We’ve all eaten that extra slice of pizza or had too much to eat at a holiday meal and walked away with a burning feeling in our chest from heartburn. But for two years, Milagros Camacho had that burning feeling after every meal. Regardless of what she ate or how much she ate, she would feel discomfort, burning and even nausea afterwards. The symptoms felt especially painful when Camacho would lie down, and she could feel acid burning through her throat and nose. She tried a variety of over- the- counter and prescription heartburn medications that would temporarily reduce her symptoms but never provided long- term relief.
As the pain got worse and more frequent Camacho knew she needed to find a solution. After visiting the doctor she discovered that she was not suffering from heartburn but something much more serious, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD.)
GERD occurs when stomach acid goes up into the esophagus creating that burning sensation. GERD can also cause one of the fastest growing cancers in the U.S., esophageal cancer. GERD is especially dangerous because people often attribute the pain they feel to heartburn instead of the more serious cause. There is a new surgical device used to prevent GERD called the LINX Reflux Management System.
LINX is a small implant comprised of titanium, magnetic beads. The structure of this new device is similar to a stretchy elastic bracelet that would fit around the size of a finger. The LINX implant is attached to the outside of the esophagus just above the stomach, and the magnets stretch to allow a patient to swallow food and liquid, but then constrict to keep stomach acid down. The “magnetic bracelet” sutured around the esophagus prevents acid from entering into the throat, and provides relief for the burning symptoms that patients with GERD, like Camacho often experience.
“The dangers of living with gastroesophageal reflux disease and not knowing it can be life threatening. Prescription medications for acid reflux were not designed for long term use, and if you continue to use them you could be masking your symptoms and what might be a bigger issue,” said Dr. James Rosser, general surgeon at Florida Hospital Celebration Health. “Taking note of these signs from the beginning and taking action could save your life from cancer.”
Dr. Rosser performed the first procedure in Central Florida using LINX on Camacho to finally put a stop to all of the burning and nausea she was experiencing after every meal for years.
“It is such a relief to not have to worry about the pain and discomfort I was suffering from with GERD and the potential of esophageal cancer,” said Camacho, “The LINX implant has given me the capability to finally live and eat normally.”
People who fear that frequent heartburn might be a serious issue, are invited to attend Operation Bear Hug, a free heartburn risk assessment hosted by Dr. Rosser and Dr. Jay Radan at the Florida Hospital Nicholson Center on February 4, 2014 from 4p.m.-7p.m. For more information and to take a free online heartburn risk assessment test, visit www.heartburnrisktest.com.
For more information on Dr. Rosser and Dr. Redan visit www.celebrationsurgeons.com.
The gastroesophageal reflux disease is a serious and very painful and therefore needs a serious medical attention. Today, there are several manufacturer of magnetic bracelet in very places. Either the information about its healing effect is true or not, there is nothing wrong wearing a magnetic bracelet.