A POLICEMAN who endured 18 years of near constant heartburn is enjoying a new "lease of life" after a necklace of magnets was implanted in his stomach.
Russell Theobald, 39, from Maldon, had battled with the pain of gastric oesophageal reflux disorder (GORD) since he was 21.
His condition was so bad that the cells in his food pipe had been damaged by the constant exposure to acid, and he was in danger of contracting cancer.
Russell, who often had days off work because of the disorder, said: "I had, at times, felt that I would suffer with gastric reflux for the rest of my life and I couldn't bear the thought of it.
"I had some superficial ulceration but then my doctor told me there was a likelihood of cancer if it carried on.
"This operation has been so good for me and my family. It's completely changed my lifestyle."
During the revolutionary operation, which takes under an hour, a device called a LINX – a small, flexible band of magnets enclosed in titanium – is implanted around the sphincter above the stomach.
The magnetic attraction between the beads helps keep the weak oesophageal sphincter closed to prevent reflux and acid leaking into the oesophagus.
Russell's condition had been controlled for years by antacid drugs and later proton pump inhibitors, which are a common medicine prescribed for acid-reflux, but about three years ago it got much worse and he decided that he needed to act.
GORD sufferers typically would have a "Nissen fundoplication" in which the stomach is wrapped, around the lower end of the oesophagus and stitched in place, but he decided that it wasn't for him.
"The Nissen fundoplication sounded really brutal, so I was doing a lot of research on the internet to find an alternative," said Russell, who has been married to his wife Edith for 26 years and has three sons.
"I would have had the Nissen fundoplication but it would have been a last resort – it's irreversible and although it does seem to work just wasn't for me.
"One day I got a letter from my mum who lives in Austria. She'd found an article in a German-language magazine talking about LINX and sent it to me."
Russell immediately undertook extensive online research about LINX, and found out about getting the device fitted in the UK by surgeon Mr Majid Hashemi at the Weymouth Hospital.
"I was apprehensive at first but also excited," said Russell.
"My surgery was scheduled for late afternoon and I was up and enjoying breakfast the next morning. I had no reflux – nothing."
The procedure has ended Russell's gastric reflux torture and he can now enjoy the food he loves. He is back to full-time duties at work and is working out in the gym and rowing again.
"The procedure will last for a lifetime, with no follow-ups and it's completely reversible if it didn't work," said Russell.
"I can eat what I want and drink what I want now. I love pies and pasties and now I can enjoy them with no pain. Now when food is served I can tuck in and not worry about the consequences."
LINX has been the subject of a five-year pivotal clinical study assessing 100 GORD patients.
The results showed 91 per cent of patients were now medication-free; 92 per cent had significant improvement; 99 per cent eliminated daily sleep disruption due to heartburn; and 100 per cent eliminated severe regurgitation.
