I had GERD and then an ulcer and was on Omeprozole then Lanzoprozole for over a year. Unfortunately it appears that as we get older the sphincter at the base of your oesophagus becomes less effective with age.
Food:- What has helped me is to follow an alkaline diet (as an example look at Natasha Corrett/Vicki Edgson's 'Honestly Healthy for Life).
As a pp said drink cut out tea/coffee and replace them with warm water with a squeeze of lemon.
Other drinks that have helped me are:- aloe Vera based (alo Allure), fennel tea and almond milk.
I try not to eat late and have had to cut out stir-frys, tomato sauces (bolognaises etc) red meat, cured meat sausages and fry ups. I also find 'hearty' soups difficult to digest. No fizzy drinks and alcohol (well ok the very occasional glass).
Try to get your GP to ensure that you don't have gallstones or that there is anything else going on by having an endoscopy, not a great procedure but it should give you peace of mind. Also get your GP to check whether you have an H Pylori infection (this can cause ulcers).
Other things that have helped me are:- watch out when exercising - doing pull ups or work on abs can have an effect on my reflux.
Trying not to hunch up when eating (either at a table whilst reading a book or iPad) and I try to walk around upright after eating to help the digestion.
I'm not evangelical, but by trying to do all/most of these things, and it has been a lot of trial and error, I don't need to take medication any more.
Please pp me if you would like more info.
Good luck!