Hiatus Hernia, Oesophagitis, Reflux - what *do* you order in the pub?!

[RubberDuck]

So after five months of pain and going back and forth to the doctor, I have finally had an endoscopy and got a diagnosis of hiatus hernia, oesophagitis and reflux. I have meds prescribed which make things tolerable as long as I'm really careful what I eat and drink. I'm semi-resigned to being caffeine free, alcohol free, and eating chocolate only rarely (mildly depressed, but resigned).

But what do you do when you go to the pub? Went to visit friends the other weekend (which was lovely and took my mind off things) and they (like me previously) enjoy a drink. We ended up at the pub, but I now have no clue what to order other than plain tonic water! (I ended up nursing a half a lager shandy for the duration and it haunted me later)

I can't have anything alcoholic, caffeinated, fizzy or containing citrus - so that rules out just about... everything? Or have I missed something wonderful and obvious. (I really hope it's the latter).

I know this is a pretty frivolous dilemma, especially compared to all the other lifestyle changes, and it's not like I go to the pub often, but it would be nice to not be a complete social pariah on occasion.

Oh Vulcan I feel worried for you .

I had chemo ,it was ok . Good drugs prevented sickness . It wasn't like I feared .

The surgery was major but that too was ok - lots of drugs .I honestly wasn't in pain ,or even thirsty which I was massively worried about .

Does your food get stuck ? Do you regurgitate it ?

Thank you for your concern Ginger, you sound like you had the best possible experience. I have seen one of the worst though.
I have heartburn maybe 3 times a week if I eat crap and if I don't maybe once a week. If I start becoming more uncomfortable I will go to GP and reluctantly take the medication, hoping not to get to that stage but trying to kid myself about that. If food ever got stuck or I was sick or felt a lump I would go too, hiccups around eating as well.

How awful for you that you have witnessed someone having a terrible time .

Treatment of cancer has improved immensely ,even in the last couple of years . But there is so much in the media about cancer and somehow it seems to have been elevated into a disease that is a 100 times more terrifying than it is . Personally I think it's because that suits the drug companies ,cancer is a big money maker .

I was treated at St Thomas's in London and would recommend their treatment of Upper GI cancer to anyone .

Good luck ,thank you for posting back to reassure me .

Yes I agree, Cancer is a big money maker for the drug companies.
I don't think many realise some of the drug companies have vested interests in the manufacturing of fertilizers, which is a very scary connection IMO.
My family member was given the best as far as I can tell but it was just too aggressive unfortunately, this was in the past year and a half.
Good luck and best wishes to you to Ginger.

I am diabetic so in pubs I have a pint of iced water and then squirt in that ultra concentrated robinsons squash.

Yes ,I'm a big fan of these new mini bottles of squash . I like these from Asda www.enhancedrinks.co.uk/