GERD and Heartburn Clinic

 

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Serving Greater Boston area residents, The GERD and Heartburn Clinic at Newton-Wellesley Hospital is the first clinic in New England to use a multidisciplinary approach to evaluate and treat your heartburn and reflux symptoms. Our team is comprised of specialists in gastroenterology, surgery, and nutrition for GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease). We carefully evaluate each patient and custom tailor treatment based on your needs.

Our Program offers:

  • A collaborative team of gastroenterologists, surgeons, dietitians, and nurses
  • One centralized location to address your needs in coordination with all providers
  • Flexible, tailored treatment options
  • Evaluation and treatment using state-of-the-art equipment

Why Seek Treatment?

  • Prevent GERD-related complications, including Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer
  • Better manage your symptoms through lifestyle, medications, and/or surgery
  • Help get back to your life, free of the distraction and discomfort of GERD

Treatment Options

As part of your care at our Heartburn and Reflux Program, you will be evaluated by a multidisciplinary team involving a gastroenterologist, a dietitian, and if needed, a surgeon. The team will review your symptoms, medical history, and test results to develop a treatment plan that best addresses your needs. The severity of GERD can range from mild to severe and can change over time. For some individuals, treatment may be needed on a regular basis. For others, treatment needs can increase over time, especially if symptoms worsen.

Treatment involves a step-wise approach based on the severity and duration of your symptoms:

Diet and Lifestyle:

You will meet with a dietitian who will help you make changes to your diet and lifestyle to help minimize symptoms. Even if you seek medication or surgical intervention, lifestyle changes are often a necessary complement.

Medication:

Our team will prescribe appropriate medications that may provide temporary symptom control but does not treat the underlying anatomical problem. Medications will be monitored and adjusted as appropriate.

Anti-Reflux Surgery:

Chronic GERD sufferers may benefit from interventions designed to reconstruct the anatomical components of the anti-reflux barrier. This approach restores the body’s normal defense against reflux.

Learn about Anti-Reflux Surgery

Our Team

Surgeons

Dr. Charudutt Paranjape
Surgical Director

Dr. Lana Schumacher
Thoracic Surgeon

Gastroenterologists

Dr. Richard Curtis
Gastroenterologist

Dr. Fernando Calmet
Gastroenterologist

Dr. Benjamin Levitzky
Gastroenterologist

Physician Assistants

Alexandra Maltby, PA-C
General Surgery Physician Assistant

Shawn Lear, PA-C
Thoracic Surgery Physician Assistant

Clinical

Sarah Andrus, MS, RD
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Suzanne McDonough, BSN, RN
Nurse Navigator

Administrative

Ana Andrade
Administrative Assistant

Patient Resources

Common Food Triggers

Food in your diet that triggers GERD is highly individualized. So it is important to determine which foods are your triggers. Ask the dietitian on our team if you have questions!

  • Alcohol
  • Caffeine
  • Carbonization (e.g. seltzer)
  • Chocolate
  • Citrus
  • Fatty or fried foods
  • Mint (e.g. peppermint tea)
  • Tomatoes
  • Spicy foods

Common Behaviorial Triggers

Sometimes it is about how you eat, not simply what you eat that can trigger your GERD symptoms. Below are a list of behaviors that may be beneficial to work on.

  • Eating at inconsistent times
  • Eating quickly (in less than 10 minutes)
  • Eating less than an hour before bed
  • Eating large meals
  • Laying down after a meal
  • Skipping meals

Downloadable Guides

We offer our patients guides for nutrition, procedures, and surgery.

Nutrition

  • General Nutrition Management of GERD
  • Weight Loss Guide

Tests/Procedures

  • Esophageal Manometry Guide (how to prepare)
  • Bravo pH Test
  • 24-hour pH Impedance Test

Surgery

  • Post-Operative Diet Guide (how to eat as you recover from surgery)
  • Post-Operative Medical Guide (what to expect after surgery)

External Resources

Below are links to other websites that we trust and provide additional information on GERD.

– IFFGD (International Foundation of Gastrointestinal Disorders)
– Mayo Clinic
– National Institutes of Health