04-16-2009, 11:56 PM
It sounds like you may have what is known as "laryngeal reflux." This is a variety of gastrointestinal reflux that does not have the more common symptoms of heartburn, etc. The excess acidity is centered in the larynx rather than in the esophagus proper, and the syndrome is not as well known.
Laryngeal reflux can be a bit of a vicious cycle -- the acid causes chronic irritation of the larynx, and the laryngeal irritation causes stress that provokes more reflux. For this reason, laryngeal reflux is usually treated by proton pump inhibitors like Prevacid or Prilosec --they stop the cycle by eliminating the acid in your stomach. It usually takes several months for the coughing etc to clear up, as the larynx takes time to heal.
Some people find that they can stop taking the medication after several months, with no recurrence. Others find that they need to stay on the medications long term to control the symptoms.
I actually had laryngeal reflux myself for a long time and didn't know what it was -- constant throat-clearing with no obvious cause.
Fortunately for me, I then developed burning stomach pains, and was prescribed Prevacid to treat the "heartburn." The Prevacid didn't help the burning stomach, but the throat-clearing mysteriously cleared up
The burning stomach was some kind of stress-related inflammation, NOT acid reflux, and Tai Chi and meditation turned out to be the most effective treatment. I still experience occasional laryngeal irritation, but not the chronic cough I had before.
Laryngeal reflux can be a bit of a vicious cycle -- the acid causes chronic irritation of the larynx, and the laryngeal irritation causes stress that provokes more reflux. For this reason, laryngeal reflux is usually treated by proton pump inhibitors like Prevacid or Prilosec --they stop the cycle by eliminating the acid in your stomach. It usually takes several months for the coughing etc to clear up, as the larynx takes time to heal.
Some people find that they can stop taking the medication after several months, with no recurrence. Others find that they need to stay on the medications long term to control the symptoms.
I actually had laryngeal reflux myself for a long time and didn't know what it was -- constant throat-clearing with no obvious cause.
Fortunately for me, I then developed burning stomach pains, and was prescribed Prevacid to treat the "heartburn." The Prevacid didn't help the burning stomach, but the throat-clearing mysteriously cleared up
The burning stomach was some kind of stress-related inflammation, NOT acid reflux, and Tai Chi and meditation turned out to be the most effective treatment. I still experience occasional laryngeal irritation, but not the chronic cough I had before.