Ginger,
You suffer from LPR (sorry!) and have taken antibiotics. Did you notice that the sore throat that is constant with LPR was largely absent while you were on the antibiotics? Though the BB was not resolved with the augmentin, I did notice that my sore throat was 'cured'. It came back a week after my antibiotics ended. I can't figure it out because while I was on the antibiotics, it was the only time I experienced obvious refluxing. I would think that the sore throat would have been really bad at that time.

Can you tell when you're refluxing? For the life of me, I can't, I just assume that I am because my throat hurts in the morning and then flares up after I eat. I assume it's from refluxing, but a part of me that won't accept that I have LPR, wonders if it's because of the friction of food going down, etc. The ent also thinks I have mild dysphagia.

Hi Alex8,

I suppose if you had a bacterial sinus infection then you would have been experiencing the other symptoms associated with it such as pressure pains, headaches, pain in upper teeth. If you are experiencing congestion and PND then LPR maybe the cause. As I have said I believe that it mimics sinusitis at least in so far as the acid fumes cause inflammation to the nasal lining slowing down the cillia movement which is so vital for effective drainage. I think you maybe at the stage I was at with mine early on namely congestion and PND but as yet no actual established bacterial infection. If these symptoms of congestion and poor drainage continue then it is only a matter of time before an infection takes hold and perhaps then you will experience these other symptoms. Your sinuses are not yet fully damaged by acid exposure although the cysts and the turbinates could be evidence of inflammation / irritation taking place. Be vigilante and monitor the symptoms and pick up on headaches, tenderness and pressure as soon as you can. You also cannot rule out there being a fungal infection.

As regards the anti-biotics I did not notice any difference on the Amoxicillin (augmentin). My throat is not noticeably sore now but I know it is not right it if that makes sense. If I stop and concentrate on it then it feels like a low grade soreness is ever present and that there is some decaying / stagnating process taking place. My mouth and throat feel bitter/ acidic most of the time. I am largely unaware of refluxing these days but my monitoring test showed numerous incidents of it. We adapt to the fact that something isn't quite right to function day to day but if you stop for a moment you realise there is something wrong.

Give the nexium a try and see if any improvement. Meanwhile if you are able to have an endoscopy done to rule out any structural problem (hiatus hernia/ loose sphincter) and to check out the esophaegus for any strictures or diverticulums which might be causing difficulty swallowing. My own view is that it comes from this decaying process at the back of throat /tongue. Post nasal drip is a big factor here. The reflux induces the PND and the acid allows the perfect environment for this bacterial decaying process to take place. Often mixed with the reflux is stomach bile and partly digested food so you can imagine the effects of this trapped in the throat mucous.

Did your ENT check your tonsils. I still think they may be a problem for you.

My depressive state would also improve no end if I felt better.
Best wishes