Stretta procedure

[sproxtonm]

I am new to this forum and was diagnosed with hiatus hernia, gastritis and acid reflux following a gastroscopy. I've also had manonetry and PH tests and barium swallow. Tomorrow I have a Stretta procedure and would be grateful if anyone can tell me about what happens afterwards. I will be on a liquid diet for 2 weeks then 6 weeks on soft food. I'm already very thin but hoping this will help. Can anyone give some advice?

[Minardi]

Hi. I wish you all the best with the stretta procedure. May if you are in the UK.

[Hidden]

There is a brief description of the Stretta procedure in Chris Robinson's book 'Down With Acid' that you can obtain through the Barrett's Wessex website or from free e-books:

free-ebooks.net/ebook/Down-...

[sproxtonm]

Thank you so much. All went well. Feeling a bit sore now but on liquid diet now and hoping for the best!

[Matt57 in reply to sproxtonm]

Hi Mary

Just wondering how you are feeling now after your stretta ?Are things improving week by week ?I had my stretta today 26/11/18 all went well on liquid diet for 2 weeks errrrr lol.I got the best man for the job Mr vish as you did.Are you still on medication?

Best Regards Matt

[danym in reply to Matt57]

How are u feeling? Have u seen any improvement in your reflux?

[sproxtonm in reply to danym]

Yes thanks it’s much better now. I eat small meals and stop eating by early evening which helps. I take 300mg ranitidine daily and take tennis’s when needed. I have to avoid some foods, pastry and cream mainly but otherwise can eat most things without causing acid

Hope you are on the mend too.

[sproxtonm in reply to danym]

Sorry it should say I take Rennies! Blooming predictive text!

[danym in reply to sproxtonm]

thank you, do you feel your reflux has gotten better since last year? have you been able to decrease your medicine?

[sproxtonm in reply to danym]

Yes the reflux is more under control. I have learned to avoid the things that trigger it. My medication is 300mg ranitidine daily which works well. I haven’t tried reducing it yet. How are you doing?

[danym in reply to sproxtonm]

I'm struggling to control the reflux, I'm getting side effects from ppis, so it's been hard. Also, I noticed that my thyroid medication gives me bad reflux and burning, but I can not stop it

[sproxtonm in reply to danym]

Dr Viswanath said ranitidine would be better than ppis and I think he is right. Do you stop eating early evening? I find it helps and some things make the reflux worse for me. I don’t have fatty foods or acidic white wines.

[danym in reply to sproxtonm]

yes, I've been very strict with my diet, no dairy, fats, eating early dinner, the problem is my thyroid meds that bother me when I take them

[Zarina95 in reply to sproxtonm]

Hi can you please give me a dress of the hospital you make stretta?

[Matt57 in reply to danym]

Hi danym

I am six weeks post stretta .So far I am no better at all a bit disappointed so far .Mind you it does say on the information sheet I can take up to 8-12 months to work but a lot of people are feeling some relief after 2-4weeks .Apparently every body different with healing process. Are you having the stretta ?

[sproxtonm in reply to Matt57]

Keep going Matt I’m sure you will start to feel better soon. It took me quite a while but I’m great now. Do you have any complicating factors?

[Matt57 in reply to sproxtonm]

Hi mary

Thank you I will .No complicating factors the procedure all went fine .I go and see Mr viswanath for my 3month check 14 of February so will see what he say .I still have that constant taste of acid and getting a lot of nausea but time will tell .How long has it been now mary since your stretta ?Are you totally symptom free of reflux?

[SamDoha in reply to Matt57]

Hello, I hav done stretta on Feb 10, it was fast procedure for amost and hour and went home after 4 hours, I felt discomfort day one and the dector said to stay on PPI Pentazol 30 mins before food once daily for month, these days I am still facing heartburn , , reflux, not feeling hangry ...!!!! Even till this moment from the day of Stretta i am only following Liquid Dait.....!!!!!!

Hi Matt, Any news from your dector visit on Feb 14...?

[SamDoha in reply to SamDoha]

Also i have Gas issue daily

[Matt57 in reply to SamDoha]

Hi samDoha

I am just over 3months post stretta but so far no improvement what so ever .Still getting acid taste in my mouth & heartburn .Also constant nausea which I never had before .The specialist is now saying the reason the stretta is not working is because I have ulcerative colites & taking mezavant & have Barretts. But he knew this before he did the procedure and saying stretta doesn't sit well with Barretts. Then said hopefully I will improve. I won't hold my breath 😣😣.How are you feeling now any improvement at all?

[SamDoha in reply to Matt57]

Hello Matt57 and thank u for your reply, I met the doector yestarday for the 1st time after 8 days from Stretta, he said I need to wait month to 3 months....!!!!! Finish the PPI , He siad before Stretta; it will not be immediate effect and need to wait. Today till this moment heartburn is less and the taste Acids in my month still there. I am following the Liquied diat for another 4 days, following the recommendation such as dont drink or eat before 3 hours from bit time, sleeping with 30 degree bid hoping for the best.

Wish u quick recovery, my doctor said there chance we need to wait for 1 year, maybe u need to wait.

[gaildutton730 in reply to Matt57]

Hi Matt When you say Mr Vish what hospital please and does he do Private procedures or just NHS? Thank you. Gail

[sproxtonm in reply to gaildutton730]

It was The James Cook University Hospital

Middlesbrough

UK

[Ninja83]

Im considering Stretta and would appreciate any information you can provide regarding the procedure and recovery. Hope you are symptom free soon.

[sproxtonm in reply to Ninja83]

Hi I am 4 months on from the procedure and am feeling much better. I can eat most things now and my taste has returned to normal . I still have to be careful about how much I eat. If I start to feel full I stop and I don't eat after 7. O clock at night if I can help it. I take 300mg Ranitidine daily and manage problems with Rennies as I hate gaviscon. This regime is working well. That procedure itself was straightforward and lasted about 40 mins I think. I had a double dose of sedative before the start. It was just like a gastroscopy but there were several pulses of microwave activity. It was slightly uncomfortable but not at all painful. The whole thing took about an hour and I then went to a recovery bay for another couple of hours after which I went home. I was on a liquids only diet for 2 weeks soup and milky drinks basically, lost weight and felt a bit weak. Then 3 weeks of sloppy foods yoghurts, mashed up food etc. Had no discomfort but a few problems going to the loo! All sorted now and feeling much better. Putting a bit of weight back on. I lost over a stone all told and I'm thin to start with. Got more energy now and enjoying life. I had a 3 month review at the hospital and I'm signed off. Still get some acid reflux and heartburn occasionally but liveable with. I would recommend it. It's non invasive and it works, though I have no idea how. Mr. Viswanath says I will continue to improve so hope he is right. Good luck. Thinking of you.

[Ninja83 in reply to sproxtonm]

Many thanks for this information. Its really helpful to hear from someone who has experienced it. I do hope your recovery continues to progress well, delighted the procedure has worked for you.

[Inominate in reply to sproxtonm]

It's been six years since you shared your exeperience of Stretta surgery. May I ask how you have been since and if you consider the Stretta procedure a good choice. With thanks.

[sproxtonm in reply to Inominate]

I was doing really well for a long time and would certainly recommend the treatment. BUT at the start of this year I felt as if I was back at square one. Lots of heartburn , no appetite and terrible taste in my mouth. I lost weight again and the doctor sent me for a gastroscopy which showed I still had mild gastritis and some white patches throughout , intestinal metaplasia and reflux oesophagitis.

So the improvements I saw after the stretta procedure seem to have been temporary

I am now managing my condition with esomeprazole 20mg daily an acid free diet and Rennies. I recently saw a cosultant at James Cook and will try to cut down the dose as I don’t want to be on PPI s for ever

Provided I stick to my diet, eat small meals and stop eating early evening I manage

[Inominate]

Thank you for sharing . My consultant is recommending an anti reflux procedure but many seem to have time limited effects. He wants me to chose. The question in my head is if it fails after a few years, what treatment options are possible then? I am really sorry to hear you are again being affected by this horrid condition. My best wishes for your management and future health.