For me it meant that I had just the opposite of GERD. My esophageal sphincter muscle is so tight that it won't let my food into my stomach easily, so I end up having reflux because food and drink is stuck in my esophagus. No acid from the stomach at all, but the same symptoms. Plus, I have a weak esophagus that doesn't push the food and drink downward. I'm looking into a non-invasive operation that will loosen the sphincter enough to let the food through but not cause GERD.
It all started 18 years ago with a terrible itch in my throat that causes me to cough extensively. Everything else has been eliminated, including GERD, allergies, asthma, heart problems and more.
Non-erosive esophagitis disease (NERD) may be the most 'common' form of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) considering what some research results are suggesting. Most people with NERD are defined as those having the classic symptoms of GERD without showing any evidence of esophageal mucosal (lining) injury.