text: Still in medical school, but I'll give it a go.  Approximately 80% of people with esophagitis (esophageal irritation/inflammation) caused by gastric reflux have a non-progressive form that can be managed by  medications and lifestyle modification (losing weight if overweight; avoiding alcohol, chocolate, citrus juice, tomatoes, peppermint; avoiding large meals and waiting for 3 hours after eating before lying down; raising the head of your bed approximately 8 inches).  Medications used basically decrease the production of acid in your stomach and include things such as Pecid, Zantac, and Prevacid to name a few.  Antacids with meals are also a good idea.\n\nThere are a remaining 20% or so of people whose esophagitis will continue (despite medicaitons) to progress and cause permanent scarring which can increase a person's risk for esophageal cancer.  For those people, the best option is surgical.  Surgery consists of a procedure called a Nissen Fundoplication.  This can be done laparoscopically (camera with small holes, small instruments, small scars, quicker healing).  The procedure basically consists of wrapping the upper portion of the stomach partially around the esophagus.  What happens is that after a meal, the stomach fills up, causing the portion of stomach wrapped around the esophagus to tighten up a bit, creating a valve of sorts.  This prevents acid from refluxing into the esophagus.  Assuming all goes correctly, the procedure typically lasts 2-2.5 hours, you go home in 2 days, and you're back to normal more or less in 2-3 weeks.  ~92% of patients have resolution of symptoms.  No surgery is without it's complications,   so do some reading about it if you're considering.  In addition to "the usual" (bleeding, infection, anesthesia complications, etc.), it's always possible that the valve they make will be too tight and you won't be able to properly swallow your food.  Rare, but it happens.  \n\nAs for "irritated stomach", I would need more information to know what you mean precisely.  Hope this at least offers some answers to one of your questions.  Good luck to you.