Natural Remedies for LPR: Effective Treatment and Relief at Home

ACV, helping so far!

I have been dealing with this (likely) LPR issue for 4 months. It started when I would wake up in the middle of the night with excruciating chest tightness, but no asthma. It felt crushing to attempt breathing (inhaling specifically). It happened with full body aches, especially lower back pain. I had a lump in my throat feeling 24/7 also (actually I've had that lump feeling off and on for over 15 years). I went to the ER &, they said it was reactive airway disease and sent me home with albuterol. It worked well enough for 2 weeks, then the same middle of the night chest tightness again. I went to my Dr and she did bloodwork and a chest xray. Everything was normal, so sure sent me home with qvar and said to keep taking my allergy meds. Fast forward, my symptoms worsened and I ended up with what felt like very thick post nasal drip and constant coughing, mucus in my throat (stuck feeling), more chest pain that feels like asthma (but no wheezing), and overall weakness. I was most recently given flonaze and scheduled to see an allergist (I have always dealt with severe seasonal allergies).

I am a speech pathologist, so I have some understanding about the esophagus and the upper and lower esophageal sphincters (from 13 years ago when I was doing barium swallow studies). I also have had 2 close relatives die from esophageal cancer. I suspected a hiatal hernia and was doing some "exercises" to help with that (from youtube). In a way I'm relieved my Dr didn't suspect reflux because I haven't been sent down the PPI path.

About 10 days ago this constant thick congestion (stuck in my throat feeling) was too unbearable. I went on a strict detox and have only eaten very simple, plain, whole foods. I added probiotics, digestive enzymes, slippery elm, vitamin B 50 complex, and others (per the recommendations of people here). The most obvious changes took a week and included a reduction in my congestion. Unfortunately though my coughing increased and my lung pain was occuring every night (vs every 10 or so days). I changed my sleeping pattern to elevated and on the left side only (that can supposedly help the LES).

My understanding is that reflux can cause confestion because your body will produce more in order to coat a burning esophagus. I do feel the diet changes at least thinned my secretions. I also read that for some people, the reflux at night will aspirate into thier lungs and can cause lung spasms (not asthma). This made sense to me because my chest/lungs were so tight around 3am after I'd been having reflux while laying down for several hours (of stomach secretions backing up into my lungs). This caused the horrible coughing and need for the inhalers...which was getting worse (2x/night) last night in fact!

Yesterday I finally tried the ACV. Initially I took it with baking soda & water with meals. I didn't notice too much immediately. I took it right before bed (without baking soda) since night is when my symptoms are worst. This is the first night in awhile where I have not coughed at all and have zero chest tightness. I still had some secretions, but I took the ACV with BS again in the middle of the night and it seems to be the must helpful thing so far. I also had this weird gurguling between my stomach and neck with the sensation of needing to burp constantly. That is much much mess and the "lump" feeling is noticeably smaller.

I can't say I'm cured or out of the woods yet. I finally feel a small sense of hope though. I also made a consult appointment with an LPR expert at USC. I can't see him regularly for tests and f/u, but I just want to get his opinion given my family hx of esophageal cancer. I feel like my Dr will begin to take this more seriously if I pay privately for the insight of an expert. It is heart wrenching to read that all these people basically had to solve this problem for themselves or even undo the PPI damage their Drs caused!

Hi Mark,

I think we are on same page. I have the same symptoms which you are suffering from. I'm 26 and I have been suffering from LPR since from last 1+ year. I been visiting different Allergy and Asthma Clinics they just suggesting me some inhaler but didn't really help me. Recently I visited an ENT doctor and he confirmed after the test that I have LPR. Do you have any suggestions and home remedies to get rid of LPR bit quicker?

I'm taking 2 spoons of unfiltered ACV with a glass of water for some relief. Please let me know if you have any better suggestions as home remedies.

Thanks!

Went to 6 different ENTs (sad but true). Finally 1 good ENT knew what my problem was when I described the symptoms to him (globus or feeling something stuck in my throat, dry mouth, white tongue, etc.). He performed a flexiscope and found I have LPR which is form of "Silent Reflux" where acid flow up past your Upper sphincter and inflame your vocal chord causing irritations. He immediately put me in 2x PPI Nexium, it helped reduced my symptoms but I still get regular irritations in my throat. I decided to try ACV mixed with Raw Honey after each meal and it greatly reduced my symptoms. I feel better and is revisiting my ENT and should reduce to 1 PPI/day. Not good thing to do PPI if possible. Lots of side effects and long-term health risks.

Side-note is that if you have heartburn or throat lump problems, make SURE you get a good GI or ENT to diagnose. Don't go to a GP (General Practitioner) or FP (Family Practitioner) or Internist, they are not usually good and don't have expertise or equipment to diagnose your problem. They can make things worse by guessing your problem and misdiagnosing. Dr's. are people too and they're good and bad ones everywhere. It's up to you to find out and do your home work.

People that have LPR like me don't have heartburn because the acid does not stay long enough in the Esophagus to cause irritation. I did Esophogram and Barrium Swallon test and found don't have Esophagitis.