Ten years ago, I had GERD symptoms everyday for about a month...(no heartburn sensation, but I could feel the acid in my throat, I choked on it at night, acid reflux, and could feel acid vapor in my ears, eyes and mouth day and night). And, for the last two weeks, I've been having the same symptoms.
This time around I'm worried because, two years ago, my father died of Esophageal cancer. We're both anxious types of persons, and both times, my GERD symptoms came after a few days of hyperventilation and "panick attacks" . Like him, I don't sleep much (4 to 6 hours per night). The only major difference is that I have never smoked, and my dad smoked a pack a day for most of his life, he started smoking at 13 and died at 64. All my life, I remember him coughing every morning like he was going to die. I always thought it was because he smoked, but after his death, I wonder if GERD was also part of it, He probably had chronic GERD and didn't know it, or thought it was because of his smoking habit.
Besides my two GERD episodes, I rarely have heartburn (except for my two pregnancies, but only occasionally, and I read that this is quite normal and common).
Should I worry and see my doctor? The first time, I did, and all the tests were negative, and I even saw a specialist and didn't see nothing wrong with me. The medication I took (I think it was prilosec and something to reduce the acidity in the stomach, didn't work on me, only gave me side effects...). My family doctor just said it was stress and suggested I take up meditation...like this is all in my head. My symptoms are real...especially when I wake up in panic because I choke on acid at night. This time around I didn't bother going to see my doctor, because she will say the same thing to me again...
MY QUESTION IS : How long does it take for the acid to start making real dammage in the esophageal wall, and possibly cause cancer?
ALSO, if my dad had chronic GERD, did he pass it on to me? Is this hereditary?
Thank you.
This discussion is related to
Temporary Stress-Induced Gerd?.