How long does one have to have GERD (mildly, untreated) before the esophagus gets damaged? Are we talking weeks? Months? Years?? I can't find ANYTHING that gives me this information.

It's has alot to do with the individual! Myself, I didn't start having classic heartburn til about 5 yrs ago and then it was only when my hubby had a heart attack(stress related) of which he has had 3 over a course of 10 yrs. So I never gave thought to it cuz once the stress was calmer I had no more problems, then about 5 yrs ago I'd get it when I ate peanut butter or something so I'd not eat it for a long time. I always had a problem clearing my throat and associated it with asthma. I went in for a endoscopy once a year, last year it showed esophagitis and this year I ened up with Barrett's esophagus without any cell change thank goodness. I tried several meds and they haven't been full proof, I'll be seeing my gastro next week to try nexium this time. so time, well mine it took about 5 yrs steady tho I'd had symptoms not related to the classic heartburn more years than I knew. I've known people who seemed to have it for 20+ yrs and their esophagus looks just fine and then me with a few years of the heartburn I've already got the start of Barretts. Oh and my biggest problem is that when i didn't have heartburn which was most of the time I didn'take the meds not knowing my symptoms where more than heartburn. So it depends on the person. Like smoking some people smoke for 40 yrs and never have problems and some for a few years and end up with cancer, it's the genes.

Thanks for answering - yea, that makes sense. I'm thinking of my dad, he's 72 and has been suffering from heartburn since his 20's!!! He just had an endoscopy and all is fine.... Then my neighbor's son who is 26 was diagnosed with Barretts and both his parents are fine (though they had GERD, etc for YEARS too) I've been having problems for a month and I wanted to wait another month to see if it'll clear up on it's own. That's the only reason I asked. I figured if severe damage can occur in mere MONTHS, I'd go immediately.