Does anybody have silent reflux?

[Asterope]

And, if so, how are you managing it? I have had a lump in the throat/dry throat feeling for ages. I was given steroids for post nasal drip months ago and now I've been given lansoprazole but so far no change.

I don't know if it's related but recently ive had some rib tenderness/discomfort under my left rib. But it's the throat feeling that is really annoying me.

My diet, I've just realised, is not great for reflux - very caffeine heavy! But I don't really fit the other symptoms of GERD (heartburn etc). I'm just looking for some idea of what silent reflux feels like for others and how you've managed it. I'd really appreciate any advice and tia :-)

Following this. Ive been diagnosed with reflux and globus but I dont have any pain at all. And all medications have had no effect on the sensation in my throat. Its been since March now and has been worse since having a camera up my nose and down my throat

I have lost count on how many people are complaining the symptom of being stuck between post nasal drip and silent reflux and all of them have their symptoms started in Feb/March. So many are here on Mumsnet and others on other sites. I am one to be suffering too and I don't remember how many things I have tried already to get rid off this issue. For post nasal drip I have tried actifed, saline spray, steroid spray, cetrizine and for reflux -nexium, omeprazole , zantac (had some left before it was banned), gaviscon, Maalox.
The only thing that has worked so far is paracetamol+phenylephrine 10mg + piriton 2mg twice a day for 2 days and now I don't have post nasal drip which has completely settled.
For reflux - I keep drinking water at regular intervals.
I found that reflux much under control after post nasal drip stopped.
Would love to hear other people's experiences.

Thanks @Literallyfedup - I will try this. Do you think anxiety/lockdown is causing people to have flare ups? I hope it's that! It's such a horrible feeling that you imagine the worst!

Also I can't find phenylephrine at 10mg so any reccs gratefully received!

I think whatever it is , it is being flared by staying indoors most of the time. May be it's down to the indoor environments being mostly dry and stale ( even if we do keep the windows open).

I had symptoms like yours. I had to take omeprazole for over a year and take gaviscon after meals and before bed and be incredibly strict on my diet before it got better. That was a few years ago and it's much better but I still have to be careful of what I eat and take gaviscon every night. There are a few reflux cookbooks around that I've found helpful

Yes. Wheat and potatoes cause this in me. I wake up with a very sore throat. I found that lanzoprazole and ranitidine both made me lethargic and gave me back pain. I weaned myself off them very gradually, literally opening the capsules and removing grains until I was down to none.
There is a notion that acid reflux is caused by too little, not too much, acid in the stomach. So ultimately damping down the acid with drugs makes the condition worse.
I have a book which I will look out for you which really helped me understand this.
If you are willing to make bone broth, there is evidence that it helps heal this (anecdotally, it certainly helped me)

I took Beecham's cold and flu capsule , it has 5mg phenylephrine per capsule but you have to take 2 as a dose so that makes 10. I took piriton separately as there was no combination of cold and flu tablets that had piriton. Don't take any med with guaifenesin as it can make you drip more.

I mean I *woke up with a sore throat, and still do if I eat the offending food. But it was daily, and getting worse, and all the doctor could offer was increased doses of lanzoprazole.
Very rarely, if I've over indulged, I'll take a slug of gaviscon, and that does the trick.

Thank you all, this is so useful to hear. @Whenwillow - is it this book: www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Acid-Reflux-Diet-Plan/dp/1939754798

There's a recipe for bone broth in there and I've just ordered the ingredients to make it

Thanks @Literallyfedup - I'm going to do this

@Whenwillow - how did you work out it was wheat and potatoes? I have no idea what, if anything, might be irritating me.

I have some discomfort below my rib cage too which I guess might be related.

Hi, I don't think it's that book, but probably similar. Very best of luck. Wheat Belly is another good book - they have a Facebook page too.

I had silent reflux last year - no sore throat but the weirdest fluttery sensations in my throat when lying down, which made sleep difficult. The rib feeling is familiar too.

I got rid of it with a course of lansoprazole plus massively reducing caffeine, alcohol and spicy foods. Having said that, with lockdown my caffeine and alcohol consumption have both crept up, but so far there has been no return of the symptoms. Good luck beating this - it made me so anxious when I had it.

(Btw when I say I 'massively' reduced alcohol, I wasn't overdoing it by any means - I went from 2 bottles of wine per week to 1 .)

@TheySeeHerRowling You sound so like me! That's exactly what I drink. And lots of caffeine and spices. I need to change it up. Glad to hear the rib thing sounds familiar, I can't seem to find anybody else saying that. Ps also good username :-)

, Asterope .

In that case, I'm hoping that what worked for me will work for you. Good luck!

Just bumping this for the evening crowd :-)

I've suffered with reflux for years so feel your pain but the rib tenderness you're on about sounds like gastritis. It can be very painful at times and other times as if you had a little punch there! I had a gastroscopy and was told I had mild gastritis which was the discomfort felt under my left rib.
I love spicy food curry's etc but haven't had any spicy food for near two years and tomatoes can set it off for me and I was a big tomato eater! and gave them up too.
Maybe you should try cutting out some foods and see how you go!

That's so useful @kissmelittleass - I haven't even thought of gastritis! It's discomfort under my left rib, sometimes in centre and right and my ribs feel tender to touch. Does that sound familiar? It's actually a relief to think it could be connected to the reflux as I was thinking they might be two separate issues

@Literallyfedup sorry to ask another q : how many times per day did you take the beechams? Just one dose of two tabs?

@kissmelittleass also, I eat LOADS of tomatoes

2 tabs is one dose of Beecham's, I took 2 doses per day so total 4 tabs a day plus 2 mg piriton with each dose. It can make you drowsy. My pharmacist said I can safely take 3 doses of the combination a day but 2 were enough.

Thank you @Literallyfedup

Thank you @Literallyfedup