Collette Rambo had a serious problem.
“I was suffering from acid reflux for at least a dozen
years,” she explains. “They say spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol will cause
it, but anything and everything caused it with me.
“It didn’t matter what I ate; the problem was constant.”
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), commonly known as
acid reflux, is a chronic condition which causes frequent heartburn, or acid
indigestion. The disease causes stomach contents to rise up into the esophagus,
which can in turn lead to other health problems.
“My insurance stopped paying for prescription medication,”
continues Collette, “so I started having to take an over-the-counter
medication. My reflux was so bad, I was taking four pills a day to try to
control it, but that wasn’t enough. It would wake me up in the middle of the night
and I’d have to get up and take two more.”
Carol Newton suffered with GERD for years, and it affected
her sleep as well.
“I had very severe acid reflux and was getting
prescription medicine that just wasn’t working,” says Carol.
“When I tried to go to sleep at night, I’d get that
burning going up my esophagus,” she describes. “So at times, it kept me awake.”
For Collette and Carol, acid reflux was clearly a problem
that went beyond being merely troublesome. Fortunately, both patients attended
seminars hosted by board-certified specialists Domingo E. Galliano, Jr., MD,
FACS, FASCRS, and Alvaro R. Bada, MD, FACS.
Collette consulted Dr. Galliano: “I called the day after
the seminar and scheduled an appointment with Dr. Galliano,” she recalls. “All
the testing was set up very quickly and efficiently.”
Carol saw Dr. Bada.
“He had a seminar about reflux. I went to it and I
thought,
This could be what I need
.
He took a test and said it could be done.”
The option both doctors offered their patients is a relatively
new no-incision, non-medication treatment for treating GERD: The
EsophyX
® TIF
(Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication) from EndoGastric Solutions.
About the EsophyX TIF
“The fundamental cause of GERD is a mechanical problem
with the lower esophageal sphincter or LES,” says Dr. Bada. “Many medications
only manage the symptoms of this painful condition. To provide long-term
relief, and reduce or even eliminate the need for medications, improper sealing
of the LES must be addressed.”
The EsophyX TIF procedure reconstructs the antireflux
barrier and restores the competency of the gastroesophageal junction, resulting
in the effective elimination of GERD. TIF is the first procedure that provides
an incisionless anatomical solution to a disease that today is typically
treated with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Research shows that of the
approximately 30 million Americans diagnosed with chronic GERD and dependent on
daily medications, 20 to 40 percent are not satisfied with PPIs.
“The EsophyX TIF procedure is an excellent alternative to
lifelong medication use,” adds Dr. Bada, “and the results are comparable to a
more invasive procedure, laparoscopic fundoplication. This procedure involves
no incisions, so the risks of surgery are decreased, and the return back to normal
activities is also very quick.”
Because the EsophyX TIF procedure is much less invasive
than laparoscopic or open surgery, postoperative care, in terms of side
effects, is minimal. Patients do not have the problems with gas, bloating, or
difficulty swallowing typically seen in patients receiving a laparoscopic or
open procedure.
“The main advantages to this procedure are that it is minimally
invasive, there is much less discomfort than after traditional procedures, and
recovery is rapid, with most patients returning to activities within one or two
days,” notes Dr. Bada. “Patients are instructed to follow a liquid diet for a
couple of weeks, with a gradual return to soft foods.
“This is a relatively new procedure, and Dr. Galliano and
I were the first doctors in this area to perform it,” he reports. “We like to
be on the leading edge, so we’re pleased to be able to bring this solution to
patients.”
“Fantastic” results
Carol reports a trouble-free experience going in for the
EsophyX TIF procedure.
“I had it done in August 2009 and spent one night in the
hospital,” she recalls. “You can be relaxed, because it’s very simple and there
was no pain. It really wasn’t like a surgery.”
“It was pretty easy,” agrees
Collette. “I knew what to expect, so I wasn’t afraid at all. They kept me
overnight, which is standard, and I was out the next day.”
Now that several months have
passed, Carol says she is thrilled with how well the no-incision procedure has
worked for her.
“Everything is fine,” she marvels.
“I can eat and drink whatever I like, and I don’t have to worry about acid
reflux.
“It’s really amazing.”
Just three weeks out of surgery,
Collette is already seeing an excellent outcome, too.
“The results are fantastic,” she
says. “I’m keeping to the diet very faithfully, and I think if people are good
about following the postoperative instructions, they will have good results.”
Adds Carol, “If someone is a
candidate for this procedure, they should go ahead and have it, because it
really makes a difference. I’d recommend it very highly.”
Collette concurs: “I would highly
recommend it to anyone who has reflux like I did. For me, it’s been great.”