Can’t swallow food or eat

[Strugglingatm]

Hi, last Saturday I overdid things with food, including a curry, and also took on board too many fizzy drink. This was all close to bed time. I had a terrible night with GERD and woke with a sore throat and have not been able to eat a full meal since. The pain is when I make a swallowing action.

My own fault, I know.

I have been having the odd small meal since but that’s it. Drinks have to be ice cold.

I have spoken with the GP surgery a couple of times. They prescribed anti virals and then withdrew them when they did not work. I saw them again and they recommended a blood test and bowel sample but the results will not be available until late next week. They may then prescribe antibiotics.

I am really struggling and as I have anxiety, that is adding to it.

Has anyone had any experience of this?

No experience sorry.
You are managing tiny meals and able to drink though ice cold.

How about trying a milkshake
or smoothies made in a blender with ice?

Yes, are you also under stress?

I fixed it with: super strength probiotics; sauerkraut (diy or unpasteurised fermented); yogurt; kefir; digestive enzymes; lots of peppermint tea/peppermint oil pills (IIRC)

Low carb/high fat/high protein diet or ketogenic diet can be helpful in healing the body.

Excluding many plant foods as they can aggravate digestion with their anti nutrients. Now I can eat them fine, just not too much oxalate stuff or lectins. I can recommend the site: diagnosisdiet.com

HTH and you feel better soon. Oh also the peppermint antacid you can get over the counter is helpful.

Nina Teicholz on YouTube explains about the fat demonisation and corruption in nutritional data science. Food Lies is a good channel on yt for more information and discussion of specific scientific studies evidencing these things.

@DoorWasAJar

Yes, are you also under stress?

I fixed it with: super strength probiotics; sauerkraut (diy or unpasteurised fermented); yogurt; kefir; digestive enzymes; lots of peppermint tea/peppermint oil pills (IIRC)

Low carb/high fat/high protein diet or ketogenic diet can be helpful in healing the body.

Excluding many plant foods as they can aggravate digestion with their anti nutrients. Now I can eat them fine, just not too much oxalate stuff or lectins. I can recommend the site: diagnosisdiet.com

HTH and you feel better soon. Oh also the peppermint antacid you can get over the counter is helpful.

Peppermint oil with GERD?
It's one of the worst things for it. I'd be in agony.

Thanks all. I need a complete change of diet for sure.

My concern is how do I go from my position now, intense throat pain and can’t eat or drink much, to where I can eat properly and no pain etc?

I can’t even locate the exact cause of the pain. The back of my throat is generally red and is swelling a little.

What we're the anti virals for?
What medication are you on to treat rhe GERD?
I've had GERD for about 10 years and chronic gastritis for 2.

I'm in a remission phase at the moment and I got rid of the pain by taking PPI medication and cutting out onions, garlic, coffee, tea, mint, alcohol, fizzy drinks and fatty food.

It sounds to me like your throat is swollen from the acid coming up in the night so you need to eat things that are bland and soothing and use antacids to keep your acid levels down while it heals.
Gaviscon liquid should give some relief in your throat.

Ofwarren, doctor thought it may be a virus so prescribed anti virals. When they looked at it in person, they changed their mind.

I am not eating or drinking much, but am now taking gaviscon four times a day and using throat soothing Difflam spray.

Is the gaviscon treating the acid?
Can you still feel it coming up?

*I have not been diagnosed as having GERD officially, but have had some issues with it previously and this was the worst case

Yes, it is working I think. Acid is not coming up like it has been last few days and nights

I sympathise! I've been here several times. Your throat will calm down but it'll take a few days. Have you not been prescribed a PPI?! In the meantime LOTS of fluids, liquorice tea if you can stomach it!

I have a hiatus hernia and take Lansaprazole for it. Before I was prescribed it my heartburn was out of control and I had real difficult swallowing, and would regularly wake up choking on my stomach contents during the night. One day my oesophagus went into spasm and I couldn't even have a sip of water, and had to be admitted to hospital and gave muscle relaxant via IV.

Since having lansaprazole it's been SO much better. Are you taking regular medication?

It may just settle on its own with the gavisvon hopefully.
The next drug up from that is a H2 blocker called famotidine and then it's the PPIs which are lansoprazole or omeprazole usually.

If I was you I'd stick to things like rice pudding, mashed potato, chicken soup type foods till your throat is feeling better.

@ShatParp

I sympathise! I've been here several times. Your throat will calm down but it'll take a few days. Have you not been prescribed a PPI?! In the meantime LOTS of fluids, liquorice tea if you can stomach it!

I tried licorice tea for the first time a few weeks ago and it really is soothing. I was surprised.

I'm surprised you haven't been given a PPI to calm things down for a few days (but they can cause a rebound when you come off them). Sleep propped up if you can. Right now just eat a bit of what you can. Keep it plain and avoid acidic foods. Keep meals small. I have a hiatus hernia which lead to oesophagitis and I am very prone to GERD. I also drink peppermint and liquorice tea. I find fennel tea good too.

You need to identify your triggers once this has calmed down. I generally get less heartburn the less processed my diet is. People's triggers vary so its helpful to note down what impacts you e.g. tinned tomatoes cause me issues but coffee doesn't. Milk also gives me heartburn whereas it's often touted as a cure. I generally avoid fruit juice and fizzy drinks too.

My heartburn often flares if I have a cold and it was pretty bad when I had covid at the start of the year. It's often an early warning sign that I am going down with something.

Thanks all for your advice and help. It’s incredible how a couple of small red bits at the back of my throat can be causing so much pain 🙁 good to know it can be managed though :)