Dr. I have throat pain, hoarseness and an earache that won't go away. I do suffer from heartburn. Can the throat and ear pain be a result of GERD?
While it is not uncommon for gastroesophageal reflux disease to cause sore throat and hoarseness as well as ear pain and even ear infections, other more serious conditions need to be excluded.... Read more
I have been experiencing a lot of difficulty swallowing and underwent an endoscopy that was normal. What can this be?
While it was correct to undergo an upper endoscopy to look for structural lesions to explain difficulty swallowing such as cancers and strictures, the workup should not stop there. You may have a motility disorder of the... Read more
My doctor has recommended that I have my hiatal hernia repaired. I am waiting to see a surgeon. Is this a good idea, and what should I ask the surgeon?
Although rarely necessary, at times, surgical repair of a hiatal hernia is the right choice in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. There are two types of hiatal hernia. In the... Read more
There is no relationship between acid reflux and gallbladder disease, other than the fact that the diseases can give similar symptoms and therefore can be difficult to distinguish from on another.
While classic acid reflux disease will cause heartburn, at times it may only cause upper abdominal pain. When it does, the pain is usually... Read more
My 9 year-old has been diagnosed with GERD. Is it safe for him to be on Nexium?
Yes. Earlier this year, the FDA approved Nexium for short-term use in children ages 1-11 years for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Both the liquid and delayed-release pill forms were approved. As opposed to children ages 12-17, the approved... Read more