Patient consultation about an anti-reflux device

We have been asked by Anam Malik of the National Institute for Health Research for some patient feedback on whether it would be a good thing if a device called a Reza Band were available

rezaband.com/files/pdf/reza...

From a quick look, it seems as if it is a collar with a blob on it that can exert some gentle pressure at night on your upper oesophageal sphincter to try and stop reflux getting into your throat / lungs. So it is not medication and not an internal medical device. It might feasibly help, depending on the surgery you have had, against aspiration, but it would not help reflux getting into your oesophagus in the first place.

If you would feel able to help NIHR and give an opinion, with details of your own situation, please email direct to Anam Malik <[e-mail]>

[hilr]

Hi, I have never had acid reflux, not before my OC diagnosis, nor after my Ivor Lewis surgery. Guess I'm lucky in that respect. I presume fitting this device would involve surgery?

[Hidden in reply to hilr]

No, it does not involve surgery because it is like a strap that you wear round your neck at night that creates a bit of pressure that keeps your upper oesophageal sphincter closed, but presumably not tight enough to cause other problems.

The problem as I see it would be that it would not do much about the acid rising from the stomach in the first place, but I do not know much about it other than seeing the page on the website.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

what Is Ivor Lewis surgery?I have had issues with acid reflux for few years and in 2012 developed a cough when lying down at night and all my gp said was "it wasn't my chest".i have since found out that acid reflux causes this. a hospital dr once explained about the sphincter muscle.My whole abdomen is distended,a solid mass and sore and lumpy and this soreness and lumpiness has spread to my upper chest and round to sides.I take omeprazole but have been on them for years.I get a lot of pain in that area(stomach/oesophagus)and although diagnosed with Hiatus Hernia -it could be more.i am waiting to see a gastroenterologist in September.I have had my gallbladder removed in 2013 and the "lumpiness and soreness" have increased and spread since.

I havent any answers from gp who only told me what things are not and put everything down to fibromyalgia even though had sudden onset of symptoms in 2011.(fibro diagnosed in 2005 and fairly stable until 2011 when symptoms kicked in starting with protrusion of ribs)and that is when any diagnosis was "its inflammation.its your stomach or I don't know what it is "+ other unreassuring comments..

I have no appetite and force myself to eat breakfast and a small meal which is all i can manage before feel full.my weight gain is predominantly abdominal and no gp has ever accepted I don't eat cakes biscuits snacks puddings etc so is not diet related .I cant cut out what I don't eat and have changed my diet as per advice of dieticians

[Hidden]

Ivor Lewis was a surgeon who developed a particular technique that improved the operation for removing a patient's oesophagus, usually made necessary because of cancer. There are surgical techniques for reducing acid reflux, usually around repairing a hiatus hernia, or creating a 'wrap' around the base of the oesophagus by using the top part of the stomach, or indeed, more recently by a surgical device known as Linx, a magnetic bracelet that is placed around the base of the oesophagus to re-create the valve effect to stop the acid rising if methods such as prescribing PPI medication like omeprazole are not working.

I think seeing a gastroenterologist would be a really good idea as the problem does seem to come from your digestive system somewhere. You may already have done this, but I would consider an experiment with progressively cutting out various types of food (eg dairy; gluten; caffeine) to see if you have some form of intolerance. Keep a food diary. And have a check on your mineral, vitamin levels and any allergies you may have that might contribute to it. You may need the help of a nutritionist with this process. Drink plenty of water.