Ongoing GERD Cannot Digest Protein and Fats

Hello everyone! Eleven weeks ago, I was diagnosed with GERD. I tested myself for H. pylori and various other parasites as well as for pancreatic insufficiency but the results were negative. My symptoms include burping after eating, acid moving up into my esophagus and a feeling of something being stuck somewhere along my digestive system that I feel in my back. My GP and two other gastroenterologists prescribed me Almagel (antacid), Zirid (Itopride) and PPIs which I took for 5 weeks. Because I wasn’t getting better, my doctors prescribed me increasing amounts of medicine. Towards the end of this period I was taking 80 mg of Nexium per day. However, as I was taking the medicine my symptoms worsened. I lost 8 kg because I was barely able to eat. I felt that food stayed in my stomach for hours before it got digested. After 5 weeks I decided to stop the medication as I read that my condition may be due to low stomach acid instead of high acidity. Although I had some rebound acid after stopping the medication, the rebound effects stopped after 2-3 days. I began taking Slippery Elm, herbs /germander, chicory/, propolis with royal jelly, honey and bee pollen. I started eating a little more, I found foods which I tolerated /honey, apples, pears, melons, chicken broth, kefir, carrot juice. Other foods such as egg whites, pickles, avocados, rusks in water were hard for me to consume but I found that I can eat them if I also took some apple cider vinegar. I think apples cider vinegar relieved to a big extent many of my above symptoms. Unfortunately, apple cider vinegar is causing pain in the epigastric region after I take it, so I have stopped consuming it. I also tried celery but I got reflux from it.

I also had a blood test and it showed vitamin B12 and D3 deficiency with B12 being marked as a latent deficit, i.e. not a big deficiency.

I believe I might have gastritis accompanied with low acidity as the moment I eat foods with protein or fats, I get reflux and burping, yet when taking ACV to ease the digestion, it is causing irritation in the epigastric region. I am currently taking plant based enzymes but even with them, when I eat 20 grams of boiled chicken, I still get a mild reflux. I read online about gastritis and they mention it is treated with PPIs. However, this does not make sense to me as I can't see how this will help me digest proteins and fats.

I was wondering if anyone else has had similar symptoms and if anyone has any advice. Thank you in advance for your help.

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