Diagnosed with Reflux Esophagitis and Gastritis, Help!

about 3 months ago I had a few episodes of a choking sensation and a feeling like I couldn't get food down my throat. That prompted me to see a GI doc who did an endoscopy and found reflux esophagitis and chronic atrophic gastritis. Well, on the papers they gave me it said "Chronic Atrophic Gastritis" but in the end where the doc actually wrote down what it was it just said "Gastritis". When I researched Atrophic Gastritis it sounds awful and freaked me out. I was so drugged from the versed that I don't remember anything after the endoscopy. And due to moving I had to push my follow up appointment back a month. He presribed Prilosec but I don't feel comfortable taking something that will decrease my stomach acid when I read gastritis is from low stomach acid sometimes! Argh. I am also nursing and would rather not risk it.

In the 3 months I have not had another incident, the lump in my throat feeling is gone. So I know there is improvement but it still feels irritated and water and food don't go down as smoothly as they should. I do get "heartburn" sometimes but it is more so a burping up of acid, which I think is LPR?

To make a long story short I am at my wits end trying to figure out the cause of my problems. Most doctors don't seem to care enough to get to the root of the cause and just want to fill ya full of drugs that mostly seem to make you sicker. I have a dairy allergy and after researching more on that I am finally cutting dairy out because I figure that could be a cause. I was also taking more than the recommended dose of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) within the months before the first incident, which I read can cause esophagitis too. Today is my first day without dairy and I stopped the Vitamin C months ago. Anyone else have a similar story? How long should it take to heal my esophagus and how should I go about it? I have also read that dairy can take up to 3 weeks to clear from your system. Any advice?

[Athora80]

I should note I am only 29 and had a baby 10 months ago.