Your doctor may also request a blood test to find the root cause of the infection. If you have a weakened immune system, you’re more likely to get infectious esophagitis.
Fundoplication surgery is a common treatment for esophageal ulcers and the procedure is minimally invasive (meaning only small abdominal incisions are necessary). It involves tying a small bit of stomach muscle around the base of your esophagus to strengthen the esophageal sphincter. Changing your eating habits and avoiding GERD trigger foods (like spicy foods, mint, and chocolate) will help your esophagus heal along with medication. Barrett’s esophagus is caused by acid reflux. [3] X Expert Source Payam Daneshrad, MDBoard Certified Otolaryngologist Expert Interview. 30 September 2020. The stomach acid comes up into the esophagus repeatedly and damages the lining. [4] X Expert Source Payam Daneshrad, MDBoard Certified Otolaryngologist Expert Interview. 30 September 2020. Patients have to take medication to decrease acid reflux and regular examinations by a gastroenterologist. [5] X Expert Source Payam Daneshrad, MDBoard Certified Otolaryngologist Expert Interview. 30 September 2020.
Aspiring, antibiotics, quinidine, potassium chloride, vitamin C, and iron are especially known to irritate your esophagus if the pills or capsules get stuck. Take pills and capsules with a full 8 fluid ounces (240 mL) of water and take them while standing or sitting.
Make sure you’re eating nutritious foods and avoid anything super hot or spicy to help manage radiation esophagitis. Unfortunately, there’s no cure for this kind of esophagitis, but symptoms should start to go away about 2 to 4 weeks after your last chemotherapy treatment.
If you don’t get proper treatment, your condition could worsen. Play it safe and talk to your doctor.
Typically, this condition needs to be treated in a hospital.
Casseroles and stews are great options because the moisture will help the meats go down easier and ease digestion. Soft scrambled eggs are a great breakfast option. However, be wary of eggs if you think you might be allergic. Avoid fibrous or stringy meats that have bristle or peppercorn (like steak, spare ribs, sausage, and bacon).
Cereal, granola, and seeded bread slices aren’t going to feel good going down, so choose well-cooked oatmeal instead (and make sure the oats have no added seeds or nuts). If you still want to eat bread, crackers, or chips, soften them up by putting them in soups or broths first.
Avoid fibrous vegetables like okra, artichokes, and celery. If you have GERD, alkaline veggies like asparagus, spinach, kale, and Brussels sprouts will help lower the amount of acid in your stomach. Avoid cooking your vegetables with onion or garlic as these are common triggers of acid reflux. [13] X Research source
Avoid fibrous vegetables like okra, artichokes, and celery. If you have GERD, alkaline veggies like asparagus, spinach, kale, and Brussels sprouts will help lower the amount of acid in your stomach. Avoid cooking your vegetables with onion or garlic as these are common triggers of acid reflux. [13] X Research source
Root vegetables like potatoes, beets, carrots, and parsnips are a great source of fiber. Bananas are low in acid and contain pectin, a type of fiber that helps push food through your digestive system. This is helpful because food that stays in your stomach too long will create excess acid that might travel up your esophagus. [15] X Research source
Applesauce is delicious and easy to make at home! Avoid dried fruits because they’re too chewy (or crispy depending on the fruit) and might get stuck in your throat. You can still enjoy harder fruits if you juice them or blend them into a smoothie with milk or yogurt. Avoid citrus fruits (like oranges, tangelos, grapefruit, lemons, and limes) as they are highly acidic and might further any inflammation.
Enjoy sauerkraut, kefir, and yogurt to aid with digestion. Kimchi and kombucha also have probiotics, but their respective spiciness and carbonation can irritate the lining of your esophagus.
You can even make your own (eggless) edible cookie dough to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Carbonated drinks can also irritate the lining of your esophagus. If you have GERD, you should avoid both carbonated and caffeinated drinks. Switch to decaf!
If you can’t give up spicy foods, chew on sugar-free (non-mint flavored) gum after a meal and go for a walk to help you digest.
Sip on ginger tea or chew ginger gummies after eating. Slice raw ginger root very thin and add it to bowls, meats, soups, or smoothies. Ginger will also help relieve nausea related to chemotherapy.
Eat healthy fats like avocado, olives, olive oil, flax seeds, chia seeds, nuts, and nut butters. However, some of these foods (particularly avocado and nuts) can trigger acid reflux if you’re allergic or have GERD. If this is the case for you, mayonnaise, sour cream, cream cheese, and light butter are other sources of fat that are considered less triggering for most people. [23] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
Stick to a maximum of 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks for men and be sure to drink water before, during, and after consumption. [25] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source One drink is equal to: 12 fluid ounces (350 mL) of beer (5% ABV) 8 fluid ounces (240 mL) of malt liquor (7% ABV) 5 fluid ounces (150 mL) of wine (12% ABV) 1. 5 fluid ounces (44 mL) of distilled spirits or liquor (40% ABV)—like a shot of gin, rum, vodka, whiskey, or tequila
Quit cold turkey or wean yourself off of tobacco by decreasing the amount of cigarettes you smoke each day. You can also use nicotine gum, lozenges, patches, sprays, and natural remedies to ease withdrawal symptoms. [27] X Research source Chew on toothpicks or chew gum to satisfy oral cravings. Know your triggers (e. g. , certain places you always smoke, friends who smoke, times of day that you routinely smoke) and avoid them or have a plan to manage your cravings.
Go for an easy 10- to 20-minute walk after meals to help speed up digestion and send gastric juices flowing as they should (down, not up!). Sit upright during and after meals. Prop your head and shoulders up with extra pillows when you sleep to create a slope that makes it harder for acid to travel upwards.
Choose sugar-free gum—but note that artificial sweeteners (like sorbitol) can trigger acid reflux in some people. Chew gum about half an hour after eating to ease acid reflux.
If you’re a heavy coffee drinker (over 4 cups a day), wean yourself off of caffeine by drinking half-caffs before going strictly decaf.
Check in with your doctor (this can be a primary care physician, nutritionist, allergist, or gastroenterologist) if or when you notice a change (like less pain during or after eating) while eliminating a certain food group. [31] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source It may also be helpful to see an allergist for a skin-prick test to figure out your particular allergens. If you have EoE, you won’t experience typical food allergy symptoms like tongue swelling, hives, and throat tightness. The symptoms of EoE are delayed and, over time, may cause narrowing of esophagus, scarring, and changes to your esophageal lining.
Fluticasone and budesonide are typically used in asthma inhalers to prevent narrowing of the esophagus.
Tell your doctor if you feel like your symptoms of EoE are getting better so you can start reintroducing foods again. They’ll probably give you the go-ahead if your EGD results show no signs of ulcers or severe inflammation that requires more intense treatment. Always read food labels to check for certain allergens. Work with a nutritionist to make sure you’re getting all of your daily nutrients while on an elimination diet.
For example, reintroduce nuts for 2 weeks and if no reaction occurs, start including eggs for two weeks and so on. If you feel your throat narrowing or if swallowing becomes difficult, stop eating the food, tell your doctor, and don’t introduce anything new for about a week or two so your esophagus can recover. If you have a skin prick test and discover that you are allergic to any of these trigger foods, don’t reintroduce them into your diet. If the condition of your esophagus worsens, your doctor might suggest surgery.
