I have had this for 20 years. Never had any symptoms at all. Found out I had it by accident. Been controlling it now for all these years with medication.

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/silent-reflux-savannah-guthries-diagnosis-140000769.html

I would get surgery and not have to deal with medication

I do a course of omeprazole several times a year, which helps a lot. Oddly, pork and cold chicken are the two foods most likely to "get stuck" if I am wolfing them down. Certain spicy foods/onions can also cause reflux during sleep and cause sore throat, voice changes ...

I know someone who got the surgery very recently and is so happy he did

I take Omeprazole daily. Would rather do that than have any surgery.

My GI Dr talked to me about the surgery several years ago. Then earlier this year he told me it eventually erodes again. I was in for an upper endoscopy and esophageal dilation.

I am the OP. 20 years ago when I accidently found out I had GERD when they did the scope I had a small area in my esophagus that had Barretts disease. I chose to have a procedure that they went in and froze the Barretts. Been getting scopes every few years with no issues. I take the prescription with no issues.

DO NOT MESS with GERD/reflux. Esophageal cancer is a death sentence.

Have y’all ever considered that your diet might have something to do with it, and that changing that might be better than pills or surgery?

I lost a good friend to Esophageal cancer, it was a terrible thing to watch as it destroyed him from the inside out.
I have GERD/REFLUX and also had a Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. I was prescribed a PrevPack which is an oral dose is 30 mg lansoprazole (Prevacid), 1 g amoxicillin, and 500 mg Clarithromycin taken morning and evening for 14 days. I also found out I have Barrett’s esophagus and had to have biopsies to rule out cancer. Endoscopies every 6 months for 2 years, the ever year and now every 5 years.
I still tale an Omeprazole daily and have followed the diet prescribed for Gerd/Reflux. I limit my coffee to 1 or 2 cups a day, usually just 1, then nothing but water, eat a light meal around 5 to 6 PM. By following the strict diet my Barrett's is almost non diagnosable on my last three tests.
Catch it early, get treatment and change your eating habits and it can save your life.

Some call that a lifestyle change.

Certainly. It’s not for everyone, but my experience trends towards people eating right.

I lost over 30 pounds. Doesn’t make a difference with a hiatal hernia.

I don’t know much about that. I’d like to, if you’re willing to explain it.

The muscle that closes the valve between the stomach and esophagus is worn out and the stomach starts to rise up through it. Lay wrong, heartburn, spicy foods heartburn. Could have surgery to redo the muscle and close the diaphragm or take a pill every day. Given that the time to completely heal is fairly long and the dietary restrictions during healing were not attractive, I chose to take a pill.

Ive got one also. No sleeping on right side after certain foods or alchohol.

I have been on the pill for 20 years with zero side effects - my reflux is totally under control - I get a scope on a regular basis all is good -

I had a hiatal hernia and is was fixed with a very easy and quick surgery - zero problems since

Doc said I could do either. I wanted to remove the most variables so I just take the pill. Zero heartburn since day 1 of taking the pill.

Funny thing, I used to get a food stuck in my throat a lot and drink several glasses of water with my meal. Since the pill all that went away.

I have this same thing. Found by accident when I had pneumonia. Always just thought I had heartburn. My Dr. said surgery was the last option if nothing else worked. I don't take meds. Had me cut back on alcohol, no eating or drinking anything (even water) 2 hours before bed, and sleep on a wedge pillow (helps to keep stomach acid in the stomach as opposed to in your esophagus) these three things have gotten rid of all issues and heart burn.

I’ve been dealing with GERD for a long time. Was undiagnosed for a number of years which resulted in me having Barrett’s Esophagus. Have to get scoped regularly to ensure it has not progressed. Will most likely be on Omeprazole until I croak.

For Sneaky, my doc advised this had nothing to do with diet or overall physical condition. When I was diagnosed originally, I was a very fit guy that would suffer horrendous heartburn regardless of diet. Could drink water and have agonizing reflux.

I also had a small Barretts spot when I was diagnosed. Went to a specialist in Dallas and he froze it - that was over 20 years ago and I have been clean on every scope since -

I appreciate the info. This is good to know. I deal with some form of this. No idea what exactly it is. I take omezeprole to control it, which works amazingly well. I have concerns about what that pill may do to me, long term, and I have seen some improvements to my condition when cleaning up my diet. I also have a deep mistrust of the average physician actually treating a condition instead of just pushing pills, so real world experience is nice to hear.

Had it bad years ago. Surgery was discussed, did all the test, treatments, prescriptions, etc.
I think God healed me of it.

Hasn't been a problem in a long time.