

You could, indeed, try the ACV - you might need an awful lot of lemon juice to have any effect. Or, you could get some strong vit C pills, and take about 1000 mg before a meal, see if that helps. But, I don't think you actually need the betaine test, because if the bicarb didn't make you burb, I think it's pretty obvious that you have low stomach acid.

[Redrosegirlie in reply to greygoose]

Thanks. I have some 1000mg dispersable vit c.

I’ll try that!

[greygoose in reply to Redrosegirlie]

ok