Home > Archive > Heartburn Support > July 2006 > Reflux





You are viewing an archived Text-only version of the thread. To view this thread in it's original format and/or if you want to reply to this thread please [click here]

Author Reflux
pharris2000

2006-07-14, 8:24 am

Hi there,

I've been suffering from acid reflux for years. I have a constant sore
throat, especially on the left side of my throat (this is the side I
lay on at night). I have inclined my pillows, am trying to lose weight
and cut out alcohol, fatty foods etc. I have never smoked in my life.
Recently my sore throat has become worse, and seems to get worse when I
sit for long periods and in the evening. Over the last week or so I
also have had tender feelings on the inside of my mouth soft tissues
plus the occasional red ulcers.

Basically I have three questions and would be VERY grateful for any
advice:

1) Would anyone recommend or have any experience of the surgical
procedure to tighten the stomach valve muscle to stop the acids? I
understand it is now a key-hole surgical procedure. Is it worth having
done?

2) Are there any tips for diet, other than cutting out fats, fried
food, spices, alcohol?

3) I am worried about Barrets Oesophagus disease and its link to
cancer. Are the pains in my mouth linked to this and does anyone know
what these symptoms might indicate?

Hope you can help me.

Cheers,

P Harris
UK

Vanny

2006-07-14, 4:22 pm

1) I have no GERD op. experience.

2) Here are the GERD lifestyle changes that you must make in order to have
the
symptoms under control. http://www.gicare.com/pated/ecdgs39.htm . Of
course, I assume that you are on a daily proton pump inhibitor such as
nexium, protonix
(aka pantoprazole), etc. I just about keep my GERD under control with the
lifestyle changes and 20 mg protonix half an hour before breakfast. Ensure
that you do not eat any acidifying foods (see article, but includes citrus
fruits, tomatoes, fizzy drinks, tea, coffee, etc.). In the meantime switch
to a GERD diet and eat smaller meals 5-6 times a day and don't eat for at
least 3-4 hours before lying down.

3) From my reading unchecked reflux will eventually in all likelihood result
in cancer of the oesophagus.
Other potential problems include bronchitis, lung fibrosis, sinusitis,
middle ear infection, chronic sore throat, laryngitis, corrosion of the
teeth, gastritis, etc., etc., etc. Perhaps cancer of the mouth can also be
caused by reflux? You need to get to a doctor to address your symptoms ASAP.
I am not medically qualified.

Comprehensive article on GERD:
http://www.reutershealth.com/wellconnected/doc85.html

All the best,

Vanny


"pharris2000" <pharris2000@yahoo.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:1152877399.199120.197200@m79g2000cwm.googlegroups.com...
Hi there,

I've been suffering from acid reflux for years. I have a constant sore
throat, especially on the left side of my throat (this is the side I
lay on at night). I have inclined my pillows, am trying to lose weight
and cut out alcohol, fatty foods etc. I have never smoked in my life.
Recently my sore throat has become worse, and seems to get worse when I
sit for long periods and in the evening. Over the last week or so I
also have had tender feelings on the inside of my mouth soft tissues
plus the occasional red ulcers.

Basically I have three questions and would be VERY grateful for any
advice:

1) Would anyone recommend or have any experience of the surgical
procedure to tighten the stomach valve muscle to stop the acids? I
understand it is now a key-hole surgical procedure. Is it worth having
done?

2) Are there any tips for diet, other than cutting out fats, fried
food, spices, alcohol?

3) I am worried about Barrets Oesophagus disease and its link to
cancer. Are the pains in my mouth linked to this and does anyone know
what these symptoms might indicate?

Hope you can help me.

Cheers,

P Harris
UK


Howard McCollister

2006-07-15, 2:22 am


"pharris2000" <pharris2000@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1152877399.199120.197200@m79g2000cwm.googlegroups.com...
> Hi there,
>
> I've been suffering from acid reflux for years. I have a constant sore
> throat, especially on the left side of my throat (this is the side I
> lay on at night). I have inclined my pillows, am trying to lose weight
> and cut out alcohol, fatty foods etc. I have never smoked in my life.
> Recently my sore throat has become worse, and seems to get worse when I
> sit for long periods and in the evening. Over the last week or so I
> also have had tender feelings on the inside of my mouth soft tissues
> plus the occasional red ulcers.
>
> Basically I have three questions and would be VERY grateful for any
> advice:
>
> 1) Would anyone recommend or have any experience of the surgical
> procedure to tighten the stomach valve muscle to stop the acids? I
> understand it is now a key-hole surgical procedure. Is it worth having
> done?
>
> 2) Are there any tips for diet, other than cutting out fats, fried
> food, spices, alcohol?
>
> 3) I am worried about Barrets Oesophagus disease and its link to
> cancer. Are the pains in my mouth linked to this and does anyone know
> what these symptoms might indicate?
>


Anti-refux surgery (Nissen fundoplication or Stretta procedure) has a very
high liklihood of success if and when all other methods of symptom control
fail. Note that such surgery has the capability of actually curing the
reflux , whereas the other methods are only used to manage the symptom.
Likewise, be aware that Billy Boy's posts are erroneous in his assertion
that a hiatus hernia can be cured with non-surgical methods. He is confusing
the anatomical defect of a hiatus hernia with the disease of acid reflux.
Man people have a hiatus hernia and no reflux, and many people have reflux
and no hiatus hernia. NO hernia of ANY kind can be cured without surgery.
The question is whether or not the hernia NEEDS to be fixed. If there are no
symptom, then the answer to that question is "no".

Likewise, anti-refux surgery. If the symptoms of acid reflux disease can be
controlled to the patient's satisfaction, and if there is no esophageal
damage from the reflux (erosive esophagitis, stricture, Barrett's esophaus),
then surgery is not necessary. Toward that end, by all means try the ginger
root nostrum Billy Boy extols. It can't hurt, and if/when it fails, then
surgery is still possible, of course

HMc



pharris2000

2006-07-16, 9:22 pm

Dear All,

Thanks for all your advice! Much appreciated.

Regards,

P Harris

Copyright 2003 - 2008 pahealthsystems.com