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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Swelling In Throat
I have LPR. Just got back from ENT doc. He says I need to go to a gastroenterologist to see if the cause of my throat swelling is anything else. Why couldn t ENT tell? He said he didn t see epiglottis swelling, he saw LPR— how does he know that, or is is just say that because I said I had it before. He spent 5 minutes with me—I m tired of docs not doing a thorough job, and running all over town spending money I don t want another endoscopy— I don t have the money for it. I just had one 3 years ago. I didn t have a problem until I was taking antibiotics for Lyme and I was on Mirtazapine. Could it be LYME or Candida? A gastro won t tell me more than I already know. Will he do a swab to see if it is an infection? Why could n t the ENT do that. I am taking omeprazole 20 mg a day, probiotics, slippery elm and DGL. What else can I do. I can feel the swelling under my throat, and sometimes I feel like I have a sore throat. How do I make sure the LES is closing?
Sat, 27 Mar 2021
Hi,
LPR itself can cause symptoms which make you feel like having swelling over the throat. Having swelling over the throat and feeling of having a swelling are 2 different thing. There might be a feeling of swelling without actually having it and it can happen in LPR. You have been taking omeprazole which is good enough to control acid production and I would advise you to continue it. It would reduce the symptom however the actual issue of LPR will not be resolved by this medicine.
You need to get an opinion of gastroenterologist for further course of treatment including surgery which may be required in advanced cases of gastro-esophageal reflux.You may take few steps in order to reduce the symptoms like not eating large meals, avoiding oily and spicy food, eating frequent small meals, lying with head at a higher level etc. LPR comes under the purview of gastroenterologist and not ENT.I suspect you to be having a feeling of swelling over the throat due to acid reaching that area and causing inflammation (swelling, pain etc.) and make you feel the symptom.
ENT specialist could not find it because there is no visible/apparent swelling over the area. Pl note that when there is a swelling over the area like throat, the person feels it for sometime even after it disappears and this is quite common phenomenon. Also, inflammation may cause minimal swelling which you can perceive without being visible to others. Feeling of soreness is due to irritation of the lining of throat due to acid.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Anoop Kumar, General & Family Physician
LPR itself can cause symptoms which make you feel like having swelling over the throat. Having swelling over the throat and feeling of having a swelling are 2 different thing. There might be a feeling of swelling without actually having it and it can happen in LPR. You have been taking omeprazole which is good enough to control acid production and I would advise you to continue it. It would reduce the symptom however the actual issue of LPR will not be resolved by this medicine.
You need to get an opinion of gastroenterologist for further course of treatment including surgery which may be required in advanced cases of gastro-esophageal reflux.You may take few steps in order to reduce the symptoms like not eating large meals, avoiding oily and spicy food, eating frequent small meals, lying with head at a higher level etc. LPR comes under the purview of gastroenterologist and not ENT.I suspect you to be having a feeling of swelling over the throat due to acid reaching that area and causing inflammation (swelling, pain etc.) and make you feel the symptom.
ENT specialist could not find it because there is no visible/apparent swelling over the area. Pl note that when there is a swelling over the area like throat, the person feels it for sometime even after it disappears and this is quite common phenomenon. Also, inflammation may cause minimal swelling which you can perceive without being visible to others. Feeling of soreness is due to irritation of the lining of throat due to acid.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Anoop Kumar, General & Family Physician
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