|
Home > Archive > Heartburn Support > August 2006 > Lpr reflux surgical outcomes
You are viewing an archived Text-only version of the thread.
To view this thread in it's original format and/or if you want to reply to
this thread please [click here]
| Author |
Lpr reflux surgical outcomes
|
|
| Blocks to Books 2006-08-09, 4:26 pm |
| Is reflux surgery - such as Stretta and endo Nissen - as effective in
relieving symptoms - such as relieving laryngeal mucous and coughing - for
those with lpr reflux as those with standard reflux? The reason I ask is
that I decided to try taking a pepcid this morning as an experiment to see
if it had any effect on the after-eating mucous and coughing and it had no
effect on it at all.
Because I never take any meds, they usually have a tremendously noticeable
effect if I even take a Tums - which is rarely. I am concerned that either
what I have is not lpr - even tho it acts just like it - coughing after
meals, coughing brought on by postural changes that would normally cause
reflux, etc. - or that once someone has progressed to a mucous reflux
problem, nothing can stop that particular symptom.
(It's also possible that I am having alkaline reflux, which is causing the
mucous and then a Pepcid wouldn't help either, I assume.) If my symptoms
are being partially caused by acid reflux, I'm willing to buy a box of
Prilosec OTC and give it a 14 day trial to see if it helps because it is a
stronger medication, but I hope to God I won't become dependent upon it
after that time. Is there a number of days taking it that would be a fair
trial to see if it makes a difference in the mucous and coughing?
I need to know which way to go with what's happening because I can't handle
having to go from doctor to doctor because it ends up raising my insurance
premium without a guarantee that I even get a diagnosis or a treatment for
my problem. If my symptoms are reflux related, I've had doctors in the past
get sidetracked onto the respiratory issues and never even deal or even
diagnose the reflux, which was the cause of the respiratory problem. I had
two great physicians - an internist and an ent - that both retired years ago
when the insurance industry changed the practice of medicine and I've been
unable to replace them. So I will have to start from scratch and it takes
months to get in to see a doctor now. I don't even know whether to start
with an ent or gastro doctor. I've been to countless internists in the past
and they always missed the reflux totally. I contacted the Curon surgeon's
office and they have not returned my call as yet.
Can significant throat mucous be a symptom of Barretts? I've apparently had
lpr reflux my entire life and, once I learned I had it, I chose to treat
with lifestyle and dietary changes, which worked well until lately. A
throat tickle with a dry cough and having to clear my throat and a sensation
of something stuck in my throat have always been my primary symptoms.
With the advent of the productive cough and uncontrollable symptoms I have
now, I have no indication of any infection or allergy going on in my body.
I have no fever, no weakness. The mucous is grayish colored when I can get
some to actually cough out and it doesn't appear to be an infected looking
mucous to me. The mucous and coughing comes and goes with my eating and
with my body positions, so that's why I have thought it was reflux related.
Once the coughing spell is over with, the mucous is gone and doesn't bother
me until after the next meal, etc. I've had the coughing up mucous and
feeling there is a tremendous amount of mucous on my larynx for almost a
year now without it progressing beyond that one way or the other. Thanks
for any input you can give. -Blocks to Books
www.blockstobooks.com
| |
| Howard McCollister 2006-08-09, 4:26 pm |
|
"Blocks to Books" <news@blockstobooks.com> wrote in message
news:7_pCg.23677$6w.11950@fed1read11...
> Is reflux surgery - such as Stretta and endo Nissen - as effective in
> relieving symptoms - such as relieving laryngeal mucous and coughing - for
> those with lpr reflux as those with standard reflux? The reason I ask is
> that I decided to try taking a pepcid this morning as an experiment to see
> if it had any effect on the after-eating mucous and coughing and it had no
> effect on it at all.
>
> Because I never take any meds, they usually have a tremendously noticeable
> effect if I even take a Tums - which is rarely. I am concerned that
> either what I have is not lpr - even tho it acts just like it - coughing
> after meals, coughing brought on by postural changes that would normally
> cause reflux, etc. - or that once someone has progressed to a mucous
> reflux problem, nothing can stop that particular symptom.
>
> (It's also possible that I am having alkaline reflux, which is causing the
> mucous and then a Pepcid wouldn't help either, I assume.) If my symptoms
> are being partially caused by acid reflux, I'm willing to buy a box of
> Prilosec OTC and give it a 14 day trial to see if it helps because it is a
> stronger medication, but I hope to God I won't become dependent upon it
> after that time. Is there a number of days taking it that would be a fair
> trial to see if it makes a difference in the mucous and coughing?
>
> I need to know which way to go with what's happening because I can't
> handle having to go from doctor to doctor because it ends up raising my
> insurance premium without a guarantee that I even get a diagnosis or a
> treatment for my problem. If my symptoms are reflux related, I've had
> doctors in the past get sidetracked onto the respiratory issues and never
> even deal or even diagnose the reflux, which was the cause of the
> respiratory problem. I had two great physicians - an internist and an
> ent - that both retired years ago when the insurance industry changed the
> practice of medicine and I've been unable to replace them. So I will have
> to start from scratch and it takes months to get in to see a doctor now.
> I don't even know whether to start with an ent or gastro doctor. I've
> been to countless internists in the past and they always missed the reflux
> totally. I contacted the Curon surgeon's office and they have not
> returned my call as yet.
>
> Can significant throat mucous be a symptom of Barretts? I've apparently
> had lpr reflux my entire life and, once I learned I had it, I chose to
> treat with lifestyle and dietary changes, which worked well until lately.
> A throat tickle with a dry cough and having to clear my throat and a
> sensation of something stuck in my throat have always been my primary
> symptoms.
>
> With the advent of the productive cough and uncontrollable symptoms I have
> now, I have no indication of any infection or allergy going on in my body.
> I have no fever, no weakness. The mucous is grayish colored when I can
> get some to actually cough out and it doesn't appear to be an infected
> looking mucous to me. The mucous and coughing comes and goes with my
> eating and with my body positions, so that's why I have thought it was
> reflux related. Once the coughing spell is over with, the mucous is gone
> and doesn't bother me until after the next meal, etc. I've had the
> coughing up mucous and feeling there is a tremendous amount of mucous on
> my larynx for almost a year now without it progressing beyond that one way
> or the other. Thanks for any input you can give. -Blocks to Books
>
> www.blockstobooks.com
>
>
>
If your symptoms are due to reflux of gastric contents, then yes,
anti-reflux surgery will address them. Note that there is no pharmacologic
means of stopping reflux.
Barrett's esophagus has no symptoms. It can only be diagnosed by EGD and
biopsies.
Diagnosis of GERD is not rocket science, but many misperceptions persist
among doctors who should know better. EGD - ambulatory pH testing -
esophageal manometry. If you haven't had all of those by this time then your
doctors have all likely been in that group. Be aware that as much as 40% of
GERD is non-acid reflux. As a result, ambulatory pH testing may be
inaccurate. State-of-the-art is multichannel intraluminal impedance testing
(MII).
Extra-esophageal manifestions of GERD may take weeks of PPI treatment before
they resolve. And even then it may not help since alkaline reflux may still
be a factor. OTOH, two or three weeks of OTC Prilosec is a reasonable thing
to do.
An ENT doctor is more likely to get sidetracked by extra-esophageal
manifestations of GERD than a gastroenterologist or a surgeon, and even many
gastroenterolgists are woefully ignorant about GERD. Best bet IMHO is seeing
a laparoendoscopic surgeon, or a gastroenterologist who does the Stretta
procedure. They are far more likely to be tuned into state-of-the-art GERD
management.
HMc
| |
| Blocks to Books 2006-08-09, 4:26 pm |
|
"Howard McCollister" <nospam@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:44da36a1$0$74484$bb4e3ad8@newscene.com...
>
> "Blocks to Books" <news@blockstobooks.com> wrote in message
> news:7_pCg.23677$6w.11950@fed1read11...
>
> If your symptoms are due to reflux of gastric contents, then yes,
> anti-reflux surgery will address them. Note that there is no pharmacologic
> means of stopping reflux.
>
> Barrett's esophagus has no symptoms. It can only be diagnosed by EGD and
> biopsies.
>
> Diagnosis of GERD is not rocket science, but many misperceptions persist
> among doctors who should know better. EGD - ambulatory pH testing -
> esophageal manometry. If you haven't had all of those by this time then
> your doctors have all likely been in that group. Be aware that as much as
> 40% of GERD is non-acid reflux. As a result, ambulatory pH testing may be
> inaccurate. State-of-the-art is multichannel intraluminal impedance
> testing (MII).
>
> Extra-esophageal manifestions of GERD may take weeks of PPI treatment
> before they resolve. And even then it may not help since alkaline reflux
> may still be a factor. OTOH, two or three weeks of OTC Prilosec is a
> reasonable thing to do.
>
> An ENT doctor is more likely to get sidetracked by extra-esophageal
> manifestations of GERD than a gastroenterologist or a surgeon, and even
> many gastroenterolgists are woefully ignorant about GERD. Best bet IMHO is
> seeing a laparoendoscopic surgeon, or a gastroenterologist who does the
> Stretta procedure. They are far more likely to be tuned into
> state-of-the-art GERD management.
>
> HMc
>
>
>
----- Original Message -----
From: "Howard McCollister" <nospam@nospam.net>
Newsgroups: alt.support.heartburn
Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2006 12:27 PM
Subject: Re: Lpr reflux surgical outcomes
>
> "Blocks to Books" <news@blockstobooks.com> wrote in message
> news:7_pCg.23677$6w.11950@fed1read11...
>
> If your symptoms are due to reflux of gastric contents, then yes,
> anti-reflux surgery will address them. Note that there is no pharmacologic
> means of stopping reflux.
>
> Barrett's esophagus has no symptoms. It can only be diagnosed by EGD and
> biopsies.
>
> Diagnosis of GERD is not rocket science, but many misperceptions persist
> among doctors who should know better. EGD - ambulatory pH testing -
> esophageal manometry. If you haven't had all of those by this time then
> your doctors have all likely been in that group. Be aware that as much as
> 40% of GERD is non-acid reflux. As a result, ambulatory pH testing may be
> inaccurate. State-of-the-art is multichannel intraluminal impedance
> testing (MII).
>
> Extra-esophageal manifestions of GERD may take weeks of PPI treatment
> before they resolve. And even then it may not help since alkaline reflux
> may still be a factor. OTOH, two or three weeks of OTC Prilosec is a
> reasonable thing to do.
>
> An ENT doctor is more likely to get sidetracked by extra-esophageal
> manifestations of GERD than a gastroenterologist or a surgeon, and even
> many gastroenterolgists are woefully ignorant about GERD. Best bet IMHO is
> seeing a laparoendoscopic surgeon, or a gastroenterologist who does the
> Stretta procedure. They are far more likely to be tuned into
> state-of-the-art GERD management.
>
> HMc
>
>
>
The Curon Stretta Procedure website recommended doctor in my town is a
surgeon. I will give another call back to their office if they don't return
my call today and I will try to get in to see them as my first contact on
this issue. Thank you so very much for your time and input to help me gain
some clarity on this. -Blocks
| |
|
| Suddenly, without warning, Blocks to Books exclaimed (10-Aug-06 4:10 AM):
> Is reflux surgery - such as Stretta and endo Nissen - as effective in
> relieving symptoms - such as relieving laryngeal mucous and coughing - for
> those with lpr reflux as those with standard reflux? The reason I ask is
> that I decided to try taking a pepcid this morning as an experiment to see
> if it had any effect on the after-eating mucous and coughing and it had no
> effect on it at all.
>
Just a thought:
As an experiment, try taking one of those 24-hour antihistamines, like
Clarytin. I started taking one for another reason. I hadn't even
noticed my coughing went down until I stopped taking it a couple of days
ago. Cough's back! So, back on the antihistamine.
Sounds like my mucousy cough *may* have an allergy component. No idea
what the trigger is, but it's gotta be something food related.
I wonder if it's possible to have reflux that's triggered by, or
exacerbated by, a food allergy?
Good Luck!
jmc
| |
| Blocks to Books 2006-08-09, 9:24 pm |
| As long as I'm trying things, I guess it couldn't hurt to try an
antihistamine. I'd be very happy to be free of this mucous and coughing.
The only thing that makes me fear it's reflux driven is when it occurs and
how it's posturally driven - if I get laid back in a dentist chair or doctor
exam table - watch out I'm gonna cough up a storm. I will try it though.
Thanks for the suggestion. -Blocks
"jmc" <NOnewsgroupsSPAM@NOjodiBODY.HOMEus> wrote in message
news:4juvsqF9q78aU1@individual.net...
> Suddenly, without warning, Blocks to Books exclaimed (10-Aug-06 4:10 AM):
>
> Just a thought:
>
> As an experiment, try taking one of those 24-hour antihistamines, like
> Clarytin. I started taking one for another reason. I hadn't even noticed
> my coughing went down until I stopped taking it a couple of days ago.
> Cough's back! So, back on the antihistamine.
>
> Sounds like my mucousy cough *may* have an allergy component. No idea
> what the trigger is, but it's gotta be something food related.
>
> I wonder if it's possible to have reflux that's triggered by, or
> exacerbated by, a food allergy?
>
> Good Luck!
>
> jmc
| |
| Blocks to Books 2006-08-09, 9:24 pm |
|
"Howard McCollister" <nospam@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:44da36a1$0$74484$bb4e3ad8@newscene.com...
>
> "Blocks to Books" <news@blockstobooks.com> wrote in message
> news:7_pCg.23677$6w.11950@fed1read11...
>
> If your symptoms are due to reflux of gastric contents, then yes,
> anti-reflux surgery will address them. Note that there is no pharmacologic
> means of stopping reflux.
>
> Barrett's esophagus has no symptoms. It can only be diagnosed by EGD and
> biopsies.
>
> Diagnosis of GERD is not rocket science, but many misperceptions persist
> among doctors who should know better. EGD - ambulatory pH testing -
> esophageal manometry. If you haven't had all of those by this time then
> your doctors have all likely been in that group. Be aware that as much as
> 40% of GERD is non-acid reflux. As a result, ambulatory pH testing may be
> inaccurate. State-of-the-art is multichannel intraluminal impedance
> testing (MII).
>
> Extra-esophageal manifestions of GERD may take weeks of PPI treatment
> before they resolve. And even then it may not help since alkaline reflux
> may still be a factor. OTOH, two or three weeks of OTC Prilosec is a
> reasonable thing to do.
>
> An ENT doctor is more likely to get sidetracked by extra-esophageal
> manifestations of GERD than a gastroenterologist or a surgeon, and even
> many gastroenterolgists are woefully ignorant about GERD. Best bet IMHO is
> seeing a laparoendoscopic surgeon, or a gastroenterologist who does the
> Stretta procedure. They are far more likely to be tuned into
> state-of-the-art GERD management.
>
> HMc
>
>
>
I just got a return call from the Curon Stretta Procedure surgeon's office
and I feel very hopeful. His assistant says he has done a lot of Strettas
and a lot of lap nissens. She said they have the capacity to do all the
testing to see if I'm a good candidate for any of the above regardless of
whether I've taken meds or not. So I am very happy. I will be going in
after I return from vacation in mid Sept.
If it had not been for the information I learned here, I'd still be puzzling
as to whether I should go to an ent or a gastro first. I never would have
known to start with a surgeon.
Thanks from the bottom of my heart or should I say thanks from the bottom of
my lower esophageal sphincter! -Blocks
| |
| Howard McCollister 2006-08-09, 9:24 pm |
|
"Blocks to Books" <news@blockstobooks.com> wrote in message
news:PouCg.58$y61.54@fed1read05...
> I just got a return call from the Curon Stretta Procedure surgeon's office
> and I feel very hopeful. His assistant says he has done a lot of Strettas
> and a lot of lap nissens. She said they have the capacity to do all the
> testing to see if I'm a good candidate for any of the above regardless of
> whether I've taken meds or not.
A doctor after my own heart.
I'm pleased you could get help here.
HMc
| |
|
| Suddenly, without warning, Blocks to Books exclaimed (10-Aug-06 9:05 AM):
> "jmc" <NOnewsgroupsSPAM@NOjodiBODY.HOMEus> wrote in message
> news:4juvsqF9q78aU1@individual.net...
> As long as I'm trying things, I guess it couldn't hurt to try an
> antihistamine. I'd be very happy to be free of this mucous and
coughing.
> The only thing that makes me fear it's reflux driven is when it
occurs and
> how it's posturally driven - if I get laid back in a dentist chair or
doctor
> exam table - watch out I'm gonna cough up a storm. I will try it
though.
> Thanks for the suggestion. -Blocks
>
Yea, I tend to cough when I lay down to sleep, or more accurately just
as I fall to sleep. I also sometimes have to cough after leaning over.
But I also cough if I'm in the drs office and do the deep breathing
that's part of a stethescope exam.
And, I get a mucousy cough after eating certain foods - we call it my
'french fry' cough.
But I also cough when it's cold outside, and for a little while after
coming back in.
But, I cough less when I'm on a 24 hour antihistamine.
You see my problem...
jmc
|
| |
|
|