Personal stories about medications and surgery to treat GERD
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Personal stories about medications and surgery to treat GERD
These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.
Carlos, age 43: I finally decided to see my doctor about my heartburn. She discovered I have a hiatal hernia and told me I could take some medication and control my heartburn or have surgery that might eliminate it. I am really not very excited by the thought of having surgery. I suppose it is safe enough, but I just don't like the idea. I am going to lose some weight and eat right. Hopefully, these changes along with the use of medications will control my heartburn.
Maria, age 28: I was glad to learn that my chest pain was heartburn. I thought I was having a heart attack. My doctor said I could treat the heartburn with medications or surgery. He said if I took medications, I would have to take them every day for the rest of my life. On the other hand, he said that surgery had a good chance of eliminating the problem, or at least the worst of it. I tried some medications and they seemed to work all right, but I wasn't really satisfied with the results. So I decided to have the surgery. Now I hope I will be able to get on with my life and not be bothered by this quite so much.
Antoine, age 40: My heartburn was really bad. I tried everything. First it was antacids and other medications I bought at the drugstore. That didn't help, so I saw my doctor. He wrote me a prescription for stronger medications than I could get in the drugstore. That helped some, but not enough. So my doctor suggested I could consider having surgery and, after thinking about it, I agreed.
Susan, age 50: I decided to take medications for my heartburn instead of having surgery. It's not so much that I am afraid of surgery, but I really don't have the time to take off right now. Taking a pill every day is not that big a deal. If it works, great! If I am not satisfied with the effectiveness of the medications, I figure I can always choose to have the surgery later.
Credits
| Author | Monica Rhodes |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology |
| Last Updated | March 31, 2008 |
| Last updated: | March 31, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Monica Rhodes |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology |
| Editors: | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC |
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