Is this really Acid Reflux i'm experiencing?

Thank you for your post. It will be 12 months since all this started and i actually can't remember what it felt like not to have these symptoms now. Scary really. The more i see these discussions, the more i realise just how common acid reflux is. I actually do have 1 gallstone but as you say, the symptoms of gall bladder problems dont emulate what we're both experiencing. My doctor has told me countless times not to listen to ''Dr Google'' but like you, sometimes I just search to try and find solutions and end up reading terrifying information. I've had 2 endoscopies in the last 18 mths but they couldn't see any inflammation or damage.

Have you tried cutting out certain foods?

I did test positive for C-dificile several years ago and got treated, so it's possible it's come back or I do have an overgrowth of bad bacteria.  My sypmtoms are very similar to yours, though I have pre-existing ME/CFS and my current symptoms were set off by a bad reaction to anitbiotics and my GP said I have GERD. I was on Lanzaprazole for several months until I wanted to try a more natural route which involved a strict avoidence diet (which led me to the kineseologist as I wanted to get some feedback and more clear guide on what I can eat and what I should avoid.)  

I slowly weaned myself off the Lanzaparole and mostly stick to the diet, but notice as soon as I stray my symptoms can be pretty unbearable.  If I stick to the diet in the short term it will enable my stomach to heal and I shoud be able to eat relatively normally in the long term and that's what I tell myself to keep me on it.  

I also take virgin coconut oil to heal my stomach and it supposedly gets rid of the fungus, bacteria and parasite type of thing, etc.  I do find the diet very hard to stick to as I have major bread cravings.  I love bread and find it near impossible to avoid, but it has made a huge difference when I do avoid it. I've had pizza and bread last three days and I juat feel awful like a bad hangover, nausia, dizziness, weakness, burping, hot and cold, frequent peeing and urge to go to the loo and feeling a little better when I've been.  I think the intolerances are caused by an overgrowth of bad bacteria in the gut and I think this all has a knock on effect causing GERD etc if left untreated.  

Lots of interesting research going on about the gut microbiome at the moment, but the NHS testing is still pretty basic and treatment limited, they don't go into diet at all and it has really helped when I manage to stick to it.  So I think most people give up and go private.  I also had to give up cows milk (weirdly goat cheese tested ok), all sugar, etc  I'm not sure if I'm fully convinced by the kineseology, if it completely solves my issues in 6 months I'll let you know.  What I do know is avoiding trigger foods, definitley helps.  

If you can get your GP to test you for c-dif and bad bacteria overgrowth, or find a private place (v. expensive tho) or a private lab to test out your gut health if you have no luck with your GP.  My diet is pretty similar to the Leaky gut diet which can be found online.  

I think in the coming years more research will be done in to the gut microbiome which I think are responsible for so many suffering from stomach problems, IBS, GERD and chronic inflamitory conditions will find it's an imbalance in the gut flora.  A recent study into allergies found those with severe allergies are missing a particular good bacteria in the gut.  

Hope this helps.  I know the symtoms feel really scary, especially when GP's all to often put it down to 'nerves' when it's more likely due to imbalances in the gut (most likely due to the overuse of antibiotics in medicine and in meat, and less exposure to nature.)  I can't afford the private gut tests at the moment so I opted for a kineseologist, but you could just try the leaky gut diet and see if it helps if you dont have the money for private.  It took about 1-2 weeks to notice a difference with the diet, though it becomes very clear when I don't stick to it these days.  Been on the diet (70%) and off the lanzaparole for about a month and a half now.  I eat a lot of salads and soups and only splurged on the pizza and bread as I was feeling a bit better!