LPR

tdonline said:

I have been off the bike for more than a month now due to a mystery
illness. The ENT's verdict is that I have LPR, where I reflux stomach
acid into my throat. This would mean both my lower and upper
esophageal sphincters have transient relaxations.

Anyone here dealing with this problem? I'm on nexium to curb the acids
so my esophageal and sore throat can recover. Nexium though does not
strengthen the sphincters. Should I stay off the bike until I get over
this? I miss riding but don't want to exercebate the problem. I have
a feeling the road position that cyclists use could be a culprit in the
loosening of the sphincter muscles. Any suggestions?

Is this the same as GERD? The suggestion is to sleep in an somewhat
upright position. You could ride but stay up on the hoods, or switch
to a hybrid or mountain bike.

"tdonline" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have been off the bike for more than a month now due to a mystery
illness. The ENT's verdict is that I have LPR, where I reflux stomach
acid into my throat. This would mean both my lower and upper
esophageal sphincters have transient relaxations.

Anyone here dealing with this problem? I'm on nexium to curb the acids
so my esophageal and sore throat can recover. Nexium though does not
strengthen the sphincters. Should I stay off the bike until I get over
this? I miss riding but don't want to exercebate the problem. I have
a feeling the road position that cyclists use could be a culprit in the
loosening of the sphincter muscles. Any suggestions?

I have that. The Nexium will keep stomach acid from forming, so, even if you
have reflux while you ride, it won't burn anything. You should still be able
to ride fine. Just don't eat a big meal before you go. I don't think riding
a road bike has anything to do with developing the condition itself, unless
maybe your handle bars are quite low compared to your saddle (which wouldn't
cause it as such, but would favour the reflux going up more easily). On
second thought, with the bikes they sell these days, that's a distinct
possibility. If so, you can always stick to the tops for a while.
Pierre

Thanks guys. Okay, the nexium will keep the acid from hitting my
throat. But ultimately, the problem is the with loose sphincters and I
do not want to make the situation worse. I'm hoping this is a stress
problem rather than a anatomical one.

My seat is on line with my handlebar stem, so it's a not a particularly
aero position and I almost never go into the drops. Just a rec rider.
I have always ridden on a light stomach as a full tummy always ruined
the ride. Hmmm...I can guess why now...

Pierre, how long have you been on nexium? I'm worried that this is
going to be a life long condition. Do you get the nasty taste in the
tongue as one of your symptoms? That and the sore throat was what
drove me to the ENT. Has nexium helped in eradicating this problem?
Thanks.

tdonline <[email hidden]> wrote:
:> Thanks guys. Okay, the nexium will keep the acid from hitting my
:> throat. But ultimately, the problem is the with loose sphincters
:> and I do not want to make the situation worse. I'm hoping this is a
:> stress problem rather than a anatomical one.
:>
:> My seat is on line with my handlebar stem, so it's a not a
:> particularly aero position and I almost never go into the drops.
:> Just a rec rider. I have always ridden on a light stomach as a full
:> tummy always ruined the ride. Hmmm...I can guess why now...
:>
:> Pierre, how long have you been on nexium? I'm worried that this is
:> going to be a life long condition. Do you get the nasty taste in the
:> tongue as one of your symptoms? That and the sore throat was what
:> drove me to the ENT. Has nexium helped in eradicating this problem?
:> Thanks.

Perhaps you should consider cutting the amount of carbohydrate in your diet.

tdonline said:

I have been off the bike for more than a month now due to a mystery
illness. The ENT's verdict is that I have LPR, where I reflux stomach
acid into my throat. This would mean both my lower and upper
esophageal sphincters have transient relaxations.

Anyone here dealing with this problem? I'm on nexium to curb the acids
so my esophageal and sore throat can recover. Nexium though does not
strengthen the sphincters. Should I stay off the bike until I get over
this? I miss riding but don't want to exercebate the problem. I have
a feeling the road position that cyclists use could be a culprit in the
loosening of the sphincter muscles. Any suggestions?

I've had this problem a few years now. Late evening meals, especially
with tomato sauce or other spicy or acidic ingredients seem to trigger
it. The symptom which is so scary, awakens me from deep sleep with an
inability to breathe. It is caused by acid stomach regurgitating and
pouring down my breathing tube. Untreated this can lead to permanent
scarring damage. Thankfully all of this has been eliminated with the
use of a Medslant Pillow:
http://www.medslant.com/

BTW, if I've had a very light meal, hours before bedtime, I don't
bother using the Medslant.

The Medslant is expensive, and there are others less costly available.
However, it is fairly comfortable, and really does the job. A 'google'
on "reflux pillow' will provide some other choices.

Joe Faust <[email hidden]> wrote:
:> On 23 Oct 2005 11:58:44 -0700, "tdonline" <[email hidden]> wrote:
:>
:>>I have been off the bike for more than a month now due to a mystery
:>>illness. The ENT's verdict is that I have LPR, where I reflux
:>>stomach acid into my throat. This would mean both my lower and upper
:>>esophageal sphincters have transient relaxations.
:>>
:>>Anyone here dealing with this problem? I'm on nexium to curb the
:>>acids so my esophageal and sore throat can recover. Nexium though
:>>does not strengthen the sphincters. Should I stay off the bike
:>>until I get over this? I miss riding but don't want to exercebate
:>>the problem. I have a feeling the road position that cyclists use
:>>could be a culprit in the loosening of the sphincter muscles. Any
:>>suggestions?
:>
:> I've had this problem a few years now. Late evening meals, especially
:> with tomato sauce or other spicy or acidic ingredients seem to
:> trigger it. The symptom which is so scary, awakens me from deep
:> sleep with an inability to breathe. It is caused by acid stomach
:> regurgitating and pouring down my breathing tube. Untreated this can
:> lead to permanent scarring damage. Thankfully all of this has been
:> eliminated with the use of a Medslant Pillow:
:> http://www.medslant.com/
:>
:> BTW, if I've had a very light meal, hours before bedtime, I don't
:> bother using the Medslant.
:>
:> The Medslant is expensive, and there are others less costly
:> available. However, it is fairly comfortable, and really does the
:> job. A 'google' on "reflux pillow' will provide some other choices.

I had the exact same problem as described here...even though I haven't
suffer from it for nearly 4 years now. It all stopped when I start
overeating carbs. I know it sounds strange.....

Quoted message said:

I had the exact same problem as described here...even though I haven't
suffer from it for nearly 4 years now. It all stopped when I start
overeating carbs. I know it sounds strange.....

hmmm...from all accounts, this looks to be a manageable but life-long
condition. I think mine is down to stress since it appeared during a
very difficult period and I've been diagnosed as clinically depressed.
Prior to this, I was pretty healthy and had great digestion, etc.
Other than stress, I wonder if the miles upon miles of the road
position hurt. And I always boasted of having an iron stomach. I'm a
very adventurous eater and particurly liked spicy food. If this
doesn't get better, I'll ask to have my sphincter muscles checked and
also if I have helicobacter pylori. It's an infection which eventually
causes ulcers, but initially may give off indigestion symptoms.

It's a socially distressing problem...the nasty taste and breath, do
they ever go away? I notice that my sore throat has improved since
starting nexium, but that weird taste is still present. I brush, rinse
and floss 2 or 3 times a day, so I know it's not my oral care.

Roger Zoul said:

I had the exact same problem as described here...even though I haven't
suffer from it for nearly 4 years now. It all stopped when I start
overeating carbs. I know it sounds strange.....

What's "overeating carbs"? Is that a recognized medical syndrome? I eat
mostly carbs now (like most of the world), but had a problem with reflux
(particularly sleeping) until I switched to a very low fat diet. Along
with spicy foods, fatty foods seem to have the strongest association
with gastric hyper-acidity and GERD-type diseases.

Peter Cole <[email hidden]> wrote:
:> Roger Zoul wrote:
:>>
:>> I had the exact same problem as described here...even though I
:>> haven't suffer from it for nearly 4 years now. It all stopped when
:>> I start overeating carbs. I know it sounds strange.....
:>
:> What's "overeating carbs"? Is that a recognized medical syndrome? I
:> eat mostly carbs now (like most of the world), but had a problem
:> with reflux (particularly sleeping) until I switched to a very low
:> fat diet. Along with spicy foods, fatty foods seem to have the
:> strongest association with gastric hyper-acidity and GERD-type
:> diseases.

Except for days before and during long rides (45+ miles), I eat a high-fat
diet and is also low in carbs...and I enjoy spicy foods...I no longer ever
have GERD-type issues. Of course, I am not alone in this - there are plenty
other who report the same thing and there are books written by MDs who
support my claims.

Is low-carb a cure for GERD-type issues? I can't say for sure. Also, as you
likely know, comparatively very little medical research has been done.
However, a lot of the medical research done on high-fat diets was done in
the presence of excessive carb intake, and but the unhealthy effects have
been blamed on fat for various reasons.

You can look to the published research for your answers and ignore the
building anecdotal evidence. That would sure seem the wise thing to do.
However, given how research and medical science happens (and happened) in
this country today (funding sources, special interests, covering our
collective asses, etc), one might be wise to look beyond the obvious.

Unfortunately, I've got stuff to get done today, so I won't try to pump this
point any further. I just wanted to give the OP some insights that I've
gained and that many others on low carb diets regularly report.

Roger Zoul said:

You can look to the published research for your answers and ignore the
building anecdotal evidence. That would sure seem the wise thing to do.
However, given how research and medical science happens (and happened) in
this country today (funding sources, special interests, covering our
collective asses, etc), one might be wise to look beyond the obvious.

Call me simple-minded, but I'll stick with the obvious, thanks.

"tdonline" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thanks guys. Okay, the nexium will keep the acid from hitting my
throat. But ultimately, the problem is the with loose sphincters and I
do not want to make the situation worse. I'm hoping this is a stress
problem rather than a anatomical one.

My seat is on line with my handlebar stem, so it's a not a particularly
aero position and I almost never go into the drops. Just a rec rider.
I have always ridden on a light stomach as a full tummy always ruined
the ride. Hmmm...I can guess why now...

Pierre, how long have you been on nexium? I'm worried that this is
going to be a life long condition. Do you get the nasty taste in the
tongue as one of your symptoms? That and the sore throat was what
drove me to the ENT. Has nexium helped in eradicating this problem?
Thanks.

I'm not on Nexium. I've been on Pantoloc for years (pantoprazole). It's in
the same class a Nexium, though. No, it did not completely eradicate the
problem. What it does, for me, is to relieve it by preventing "hot" acid
from burning things in there. I can't say I've had any side effects from it
that I know of. Anytime I stop taking the drug, the problem comes back.
Pierre

Peter Cole said:

Roger Zoul said:

I had the exact same problem as described here...even though I haven't
suffer from it for nearly 4 years now. It all stopped when I start
overeating carbs. I know it sounds strange.....

What's "overeating carbs"? Is that a recognized medical syndrome? I eat
mostly carbs now (like most of the world), but had a problem with reflux
(particularly sleeping) until I switched to a very low fat diet. Along
with spicy foods, fatty foods seem to have the strongest association
with gastric hyper-acidity and GERD-type diseases.

Excessive carbs can exacerbate hypoglycemia. Cutting way back on carbs,
especially simple carbs, made a huge difference in my overall health.
That said, really doing the low carb tango is not easy.

Jeff