Also, I have fucking horrible acid reflux. I've been to the ER 3 times because I had food stuck in my throat, that I literally couldn't get out at all. It was due to my throat being inflamed. I supposedly have a hiatal hernia too. It's a real pain the ass too b/c I love tomatoes, alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, all the bad shit that is horrible for acid reflux. I haven't cut back on any of these either. blah. I take medication for it, started a new one a month ago. I think I need to take it before dinner instead of before lunch because I've still been waking up with some burning in my thoat lately.
Have you tried Omeprazol? I was the same way for years, ended up with my esophagus bleeding which freaked me out enough to have it checked out. The first doc I saw wanted to operate, I got a 2nd opinion and he said try Omeprazol. I changed my diet drastically (including no booze) for about six months, took the pill every day, and here I am. I still take the pill every day, but eat or drink whatever I want.
My mom had exactly the same problems. And she ended up with esophageal cancer in her mid 50s. They caught it early because she had her esophagus scoped once a year to monitor for changes in the cellular structure.
My sister and dad both have Barrett's already and are checked yearly for cancerous cells. I seem to have started medicating it soon enough to have escaped that, so far.