Can GERD cause a foreign body sensation in the throat?

Question

Hi doctor,

I have a foreign body sensation in my throat. Sometimes, it remains like compression or it remains squeezing my throat. Usually, at night, I do not have any symptoms after I lay down. My breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure remain normal. I am taking Omeprazole 20 mg once a day for almost two weeks. I think that I have GERD. My symptoms seem to subside when I eat. But they get triggered after a few hours of eating.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

The most common reason for having this irritation in the throat with a feeling of bump or something obstructing while swallowing can be a feature of chronic GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Even though you remain asymptomatic, the inflammation in the throat can exist in a hidden form and they can get resurfaced when adequate care is not taken. Follow these measures to have some relief. Maintain a strict diet by eating on time. Avoid eating spicy, oily, and cold food or drinks. Maintain a gap of two hours between your meals and going to bed. Do not overeat. Keep your stomach half empty and take regular intermittent light foods like fruits in between major meals. Do salt water gargling eight to ten times a day for 15 days. Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking. Follow the measures as advised and have a follow-up after two weeks. You can take tablet Pan-D 40 mg (Pantoprazole) once in the morning before breakfast for 14 days. Take syrup Mucaine gel (Oxetacaine, Aluminium hydroxide, and milk of magnesia) one tablespoon three times a day before 20 minutes of taking meals for 14 days.