Hi and thank you so much for this query I am so sorry to hear about this heartburn. Acid reflux, especially long standing, can affect the esophagus in both the short term and the long term.In the short run, it causes pain, inflammation and stenosis while in the long run, the risk of Barrett s esophagus and cancer are possible. However, the good news is that only a very few percentage of patients go on to develop these complications when managed well. Famotidine is a good drug and should help you with this. If it shouldn t, omeprazole and a more detailed evaluation and treatment by a gastroenterologist should be considered. Surgical options are reserved for persons with very severe disease that does not respond to drugs. I hope this addresses your query fully. Thank you so much for patronizing our services and please do feel free to ask for follow up clarifications and information if need be. I wish you the best of health. Dr. Ditah, MD.