Hi pcb

the stomach is well able to withstand the stomach acid...Its part of its job, but the lining of the esophagus is not designed to handle the return of the acidic mixture of stomach contents which back up into it with reflux.


Remember that your stomach acid is more potent than battery acid and will damage the lining of the esophagus.


Imagine a valve at the bottom of your esophagus which lets food through to the stomach. This valve is called the lower esophagael sphincter (les)

normally this valve operates only one way, but when it is weak, it can allow food and acid from the stomach back up into the esophagus and your problems begin.


I write regularly on this topic on my site.

Acidrefluxheartburn.Com

good luck
tony

Thanks for your reply, tony. I do understand that it is the stomach acid that spills into the esophagus whose tissues were not made to withstand such strong acid. It is exactly what I have. It seems to be brought about when for unknown reasons the area at the top of my stomach almost starts to twitch. If I am very still (no bending or jogging) I seem to be able to avoid the intense pain part of the gerd....It remains light and goes away after a little. I have had an endoscopy (a month ago)which was reported normal but I am still waiting for my appointment with my gastroenterologist. It seems to me what is different is the valve and the muscles that control it. I've had no trouble in my life until this. Thats why treating it with prevacid doesn't seem logical and in fact seems to delay the processing of my food. Is it merely a matter that there is no other treatment? That is the part I don't understand.

Tony, I thank you for your previous response and hope that you can give me a follow up reply to this posting. Thanks again so much. Having a doctor who can't even see you after all these tests for a month and a half is pretty frustrating.

Pcbrawner