Answer box: Acid reflux means stomach acid keeps coming up into the food pipe, causing heartburn and sour taste. When it happens often, it is called GERD. Most patients improve with the right medicines and habits, and a few need a scope test or surgery. Dr Raman Garg, surgical gastroenterologist at Bombay Gastro & Cancer Institute, Bathinda, Punjab, India, guides each step.
What are acid reflux and GERD, in plain words?
Between your food pipe and your stomach sits a small muscle ring that works like a door. It opens when you swallow and closes afterwards. If the door is weak or loose, stomach acid washes upward. That is acid reflux, or acidity as most people call it. A burn in the chest, a sour taste in the mouth, khatti dakar: all come from this.
Everyone gets reflux once in a while after a heavy wedding meal. GERD (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease) means it happens two or more times a week, or harms the food pipe lining. Left alone for years, the lining can get inflamed, narrowed or changed, which is why persistent heartburn deserves a proper check and not just another tablet from the chemist.
Symptoms of acid reflux and when to worry
Common signs:
- Burning behind the breastbone, worse after meals or when lying down (seene mein jalan)
- Sour or bitter water coming into the mouth
- Burping, bloating and gas (pet me gas)
- Throat clearing, hoarse voice or a night-time cough
- Feeling that food is stuck, or a sore throat in the morning
- Pain in the upper belly (pet me jalan)
A 38 year old truck driver from Nathana eats late at dhabas, sleeps right after dinner and wakes with a burning chest. He treated it with antacid syrup for two years. The relief was short each time, because the cause was never fixed.
Red flags: seek hospital care the same day if you have:
- Chest pain with sweating, breathlessness or pain spreading to the arm or jaw (could be the heart, so go to the nearest emergency first)
- Vomiting blood or black, tarry stool
- Food or water getting stuck while swallowing
- Unexplained weight loss, or severe repeated vomiting
See also our page on swallowing problem treatment. For emergencies call +91 82641-60001, 24/7.
Causes and risk factors
- Large, late or oily meals, then lying down soon after
- Obesity or a growing belly, which pushes acid upward
- Smoking, tobacco, alcohol and too much strong tea
- Spicy food, pickles, fizzy drinks, chocolate in some people
- Pregnancy
- A hiatal hernia, where part of the stomach slides up through the diaphragm. See hiatal hernia treatment and the details at laparoscopic hernia surgery in Punjab
- Some medicines such as painkillers, which also irritate the stomach
- Infection with H pylori bacteria, which can mix with acidity symptoms. See H pylori treatment
- Stress and skipped meals, common in shopkeepers and long-haul drivers
How Dr Raman Garg diagnoses GERD
A clear history comes first: what you eat, when, what happens at night. Many patients with typical heartburn begin treatment without any test. A scope test (endoscopy, or dooRbeen test) is advised if you are over 40, have alarm signs, or symptoms continue despite 4 to 8 weeks of medicines.
- Upper GI endoscopy: a thin camera goes through the mouth under light sedation to look at the food pipe, stomach and first part of the gut. A tiny tissue sample can be taken if needed. Read endoscopy in Bathinda.
- H pylori stool antigen test: checks for the stomach bacteria, done in our in-house laboratory.
- Barium swallow: an X-ray test to see the shape of the food pipe and any hernia.
- pH study and manometry: measure acid exposure and the squeeze of the food pipe muscle. These are advised before anti-reflux surgery, and are arranged with trusted imaging partners in Bathinda, with reports reviewed by Dr Raman Garg the same day.
| Test | Starting (Rs) | Average (Rs) | Maximum (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| OPD consultation | 500 | 700 | 1,000 |
| Upper GI endoscopy | 2,000 | 3,200 | 5,000 |
| H pylori stool antigen test | 1,000 | 1,600 | 2,000 |
| Barium swallow | 1,200 | 2,000 | 3,500 |
| GERD pH study | 3,000 | 5,000 | 8,000 |
| GERD manometry | 4,000 | 7,000 | 12,000 |
| Biopsy report, per sample | 800 | 1,500 | 3,000 |
Note: These are typical Punjab costs for 2026. The final cost may vary after Dr Raman Garg examines you, depending on the number of tests needed, biopsy done during the endoscopy and your health.
Treatment options: lifestyle, medicines or surgery?
Step 1: lifestyle changes that really work
- Eat dinner at least 3 hours before sleeping
- Smaller meals, chewed slowly; do not skip breakfast
- Raise the head end of your bed by 15 to 20 cm; extra pillows alone do not help
- Lose weight if your belly has grown. Even 5 kg can reduce symptoms
- Stop tobacco and alcohol; cut down tea on an empty stomach
- Notice your own trigger foods and reduce them
Our blog on GERD diet: foods to avoid lists common triggers.
Step 2: medicines
Antacids give quick but short relief. Acid-reducing tablets (proton pump inhibitors) heal the lining and are usually taken for a set course, often 4 to 8 weeks, then reviewed. Do not take them for years on your own, and do not stop suddenly. Dr Raman Garg adjusts the dose and tells you when to taper. If the root cause is an H pylori infection or an ulcer, the plan changes to match. See stomach ulcer treatment.
Step 3: surgery, only for the right patient
Most people never need surgery. It is considered when:
- Symptoms continue despite good medicines, or return soon after stopping
- You do not want to stay on tablets for life, especially if you are young
- Regurgitation (food coming up) is the main problem
- There is a large hiatal hernia
- The food pipe is damaged or narrowing
The operation is laparoscopic fundoplication: through keyhole cuts, the top of the stomach is wrapped around the lower food pipe to rebuild the valve, and any hiatal hernia is repaired. Tests (endoscopy, pH study, manometry) confirm you are a good candidate first. Read about laparoscopic surgery.
The surgery step by step (for those who need it)
- General anaesthesia; you are asleep throughout.
- Four or five small cuts on the upper belly for the camera and instruments.
- The hernia, if any, is pulled back below the diaphragm and the gap is narrowed.
- The upper stomach is wrapped around the lower food pipe.
- Cuts are closed with the stitchless technique using skin glue.
Before and after: preparation and recovery
Preparation checklist
- Complete the planned tests and pre-operative blood tests, ECG and chest X-ray
- Share every medicine you use, especially blood thinners
- Stop smoking
- Fast 6 to 8 hours before the operation
| When | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Same day | Sit up and walk with help. Sips of water. |
| Next day | Soft liquid food. Most patients go home within 24 hours. |
| Week 1 to 3 | Soft diet, small meals. Some difficulty swallowing is common and settles. |
| Week 2 to 3 | Desk work for most patients |
| Week 4 to 6 | Heavy lifting and full diet, as advised |
Timelines vary. Bloating and trouble burping are known after this surgery, and Dr Raman Garg explains them before you decide.
Risks and how they are handled
Medicines may cause headache, loose stools or low magnesium if taken for years, which is why a review matters. Surgery has its own risks: bleeding, infection, difficulty swallowing for some weeks, gas-bloat, and, rarely, the wrap loosening so that reflux returns. In a few patients, the surgeon must change from keyhole to open for safety. We lower these risks by careful patient selection, tests before surgery and a surgeon who follows you till full recovery.
Acid reflux and GERD treatment cost in Bathinda
| Item | Starting (Rs) | Average (Rs) | Maximum (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| OPD consultation | 500 | 700 | 1,000 |
| Upper GI endoscopy | 2,000 | 3,200 | 5,000 |
| Hiatal hernia repair with fundoplication (for severe reflux) | 90,000 | 1,30,000 | 2,00,000 |
Note: These are typical Punjab costs for 2026. The final cost may vary after Dr Raman Garg examines you, depending on the type of procedure chosen, the number of tests needed, hernia size and your health.
Most acid reflux patients never need surgery, so the cost for them is the consultation, one scope test and medicines. See the full gastro treatment cost in Bathinda list.
Insurance and cashless
BGCI is empanelled with almost all major insurers and TPAs for cashless treatment, including Aditya Birla Health Insurance, Niva Bupa, Digit Insurance, Care Health Insurance, Vidal Health TPA, ICICI Lombard, Raksha TPA, Future Generali, SBI General Insurance, Oriental Insurance, Liberty General Insurance, IFFCO Tokio, Cholamandalam MS, Medi Assist TPA, and almost all other major insurers and TPAs. Ayushman Bharat: call us with your card details and our insurance desk will tell you the same day how your card can be used.
- Send your card and reports on WhatsApp to +91 82641-60001.
- The insurance desk checks cover and arranges pre-authorisation.
- You receive approval and a date.
- After the procedure, the hospital settles with your insurer and you pay only what the policy does not cover.
See cashless insurance for gastro treatment.
Facilities at BGCI
- Advanced endoscopy and colonoscopy suite for quick, comfortable scope tests
- Modern laparoscopic operation theatre
- Fully equipped in-house diagnostic laboratory, including H pylori stool test
- Comfortable patient rooms
- 24/7 emergency care support
- Cashless insurance desk
- Stitchless laparoscopic technique with skin glue
- Same-day walking and discharge within 24 hours for most keyhole surgeries
- One surgeon from consultation to follow-up
- Online pre-arrival consultation for out-of-town and NRI patients (share reports on WhatsApp)
- Follow-up by phone or video
Barium, pH study and manometry are arranged with trusted imaging partners in Bathinda, and Dr Raman Garg reviews reports the same day. Learn about our gastro hospital in Bathinda.
Why patients choose Dr Raman Garg
A surgical gastroenterologist is a stomach, gut, liver, gallbladder and pancreas specialist who also operates. So one doctor can tell you honestly whether medicines will do, whether a scope test is needed, or whether surgery makes sense, instead of passing you from doctor to doctor. Dr Raman Garg has 20+ years of experience, DNB Surgical Gastroenterology from Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai, and advanced laparoscopy training in Seoul, South Korea. See Dr Raman Garg.
Patients we see from your area
Acidity patients come from Bhucho Mandi 20 km (30 min), Nathana 20 km (30 min), Raman Mandi 28 km (40 min), Dabwali 55 km (1 hr 10 min) and Faridkot 65 km (1 hr 20 min). Many first send their old reports on WhatsApp. See all areas we serve.
How to book
- Call or WhatsApp +91 82641-60001 or +91 99885-03800.
- Share old endoscopy or ultrasound reports if you have any.
- Visit OPD, Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM. Sunday is emergency only.
- Get tests and a plan the same day. Use book appointment.
Address: Bombay Gastro & Cancer Institute, Power House Road, Near Street No. 10, Bathinda, Punjab 151001, India. Email: bgcibathinda@gmail.com. Emergency care support 24/7: +91 82641-60001.
Related pages
Hiatal hernia treatment | Gas, acidity and bloating | Stomach ulcer treatment | H pylori treatment | Endoscopy | Gastro treatment in Bathinda | Gastro doctor in Bathinda | Blogs: acid reflux and heartburn: causes and treatment, gas acidity ka ilaj
This page is general information; your plan is set after Dr Raman Garg examines you.
Medically reviewed by Dr Raman Garg. Last updated: 8 November 2026.