Hello, I'm a 21 year old male, and fore the past 4 months or so I've been having stomach problems. Sometimes it's nausea, more often lately it's heartburn, behind the breastbone and to my right a little, with an acidy taste in the mouth. Also, I don't really have any trouble swallowing while eating, but I do get a lump in my throat somtimes. I don't have health insurance, but I was able to see a doctor at my university's health center in the first month, where I was diagnosed with Gastritis, and given Zantac. After the Zantac didn't work too well, I was given Prilosec, which at first worked pretty well, but by the time it began to grow less affective (I have missed a couple doses and I can tell it's still at least doing something, but not like at first) I was away from my university and affordable doctor. I think it's safe to say I should get some testing done, and I'm currently working with a friend of the family who used to work in DHS to se if I can get something done.

I guess I have more than one question, other than my title question (I'm sorry if this is taboo, but I'm too curious not to ask).

Is there any way to tell what exactly this is without a barium swallow or endoscopy? My research (I'm a bit of a nerd) has led me to believe 2 possibilities, GERD or a Hiatal Hernia, but I'm far from an MD, and I don't really now how else to treat this other than the prilosec (I am, under trustable advisement, still taking it).

To my title question, I see in most places that bananas are reccomended as a food that should be good for most all GI problems, and I can't find any evidence online to the contrary. With me however, they seem to set it off, I'll get a little discomfort, and a lot of sour tast in the back of my mouth (much more so that what a normal aftertaste would be). My sister has had similar issues, and similar problems with bananas as well. Is there a reason for this?

Thanks
--Safford