Hi Poppy, really sorry you’re going through this. When symptoms are constant for months, it can genuinely wear you down mentally as well as physically. A lot of people with LPR also find that standard PPIs don’t fully resolve their symptoms, especially the throat-focused ones, so you’re definitely not alone there.

Honestly, I still think it’s worth doing the stool test your doctor suggested, just to rule things out properly. Even if it doesn’t end up being the main cause, it’s better not to miss something treatable.

Seven days on Gaviscon Advance and diet changes is still very early, especially with LPR, which can take time to calm down because the throat tissues are sensitive and slow to heal. Try not to lose hope just because progress isn’t immediate.

One thing I’d also say is that stress/anxiety from the condition itself can really amplify symptoms and keep the cycle going, which makes recovery feel even harder. Hope things start improving for you soon.

Really sorry you’re dealing with that — the anxiety and throat/sinus symptoms can feel overwhelming when this first starts. The good news is that if it only began a few days ago after a clear trigger, there’s a decent chance things can calm down again with time and consistency.

The reason people talk about Gaviscon Advance/Reflux Gourmet more for LPR is because of the higher alginate content, which creates a stronger “barrier” to help stop reflux reaching the throat. Regular Gaviscon can still help though, especially alongside diet changes and avoiding triggers.

I also wouldn’t assume you’ll need stronger meds long term just because a GP suggests them. A lot of people improve with a combination of lifestyle changes, stress reduction, meal timing, and giving the throat time to heal.

The anxiety itself can massively amplify symptoms too, especially globus, throat tension, and hyper-awareness. Hope you start improving soon.

Will se a gp next week but am sure they will propose higher PPI or H2 blocker, which I don’t want to take

Nexium and famotidine are both commonly used for LPR, and some people do notice improvement from them, especially when combined with diet and lifestyle changes like you’re already doing.

Famotidine helping your histamine-type symptoms does make some sense since histamine can play a role in both acid production and related symptoms for some people.

I think the biggest thing with LPR is usually consistency and giving things enough time. Unfortunately it often improves slowly rather than overnight. It also sounds like you’re already addressing a lot of the common triggers and supportive areas, which is good.

Hopefully the combination of the medications, diet changes, and reducing triggers helps calm things down over the next several weeks.

I think both can help some people with LPR, but more as symptom-management tools rather than actual cures.

Alkaline water is thought to help deactivate pepsin, which may reduce throat irritation in some people with LPR. Some notice a real difference, others don’t.

Reflux Gourmet is basically an alginate product, similar in concept to Gaviscon Advance. It forms a barrier on top of stomach contents to help stop reflux reaching the throat, and a lot of people with LPR seem to find alginates helpful.

Personally, I think they can be useful alongside diet and lifestyle changes, especially during flare-ups, but they usually work best as part of a bigger overall approach rather than a standalone fix.