GERD: What helps long term?

Does anyone know what I can take for GERD long term? I never had it until they removed my gallbladder. Since then I have been living in hell. I cannot take pain medication, antidepressants, of course certain foods. I have tried prilosec, nexium, and now take tums and zantac. I have severe GERD where I feel i am having a heart attack. I think it was in October of last year I was taken to the hospital with it because it seem much worse than before. At that time they ran every test for heart problems and thank God I do not have heart disease. I Cannot bend over to work in my yard like I love too mostly because of that. Also wanted to ask if anyone heard that Tums would give you Alzheimers? I will have to take 3 or more sometimes to get the pain to stop. That is the only thing I found that works with the Zantac but I am worried about the Alzheimers since my grandfather had it. I also need to get my teeth pulled but am scared to death of the pain since I cannot take pain killers.