Newly diagnosed

Hi there everyone. Found this website after looking up a bunch of different things on GERD since I was diagnosed with it a couple days ago along with hypertension. I was wondering if some of you could help with me some questions I have about it and tips on how to handle it.
My first question is how common is chills and does it ever go away with time. I get them when I sit and worry about nothing but sometimes when im just lying down I seem to get it still. Usually taking deep breaths makes it go away but it happens pretty often and I was wondering could it be from the pepcid that im currently on. Also was wonder if bloating is common with GERD as well. Two days after I was put on pepcid I started feeling extremely bloated to the point where I could barely drink water along with constipation. The constipation has gone away and I pretty much traded it in for diarrhea, but the bloating occurs for about an hour or two each day.
I also get pain sometimes in the right side of my rib cage area and sometimes it goes up to my chest and even the back of my neck. Is there a way to differentiate the symptoms of the hypertension from the GERD?

Another thing I wanted to ask is how drastic of a change in diet can keep GERD under control. I went to the store and picked up some fruit (no oranges or other citrus fruit) and some fish. Apart from that I literally have no idea what foods are the alternative to the everyday eating I was used to.

Hi,
The list you were given by CJ was right - but there's another thing you have to try and avoid - alcohol. Smoking doesn't help either - but I've never smoked so that wasn't a problem for me. Both relax your LES and makes the reflux happen more often.
I would see how you go with the tablets - they take time to get into your system - and they do upset your digestion - as they block stomach acid. They do settle in time - but if you find it doesn't, go back to doctor as there are loads of different meds they can try.
I also raised my bed 8 inches at the head end - it kind of stops acid raising up when you sleep - and lastly no food for 3 hours before bed - nothing to drink for 2 hours before bed.
Hope this helps!
Oh - and just so you know I can get very shivery sometimes - I think it may be something to do with the acid reducing tablets. I tend to wrap up warm in bed with a hot water bottle!
Hope you feel better soon!