Linx Implant to Cure Reflux

Looks interesting, I may try that first, the least invasive the better

From the Down with Acid book: 

The Stretta procedure uses radio frequency energy bursts to tighten the lower oesophageal sphincter to help it function correctly.

The manufacturers state, "We do not position Stretta as competitive treatment with surgery – but instead a less invasive bridge that allows some patients for whom medications are not completely effective to avoid surgery and its potential complications, or if someone has had surgery allows them an option other than additional surgery."

A 10 year follow-up report of patients who had received Stretta therapy published in Surgical Endoscopy February 2014 showed  "72 % of patients normalizing GERD symptom scores, 41 % of patients able to remain off regular medication for GERD, 64 % of patients able to reduce medication use by 50 % or greater."

Compared to other techniques, although Stretta sounds easy, it's not very effective. Why pay for that when you can have a fundoplication?

Is not about how much you paid, but 41% and 64% sounds pretty good to me for something that is least invasive.  How many people who had the fundoplication didn't have to take a followup procedure within 10 years?

Even taking PPI's long term can do you more harm than this and what are the numbers for PPI's? Less than 41%?

Only 2 out 5 manged to stop using PPIs after having Stretta. My gastroenterolgist friends call that a fail.

From the Down With Acid book:

A study published in Surgical Endoscopy in 2014 reviewed the durability of Laparoscopic Fundoplication over 20 years and concluded, "Long-term results from the early experience with LF are excellent with 94 % of patients reporting only occasional or fewer reflux symptoms at 20-year follow-up. However, 18 % required surgical revision surgery to maintain their results. There is a relatively high rate of daily dysphagia but 90 % of patients are happy to have had LF."

I don't get the point you're making. PPIs aren't harmful. Go to the www BarrettsWessex org uk website ad find "PPI dangers" under the Treatment / Drugs tab.

This month's Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology contains this paper: "Study Compares Surgery to Long-Term Drug Tx for Chronic GERD" 

"Esophageal acid reflux was reduced greatly by LARS [Laparoscopic Anti reflux Surgery] or esomeprazole therapy," the authors write. "However, patients receiving LARS had significantly greater reductions in 24-hour esophageal acid exposure after six months and five years."

Sounds good and for sure is the best option when it comes to results, but what if it fails or cause more damage which one is safer?  Now, based on what you wrote is 64% vs 94%, so the difference is not that much. 

That is an ebook Barretts, I got my information from an official federal site giving us the patients a warning about PPI's.  Now, we do not have to go that far, which medication OTC tells you not to take for more than 14 days?  And then you go to a Doctor and without testing they give you this drug for months?

94% is nearly 50% better than 64% but the figures were for different things.

94% of those receiving LNF did not need PPIs after 20 years.

64% of those having Stretta managed with less than half their previous medication.

"94 % of patients reporting only occasional or fewer reflux symptoms at 20-year follow-up" ;-)

Not just ny book but a book that is also available as an e-book but not in the same league as those produced by snake-oil charlatans.

"a superb compendium of knowledge - thorough, comprehensive, approachable yet scientifically literate... the definitive guide to the subject."

And check out the pages of references at the back. If you find anything that is not factually accurate let me know.

And the FDA warnings about PPIs were due to misuse of the drugs in USA. If purchased OTC, they should not be used for more than 14 days unless under supervision of a doctor.

In UK, they were not available OTC until very recently - despite our complaints. We now have to wait to see whether the induced hypochlorhydria from misuse arises here as well. (See the PPI dangers page on Barrett's wessex website.)

Yes, the book is very good and I believe everyone here including myself appreciate all the help you have given us.  Myself I don't really care to much for PPI's and H2 Blockers because the have done nothing for me so not taking them is very easy for me. Now, In the time I took them they did not give me any side effects as well. Now, I'm starting to wonder if I actually have any reflux problem besides having a mild condition because not even Carafate has done anything for me.  Had my esophageal manometry done yesterday so maybe that will direct me in the right direction. Still, if I had the option to select right now I would take the Stretta Therapy first but will have no problem taking the fundoplication if that did not help me.

Barretts has an axe to grind with his/her writing on Down With Acid and is evidently more concerned about Barretts Syndrome than the lesser problems that most here suffer from. With proper early treatment will many progess to to Barretts Syndrome ?

He/she evidently is against many conventional treatments and more knowledgeable than many in the medical profession. 

I agree, and I can see his point of view because he had a pretty severe case and he is now cured. An incredible success story. ;-)   But like you said, many of us have lesser problems which can be resolved without going to the extreme by taking a more conventional treatment.  I myself don't even know if any of this will help me at all and I had done just about 75% of all the testing they can do.  I believe GI's are clueless in most cases and they just use us as Ginea Pigs and financial support because they don't know any better.  ;-(