Question: …approximately one month ago, and it helped. The heartburn disappeared. However, it did return recently. Is an over the counter treatment effective or do I need to see a GI physician?
This is the third time that it has occurred and I am twenty-seven. My regular jogging workouts have been compromised because of it. However, do people just live with this normally and self treat it?
How likely is it to be something that is more severe than mere heartburn?
Answer: Most likely you have GERD or Gastroesophageal reflux disease. It is a condition that millions of people suffer from and it can result in significant health issues.
You should visit your doctor immediately and tell her or him you suspect that you have this. GERD is referred to clinically as acid reflux disease. Essentially acids are allowed to enter the esophagus via the muscle in the lower esophagus that will not remain closed. Permanent esophageal damage can occur over time. The muscle is called the lower esophageal sphincter or LES for short.
If you visit your doctor, you should have no problems.
Answer: You should visit your physician again. Esophageal carcinoma is a serious complication that can occur, so please do not take this problem lightly. I have been taking Prilosec daily for the past three years. Prior to that, I used Nexium for four years or so. I have never had a problem with it, but my understanding is that it’s something people just have to put up with.