I had heartburn/GERD for 45+ years. I was on 5 PPI Rx meds. when I had "break through," I took over the counter tums or Roland's. Finally, I stopped in my PCP office and he was not there. I got his med student/intern. She tested me for pylori, and it came back positive! Up until that point, I was treated like I had a mental illness, including counseling, and everything was being blamed on surgery I had when I was younger.
I knew for many years that I had a hiatal hernia, but when I had "Barium swallow" tests done, I had to fast, so the hernia dropped, and didn't show!
My dear little intern referred me over to bariatrics for an endoscopy, and they found the Hi-grade Barretts Esophagus, which had also herniated, eroded sphincter valve, and hiatal hernia. After all that was "resolved," I have been heartburn free! Stick to your guns, get your referrals, and expect your Dr's to listen to you! Not everything shows up in a blood test!