Every time she ate, Twila Lytton was in pain.
She’d had trouble swallowing for about a decade due to gastroesophageal reflux disease – or GERD – and a hernia in her diaphragm. But her symptoms worsened over the past few years to the point she sometimes vomited from the hours of pain after eating.
“I just couldn’t see me going on like that, being in pain every time I ate,” says the 62-year-old Myrtle Beach resident.

Because of her condition, stomach acid came back up Lytton’s esophagus whenever she ate. Her situation was severe enough to warrant treatment via an advanced, minimally invasive surgery now available at Tidelands Health, our region’s largest health care provider.
The transoral incisionless fundoplication – or TIF – procedure corrects the underlying cause of GERD by reducing the hiatal hernia and rebuilding the anti-reflux valve between the stomach and esophagus. There is no incision, so there is less pain and reduced recovery time, and there is no visible scar.

Dr. James Givens, a general surgeon at Tidelands Health Surgical Specialists at Murrells Inlet, performed the successful procedure for Lytton.
“It’s a marvelous improvement in what we can do to treat patients,” says Dr. Givens, who has been a surgeon for 47 years and has seen a lot of different ways to treat hernias and reflux. “I’ve been so impressed by how well patients do and the complete cessation of their GERD symptoms.”

Lytton, who had to follow a strict diet immediately after the surgery, is back to eating what she wants. She’s able to visit family and eat the spicy chili her loved ones make. She can go out to restaurants and order onion rings.
“I can just go wherever and eat,” she says. “I don’t have to think about all those little things you do to try to avoid pain. It’s great!”
GERD is a common condition affecting one in five adults. While some can find relief through diet changes or medication, others are more severely affected.
“It’s horrible to wake up in the middle of the night refluxing,” says Dr. Givens. “For many, chronic reflux is a life-altering condition.”

The TIF procedure is an alternative to relying on medications, which may not treat related symptoms such as asthma and chronic clearing of the throat, Dr. Givens says. Plus, prolonged use of medications can have negative side effects.
The TIF procedure is about 15 years old, Dr. Givens says, and patients often end up like Lytton: pain free. But few surgeons in South Carolina perform it.

At Tidelands Health, the TIF procedure is performed by Dr. Givens and surgeon Dr. Jack Johnston. It is one of a growing number of advanced digestive health services offered at the health system.
People experiencing GERD who are interested in the TIF procedure can contact Tidelands Health Surgical Specialists at Murrells Inlet for more information and an evaluation, Dr. Givens says. For those who are eligible, it can be a life-changing experience, Dr. Givens adds.
Lytton recommends anyone in a similar situation talk to their doctor about what treatment options are out there.
“You get to a point where it’s so bad you say, ‘I’ve got to do something,'” she says. “It’s definitely worth it.”