LINX clinical trial

I just saw an ad in yesterday's paper here advertising an acid reflux clinical trial for an "investigational procedure that may help you reduce or eliminate your acid reflux symptoms".

I imagine that some people here might be interested in this.

Looking into it, it is a phase II trial for the "LINX" device (it's kind of a bracelet they put around your LES to strengthen it). Sounds encouraging to me. I saw some mention of the word "LINX" in some other threads up here but from what I saw folks did not know where to go for more info.

This is the website for information about the study:
http://www.refluxstudy.com/

There are several locations in the USA, and a few in Europe, that are accepting patient enrollment right now. Go to the link above if you're interested.

Snooping around the 'net (just search on LINX) I found the website for the company behind the trial and there is even more info up there, at this link:
http://www.toraxmedical.com/patients/linx.php

It's something I would consider for myself except for some personal issues right now, if it was last year I would have very seriously considered it though.

Hope this info benefits anyone else. I'd be curious to hear if anyone does enroll in this and how things go for them, or if anyone was in the phase I trial of this device.

Thanks for your comment Beareilly. You brought up a point that I was wondering about in regards to hiatal hernias and if this procedure could be done for people that have that (I was told that I have a "sliding hiatal hernia" btw). Sounds like you are saying the LINX can't be used in hernia cases.

Something else I was wondering, although this could be a non-factor and utter nonsense, I wonder what it would feel like to have a foreign object permanently wrapped around your esophagus. Would you feel it, like wristband, or a wris***ch, would it ever feel uncomfortable, too tight, or just plain weird?? What kind of sensations (if any) do you folks feel from the nissen wrap?

And speaking of wondering, for hiatal hernias, why don't the doctors recommend surgery, since fixing that could in theory (possibly) help the GERD issues? I did ask my GI doctor about this years ago and I think his answer was something along the lines of "your hiatal hernia may have nothing to do with your GERD issues and fixing it may not help a thing, so just stay on the PPI"...

Hi Slipkid,
I'm three months post nissen, and I can say that I don't feel the wrap at all, unless I eat something that irritates it. I expect that once the healing is complete, that will subside as well. I wish you luck in your quest for an answer to your problem. For me, the Nissen was the best answer, and I'm very happy with the results.
Glad you joined us!
Best wishes,
Denise

I agree totally with Denise. Hi Kitt!! Hope all is well with your hubby
B