Anybody have any advice for treating esophagitis (inflammed esophagus), which is caused by GERD?
Saturday, August 21st, 2010 at
7:27 pm
I’m taking both Nexium & Zantac prescribed by my doctor for the acid reflux. I may have to have surgery but in the meantime any advice you have would be helpful.
Filed under: Gerd Causes
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Treatment for esophagitis depends on its cause. Possible treatments include:
Medications that block acid production, like heartburn drugs
Antibiotics, antifungals or antivirals to treat an infection
Pain medications that can be gargled or swallowed
Corticosteroid medication to reduce inflammation
Intravenous (by vein) nutrition to allow the esophagus to heal, to reduce the likelihood of malnourishment or dehydration
Endoscopy to remove any lodged pill fragments
Surgery to remove the damaged part of the esophagus
While being treated for esophagitis, there are certain steps you can take to help limit discomfort.
Avoid spicy foods such as those with pepper, chili powder, curry and nutmeg.
Avoid hard foods such as nuts, crackers and raw vegetables.
Avoid acidic foods and beverages such as tomatoes, oranges, grapefruits and their juices. Instead, try imitation fruit drinks with vitamin C.
Add more soft foods such as applesauce, cooked cereals, mashed potatoes, custards, puddings and high protein shakes to your diet.
Take small bites and chew food thoroughly.
If swallowing becomes increasingly difficult, try tilting your head upward so the food flows to the back of the throat before swallowing.
Drink liquids through a straw to make swallowing easier.
Avoid alcohol and tobacco.
I used to have mild esophageal irritation due to GERD, which I got rid of by treating the GERD. When I remember, I take a Zantac before eating food that I know will upset my stomach. Also, I take a Tums antacid tablet as soon as I start to feel like I’m having heartburn. Prilosec also works for me but it’s more expensive so I don’t use it.
You could use over the counter zantac or prilosec. Or you could actually go to the doctor. How did you get the diagnosis? If you saw a doc in the past, call him up.
Edit: If you are taking meds, try to limit acid producing foods (alcohol, tobacco are the big two, look up the others). Also, as this tends to become worse at night, you may consider raising the head of your bed a few degrees. Also, after a trial of about 6 weeks on a particular med, it is reasonable to switch meds, even within the same class of meds in order to find one that may work for you.
If you smoke, stop.