r/LPR

So I just had a checkup last week after 2 months of suffering from what I thought is LPR (well it kinda is LPR but it's also kinda not, explanation below). I had sever shortness of breath at first but then I helped myself with the bicarbonate spray which turns it into just mild air hunger. other symptoms was light headedness, a feeling of weakness and discomfort, sore throat, mucus, lump in throat, and so on. basically my throat and vagus nerve was attacked constantly by the acid that's coming out of my stomach. And also my stomach feels bloated all the time

now, when I checked in to the doctor(gastroenterology specialist), he explains that it wasn't really being caused by LPR or GERD but rather the stress that I had because of my job was causing my intestine to shriveled up (he didnt say this verbatim) but basically it tightens up so much that it blocks the food in the stomach from coming in. Thats why those stomach contents end up coming up my body.

He says this usually happens to people who are perfectionist or have OCD and such. They just get stressed to much. And so, the cure to this is to remove the stress. Stress is not a factor, it is the MAIN CAUSE. So getting rid of that stress is key.

the doctor also gave me 2 drugs :

1. PPI called Pariet
2. a stomach relaxant called Cliad

don't know what the equvalent is in America or any other country (I'm Indonesian)

Some other things that probably helps is probably running or jogging, walking after having a meal, and having a good sleeping schedule (the doctor didnt say this, this is just from my personal research).

EDIT : ALSO, THE BEST PART IS THAT THE DOCTOR ALLOWS ME TO EAT ANYTHING!

hope this helps.

Along with the constant shortness of breath. I have to wait till fuccin August for my ENT appointment. Throat has never felt this damn warm. Usually just a lil soreness feeling a.d a slight globus sensation. This inflammation is different. Just ordered some Gourmet via Amazon overnight.

I got diagnosed with GERD when I was 18. I am now 21F. It has been almost 5 years dealing with it and I am not sure if it has gotten worse or not.

My symptomps often begin with the feeling of bloating and fullness on the upper half of my stomach. Then it will raise up to my throat even sometimes I feel like it blocked my nose and cause my headache. It is accompanied with the feeling of fullness in my chest, difficulty to breathe, like something is stuck in my throat. While my oxygen levels are always at normal (thankfully). I read on the internet that it is more likely LPR but when I asked my doctor they were pretty dismissive so I dont know.

I rarely have pains in my stomach or a burning sensation. I rarely have nausea as well. My biggest issue is feeling like it's hard to breathe normally! It felt so full all the time. Once it flared up, these symptomps lasts for WEEKS. Even if I do get relief it is temporary. So I lived in fear every single day as if waiting for the episodes to come back and hit me again 😭

But this symptomps frustates me because I don't know how to treat it. I have tried many medications, including PPIs, ranitidine, sucralfate, antacids, even anxiety meds. Some did relieve the symptomps but mostly temporarily. I went to varioys doctors in my area, which didn't have the best healthcare unfortunately. They only prescribe PPI or say I am stressed and that I should calm dow. While managing my anxieties helped a bit, I am still struggling.

Some of the things I have tried are:

1. Diet, of course. Eating little and slowly has always been my habits, I am not a big eater. Yet even when I am eating slowly or drinking slowly, sometimes I felt like choking when I am not. Plus I have switched to non caffeine, no alcohol (never drank one), no low Ph food or acidic food for at least 3 years. Still, minimal change.

2. Sleeping with more pillows, diaphragmatic breathing, and losing weight. I had done this too. Though, the weight part I am still trying because I have quite the bloated and a big belly? Idk if 57kg counts as obese tho. Which I found weird because I ate little yet gains weight.

3. Exercise. Now, this is where I am also confused. Because I have symptomps almost every single day, exercising became difficult for me, especially when I feel like it's hard to breathe. By the way I got checked for lungs through scans and all that, the result came out normal. So the doctor said I don't have respirative issues. But, these symptomps has caused even light exercise become so difficult. I got tired easily, and when I pushed myself I feel like fainting. Also when I got tired too much my reflux flared even more. I am kinda in a loop.

If you have any suggestions regarding to exercising with GERD please do let me know.

All I do is mostly just light walking for a few km, yoga and all that.

4. Other things I tried which was reccommended by people I know is tryin herbals, or foods/drinks like cumin, ginger, aloe vera, arrowroot tubers (which worked for my friend and helped him cure GERD, you can try if you want), but well some do help decrease the symptomps but I have yet to find massive improvement.

Oh right, I was diagnosed with ovarian cyst and got it removed. But my GERD symptomps remains and it flare up h+1 post operation and it was horrible

English is not my first language so apologies for the mistakes. I just want to live more comfortably honestly, if you have some tips or experiences please do let me know in the replies and maybe what works for you

I've been sucking on pure manuka honey drops the past couple of weeks for my throat irritation and putting honey in my tea every day. I just looked up the pH of honey and it ranges, but the average is 3.9. I had no idea it was that acidic.

Wondering if I've been making my throat worse with the honey!!! It feels soothing while I am using the lozenges, but maybe it's also activating the pepsin in my throat?

I'm on my 3rd PPI at this point. How long did you all give each med before deciding it was not the one?

Prilosec gave me cramps and constipation. Pantoprazole worked wonders for the first 6 weeks but I became constipated and still had break through acid in the evenings. I moved to twice a day and had extreme nausea and bloating.

I just started Esomeprazole on Tuesday morning. It's been 4 days and this morning I woke up with acid in my mouth and heartburn for the first time since February. Do I switch back to the pantoprazole that kept things as bay for the first half of the day or give the Esomeprazole another few days to see if it works?

I'm on acid watchers diet and haven't changed it up for 10 weeks.

i am suffering from LPR for past three years, i feel like my teeth is getting smaller, the edges of teeth are translucent and gap between my teeth are increasing.

anybody in this group goes through enamel erosion problem and is there medical test to conform the enamel erosion is due to LPR

If I have LPR bc it’s def not allergies or coming from
My lungs. This sour saliva foamy mucus constantly pooling in my mouth, I’ve tried every med to stop doesn’t work. Not sure what to do.

Mucinex
Gaviscon advance
Reflux raft
Pepcid

Does that mean it’s not LPR then?? It’s def not allergies tried 2 diff allergies meds and Flonase.

Has anyone been diagnosed with LPR (silent Gerd). I've been on Ozempic for 6 months now and haven't really had any negative effects until recently. I'm waiting to get in to see an ENT, but I've read that this can be a side effect. Just curious. If you have, what's your experience?

This part in particular was interesting!

“My belief is that dietary/lifestyle elements are critical—appropriate lifestyle counseling is first and foremost,” he said. “But if there’s an absence of GERD symptoms like heartburn or substernal symptoms that are more classically associated with GERD, then I don’t recommend any type of acid suppression as first-line treatment. We’ll add a PPI typically if there are only partial responses, but the majority of LPR tends to be either nonacidic or weakly acidic.”

As for patients that he considers for alginate therapy, Dr. Gao said, “Any patient who primarily presents with more LPR specific symptoms—throat clearing, mucus in the throat, globus sensation, reflux leading to mild dysphonia, chronic cough. And we would recommend that either alone or in combination with PPI. I recommend using it initially as much as possible—after meals and before bed with a wedge pillow, which later can be tapered after symptom improvement.”

Hi everyone,

I’ve been dealing with a frightening squeezing, crushing pain behind my breastbone. I do not have the typical burning or “heartburn” sensation at all — it feels much more like pressure, tightness, or an angina-type squeezing pain. Sometimes it honestly feels cardiac, which has been very anxiety-provoking.

The pain is highly unpredictable and can happen both at rest (sitting or lying down) and during exertion, even something as simple as walking. I also sometimes get a dull aching pain in my jaw and teeth along with the chest tightness, which makes the whole thing feel even more concerning.

Because of the squeezing nature of the pain, I underwent a very extensive cardiac workup. I had 3 resting ECGs, all completely normal, a normal echocardiogram, and an excellent stress test result reaching 12.4 METS at 18% incline with a peak heart rate of 185 bpm (117% of predicted maximum heart rate), without abnormalities. My cardiologist has fully cleared my heart, but mentally it’s still difficult because the pain can feel so convincing.

To investigate a digestive cause, I recently had an endoscopy (FOGD) with biopsies. I translated the reports from French to English below, and I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced something similar.

Endoscopy Report (FOGD)
Reason for exam: Retrosternal chest pain.

Esophagus:

• The lower third of the esophagus was very red and inflamed (erythematous), without ulcers.
• The Z-line was irregular.

Stomach:

• Grade 1 hiatal hernia (Hill classification).
• Diffuse redness/inflammation throughout the stomach (pangastritis).
• Biopsies were taken.
• No ulcers or tumors seen.

Duodenum:

• Completely normal.

Conclusion:
Marked inflammation/redness in the lower esophagus, Grade 1 hiatal hernia, and erythematous pangastritis.

Biopsy / Pathology Report

• Four small stomach tissue samples analyzed.
• Mild chronic inflammation with congestion/swelling.
• No precancerous changes (no metaplasia or dysplasia).
• No cancer.
• Positive for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).

Biopsy conclusion:
Mild chronic inactive gastritis associated with H. pylori infection, without malignancy.

My concern is that despite the reassuring cardiac tests, I still struggle mentally with the squeezing “angina-like” sensation because it can feel so intense and convincing, especially when walking or during physical activity. My doctors believe the inflamed esophagus and small hiatal hernia may be causing esophageal spasms or pressure sensations rather than classic burning reflux symptoms.

Has anyone else had H. pylori, gastritis, reflux, or a hiatal hernia cause severe squeezing chest pain without actual heartburn — especially pain triggered by walking or movement? Did anyone also experience dull jaw or tooth pain from it?

And for those treated for H. pylori, how long did it take after antibiotics and acid-reducing treatment for the chest tightness/spasm sensations to improve?

Thanks a lot for any insight or shared experiences.

hey yall. I’ve started back up a regiment on Prilosec. it’s been about a week and I’m noticing way more throat clearing than when I just using alginate and alkaline water. do you think it could be making it worse? should I stop?

I have a burning feeling in my nose every day that varies and once it starts it usually lasts for the entire day in varying intensity. Also when I go for walks, even short ones, I usually get attacks of what seems like throat tightness like the air can hardly pass beyond my throat, it doesn't matter if I breathe by mouth or by nose

Hi,

For reference I’m 23, male, 130 lbs, physically active and eat pretty okay.

I’ve cut out all coffee, chocolate, tomatoes, etc.

I pretty much each plain rice, chicken, and veggies for every meal.

I did have a recent cheat weekend, where I had fried pie, and that did seem to make things worse.

My ENT saw nothing of concern, just a lot of drainage. He ordered a barium swallow and it was discovered I have a very minor hiatal hernia. They don’t recommend surgery.

I’ve been taking Omeprazole consistently for about a month and some change.

I take Gaviscon at night and sleep with a wedge pillow.

I’ve noticed my mornings have gotten better, but there is still constant drainage in my throat.

I was taking some sort of nose thing too, but it made my nose bleed, so I quit.

The most concerning thing for me is that my Adam’s Apple is red, and looks irritated.

I just feel like I’ve more or less done everything right, and need some assistance in diagnosing myself. My ENT doesn’t think it’s Gerd because I’m in good shape, and I mentioned LPR and that’s where he ordered the swallow….

Any thoughts?

I’m a 27 year old male and for the past two months I’ve been dealing with upper abdominal pain, nausea, and back pain.

The upper abdominal pain is mostly right where my stomach is, but I often get the feeling of pain radiating to my left and right side just at the bottom of my ribcage, almost like a burning sensation.

The nausea can come and go. I noticed it gets worse when I drink caffeine or eat certain foods (junk mostly).

The back pain is mostly in the upper to center back. It’s like a low dull pain that can get worse if I move or sit in a certain way. I also noticed my upper back feels warm and tingly and sensitive. Almost like a mild sunburn.

I’ve also had some constipation lately.

I have gotten extensive blood tests and everything came back great. Normal lipase and amylase, CRP is perfect, liver enzymes are perfect. White blood count is perfect. Iron and iron binding is perfect.

And I have yet to have any of the concerning red flags. No jaundice, no vomiting, no oily or black stools, no diarrhea.

My doctor told me I should be taking Omeprazole, so for the past couple weeks I’ve been taking that, and I have noticed a noticeable improvement in a couple ways, namely the pain and the nausea. The upper abdominal pain went from a 7/10 to maybe a 3/10, and the nausea I’d probably say the same. The back pain got a fair bit better for the past week and a half or so but the past couple days it’s gotten worse.

So what’s wrong with me fellas?

Hi all, I started omeprazole 5 days ago as an attempt to help LPR symptoms that my ENT suspects. I have an insane amount of phlegm throughout the day, worse in the morning and after eating certain foods but not every time I eat that food, it’s not consistent. I wake up with a super dry throat sometimes and i’m constantly clearing my throat.

But after starting the PPI I have been waking up and going to bed with stomach and back pain. It kinda feels like super intense hunger pangs but I can’t tell. My initial thought was just woah im so hungry I need to fill my stomach to make this go away but then i’ll eat and it won’t really help. And then I start to get a bunch of gas no matter what I eat. It also seems to be more of my lower stomach and not my upper stomach and esophagus and even feels painful to palpitate.

When i’m trying to go to sleep it’s so intense it feels like I need to both stretch my stomach and curl up in a ball and cry. It also makes me want to blow out my stomach. You know that feeling where it feels like your stomach is SO empty that you can feel your lower back through it? If that makes any sense. Like it feels like i’m so starving and my stomach is so empty and thin it makes everything hurt.

Anyone had this issue? I’m not 100% sure it’s the PPI that’s causing it, because this has happened to me before taking it but super rare, like maybe 5 times total my whole life and honestly never this bad and food would usually help.

Also, I thought i’d give some background as to what i’ve discovered recently and why I think it could be LPR:

Back in high school I had a period of really bad anxiety where I was vomiting a lot, and after that is when the throat/mucus issues started.

I’ve been learning that repeated vomiting + anxiety can irritate the throat and esophagus, and that can lead to LPR and stomach acid keeps irritating the throat over time. When that area is inflamed, my body is producing extra mucus as a protective response, which can turn into a cycle of constantly feeling like I need to clear my throat or hack stuff up. And then there are some foods that can trigger inflammation and then that makes the inflammation thats already there worse, and then the throat clearing also leads to more irritation.

My symptoms also line up with reflux because they’re worse in the morning, worse when lying down, and sometimes triggered by foods like chocolate or dairy (but not every time, which is normal with reflux). But i’m not feeling like typical heart burn and I don’t get the acid feeling in my throat a ton but just occasionally.

Right now I’m being treated for both possible causes nasal inflammation and reflux with a nasal rinse/Flonase and omeprazole. So basically I’m trying to figure out if this is all connected as one long-term irritation/reflux cycle that started back then. Also, my allergy test was negative but I don’t know how to get an actual food allergy test, the allergist just said that the only thing they look for with food allergies is server anaphylaxis which has never happened to me so if anything i’m probably just sensitive to some foods. I’ve tried gluten free and lactose free and that don’t make a difference.

M36 - I have made a few posts in the community since my symptoms began - when it first started in Mid March of this year, my symptoms were defined by throat pain, thick mucus in the throat, very localized globus / the feeling of something small and almost sharp stuck under my tonsil/base of tongue.

I started the low acid diet strictly, avoided known trigger foods and made lifestyle adjustments as well as using gaviscon (not uk as I can’t get it) and Pepcid.

2 months on, the pain and severe mucus have been replaced with more subtle but equally annoying symptoms;

1. my ears / Eustachian tubes have not felt normal in weeks. There’s a click with every swallow, my hearing in my left ear sounds muffled at times, I feel pressure and discomfort and get tinnitus several times a day.

2. as soon as I eat or drink, my sinuses immediately feel congested.

3. my sense of smell doesn’t feel as sharp as it used to, I find that I have to concentrate more on smells to perceive them.

4. I have a slight urge to clear my throat after eating but I’m not coughing or throat clearing regularly at all.

5. there is still a globus / throat tightness feeling although it doesn’t feel as intense and localized.

6. after drinking in particular, I burp a few times and often get the ‘rising bubbling’ sensation in my esophagus / throat. It doesn’t taste bitter or acidic but I still feel like it’s a reflux event every time it happens.

Am I healing? Am I making progress? Anyone had similar or relatable symptoms approx. 2 months into treating LPR?

I'm really struggling with trying to consume enough calories without worsening my LPR symptoms - trying to stick to a low acid diet, small meals. I'm already slender and slightly underweight, and I know I've lost a bit more weight since my LPR symptoms started.

Any ideas on how to increase my calorie intake would be much appreciated! I'll add that the only meat I eat is fish. I can also do eggs and dairy.

Thanks!!

My main LPR symptom is throat pain and hoarseness, and voice weakness. It is typically better first thing in the morning and gets worse throughout the day as I eat meals. I take 30-40 mg of Pepcid a day, split dose. I just started using Reflux Gourmet after my meals, and I think that is helping a lot. I'm eating a low acid diet, small meals, sleeping elevated. I've managed to reduce the lump in the throat and throat clearing by quite a lot. But I still have daily throat pain.

Yesterday, things were much better until after my evening dance class when I exerted myself a bit. My throat got irritated and my voice was shot for the rest of the evening.

I don't think I've been completely pain free in my throat for at least the past month. Medicated lozenges make it worse. Honey throat drops and tea helps a bit, as does ibuprofin.

Isn't there anything on the market - Rx or OTC that helps to protect the delicate tissue of the throat from the stomach acid? Someone here recommended chondroitin/HA, which does seem to have research supporting it. But that is a specially formulated topical form of chondroitin, which coats the throat. And it's not available in the U.S. All I can find here in the US are tablet forms. My understanding is that it doesn't have the same effects when metabolized by the digestive system.

Thanks for any ideas!

for context i had reflux issues for 2 years. wake up, swollen feeling throat, feeling of sobering in my throat, swallowing all the time, jaw was even sore. as the day would go on, my throat would feel worse and worse. pretty much 24/7 discomfort.

i eventually went to ENT, they did a scope, told me i had silent reflux. i began taking pepcid twice daily for about 2 years. eventually even with the meds my throat would still flare up. i went back, they said they needed to put me under, do a full scope. they also put me on nexium, which was horrible. back to pepcid.

ultimately i wanted a real fix, not just taking pills every day to manage. i did a deep dive on reddit, found some obscure post from years ago where some guy with like 2 up likes said it can be fixed with HCL + Pepsincals and mastic gum.

i took the advice from the internet, stopped pepcid that day. went to vitamin shop, got HCL + Pepsin caps and mastic gum caps. like 15$. took 1 with small meals, 2 with larger meals. took mastic gum 2x a day. my issues stopped within 48 hours. per the guys post, once i began feeling actual heart burn when taking HCL and eating, i stopped taking them altogether. i have had zero issues since, i still have over half the bottle of HCL pepsin caps.

the mental struggle of feeling ill every day, wondering if i had cancer, as well as physically dealing with pain all day was terrible. i know everyone is different, this likely won’t work for everyone, but it cured me and i wanted to share. any questions feel free to message! i am not a doctor, just sharing my genuine experience since i rarely see anyone suggest hcl.