A surgical procedure trial compares efficacy of two reliable procedures to repair a hiatal hernia and put an end to heartburn and GERD symptoms
Two years later, Mike Culp, left, no longer has disruptive GERD symptoms and is very happy with the results of his fundoplication procedure. (Photo courtesy of Mike Culp)
“It was killing me, and it wasn’t so much specific foods, but just everything across the board. Anything could set me off,” Culp said. “After eating or drinking, I would get bad heartburn and I needed to wait three or four hours before going to sleep. As a nurse, I work long shifts, so it is unreasonable for me to eat and wait hours before lying down.”
Culp rarely got a full night’s rest due to his intense symptoms, such as regurgitation and aspiration of stomach acid that entered his airway and lungs while he slept. He was later diagnosed with asthma and reactive airways disease, which occurs when the bronchial tubes that bring air into your lungs overreact to an irritant, like stomach acid. The tiny airway tubes can swell and cause breathing problems.