Rosie, I have had surgey in 1999 for an esopghagus that looks like ulcerated live, nasty looking thing. For the surgery. they wrap 1/3rd of your stomache around your esophagus, One sure thing is you never vomit again, There are imes when you wish you could and it makes you miserable. The barretts can raise it's head at anytime and be cancer so I get scoped every 3 months and the Dr takes biopsies al the way down my throat. THe pain never lets up altho at times it hurts more thn others, I still have to take zantac and a little Mylanta or it hurts some. In fact I go for a cope this Monday and it is scheduled for 10:15. They consider this surgery and you are put to sleep. I hope your friend can have this surgery as I did. It's called Nissen Fundiplication and after your stomache looks like you got shot a few times with the scars it leaves.