In this practice, an initial diagnosis of reflux laryngitis will typically involve medical management to include both dietary and lifestyle modifications as well as medication. Although the medications prescribed may only be used for a short period of time, the dietary and lifestyle modifications will be helpful to use throughout your life.
You may also be referred for additional testing to determine if there are anatomical/structural issues contributing to your reflux, such as a hernia. In many cases, structural issues may be surgically corrected, resolving the reflux issue either entirely or to a large extent.
It is important to keep in mind, however, that the throat is a very heavily used part of the body. You use your pharynx every time you swallow and you use your larynx every time you talk, cough, laugh, etc. The foods/liquids you swallow must also contact the damaged tissues as well as they move through the throat and into the esophagus. Because this part of the body is not able to simply rest and “recover,” it is slow to heal. A sprained ankle, for example, will not heal as quickly if you continue to run and walk on it. Same thing! Since we can’t set your throat “aside” and let it heal without using it, an immediate recovery should not be anticipated.
In that sense, you should understand that the medications and dietary/lifestyle modification begin to work immediately, although you may not be able to notice a change in your symptom complex for several weeks. Although many patients report a notable improvement after 1-2 weeks, it is important to continue taking the medication and adhering to the dietary changes even without a notable change. Often times, very subtle improvements are occurring, but these may be difficult to notice yourself on a day-to-day basis.
Another example to consider: trying to watch your hair grow daily, you may not notice too much change when looking each day. After a couple months though, you need a haircut! The same is true with subtle changes in your throat. Because you use your throat daily, small improvements may be less noticeable. After a couple months, however, you may realize there are significant changes by comparison in how you feel and function. For this reason, it is very important to continue the reflux management regimen as prescribed, until otherwise directed by your doctor or SLP.
If, however, your reflux does not appear to be well controlled with short-term medication and lifestyle/diet modifications, you may be referred to additional specialists who are able to more thoroughly assess your reflux as well as offer additional management options. See More Extensive Testing/Management.
You may also be referred for additional testing to determine if there are anatomical/structural issues contributing to your reflux, such as a hernia. In many cases, structural issues may be surgically corrected, resolving the reflux issue either entirely or to a large extent.
It is important to keep in mind, however, that the throat is a very heavily used part of the body. You use your pharynx every time you swallow and you use your larynx every time you talk, cough, laugh, etc. The foods/liquids you swallow must also contact the damaged tissues as well as they move through the throat and into the esophagus. Because this part of the body is not able to simply rest and “recover,” it is slow to heal. A sprained ankle, for example, will not heal as quickly if you continue to run and walk on it. Same thing! Since we can’t set your throat “aside” and let it heal without using it, an immediate recovery should not be anticipated.
In that sense, you should understand that the medications and dietary/lifestyle modification begin to work immediately, although you may not be able to notice a change in your symptom complex for several weeks. Although many patients report a notable improvement after 1-2 weeks, it is important to continue taking the medication and adhering to the dietary changes even without a notable change. Often times, very subtle improvements are occurring, but these may be difficult to notice yourself on a day-to-day basis.
Another example to consider: trying to watch your hair grow daily, you may not notice too much change when looking each day. After a couple months though, you need a haircut! The same is true with subtle changes in your throat. Because you use your throat daily, small improvements may be less noticeable. After a couple months, however, you may realize there are significant changes by comparison in how you feel and function. For this reason, it is very important to continue the reflux management regimen as prescribed, until otherwise directed by your doctor or SLP.
If, however, your reflux does not appear to be well controlled with short-term medication and lifestyle/diet modifications, you may be referred to additional specialists who are able to more thoroughly assess your reflux as well as offer additional management options. See More Extensive Testing/Management.
