Wellness

[Growing]

My reflux is due to a physical defect at the opening of my stomach. There are many other meds for reflux if the side effects of protonix are not tolerable. I have a hiatal hernia and this causes my reflux. Every reflux med has a side effect for me. My current one is Prilosec OTC from any store. Either sleepiness or fatigue (the Prilosec) or insomnia (all the others). I'd probably want a gastro doc to do an endoscopy and check the tissue in my stomach and throat. I'd insist on another reflux med if this one was giving me such side effects that my life was miserable. Are you also on allergy meds because this could be what is drying you out.  I am using slippery elm right now because a medication I am recently starting is giving me burning in my throat and one of the listed side effects is reflux. I am using slippery elm which is healing to the entire digestive system. I think I will not be continuing this med as the burning is not good. Back to the doctor for me. I hope you find answers and help soon.

[Growing]

Also, I looked up protonix on rxlist dot com and dry mouth is not a listed side effect but insomnia is! That doesn't mean it won't cause this in you.  Doctors have told me reflux drugs do not cause sleepiness or insomnia but the drug manufacturers list one or the other in the side effects list. I wonder if the dimetapp is drying you out? Try the plain mucinex without the decongestant or antihistamine and see if the drying out mouth gets better. Rinse your nose with a netti pot or one of those machines available on amazon to rinse the nose. I use a HIPPA filte air cleaner in my room at night. Look on consumer reports to find a good one as some of them don't work - even the name brand ones. Allergy drugs dry me out, I take a half does or quarter dose. And only every other day. Again, I hope this resolves quickly for you. Sounds miserable.

[OhioAngel]

I think only a dr could tell you what the issue is for sure. I have allergies and reflux and at times it is hard to tell which one is acting up! I stay on the Nexium and it helps me so much in dealing with reflux plus being careful what I eat.  I try to not have alot of dairy especially milk, that leads to alot of sinus congestion and mucus and draining in my throat. Yuck.

[goldensrbest]

My 85 yr old mom,has been having these symptoms, for 4 months,  x rays of nose ,and other test,this sounds very much what she has,i had never heard of this,was glad to see this post.

[Growing]

How are you feeling now?

[Zhills]

Sipping warm honey & lemon in water will help keep the mucus thinned out of your throat.  Dilute it rather than try to dry it up.

[texassunflower]

I saw the ENT and he told me to come off anything that was drying out my mouth. It took three days for the Protonix to leave my system. I have taken allergy medication most of my adult life. I switched Zrytec and now take it at night. The swallowing issue has gotten much better. I still cough and clear my throat repeatedly in the morning. Sometimes it's an all day affair. I really don't know where to go from here. I have three symptoms of silent reflux but ENT did a nasal scope and looked at my nose, throat, and vocal cords. He didn't see anything out of the ordinary. I assume silent reflux would irrate my vocal cords. I am going to try another PPI for a week. I know several people who take them and no one has complained about a dry mouth. ENT said I might try Mucinex to see if that would help. He really didn't have any suggestions. I think either an allergist or gastroenterologist will be next appointment. I guess it will depend on if another PPI helps with my symptoms. Thank you @Growing  for asking and welcome to the boards.

[Catbelly]

I have similar issues. I few years ago I ended up in the ER 3x with "pneumonia".  It ended up being aspirate pneumonia from me coughing in my sleep then inhaling into my lungs - all from acid reflux. Had a swallow test done and the flap from the esophogus to the stomach doesn't completely close resulting in acid backing up.  

Besides my regular meds I started sleeping on a wedge pillow and no issues since. The voice is sometimes still an issue and usually have increased "hoarseness" if I have too many fluids with citric acid.  

[wagirl]

.@Pook ---my DD has what you have too!!!!   Word for word----she has gone thru so many drs over this problem and really nothing can be done for it----she struggles with thick mucus that she is ALWAYS trying to clear from  her throat. I bet it took her 10 years to finally go get tested for. she doesn't eat anything dairy thinking that helps but not sure it does. Are you doing something for yours? 

[Pook]

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@wagirl wrote:

.@Pook ---my DD has what you have too!!!!   Word for word----she has gone thru so many drs over this problem and really nothing can be done for it----she struggles with thick mucus that she is ALWAYS trying to clear from  her throat. I bet it took her 10 years to finally go get tested for. she doesn't eat anything dairy thinking that helps but not sure it does. Are you doing something for yours? 

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I was treated for asthma for 15 years and all the inhalers and taking the highest dosage of Advair.  All those just inflamed my vocal chords causing shortness of breath that kept me from doing some things.  Finally since I could get no answers as to why the asthma treatments weren't helping I went to an asthma specialist who diagnosed me and sent me to a voice clinic.  I was put on a 9 month double dose of Prilosec which calmed everything down and given exercises to open up my vocal chords when  breathing is  bad.  Keeping the acid reflux controlled stops the post nasal mucous and keeps the vocal chords relaxed.  I watch what I eat for the reflux and every few months can go on prilosec for a month or two.  I also got a Navage to keep my sinuses clear and use it a couple times a week.  I still have shortness of breath at times but the exercises help and keeping a sugar free menthol cough drop in my mouth helps keep me breathing better when doing strenuous things.