Dr. Ihde and EsophyX on CBS

Millions suffer from the pain of acid reflux; the condition makes it hard to eat and difficult to sleep but there is permanent relief. In tonight’s Eye On Health, CBS’s Ginger Allen takes a look at a non invasive procedure available here in North Texas.

Juanita: It was just terrible; it was just not fun to live with.

Ginger: Just two months ago severe acid reflux made this nearly impossible for Juanita Wilson.

Juanita: I couldn’t drink water and I’m a big water drinker.

Ginger: Her diet consisted of yogurt and bread; the reflux symptoms were causing shortness of breath and made her heart race.

Juanita: Every night ,no matter what time I ate, I went to bed with heartburn.

Ginger: Juanita’s doctor suggested that she have a new procedure that’s none invasive. 

Dr. Ihde: It’s just the beginning of a whole new type of surgery.

Ginger: Doctors at Forest Park Medical Center in Dallas are using a device called EsophyX to reconstruct the valve between the stomach and esophagus to prevent reflux.

Dr. Ihde: The way it does that is it creates a fold of tissue that will close off the esophagus so the acid doesn’t get up there.

Ginger: Using a camera, the EsophyX tool is guided through the mouth and into the stomach where wires and sutures are used to gather tissue and create the new fold.

Dr. Ihde:  And what that does is it allows us to pull the tissue up into the device and that’s going to create a fold right there.

Ginger: About 4 days after the procedure, Juanita Wilson was back at work and within a few weeks back to a more normal diet.

Juanita: I can drink what I want; I can pretty much eat what I want.

Ginger: She’s even back to eating spicy foods.

Juanita: I had Mexican food the other day for the first time in months. I had to say it tasted really well I just didn’t have the jalapeños on the side that I normally have but it was good, you know it was good.

Ginger: Not every case of reflux is severe enough for surgery. Doctors first suggest cutting back on alcohol and foods like tomatoes and orange juice. And for many people over the counter remedies work just fine. But to learn more about EsophyX log on to CBS11tv.com and look for health.  I’m Ginger Allen CBS news.