• Hi there and thank you you for raising this question. The feeling of reflux is very unpleasant and can sometimes be painful. In a normal healthy person, there is a muscular gate (sphincter) that is located in between your stomach and your oesophagus. This gate functions to prevent the acidic stomach contents from back flowing upwards into the oesophagus (where the lower part is located in your chest, which gives the sensation of heartburn or reflux).

• If this process has been going on for long, the corrosive stomach contents may cause damage to the lining of your oesophagus. So our aim in treatment is two; 1. To heal the lining of the wall of the oesophagus, and 2. To prevent the contents from coming out as frequent.

• Healing the oesophageal wall is basically achieved by allowing the esophagus to heal itself (the cells lining the oesphagus are replaced by newer ones very rapidly). This is done with the help of medication such as antacids (Which reduce the acidity of the stomach) and more usually, high doses of proton pump inhibitors (like nexium), which controls the pH of the stomach for longer periods of time. With medication, when the reflux does happen, the contents would be less acidic and therefore less damaging.

• The most important step is in controlling the frequency of the reflux. Surgery would be the most definitive answer to this but you are still young at 29 years old. A better approach would be to some very easy lifestyle changes, such as losing weight (obesity may cause GERD), reducing coffee and alcohol, having regular small meals, avoid late night meals or heavy meals, and also dont lie down immediately after you eat. These simple steps will allow you to control your symptoms and also avoid unnecessary surgery.

Please click on this link (DoctorOnCall) to talk to us privately online and discuss further about your symptoms and treatment needed. Thank you.