Hi. I have a hiatus hernia and it feels like the bottom of my esophagus is either inflammed or ulcerated. I have tried various antacids but I've come to the conclusion that they are actually making it worse. I am currently not getting acid reflux...I just need to heal the inflammation. I believe that I am low in stomach acid which probably contributed to me getting a HH in the first place. In desperation I did some internet research into aluminium hydroxide and discovered that it is only absorbable in strong acid. If a person has low stomach acid it seems possible that it is hindering recovery rather than helping. Has anybody else in this forum had a similar problem? I didn't take any after my last meal and feel better for it.
So very sorry to learn of your inflammation. While my wife does not have GERD nor a hh both my brother and I have had....the only suggestion I can offer is to
not irritate the throat nor linning with anything that you know by experience gives you problems..REGARDLESS///.elevate your head night time...rice pillow? My take is keeping the throat from irritants, thus allowing it to heal. No meds or supplements ever helped us....possibly with the exception of Bromalain/Natto. WE avoided aluminium hydroxide and similar....I'd suggest bismuth but very careful administration...of any anti acid....you need acid to sterialize food for digestion...once the chime has departed the stomach...bismuth tablet 262mg...and 1/2 tab pre bedtime. This is a guess, as I have no credentials...wish you the best..keep us posted...claudio
Had all that, tied everything went to gp gp referred me consultant did. Lots of tests found suitable for. LINX had the procedure. Now totally cured, no symptoms no meds no stress. Sometimes with the best will in the world and advice trying this trying that you have to rely on medics for the answer I did and am somgrateful
good luck rose and keep in touch. Paul
Thanks claudio for your kind wishes. I'm doing everything right as far as I know. The only thing I did wrong was sit on a 45 degree angle propped up in bed just over 2 hours after a meal. My esophagus has flared up again as a result. It's back to small meals and more weight loss. I've lost about 12 lbs over the last 6 months and I wasn't overweight to begin with. It's a bit scary. I will keep in touch through this forum. 
Hi Paul. How did you heal your esophagus before surgery? Im in NZ and the LINX procedure is not available here. Would have to be the Nissen Fundoplication which I'm seriously considering. Don't want to take Losec as I was on it for years and think that's why I have low stomach acid now. Mind you, I could be forced to try Losec the way things are going. Sigh.
Rose I also have a sliding 4cm HH which was repaired during surgery, I've been suffering GERD and related issued for over 30 yrs. I've been on, wait for it.......Tagamet , denol, denol tab, Zantac 150 Zantac 300 losec imeprazole lanzoprazole, domperidone.....and they're just the ones I can remember. It must. E well over a year now that my meds stopped working and it was then they ran some tests. They found a HH and myeasophogus was inflamed, I was taken off all meds for 2 weeks then had a final endoscopy, barium swallow , ph tests and a mammography
it was then I was offered LINX, just before the op I was informed that of my easophogus was too badly inflamed they would have to do the Nissen instead. I told them no way ! I've heard too many night are tales about this procedure. Thankfully when I came out of theatre I was told it wasn't too inflamed to the extent they could t do LINX so all went well.