Apr 15, 2025
Susie Flores
Dr. Darido is an excellent doctor. I’m so thankful I found him. He was able to confirm my medical diagnosis and offer real help. All other GI doctors I saw only wanted to prescribe me medication and see me every 3 months. Not Dr Darido! He took the time to explain in detail my condition and offered options. As a young mother I really appreciate him. He is a family man himself and that spoke volumes to me because he showed he cared for me as a person and as a patient.
I had decided to have surgery in February. The process to schedule my surgery was simple, Maria helped set everything up. Everyone in the office was professional. The receptionist Brenda was heaven sent! The attention to detail was incredible. From my first visit to my follow up post surgery Darido was attentive to my needs. I was even able to reach him on his personal cellphone over the weekend with some concerns I had post Op. I can’t thank him and his team enough. Today I can be acid reflux free and enjoy my life with my children.
Feb 25, 2025
kathy wilson
DO NOT WASTE TIME TAKING ACID REDUCING MEDICATIONS!!!!
The Nisan fundaplication procedure Dr Dardios performed on me was amazing! My entire quality of life changed immediately! I woke from the surgery and could not believe it!
That was 2 years ago and it is hard to remember the 10 years of agony I suffered from Gerd previous to the surgery.
In my initial visit he was very straight forward with me concerning my hiatal hernia and acid reflux that I attempted to control through medication. The medication only made my stomach alkaline which is not the natural state of digesting food. I had even developed kidney stones from the bottles of tums I consumed daily.
He was able to do the preliminary tests within 2 weeks from my initial call to his office. Then we scheduled the surgery. I chose to use a small surgical center in Bellaire he works out of. It was spotless, professional, easy to get to for parking and had specialized care. I spent one night and was released the next morning.
I usually don’t take the time to write reviews but if this saves someone the anguish of enduring acid reflux, writing it is time well spent. I am so grateful God guided me to this incredible surgeon, Dr Dardios. You will be in good hands!
Feb 07, 2025
Robert Landry
Dr. Elias Darido is a great doctor.
Im 27 now and I have been struggling with acid reflux since i was 16-17 years old. Came in for an endoscopy on December 4th and he found a lot of issues. I dont like doctors usually but I immediately felt trust when I met with him and his team. I had my surgery on January 29th 2025 and a little over a week later and i feel like a whole new version of myself. I sleep better, feel better, and breathe better. He was my first choice and I do not regret this big decision. If you feel like you have any issues at all please go see Dr Darido and his team and you will be in great hands. God bless him and his team.
Jan 01, 2025
Stephanie Arrants
I waited to post a review honestly out of pure disbelief that this surgery would work…
But I had my Nissen Fundoplication/Hiatal Hernia repair on 08/01/2024. I am 31 years old and my heartburn was so bad it developed into Barrett’s esophagus. Please do not delay getting severe heartburn taken care of like I did. I went from taking Pepcid multiple times a day to ZERO heartburn!
Dr. Darido is a great doctor and could probably do these procedures with his eyes closed.
Dec 16, 2024
Zohreh Rahsepar
I went to Dr. Darido after decades of pain. Every other doctor would complete a scope and tell me everything is okay. Dr. Darido was able to find the root cause of my issues and completed my surgery successfully. I am still in the recovery stage, but already feel so much better. Highly recommend Dr. Darido and his staff.
Dec 02, 2024
Jessica Leefeldt
I wish I had contacted Dr Darido sooner. I suffered (and I mean suffered horribly) with GERD for at least 20 years. The last ten were absolute hell. Finally I got sick of many doctors not listening to me and went to Houston to meet Dr Darido. I was scheduled for the required tests very quickly, and then for surgery. The experience was very seamless and trouble-free. I'm not going to lie, the recovery was tough but I made it through and have been REFLUX-FREE FOR OVER A YEAR! Zero side effects and feel about a billion times better than I did before. If you or someone you know are suffering from reflux/GERD/hiatal hernia, do not delay. Seriously, call these people and THEY WILL HELP YOU. I cannot thank him and his staff enough. My life is seriously changed forever, for the better. Thanks again folks!
Nov 08, 2024
Michelle Saltarrelli
Amazing surgeon and staff who have patients fly in to see them from other countries! My surgeries have been life changing for better! Highly recommended!
Oct 25, 2024
Sepidehabdi1
I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Darido and his team. After struggling with severe heartburn for 15 years, I decided to undergo the Nissen Fundoplication procedure, and I could not be happier with the outcome. This surgery is highly dependent on the surgeon’s expertise, and I know many people who still experience discomfort due to wraps that ended up too tight or too loose. Dr. Darido, however, did it perfectly. He was not only highly skilled but also thorough in explaining every step, making sure I knew what to expect. The surgery went smoothly, my recovery was fast, and, for the first time 15 years, I’m free of constant heartburn. Dr. Darido truly gave me my life back and I’m so thankful for him!
Oct 23, 2024
Rose Montalvo
The outstanding reviews on this page were so helpful in my discernment, and I hope my experience can be useful too! The short story is that my surgery for LPR was a complete success, and I’m most grateful to Dr. Darido and his high standard of excellence.
My LPR symptoms became debilitating a year and a half ago when I got pregnant for the first time. When I contacted Dr. Darido postpartum, I was down to fasting after 3:30pm and only six foods that I could tolerate. If I deviated from this diet even a little bit, I would experience debilitating lung pain, ear pain, congestion, throat pain, throat mucus, and laryngitis. I could not bend over or lay flat.
I was diagnosed with asthma when I was very little, but I’ve since learned that LPR was the true reason for my respiratory issues all these years. Unfortunately, I wasn’t aware of LPR’s existence until after I gave birth. I vomited constantly during pregnancy and went through tissue boxes like crazy because of congestion and throat mucus. I didn’t understand my symptoms and neither did my doctors, including two ENTs. I’m lucky that both baby and I are okay.
Not the case with Dr. Darido’s practice. Brenda and Valerie were wonderful and helped me see Dr. Darido, who was very knowledgeable about my condition, as quickly as possible. When I came in for testing in September 2024, he found a large hiatal hernia, saw that my LES was very damaged, and diagnosed me with LPR. I went in for surgery soon after, and the pain was gone as soon as I woke up! Dr. Darido even gave me his cell phone number and responded right away when I had questions during recovery.
I’m fully confident that I made the right choice in choosing Dr. Darido as my surgeon. As he said, and as my experience confirms, my Nissen wrap was executed flawlessly. Dr. Darido is in a league of his own, and I will take care of my wrap to ensure it lasts a lifetime!
God bless you Dr. Darido! I can get back to my life and give my best to my family and baby girl because of you, and my family and friends are so happy to finally see me well and eating again! If that wasn’t enough, my husband and I look forward to me being much healthier and safer in the next pregnancy, if we are ever blessed again in that way! I desperately needed help and am most grateful to have found a surgeon I could trust. I can’t imagine my life without Dr. Darido and will recommend him to everyone I know suffering from acid reflux pain. I have even recommended him to my own family - that’s how much I trust him! Thank you again for everything! God bless you!!!
Aug 30, 2024
Mindy Lampson
I cannot express enough gratitude to Dr. Darido for saving my life. I was suffering from severe gastroparesis, and my condition had reached a point where I was ready to give up. I relied on a G/J Tube for daily venting and a Central Line for TPN, and I could barely get out of bed due to debilitating nausea and excruciating pain. Multiple doctors had told me there was nothing more they could do, and I was left to believe that my life was coming to an end.
In a desperate search for hope, I came across Dr. Darido through a Facebook support group and decided to seek his help as a last resort. From the moment I met him, I knew I was in the right hands. He performed surgery, and almost immediately, I began to feel better.
Over time, my improvement has been nothing short of miraculous. My G/J Tube was removed, followed by my Central Line, and just this week, a follow-up test confirmed that my gastroparesis is completely gone. After almost five years, I can eat and drink again. Four months post-op, I feel 20 years younger and am back to living a life that is enjoyable and full of joy.
Dr. Darido's expertise, compassion, and dedication gave me back the life I thought I had lost. I wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone facing similar challenges. He truly is a life-saver.
Aug 21, 2024
Johnny K
I came to see Dr. Elias Darido at the Houston Heartburn and Reflux Center in December 2023. I had a revision (of a revision) of a failed Nissen Fundoplication surgery, the previous surgeries having been performed by a surgeon in Austin. Dr. Darido was able to fix the failed toupet wrap and I recovered without only the expected amount of difficulty.
What impressed me most was Dr. Darido’s manner of attention and consideration. The incisions for this surgery were further left than my previous surgery—he explained that this was for better access and exposure of the stomach. He also showed me internal photos of the work after the operation, and I immediately notices how precise and symmetrical the stitching was. His actual surgery work had a craftsmanlike execution to it, and it gave me a lot of confidence in his work. My previous surgeon didn’t give nearly the same amount of attention to the surgery itself—he mostly talked about the mesh (and he didn’t perform as much testing as the Houston Heartburn Hospital did).
I would recommend the Houston Heartburn and Reflux Center to anyone who may need a Nissen Funcoplication. In my experiences, Dr. Darido has been one of the best surgeons I’ve gone to, and I’m grateful for his quality work.
Jun 25, 2024
MARISA ONEAL
I cannot rate, Dr. Darido high enough. He truly is the best heart burn/acid reflux surgeon in the city of Houston and probably the state of Texas. I have spent the last 5 to 7 years with severe acid reflux, while seeing a gastrologist every three months for follow up appointments.
My appointments consisted of a new prescription and come back in three months. I believe, I have tried every prescription that is related to heartburn or acid reflux over the last five years, including anything over-the-counter. I was to the point of not being able to bend over without vomiting. I finally started researching on my own and found exactly what I needed. Dr. Dorido is the answer to your prayers if you are struggling with acid reflux. After finding him, I reached out for an appointment. I had an appointment within two weeks. I had a procedure scheduled two weeks after that. There was no nine months waiting to get in. There was no take all these prescriptions and see what happens. He got to the issue and fixed it! if you struggle with heartburn or acid reflex, you cannot go wrong with Dr. Darido. In addition, his office staff, Valerie and Samantha are phenomenal!
Jun 02, 2024
Kathryn C.
I spent 7 years controlling my Reflux with medication. Then my father was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer. For the next ten years I lived in fear of genetics, plus fear that excessive adolescent vomiting would lead to dying the way I watched him die. Then my Reflux worsened. Over the next 3 years, I modified what, when, and how much I ate. I learned to accept daily discomfort as normal, until a 5th orthopedic surgery completely stressed my body and my mind. My reflux took off. I spent one more year in complete misery. I doubled my medication. I gave up caffeine, wheat, dairy, sugar, grains, and even fruit, in an effort to control my symptoms. But I couldn’t escape them. Depressed and anxious, I underwent testing for surgery. One local surgeon advocated increasing my medication again as the “next step”. Another found my testing results “inconclusive”, and expressed doubt that Fundiplication would help me. In desperation I hunted nationwide for a surgeon whose specialty was Acid Reflux. I only found one, Dr. Elias Darido. So I scheduled the surgery. Travel to Texas involves 2 turbulent mountain flights, and my insurance would not cover the cost of this out of network surgery. I sold my horse trailer and my saddle, both of which I sadly can no longer use, to make this surgery happen. I travelled alone to Houston on a Monday, Dr. Darido completed his UGI the next day, the test to give him the final information needed for success. Then Wednesday morning I underwent surgery. When I left the hospital the day after, I left 21 years of reflux behind.
I have not experienced ANY reflux problems since surgery.
Not one. It’s been over 2 months since surgery, NO MORE MEDICATION !! I am eating freely, and I feel great. My throat. My stomach. My attitude. My disease trained me to be a timid eater, but now I have the power to explore food as I want, without fear of symptoms punishment. Dr. Darido couldn’t give me back the athletic life I lost to joint problems, but he gave me freedom from Food Prison. This disease is so misunderstood. The repair is delicate, and every individual body is different. Dr. Darido truly understands the disease. Hs success is founded in experience. He has dedicated his life to this one disease and this one surgery. He has completed over 1000 Acid Reflux surgeries. He has seen subtle variations. He has seen extreme examples. His skill is remarkable and his confidence and self-assurance are earned. He runs an incredibly professional business, his staff, Samantha, Brenda and Valerie, are three of the most kind, empathetic, efficient individuals I have met in the course of my lifetime, including my 5 prior orthopedic surgeries. Brenda holds a special place in my heart, for taking my hand in the hospital and walking with me thru the dark hours. Dr. Darido himself really cares. He actually gave me his personal cell phone over the weekend while I was recovering. And when I texted twice with questions, he replied within minutes. His staff practice the same amazing dedication. Calls are always taken immediately, and if, by chance, your call is not answered and you choose not to leave a message, you WILL be called back to ascertain if you need help. Both potential patients and existing patients are treated with respect, consideration, and encouragement, from initial evaluation through aftercare. And this support makes a world of difference as you take a leap of faith to escape the disease. I cannot say enough wonderful things about the amazing business Dr. Darido runs, and the awe inspiring surgeon he is. If you are ready to stop being imprisoned by food, and you don’t want to gamble with your freedom, find a way to overcome the inconvenience of travel and expense. Let Dr.Darido give you a life to enjoy, not endure. There are not enough stars in the sky for this review. With sincere eternal gratitude, patient and FORMER acid reflux sufferer.
Kathryn C. – Montana
Apr 30, 2024
Jessie Carothers
I am a 40 year old mom of 4. I had surgery for gastroparesis and GERD about 10 months ago. I found Dr. Darido online and did lots of research before decided to meet with him and get surgery done. I traveled from Missouri to Texas because there is no one in my area that would do a surgery like Dr. Darido. It was well worth the time, travel, and money. I have had another gastric emptying test and my gastroparesis is gone! I don't have GERD or any heartburn anymore. I am totally back to living my life and feeling great. I was told there was no way to cure gastroparesis. I couldn't imagine living like that the rest of my life. Dr. Darido is a miracle worker. He gave me quality of life again.
Apr 19, 2024
Interior Fashion Concepts
It’s been just shy of three months post-surgery from my Nissen Fundoplication with Dr. Darido. Truly, the surgery was life-changing for me!
I had been suffering off and on over the past several years with acid reflux/GERD whenever I would eat a rich meal or something spicy. I honestly thought it was gallbladder issues, and the problem was my diet. It increasingly became more frequent and severe with each episode. Then about 6 months ago, it became unbearable… it didn’t matter what I ate, how early I ate, how little I ate… the GERD and discomfort was happening every night; so much so, that I had to sleep fully elevated on a pillow… if I even slept at all! At this point, I was only eating bland foods… oatmeal, grilled chicken breast and a plain baked potato, and was carrying around a 40oz Stanley, not because it was trendy, but because I needed to sip water around the clock to help with the acid burning my throat. I also never ate past 5PM, and was not going to bed until almost midnight to try and allow my food to fully digest. Nothing I did seemed to work.
Finally, after months of not being able to sleep, eat or even remotely enjoy life, I decided enough was enough. I found Dr. Darido and his team through a Google search, and was amazed by all of the 5-star reviews! Especially once I did research on the procedure itself… it became obvious that all specialists are not created equal, and Dr. Darido was the real deal!
After my initial consultation, I was scheduled for an upper G.I. scope. Turns out, I had a huge hiatal hernia! So a week later, I was in surgery to make the repair. The hardest part for me was the liquid / puréed diet for the next four weeks (I’m an unapologetic foodie!!). But the month went by quickly, and I was amazed by how much better I felt without all of the acid reflux and esophageal spasms I’d been having. Oh, and I did have lots of questions / concerns throughout the healing process… Dr. Darido answered every single one of my texts within seconds of hitting send! I was completely blown away by this level of medical care!!
The last couple of months have been so eye opening for me. It’s crazy how we as humans adapt to feeling bad, and then chalk it up to aging / middle age (I’m 53). The hernia didn’t happen overnight (Dr. Darido thinks I’d had it at least 10 years!), and the symptoms steadily progressed over time. In addition to the acid reflux, I had other things going on that I mistakenly attributed to age, menopause, hormones, etc… shortness of breath, elevated heart rate, fatigue, brain fog, bloating and weight gain (no matter how healthy I ate or how little I ate), lack of motivation / interest in almost everything, I could go on and on! Now, a little over 11 weeks post-op, I am truly amazed by how I feel! I literally feel as though I’m 20 years younger! All of those symptoms are now gone, I feel incredible, and I can now eat whatever I want! Spicy, acidic, coffee, wine, you name it! I am finally living my best life, and I am so forever grateful for that simple Google search that led me here.
If you are suffering from acid reflux, heartburn or GERD, even if it’s just once or twice a week, that’s no way to live! Call Dr. Darido… he will change all of that! I honestly cannot express how impressed I am by him, his knowledge and skill, and his passion for helping people reclaim their lives! I am finally living again, and I owe it all to Dr. Darido and his team!! ??
Apr 19, 2024
Judson Collier
Dr. Darido is a genius with fixing heart burn pain, a week out of my surgery and I’m already feeling 100%. The nurses are all very helpful and nice with the recovery. Every detail is explained to you without any confusion. 10/10 and for sure the best doctor to go to for this issue.
Mar 12, 2024
Edith Morera
I want to share my experience of being treated by Dr. Elias Darido and his team. I want all the people who feel the way I felt to know that this center exists and that our lives can change after being evaluated and treated by Dr. Darido. I had been sick for almost four years, I had received many treatments, I had visited several doctors, I had spent a lot of money on visits to specialists, blood tests, ultrasounds, CT scans, endoscopy, colonoscopy, I had also woken up in hospitals for my abdominal pain and then receiving very high medical bills, I had no quality of life, even if I tried to eat well, nothing I did gave good results, the heartburn got so bad that I always felt it, I was unable to eat or drink, the vomiting became part of my daily life, the simple act of lowering my head a little I would vomit spontaneously without being able to do anything to prevent it, the nights were endless, I used to vomit on the pillow, on the floor, when I caught myself asleep the feeling of suffocation was terrible, it happened The days I was very tired, my tooth enamel was greatly affected by the acid, but everything changed when my husband and I discovered this heartburn and gastric reflux center and Dr. Garido took my case, his evaluation was very dynamic, he did the exams on me. minimum necessary to reach a diagnosis and a safe treatment for me, he scheduled my operation quickly, I had a very large hiatal hernia, my gastroesophageal reflux was of a high degree, the pressures in the esophagus were very low and no one had taken that into account before, Only today I can say that I am celebrating day number 19 of the post-operative period and my life is different. Since I arrived at the surgical center, I have been treated extremely well. I passed all the professional check-ups with great seriousness and care. Dr. Darido gave me a lot of confidence and he took very good care of me, he went to evaluate me, he gave us all the guidelines to have an excellent post-operative period, with his help I have fulfilled it and I can say that on the third day I no longer felt any discomfort, I have complied with the dietary guidelines because I want to always be well, I already enjoy sleeping without fear of reflux, I have never felt pain in my abdomen again, this life will not be enough for me to thank Dr Darido for his accurate diagnosis, my individualized treatment, because he honestly saved my life by giving me another opportunity and prevent my situation from becoming more complicated, I only regret not having found it sooner, there are many people who suffer from heartburn and reflux and we are not treated correctly, may God bless you so that you can continue helping so many patients.
Mar 04, 2024
Al Ness
Dr. Darido: Where do I even start? Words can scarcely express the gratitude I feel towards you. I have being battling with my gut for so many years, that by the time I ended up with you, I was almost in a kind of a depression and it was almost too late. Your exceptional care and knowledge has enhanced my health and overall well-being. Just three weeks since my surgery and the difference in my health is already evident.
For an agonizingly long time, I coped with numerous health issues that were persistently ignored or minimized by other medical professionals. This left me feeling invalidated and despondent, especially when I suspected that my symptoms pointed to serious health concerns. They made me feel like it was all in my head, which compounded my frustration and despair.
After I prayed for guidance from the Lord, He led me to you. From my very first appointment, it was clear that you know what you doing. You listened intently, posed insightful questions, and ordered comprehensive examinations that had been previously dismissed as unnecessary by other doctors. Your dedication to uncovering the root causes of my health issues was apparent, embodying the true essence of healing by addressing the core rather than merely alleviating symptoms.
I am only in my third week of healing, but I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Darido to anyone seeking a doctor whose commitment to his patients is as genuine as his medical insights are deep. He listens; he cares and goes the extra mile to ensure your health issues are thoroughly addressed. You need to look no further than Dr. Darido. Thank you Doc, you are the best.
Oh and I cannot forget to mention Samantha. She is amazing, the most respectful, professional person on earth. Thank you for making me feel important. You are a true asset to any business and I wish you all the best.
Elaine Ness
Canada
Mar 02, 2024
Brandon
A true hero - I had surgery with Dr. Darido for reflux. I had a previous surgery that wasn’t effective and left me with a lot of scar tissue so my primary doc searched around for someone with the experience to do a revision as it was going to take several hours. I am so very grateful that my symptoms are minimal since the surgery. Before everything burned my throat and chest. Now only if I eat really really greasy food I will have minor symptoms. I couldn’t even drink juice before the surgery. Now I can drink all the juice I want. I had several questions after the procedure and Dr. Darido made me an appointment within a day or two to ask the questions. He was always extremely patient and compassionate with me and my wife. Honest I think he’s just an amazing doctor and wish more doctors were as kind and experienced as him.
