Can my throat irritation and hoarseness be from LPR?

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Thanks for briefing me regarding the problem of concern. The most common reason for having these symptoms can definitely be a feature of chronic silent GERD with LPR (gastroesophageal reflux with laryngopharyngeal reflux). Even though you might be asymptomatic or have never had gastric issues in between, the inflammation in the throat often exists in the hidden form and can resurface when adequate care is not taken. Why does hidden acid reflux become so problematic? As you know, the stomach usually has cells that release hydrochloric acid and thus keep the gastric environment acidic. Your mucosal lining from the mouth, throat and food pipe (esophagus) is not meant to handle anything acidic. The throat is the most sensitive of the three structures due to its rich nerve supply.

If, in a given situation, your mouth, throat, or food pipe chronically comes in contact with acidic contents, an inflammation starts which the body initially takes care of, but once this compensation wears out, you start developing symptoms that you have mentioned. Please try to follow the advice mentioned below.

1. Maintain a strict diet by eating on time.

2. Avoid spicy, oily, and cold food or drinks.

3. Keep a gap of two hours between meals and going to bed.

4. Do not overeat. Rather, keep your stomach half empty and have regular intermittent light food like freshly-cut fruits in between major meals.

5. Salt water gargling eight to ten times a day for 15 days.

6. Avoid alcohol and smoking, as they can potentiate reflux.

7. Try to maintain a left lateral position while sleeping to reduce the chance of reflux.

Treatment plan:

1. Tablet Pan D (Pantoprazole and Domperidone) 40 mg (or its equivalent) once in the morning before breakfast for one month.

2. Syrup Mucaine gel (Oxetacaine) or its equivalent, one teaspoon thrice a day, 20 minutes before a meal, for one month. Make sure you follow the precautionary measures as much as possible, as mere medications will not fetch long-term relief.

Please understand that this typically takes four to six weeks for things to normalize and for symptoms to subside, and it chiefly depends on how much you have been able to follow the precautions mentioned above, as 80 percent of the treatment lies there. There is absolutely nothing that you need to worry about, as this is a treatable entity, and things will be fine. I hope I have answered your query in detail. If there is anything more you need to know or enquire about, please let us know, and we will get back as soon as possible. Warm Regards.