Suggest Treatment For Difficulty In Swallowing Food And Belching While On Prilosec

Posted on Tue, 12 Jan 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 12 Jan 2016 Answered on

Fri, 12 Feb 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Ive had some GI problems in the past, ive had the fundo plication surgery back in 1994. with in the past year ive started refluxing again, and placed back on Prilosec which has done its job. But now it is somewhat painful to swallow food hurting in the chest area then it goes away, and belching is also painful but right after belching the pain goes away. I'm thinking about a possible hiatal hernia. What do you think?

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Hiatal Hernia is less likely, can be lower esophagitis.

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query and an elucidate history.
Noted your history of Fundoplication in 1994, re-refluxing since past one year, prilosce helped, but there is painful swallowing in the chest area, painful belching which relieves the pain. You are thinking of a hiatus hernia.
This is most probably due to Esophagitis particularly at the lower part that is caused by the reflux.
The possibility of hiatal hernia is less as fundoplication avoids the formation of one.
And the upper GI endoscopy will prove it all, since you have an appointment at the GI Doctor soon.

I hope this answers your query, please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar