Acid and pepsin have been shown to be very caustic to the esophageal mucosa and can be extremely damaging. The superficial layer of the esophagus can be partly digested, and cause an ulcer or sore in more severe cases. A sour or bitter taste in the mouth is highly suggestive of reflux and regurgitation. When too much acid flows back into your esophagus, it becomes irritated and you will feel pain. Typically there is a gnawing, cramping upper abdominal pain or discomfort, usually confined to the lower esophagus, that may or may not be associated with eating.
Some patients report extreme chest pain, sometimes thought initially to be a heart attack.
Excessive belching or burping Symptoms of excessive belching arise soon after meals and are worsened by eating. Early satiety Some patients report a feeling of fullness or hunger satiety after eating only a small amount of food. For the majority of patients, a diagnosis of GERD is made by a doctor simply based on an evaluation of symptoms, without any testing at all. The symptoms of heartburn and acid regurgitation are often the most prevalent of the presenting symptoms. However, some symptoms of GERD could be the same as a more serious problem and a doctor may decide an endoscopy is required.