Acid Reflux » medications

GERD Surgery: Acid Reflux Facts Behind This Treatment

tuan megai — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 08:11:52 +0000

People say that GERD surgery is not a good way of treating acid reflux. There were claims that medication is still a better way to treat the condition. One publication was founded through the study conducted on a group of patients with GERD who underwent surgery and the traditional medication. This research was made known in the Journal of the American Medical Association. In this regard, let us see the acid reflux facts on this treatment.

Studies made on GERD surgery

The initial research was conducted from 1986 to 1988 in various hospitals. Individuals with serious cases of GERD were chosen to go through medication or anti-reflux surgical procedure. After two years of continuous follow ups made on these patients, results showed that surgical procedures done for GERD patients was considered a better way of improving the condition rather than the conventional medication given. It was found out that surgery had a good result in controlling the signs of GERD. In fact, there were lesser requirements for medication. Overall cost was cheaper than oral medication.

On the other hand, recent studies showed that the original patients who were initially studied for the two types of GERD treatment are still continuing to take their usual medication. Those who underwent surgery are also taking GERD medications. This goes to show that surgery is not as effective as what the initial study claimed. This contested the previous study made on GERD surgery thus making it somewhat inefficient in alleviating the signs of GERD, after all.

Advantages of GERD surgery

The advantages presented by patients who underwent acid reflux surgery include:

Curing of acid reflux.
No further medications required.
Some patients also reported that they use lesser medicines and the symptoms of their condition had been alleviated.

Disadvantages of GERD surgery

There were reports that more patients who underwent GERD surgery died because of heart ailment rather than those who were taking oral medicines. However, this disadvantage must not be totally blamed on GERD surgery because there may be some underlying reasons for the death of the patient. This disadvantage is not accepted as of the moment.

There is still no conclusive comparison between GERD surgery and medication. There are various factors to be considered in order to make a final statement to which of these two treatments will be best for the condition. The best thing to do is to establish the individuals who need GERD surgery and separate them from those who only need oral medication. In addition, long-term studies should be made before anti-reflux surgery is recommended to individuals with GERD problems.

To make things clearer, you have to scrutinize these treatments properly. Both GERD surgery and medications have their own advantages and disadvantages. There is still a need for further studies to make conclusive evidence to what is the best treatment for GERD and to find out what is really the best cure for the condition. This goes to show that you have to go to your doctors first before putting a stop to the problem.

GERD Surgery and Cancer: Acid Reflux Facts to Take Note Of

tuan megai — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 07:49:22 +0000

Surgery and Cancer

Adenocarcinoma is a kind of cancer of the esophagus that is greatly affecting a lot of people in Western Europe and the United States. Acid reflux disease is commonly blamed as a factor to this plight. It is considered that GERD has the ability to damage the cells coating the esophagus. This is due to the stomach acid that results to cell alteration. In the long run, this turns into adenocarcinoma.

The usual medication used in treating simple heartburn is to manage its signs by manipulating the acid. Barret’s esophagus which is one of the complications of GERD is remedied by either management of the acid regardless of indications or by undergoing GERD or acid reflux surgery. It is advised that persons with Barret’s esophagus should submit for constant examination like endoscopy and biopsy for early detection and healing of adenocarcinoma.

GERD surgery and the different methods used

For several years, the usual surgical procedure used in curing acid reflux entails a cut in the higher part of the stomach. But as of the present, laparoscopic surgical methods are being used by surgeons to deviate from the conventional procedure. This type of treatment needs only some tiny pierced cuts in the stomach.

The difference between laparoscopic surgery and conventional surgical procedure is that the former results to only a few irritations for the patient making them recover in just a short period of time. This made people favor the procedure instead of seeking help through the aid of oral medications.

As of the present, endoscopy is considered as a more advanced technique in treating GERD. This is more comforting to the patient and requires shorter recovery compared to laparoscopic surgery. However, it is still too soon to conclude its efficacy. This leads us to say that both oral medication and surgical procedure are believed to be efficient in managing acid reflux and putting off GERD.

Disadvantages of oral medication for GERD

Oral medication for GERD is considered more expensive than surgery because it is required for long time use. In fact, it may extend throughout the lifespan of the patient. To some extent, problems may arise regarding the obedience of the patient to the medication since some patients may take the medications only when they are experiencing symptoms. The patient may forget to take the medication continuously or they may double their dose if they forgot to take it at a required time.

Due to these reasons some doctors advice their patients to just undergo surgical procedure for their condition especially if their patients are at a risk for adenocarcinoma. However, managing the acid either through medication or surgical procedure is still not enough to eliminate the risk of this condition. It is actually a choice of the patient.

The study conducted in 2001in Sweden showed that dangers of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus is six times more in individuals with GERD and surgery. Even medications cannot protect them from acquiring the disease. Therefore, the key factor in treating and preventing this cancer is early diagnosis, detection and treatment.

Acid Reflux Checklist: What You Discuss With Your Doctor

tuan megai — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:00:23 +0000

Making appointment and visiting your physician takes a lot of effort and time especially if you are afraid of knowing your real condition. People find it so difficult to approach their physicians. When you have acid reflux, you are advised to have your own checklist with you. The acid reflux checklist should include some of your concerns and queries.

A young caring doctor

You should not be embarrassed to discuss with him all the changes happening in your daily life lately. Through your discussion both of you will be in good terms to plan for the proper treatment of your condition. There is no way you will be treated unless you will be open about your disorder.

Acid reflux and your checklist

Your checklist should include the following:

Changes in your everyday living pertaining to sex and desire for food.
You may also list down all the present medications, vitamins and food supplements you are taking in. This is important for your doctor to recommend a treatment for acid reflux that will not produce adverse reactions to your body.
Your checklist should also include schedules for necessary follow-up consultation.
Note all the symptoms and side effects you will experience during the course of your medication.

What you should discuss with your doctor during follow-up

The following alterations in your feelings must be discussed with your physician on your follow-up visit:

Serious headaches. You must tell your doctor if you are experiencing this on a more severe way than the way you felt in the past.
Diet. Discuss all diet changes especially when it comes to decrease or increase in food cravings. Inform him if you feel hungry most of the time.
Weight concerns. Any excessive weight loss without your desire to do so should also be reported to your doctor.
Stressful life. If you are leading a stressful life every day, you must also discuss all the things that stresses you so that your doctor can advice you what to do.
Changes while eating. It is also essential to let your doctor know if you are feeling pain while swallowing your food or if your stomach feels full even if you only consume a small amount of food.
Mood changes. You must tell your doctor if you have mood changes that last longer than expected.
Abdominal pain. This must also be reported to your doctor to learn what causes it. In this regard, you must also tell him if you have any alterations in bowel movements.
Sleeping Difficulty. It is essential to discuss this with your doctor because if you will not have sufficient sleep, your overall health will be affected.

Additionally, if you are experiencing speech difficulty, dizziness, and weakened physical coordination, you must also discuss it with your doctor. Since making appointments and visiting your doctor may be taxing for you, it is very important that you should make the most out of it by listing all the things you need to discuss with him. In the end of it all, you will benefit from this scenario. Solving acid reflux will only be possible through openness with your doctor.