Coughing Cure?

Beaumont Reflux Experts Relieve Patient of Chronic Symptoms

Jason Simons waited 10 years for the right diagnosis. To call it a cough is an understatement. In Jason’s words, it was “bone rattling.” He said, “There were times at work when I would have to stop what I was doing just to cough.” So, at age 26, after more than 10 years of treatment, including inhalers and pills, Jason found out his problem wasn’t allergies or asthma. It was reflux.

Avid Tigers fan, Jason Simons, 26, of Southfield

The Southfield resident was finally referred to Daniel Rontal, M.D., an otolaryngologist and co-director of Beaumont’s Center for Reflux and Esophageal Cancer Prevention. Dr. Rontal diagnosed Jason with acid reflux, a condition characterized by the splashing of stomach acid into the esophagus and throat. The acid was irritating his bronchial passages, which caused the chronic cough.

After meeting with a surgeon and a gastroenterologist at the center, Jason ultimately had minimally invasive surgery to cure his reflux.

"Even though Jason had this problem for more than a decade, he was never offered surgery, despite the fact that medication wasn’t working,” says Dr. Rontal.  

Today, Jason’s cough has disappeared and hasn’t come back.

"I would definitely recommend the Center for Reflux and Esophageal Cancer Prevention to anyone with reflux,” says Jason. “My treatment was very successful and the whole team was great. I couldn’t have a better experience.”

Beaumont’s team of board certified specialists at the Center for Reflux and Esophageal Cancer Prevention help patients with acid reflux. The center provides expert diagnosis, leading edge medical treatment and minimally invasive surgical procedures for acid reflux and Barrett’s esophagus (a precancerous condition). For more information visit, digestivehealth.beaumont.edu/reflux or call 888-99- REFLUX.