Reflux & weird swallowing sensations

Hi everyone,

I'm struggling with refluxy problems but my symptoms seem quite odd and so am looking to see if anyone has suffered from similar. I'm also obviously worried that it might be something more sinister but am trying my best not to panic.

I have had a chronic cough since my teenage years (am now 31) and have seen various ENT specialists about it who have said a variety of things and the last one said I have an 'overactive cough relfex'...I can't remember if any of them have ever mentioned reflus since I've seen a few over the years but I'm now worried that I've had silent reflux since my teenage years and that it has now caused damage hence my current symptoms.

Towards the end of last year, aorund November time, I suddenly had a burning/tingling/hairy feeling at the back of my throat and tongue constantly. I was treated for oral thrush, however I had a swab that came back negative for thrush and then was told it was reflux and was given omeprezole. I took the omeprezole for a few weeks and it didn't budge so came off it and then went back on a little while later to try again. The second time I stayed on it for a couple of months and eventually the burning sensation went away. I spoke to the doctor to say that my symptoms had improved and he suggested coming off the omeprezole so I did. This was around April this year. A few weeks ago, I woke up in the night with a choking/coughing fit (which, now that I think about it, I have fairly regularly), and in the morning it felt like something was blocking my upper airway almost and I couldn't get a ful breath. I kept feeling the need to yawn tot ake a full breath, and this went on for a couple of weeks so I got in touch with the doctor, who suggested going back onto omeprezole. I started taking omeprezole again a couple of weeks ago, and the breathing thing has now improved however over the last few days I have noticed a tightness in my throat which makes it feel like the food goes down slowly when swallowing and then it feels like the food gets stuck or sits behind my chest for a while after. I phoned the doctor back and he said I should double the dose of omeprezole and phone again in two weeks. I have also been getting intermittent burning sensations in my throat again and a sour taste in my mouth, as well as constant burping after eating. Since January I have lsot a lot of weight, around a stone and a half, but my partner says he thinks that is down to me being anxious and not eating as I normally do.

I am wondering if anyone else has had similar symptoms/similar progression of symptoms? I am trying very hard to use techniques keep my HA under control but my brain is backtracking and I find myself worrying that I've had silent reflux for decades (hence the chronic cough) and that it has led to cancer in my throat/esophagus.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can offer any help or who can relate. :)

I've had a chronic cough for about four years. I've had a clear chest x-ray and a scope to look at my larnyx. The ENT found just mild irritation on my larynx and didn't recommend any treatment. I don't really have heart burn, but I have worried about silent reflux too. I try to avoid fried, spicy and carbonated foods. I recently stopped eating wheat and oddly enough that has helped my cough quite a bit. Recently I've started feeling a lump in my throat and when I googled that it came up with anxiety. I also have a friend who has had a cough for years with no answers from doctors.

Do you cough daily? Did the omeprezole help your cough at all?

It's so interesting to hear from someone else who has coughed for years with no answers. I've been coughing for around 15 years! Some doctors have told me that it's become a nervous habit but I swear it feels like there us mucus I have to clear so I'm pretty sure it's reflux. I cough daily, yes, and there are times it is worse and times I don't cough much but it's always there. The omeprezole has never seemed to make a difference to my cough but there is a lot of stuff online about PPIs not always being effective for silent reflux. I've cut our wheat too as I'm pretty sure that irritates my stomach too! The lump in the throat thing can definitely be anxiety but that is also a symptom of silent reflux. I'm going to push to see a gastro specialist but it's so hard with COVID, doctors seem so reluctant to refer to specialists. Have any doctors you've seen mentioned silent reflux for your cough?

I have experienced the same sensation in my throat. I actually brought it up to my doctor and he said it could be reflux, but because my larynx wasn't too irritated he wasn't worried about it. He told me to take some tums if I was going to eat spicy food. I have read a ton about chronic coughs and it seems to be more common that I had thought. I've worried about the same things you mention. I did read a great article that coughs are usually a combination of things and that after coughing for so long your cough reflex becomes sensitive and leads to even more coughing. I used to wake up in the night quite a bit, since cutting the wheat out that has seemed to end that. I've only been wheat free for a couple of months, my cough is less and I'm hoping that this will help. Did you know there are a handful of people with wheat allergies and their only symptom is a dry cough?

Hi, sorry I didn't get back to you sooner! I have since spoken to a gastoenterologist and he is sending me for an endoscopy and also, funnily enough, testing me for coeliac disease! Even if that comes back negative I think I'm going to go wheat free as I have a strong suspicion that I'm at least intollerant. How are you getting on?

Hannah, can I ask you a question? What is your diet like? I struggled with acid reflux all my life- was on ppi after ppi and guess what- this year I went pescatarian- no dairy- based and workout 6 days a week. I study nutrition and am off all meds and haven’t had acid reflux or post nasal drip in months.... I’m 31 too- and feel the best and most healthiest I’ve felt in my entire life. The microbiome is HUGE and our bodies first and most important line of defense is in our gut- ppi’s kill off our microbiome- best diets for longevity? Mediterranean/ Asian mostly plant based diet with healthy sources of fish.