I was diagnosed with GERD about 20 years ago and have been taking medications, most recently omeprazole, without any noticeable side effects. My main symptom was severe heartburn and throwing up after meals. S developed a slight cough that wouldn’t go away last year. He’s a classical singer, so a cough is a big deal. Finally diagnosed with GERD. He was also put on medication. BTW, while I might be considered a bit overweight, S is very slim. I think diet was his trigger - lots of diet coke and fried foods. He says he’s eating better now, but at least the cough is gone.
From they people I know that suffers with GERD, changing their diet is what helped the most. Medicine can only do so much. Apparently once things are inflamed, you need to get the inflammation down. Once that is taken care of by diet, then you can re introduce items into your diet and see what you can tolerate or what is a trigger.
http://www.healthline.com/health/gerd/diet-nutrition#Overview1
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/condition-15/heartburn/treating-acid-reflux-disease-with-diet-lifestyle-changes
My prep school son was diagnosed with GERD at the beginning of the school year. I pushed for food allergy testing which did , in fact , reveal a food allergy . Elimination of the offending food has allowed his system to heal. He is no longer on medication .
This is an issue in my extended family. I have been diagnosed with acid reflux ,although I rarely have heartburn symptoms. I had a very difficult time with barium swallow. I just can’t get chalky or thick liquids down.
I also have had multiple endoscopies and will have to probably have to for the unforeseeable future due to a condition I have called Schatzki Ring that makes foods get stuck in my esophagus when I swallow. The endoscopy has to be done every two years or so to " cut into " the ring that closes my esophagus.
I have to take omeprzole daily to try to treat it in between procedures.
My oldest daughter used t get terrible heartburn in her first year of college , which also turned out to be stress related. She is a lot better now , but this seems to be more and more common in younger people from what I see
I had reflux and was checked for Barrett esophagitis. What they found was previously undiagnosed celiac. No other typical symptoms but verified by biopsy and blood work. Follow up on that and other possible food issues - there seem to be a number of studies about dangers of long term use of reflux drugs so it’d be great to limit their use IMO. (H on these for reflux due to lung disease). Would definitely see a gastro if you haven’t
I have taken Zantac for about 20 years. It is over the counter now but use to be a prescribed by my doctor. For me it works really well and I don’t have any side effects. It works differently that Nexium. Some people take a Nexium in the morning and the Zantac at night. Supposedly Zantac can work better at night when you are trying to sleep.