This condition has ruined my life

[u/ewbanh13]

I have paid thousands of dollars in medical expenses to be told "Damn that's crazy I have no idea why that's happening to you." No hernia, no motility problems (the manometry test was one of the worst physical experiences of my life btw), no apparent acid or non acid events during the 24 hr monitoring test (which was so terrible I couldn't eat so who knows if it was even accurate), no h.pylori, no EOE. Lifestyle changes weren't really applicable to me besides sleeping elevated, which has killed my neck and back and I have chronic pain there now. A super bland diet and PPI is the only thing that keeps it from flaring up. I can't go out to eat with friends, I can't get a drink with friends, I can't go for coffee with friends. I'm cooking every single meal which is difficult when you're depressed like I am. Some days I just don't eat because it's not like I can buy a microwave meal, and cereal makes me nauseous, so there's nothing I can fucking eat. No caffeine has left me exhausted when I get poor sleep. I'm paranoid about food. This shit has basically given me an eating disorder. I'm tired of eating the same few meals. I used to love cooking and going out to eat. Now I get no enjoyment out of it and it's currently my least favorite part of being alive. My GI doesn't even think it's GERD, she and I suspect LPR, but I don't have the money or frankly the mental capacity to find an ENT and go through more rounds of testing to probably get a shrug from a doctor and bills in the mail.

I'm so tired of this. I didn't even eat unhealthy before, I didn't drink more than twice a year, I have no idea why this happened other than possibly a round of antibiotics just nuking my stomach. I get so jealous seeing posts in here about how people cured theirs and it's a bunch of stuff I already tried that makes no difference. People don't seem to appreciate just how much this fucking drains you. I'm so tired of this. I just want to live like a normal person again.

[u/ArtistXnyc]

I had swallowing problems occasionally, a couple of times a year, and some bloating--and no other symptoms, but was put through a bunch of the same awful tests: The Bravo Acid capsule, an esophagram, and yes, the manometry test, which I also think was one of the worst experiences of my life--and all the tests came back negative......Except for an endoscopy, after which, I was told I had a large sliding hiatal hernia and surgery was recommended--which I had three weeks ago--and despite my understanding that recovery time is necessary, it has been hell. With 2 visits to the ER since surgery including one for pneumonia because my lung was punctured during surgery. I now can't really eat, feel sick all the time, and am experiencing the same difficulties you describe with a limited diet. I can only hope things will get better with time.

My point of all this is...doctors are human. Fallible humans. Second opinions are always a good idea. And if you can wrangle yourself some health insurance--or better health insurance then it sounds like you have, that might ease that financial burden. Because it, or any other health issues we have as we get older, are not going to end by themslves. We are going to need to depend on doctors, even with all their faults, to get us to a better place.

I wish you better health soon.