Kat (Jefferson City, MO) on 08/21/2014

His mother finally informed me that he had very severe acid reflux as an infant and threw up all the time until he turned a year old. After that, he was a perfectly healthy child until his 20's when the choking began.

When we returned home from vacation, we immediately made an appointment with his Dr to be referred to a GI for an endoscopy. The endoscopy revealed he had Eosinophilis Esophagitis and high levels of eosinophils and the "sticky rings". The Dr referred him to get tested for food and environmental allergies (even though he doesn't get allergy symptoms except the occasional sniffle in the spring and fall). She also put him on Omeprozale and a steroid inhaler that is swallowed. He takes the Omeprozale daily and the inhaler every few months. His allergy tests revealed ZERO food allergies and just a few seasonal allergies that weren't that bad.

Taking the medicine daily, along with chewing small bites and slowly and avoiding sticky foods such as breads has really helped. He also tries not to drink beer and that helps as well. He has a few other symptoms that have minimized since then as well including the constant bloody noses he used to get and waking up gasping for air sometimes at night. The snoring has also improved.

Two months ago, his father finally admitted to us that he used to have the same choking issues and eventually grew out of them. THEN his younger brother started having the issues at 30 years old. (husband is now 33). His brother just got an endoscopy and turns out to have EoE as well. However, his brother had severe asthma and allergies growing up, but no food allergies either. All seems to be hereditary in this family with the EoE.

Now we have an 8 month old son who has had terrible reflux since day 1 and has been on Zantac since 2 weeks old. I am terrified he will end up with the same choking issues and EoE.

Has anyone ever experienced this without food allergies? Also, do multiple family members have it?

Thank you.