Debby
Has your doctor sent you to a GI specialist? It would be worth it even if all you got was diet information. My condition is reasonably stable.(have suffered with this for at least ten years). But I must watch my diet. No coffee (reg or decaf), No caffeine at all, No aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen sodium pain pills - Just Tylenol, no soda, no citrus, These are all too acidic. Also for me: lettuce and peppers and onions and chocolate all trigger the response for reflux. It was trial and error on finding which foods bother me. For awhile, it seemed that everything did. Also, don't eat before bedtime (about 2 hours). Eat light, more frequently throughout the day. Raise the head of your bed about 2-4"(on blocks or such) - or try a foam wedge pillow. Also losing weight, if you need to puts less pressure on the stomach. My doc says it is okay to take Gaviscon with my regular medicine (Aciphex). It sort of forms a physical barrier to keep the acid down. The pain is from the acid getting into your esophagus where it doesn't belong. A good acid reducer or inhibitor prescription will also help - but is no cure. If it it truly bad, there is a surgery, but I have heard that it is about 50/50 in correcting the problem. You do want to keep an eye on the problem since reflux sufferers have a greater chance of developing esophageal cancer. Good luck - don't take "there is nothing else to do" for an answer. It may not be medicine, but you can contain the problem.