Throat pain, hiatal hernia & G.E.R.D. & worried about my throat.

I have been diagnosed with a small hiatal hernia. The endoscopy was about 6-7 months ago. I have been under a lot of stress lately, because my husband were both laid off before the holidays. So we have been partaking in lots of comfort food (healthy, but fatty) with intermittent attempts at getting back on a healthy regimen. I have been consuming a lot of red sauce, and enjoying my organic wine. This has been going on since the holidays. Before the holidays, I was eating lots of vegetables and lean chicken. I had a bit of throat pain before the endoscopy. The endoscopy showed a completely normal throat and esophagus, so there's no way something deadly can develop in this short amount of time? Right? I also have a tiny bit of intermittent pain in my ear now and again, which I heard was a sign of throat cancer. But the endoscopy was clear just 6-7 months ago. The pain I have in the throat is on and off, mostly on the right side of the trachea. When I press on it, sometimes I can feel it in my ear. It feels raw. Stupid me! I have stopped the organic wine and beer for a while. Any thoughts??

Welcome to HW!

Okay, You have cause your GERD to flair up major.
1. Change the diet. Go bland for awhile to calm your stomach. Then go back to lean meats and veggies.
2. No more wine, beer, and red sauce. They are all irritants and weaken your LES.
3. Do some relaxation techniques to ease the stress. Stress adds to the acid build up.
4. The pains are from the acid getting into your throat and maybe your ears. Tilt the head of the bed up 6-8 inches. This will help keep the acid in your stomach more.
5. If your not on an acid medication already get some. The sooner the better. A lot of the people here use prolocet (sp?) OTC. It's not as strong as prescription PPIs, but it helps minor acid troubles.
6. If you still have no relief see a doctor ASAP. You may have an infection.
7. Come back to us and let us know how's it going for you. If you get better or worse. There will be others here to give their two cents worth soon. I just gave you a dollar's worth. ;))

Joy

Well, it seems strange to me that your description sounds exactly like mine, specially the one sided throat pain and the feeling in your ear when you press it. I don't have a true diagnosis yet, I am still being tested for various things, but GERD is looking more and more likely to me. If you are concerned about it, it might be best to mention it to your GP.

Liz x

I hope you are consulting with a GI doc who specializes in problems related to the esophagus. Good luck!