GERD and Hairy Tongue?

Diseases & Conditions GERD & Acid Reflux
1
Hi all,
   I sure wish they'd change the name of this affliction......."hairy tongue".  YUK.  But I have it.  I'm trying to make sense of it.   My GERD has been well under control for a couple years.  But it's come back mildly for about 6 weeks.  In my other post I've mentioned that my diarrhea, nausea, sweating, etc. are back, and I'm wondering if my GERD is actually worse than it feels.  Anyhow..........about 2 months ago, I developed a white tongue.  I took an anti-fungal for it, thinking it was yeast, but it didn't help.  I went to the ENT doctor and he said it was hairy tongue and gave me an antibiotic.  It hasn't helped at all.  He said I'll probably just have to live with it.  I also don't have quite enough saliva, so it could be from that.
   But I was wondering if it in any way might be related to my GERD flare-up.  Who knows........maybe my acid is coming up into my throat/mouth at night, and changing the environment in my mouth.
   Hairy tongue is when all those little fingerlike projections on our tongue ("papillae"), become enlarged, and trap gunk inbetween them, and start an infection.      I'm desperate to get rid of this, and am trying to think of all possibilities.  Anyone else have tongue problems like this?  Thanks!
2
Hi Cathy,
I had reflux problems for many yrs., dx w/Gerd 5-6 yrs ago. I have never experienced hairy tongue symptoms, also don't experience diarrhea symp. I generally experience constipation which I learned to drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day or i'll pay. Good luck w/this, I hope you find some answers.

Vanessa
3

Hi Cathy:

I don't have hairy tongue, but my tongue burns. My doctors do not know why, but I am convinced it has something to do with GERD. I haven't found any remedy for it.

Marlain

4

Hi Cathy,

My 13.5 yr.  old daughter was just diagnosed with GERD, and when I just found this site, and read your post, I nearly fell off my chair!  Your post is my daughter exactly!  She had a very "hairy," white tongue as well.  I took her to the dr.'s, not knowing what in the world was wrong with her, and he knew right away.  She was put on a prescription of Ranitidine, one pill twice per day, and her white tongue was gone very quickly!

Have you tried this med yet?

5
Hi Brenda,
I was put on Cleocin (an antibiotic) for it, and it got a little better after that, but was still around for about another month. Recently, it looked better, after my GERD symptoms seemed to subside.
It just came to me that I had taken Pepcid for about a week, awhile back, and that's when my tongue started looking better. That's very interesting!
This past week, my tongue started looking bad again, so I think I'll try the pepcid again. Good luck to your daughter!
6

Hey Cathy,

I hope the Pepcid works for you!  My daughter is just finishing her two weeks of her meds, and is doing wonderfully.  She lost 11lbs. when this hit her (and is a rail to begin with, so she did not have the 11 to lose!) and has gained 5 back.  She doesn't get it that it is much harder to gain weight than to lose it.  (when you are 13.5 that is!)

I know throughout this whole ordeal, her "hairy" tongue is one of the worst aspect she had.  It drove her nuts.  I hope you rid yourself of it!

Thanks for replying.  I had my daughter read your reply, then showed her this entire website.  Never thought about doing that earlier, but it sure made her feel good to know there are so many others out there that have GERD.  At 13, you really feel like you are the only one!  Thanks again, and best of health to you!

Brenda

7
Hey Cathy A I know this post is really old but I’m suffering from this for a year now and just want to know if you found anything out regarding the cause/solution to the hairy tongue issue. Thanks, damon