6 Signs It May Be Time for Acid Reflux Surgery
Do you suffer from persistent heartburn (also called acid reflux or GERD)? If so, you’ll know that it’s not just annoying – it’s painful and can keep you from doing things you love. Let’s take a brief look at your treatment options for acid reflux, then we’ll answer some common questions about reflux surgery: how do you know if you need surgery for acid reflux, who qualifies for acid reflux surgery, and how much acid reflux is too much?
Acid Reflux Treatment Options
Lifestyle Changes
If you have mild acid reflux, lifestyle changes are definitely your best bet. These tips will help you if you fall into that category. However, keep in mind that these changes might only help you see mild relief if you are a persistent acid reflux sufferer.
- Avoid trigger foods and beverages
- Keep a food diary
- Sit upright for a couple of hours after a meal
- Sleep on your left side
- Eat smaller portions more often
- Drink plenty of water
Medication
Medications like antacids are great solutions for people with situational reflux that doesn’t happen often. However, if you start popping tums every hour or so, things have gone too far. It’s at this point that most people will reach for famotidine or omeprazole – however, we don’t recommend that for several reasons. In fact, your best bet for recurring, clockwork reflux woes is – you guessed it – surgery.
Surgical Procedures
We might be a little bit biased, but surgery, in our opinion, is the only way to truly fix the structural issues that are causing your persistent acid reflux. All other “treatments” are bandage solutions that only mask your symptoms.
Here at Suncoast Surgical Associates, we have several surgeons who specialize in procedures like the Lap Nissen, TIF, and LINX. All of these procedures will structurally alter your upper stomach, lower esophagus, or both. This will prevent reflux from happening in the future – most patients can come off their medication directly after their procedure.
How Much Acid Reflux Is Too Much?
So, how do you know if you need surgery for acid reflux, and who qualifies for acid reflux surgery? Let’s take a look at some of the signs that it may be time for you to consider surgical repair to stop your reflux for good:
- Antacids or famotidine alone isn’t enough to stop your reflux from burning.
- You’re taking omeprazole every day and you still have heartburn sometimes.
- Heartburn is making sleep difficult and you’re fatigued because of it.
- You cannot enjoy meals because you’re worried about heartburn.
- You don’t enjoy yourself when you go out because of heartburn.
- You’ve been struggling with reflux and aspiration for a long time and can’t get it under control.
All of these are great reasons to speak with a GERD specialist. Remember: the longer you let reflux damage your esophagus (reflux is still happening when on medications – it just doesn’t burn!), the more likely you are to develop complications like Barrett’s esophagus or even esophageal cancer.
From our medical team to you: stop putting off that trip to the specialist’s office. It’s time to kick your reflux to the curb – for good.