From babies to grown-ups… it's a digestive problem that can hit anyone. For 25 million Americans, GERD is a painful issue they deal with every day. Now doctors are offering patients relief, with a medical sewing machine of sorts. Robyn Haines has more in Healthy Living.
Alexa Hollander has a sweet gig working at her favorite yogurt shop. While she loved her job, she didn't love the sudden pain she started feeling two years ago every time she ate. Alexa was diagnosed with GERD - a chronic digestive disease that happens when stomach acid flows back into the food pipe causing inflammation. For two years she tried different types of medication, and nothing worked.
So Doctor Miguel Burch at Cedars Sinai Medical Center performed a new surgery, to help Alexa keep her food down. Without incisions, Doctor Burch gathered part of Alexa's upper stomach, pinched it and sewed it around the lower end of the esophagus, creating a one way valve that allows food to pass through the esophagus and into the stomach -- but it doesn't allow the acids to come back up.
In a three year clinical trial, 80-percent of patients were off their daily anti-acid medication after the procedure and were able to eat more types of food. Because there are no incisions in this procedure, there's minimal scarring and patients should be able to return to normal activities within days. Doctor Burch says patients might experience a sore throat after the surgery but it should go away in just a few days.
Monday, May 21 2012 11:11 PM EDT2012-05-22 03:11:23 GMT
We just got word from the Sheriff's Department that a major manhunt is underway right now in Roscommon County's Backus Township. The sheriff's department tells us they are looking for a man that escaped
We just got word from the Sheriff's Department that a major manhunt is underway right now in Roscommon County's Backus Township. The sheriff's department tells us they are looking for a man that escaped
Monday, May 21 2012 8:41 AM EDT2012-05-21 12:41:50 GMT
Three motorcyclists led deputies on a high speed chase through Montcalm County. Deputies tried to pull them over just before midnight on Friday in Ferris Township. All three refused to pull over, continuing
Three motorcyclists led deputies on a high speed chase through Montcalm County.
Monday, May 21 2012 11:48 AM EDT2012-05-21 15:48:16 GMT
A man is dead after losing control of his motorcycle over the weekend. The crash happened just after 8:00, Saturday night in East Bay Township. Deputies say the driver, James Ritter of Traverse City,
A man is dead after losing control of his motorcycle over the weekend. The crash happened just after 8:00, Saturday night in East Bay Township. Deputies say the driver, James Ritter of Traverse City,
Sunday, May 20 2012 6:31 PM EDT2012-05-20 22:31:01 GMT
The 40th Annual Blessing of the Bikes brought people from all over the country to Baldwin in Lake County. Bikers started lining the streets Friday and today was the culmination of the festivities with
The 40th Annual Blessing of the Bikes brought people from all over the country to Baldwin in Lake County. Bikers started lining the streets Friday and today was the culmination of the festivities with
Authorities in western Michigan say a car with six teenagers aboard went out of control and crashed on an interstate highway exit ramp, killing two of them and seriously injuring two others.
Authorities in western Michigan say a car with six teenagers aboard went out of control and crashed on an interstate highway exit ramp, killing two of them and seriously injuring two others.
Friday, May 18 2012 8:03 PM EDT2012-05-19 00:03:38 GMT
They issued a warrant for her arrest last spring, and since then she has been on the run. A former coworker says Kerrie Ann Gottschall stole the money when they worked at Pioneer/Cadillac Broach in Leroy
They issued a warrant for her arrest last spring, and since then she has been on the run. A former coworker says Kerrie Ann Gottschall stole the money when they worked at Pioneer/Cadillac Broach in Leroy
Monday, May 21 2012 4:37 PM EDT2012-05-21 20:37:29 GMT
Police need your help identifying a man who attempted to use a stolen credit card in Traverse City. It's believed, back in February, the man shown on your screen in the surveillance video broke into a
Police need your help identifying a man who attempted to use a stolen credit card in Traverse City. It's believed, back in February, the man shown on your screen in the surveillance video broke into a
Friday, May 18 2012 10:54 PM EDT2012-05-19 02:54:18 GMT
A statewide scam with victims right here in northern Michigan. The attorney general says a Holly woman ran a foreclosure-rescue scam. They believe she stole $250,000 from at least 60 victims. Rebecca
A statewide scam with victims right here in northern Michigan. The attorney general says a Holly woman ran a foreclosure-rescue scam. They believe she stole $250,000 from at least 60 victims. Rebecca
Saturday, May 19 2012 11:35 PM EDT2012-05-20 03:35:56 GMT
The D.N.R. reports that a wildfire on a munitions range at Camp Grayling is contained. It was reported around six p.m Saturday night, and covered about 80 acres before it was over. Some 35 firefighters
The D.N.R. reports that a wildfire on a munitions range at Camp Grayling is contained. It was reported around six p.m Saturday night, and covered about 80 acres before it was over. Some 35 firefighters