How to manage pain while eating or drinking anything ?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am having issues with my esophagus and cannot eat or drink anything without extreme pain. I have consulted many doctors and have not received an answer and thus need to seek the advice of a gastroenterologist specifically as to what is going on. Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern. I have reviewed your case history and the medications that you were taking. Pain while eating or drinking is medically known as Odynophagia. In your case, two possibilities are there, first is pill-induced esophagitis, your medications including Prednisolone and Toridol are known to cause pill-induced esophagitis. Another possibility is infective esophagitis, you are already on Antibiotics and Antiviral medicines. For this, you always have to take medicine with full large glass of water. Do not sit or lie down immediately after taking pills, walk for a few minutes. Never take medicine empty stomach. Take frequent small meals and do not fill your stomach at once, acid reflux due to an over-distended stomach would cause more symptoms. Take a soft diet, avoid dry meals, and regular yogurt. Increase the dose of Pantoprazole to 40 mg twice daily half an hour before breakfast and dinner for seven days and then reduce back to 40 mg once daily half hour before breakfast. Syrup or tablet Sucralfate after every meal (maximum four times per day). If Sucralfate is not available, then syrup Gaviscon 15 ml after every meal would help as well. Avoid very hot or very cold beverages. If your symptoms persist after the above management, further workup should be considered including upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy.

I hope this helps you.

Thank you.

Regards