+Re:GERD & thrush -- my own experiences

[Guest guest]

> I have a question, I recently lost my voice. 

 

Bless you.  What a hassle.

 

> The ENT I went to go see told me I had Thrush from what he saw through the scope.  He saw tiny white specs.    But I have no voice what so ever.  I get a sharp pain in the back of my throat then I feel as if my esophagus closes and I am unable to breathe causing me to choke and cough.  I think it might be GERD.  The anti-biotic he gave me for the Thrush isn't working if anything my voice is hoarser than ever.

 

By any chance did the doctor give you an anti_fungal_?  Thrush is caused by candida buildup, and anti_fungals_, like Diflucan (Mycelex troches, Nystatin rinse, etc.), are usually used to treat fungal infections like thrush.  On the other hand, antibiotics (penicillin, Biaxin, tetracycline, etc.) tend to exacerbate thrush.

 

>  ...I get a sharp pain in the back of my throat then I feel as if my esophagus closes and I am unable to breathe causing me to choke and cough.  I think it might be GERD...  Does anyone know if GERD can cause voice loss or hoarseness?

 

My own experience is this:

Thrush:  I had the worst case my great former Dr. Salvato, in Houston, had ever seen; and it took us a YEAR to get rid of -- could indeed lead to a choking sensation since my throat was constricted by yeast buildup.  (Ultimately, it was neither Diflucan nor Nystatin nor Mycelex, etc. which got rid of my thrush.  It was my sister commenting " Isn't that the same as when I have a vaginal yeast infection? "   I gargled full strength with her douche -- the bottle specifically said do NOT swallow so I was very careful.  It was the stinkiest nastiest ickiest barfiest gargle I have ever experienced.  And, after a year of fighting thrush the traditional routes, the thrush was GONE in two days.  FYI, my sister was in the multi-level marketing consumer products company Melaleuca at the time and it was their brand douche that I used.

 

GERD (gastro-esophogeal reflux disease):  I have had years of increasing GERD and this is typically what I go through:  First, it'll seem like I have a generalized shortness of breath.  If I lay down to sleep, I choke and cough like you mention.  Feels rather like bronchitis.  However, here are simple steps that help me determine if it is GERD, in addition with the usual consultation with my docs.  (Interestingly, it's always my allergist's great P.A./physician's assistant, who is pondering at my shortness of breath, who catches the GERD.)  For me, if I do these things and the symptoms stop at least temporarily, it is GERD:

* if I can blow a fairly normal peak flow, that tends to indicate I may not be experiencing a true breathing constriction like it " feels "

* if I take a double dose of regular liquid antacid perhaps 15 minutes before laying down, that tends to help GERD symptoms like choking and coughing.

* if I eat a smaller meal or snack before bed -- and optimally if I can wait 15-30 minutes before laying down after eating -- that tends to help GERD symptoms.

* utilizing a wedge pillow to slightly raise my torso when I gently lay down -- so that stomach acid is less likely to splash the bottom of esophogas causing me to choke -- helps my GERD symptoms.  (Keeping a wedge pillow here is godsend:  http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1 & SKU=10060850 )

* if beginning or increasing acid blockers (the Zantac class, and the H2 blocker class like Prevacid, generic Prilosec, etc.) helps it's often an increase in GERD for me.  One side note:  Prilosec, for whatever reason, makes it difficult for me to piss fully.  When given a cost-comparable option, I personally go for Prevacid.

 

Ultimately, too, if it's nasty I tend to get 3 docs involved and gain concurrence (ie: I get a 2nd+ opinion):  My ENT (since often it may feel like a sinus infection leading to bronchitis), my primary care physician (again because of the shortness of breath sensations), and my allergist's P.A.  I emphasise my allergist's *P.A.*, as the P.A. spends way more time with me (30 minutes?) talking symptoms and has pegged it reliably about 3 times now.

 

Blessings with your choking, coughing and hoarseness.  Those can all be frightening, as well as painful, when moving through them.  May this help your process in discerning what's going on.

 

-Wes