Question: Had surgery 10/2013 - was tx with Abu and steroids- noticed enlarged circumvallate papillae on my tongue- had choking sensation and lump on my throat with some mild to mod pain in upper gastric area. Have been treated with medium for silent reflux but still have swollen papillae! Please help- have seen 3 ENT- 3 PCP- and 1 Gastro ( had upper GI and Colonoscopy - normal) .

Hi Dr. Krunal,

Yes, I had an anterior lumbar fusion L5/S1. Been taking Nexium and now Dexilant for "silent" reflux. Changed diet dramatically, very clean. Abdominal ultrasound showed mild fatty liver. Pancreas, gall bladder, stomach all unremarkable. Had to stop reflux meds because it was causing my stomach to hurt, mild annoying burn. Endoscopy showed mild inflammation , esophogitis, minor hiatal hernia, no ulcers. Burning in stomach area usually when stomach is empty. After eating, burning sensation goes away temporarily, sometimes comes back, sometimes is does not. My concern is that the burning is pancreas related. Although, my risk factors seem to point to very low probability. 42 years old, never smoked, light drinker most of life but now I do not drink at all, exercise regularly, white ethnicity. Also, I have noticed that when I work out using elliptical, my heart rate does not get as high as it used too. My BP has been very elevated and at times mildly elevated. When anxious it's been 150/100 and regularly now 150-160/70. Used to be pinned at 120/80-70. The tightness in throat is still there, very uncomfortable. Feels like someone is choking me constantly. Papillae still elevated but have subsided some over the past couple months. TSH levels normal. Pushing in slightly on trachea causes some pain. I did get a massage last night and believe it or not the tightness in my throat has subsided a bit. Also, had 2 level anterior cervical fusion 2 1/2 years ago, C4-C7. When trying to recover from recent lumbar fusion , Oct 31, 2013, I was making huge bowls of bone broth stew, squeezing a whole lemon and whole lime into it and 4-5 cloves of fresh garlic, turmeric and cilantro. All these symptoms started happening not too long after that. Had very bad coughing fits, lots of mucous coming up, pappilae on tongue were huge on back of tongue and sides, extreme throat tightness and tracheal pain. Doctors said LPR. Could this have caused LPR (silent reflux) and did some damage on my trachea, thyroid, and esophogus?