When I was young, I had quite a bit of stomach pain. Then, when I began operating a printing press, about 20 years ago, I started having lots of heartburn. I kept a bottle of Tums on my desk and ate several a day, then after a few years I started taking over the counter acid reducers. After I started driving a truck, our doctor prescribed the new acid reducers. Prilosec first, then Nexium. I still had heartburn and was told I needed an operation to close the flap at the top of my stomach.

   No way I said. Nobody is going to cut holes in me, stick in a bunch of sharp metal objects, and cut, tie, and rearrange my insides. So I started taking 2 of the heavy duty acid reducers a day and ate bunches of Tums. Then somebody reminded how my grandfather died. (Those who are squeamish should look away during the next few sentences.) He constantly had heartburn. In his late 50's it got worse and one day he started throwing up blood, was taken to the hospital, and died a few days later.

   Finally, after a sleepless night of heartburn, late last year, I decided I was going to let them cut holes in me, stick in a bunch of sharp metal objects, and cut, tie, and rearrange my insides. First, I had to take some tests. One of them determined how much acid was in my esophagus. The surgeon said, "if I scored a 14 on their scale, I would be eligible for the surgery". I scored a 67.  The surgery was scheduled for Feb. 5th.

   On the morning of the 5th we drove to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. I was taken to a small room and an IV was started. The doctors came in and basically said they would take good care of me then I started feeling sleepy. I heard a nurse say, "give hugs and kisses", and I was out. I barely remember looking around the recovery room, then I was being wheeled into my hospital room with a bunch of holes in my belly.

   I couldn't be happier with how easy it went. They gave me a button that would give me a shot of morphine when I pushed it. The next day, after a scan, they sent me home. They gave me pills that took care of the pain for 4 weeks and then released me to come back to work.

   I have not had one bit of heartburn since the day of the surgery. About my only side effect has been an occasional feeling of butterflies in my stomach. The surgery is called Nissan Fundoplication, it was performed by Dr John D Scott, and it has greatly improved my life.