My throat often feels like there is a lump in it when my reflux is flaring. For years before I got "true" reflux symptoms I had issues with a chronic cough, frequent laryngitis and a chronic cough. Once I got "true" heartburn symptoms and went on meds I realized the other symptoms had also disappeared.

Many doctors also use a medication trial as a way to "test" a diagnosis. If you take your medication as prescribed and you get better that helps confirm the diagnosis. If you take it and get better but not great then maybe you need a higher dosage. If it doesn't help at all then you need to head back to the doctor and let him know it didn't work. BUT, the caveat here is you have to take the medication as prescribed for a couple of weeks before you decide if it worked or not. The lump could be due to inflammation which will need some time to heal before you feel better. You may also want to take a day to write down your symptoms now so that in two weeks you will be able to see if you have improved.

Lastly, if you start having problems breathing then you need to go to an ER immediately.

Stephanie