Do You Have Barrett's Esophagus?

I was diagnosed with Barrett’s Syndrome today. I am a white female who just turned 50. I am at my correct weight, a non-smoker, I drink alcohol occasionally.
I went in for the endoscopy because of some acid reflux but mainly because my uncle died from esophageal cancer and my aunt now has it – both on my mother’s side. I really thought I had celiac disease and my doctor and I were both shocked when this result came back. So now I am faced with lifelong dietary changes, medication, and tests to see if this condition progresses. I am taking a low-dose antidepressant and my doctor mentioned that is could cause reflux also. Very scary. I was so shocked that I didn’t ask my doctor many questions. What are the things I need to ask? Should I seek a second opinion? My doctor said that it could regress but nothing that I have read mentions that – is this true?
My doctor (gastroenterologist) wants my to come back for another endoscopy in December.

I was diagnosed with Barrett’s Esophagus in April this year after a follow-up endoscopy for gastric ulcers. My four ulcers had healed but the consultant discovered an area of redness in my esophagus. He took a sample and I got the results two weeks later at my local GP’s (general practitioner’s) office. I have a length of 5 cm that is affected. The funny thing is, just a few days prior to receiving my results, I’d received a newsletter from ‘About.com’ about this disorder, never knowing that I actually had it! The ‘lump in the throat’ that people often associate with this disorder, I have only started to notice in the past few weeks. My throat feels sore now, too. I do smoke, a lot. I have been under a crippling amount of stress for the past 16 months after moving from my home town of Bristol to Hayes in London. My health has deteriorated ever since. I quit drinking in Oct 2006, and I remain sober. I have had a Hiatus hernia for over a decade and have take Esomeprazole ever-since. To be honest, the future scares me. Thanks for reading. Phil.

I have had Barrett’s for about 15 years. I have a hiatia hernia also. My doctor did not tell me what it was and I had to find out everything form the internet. I did not ask him a lot of questions because he just told me to take this med.I had stage one which is dysplasia,last year and it is healed this year. I now go every two years for the scope. I found out I had it by telling my doctor durning my yearly check up that my stomach hurt and I had heart burn all the time. I also complained about waking up at night with chest pain and early morning. At that time I had ecoli and two ulcers in my stomach. Smoking is very bad if you have Barrett’s and drinking anything with acid in it. I love coffee and diet pop and did not quit drinking them until I had the bad report last year. Now I may have a pop or coffee, limiting to one a day. I do feel better if I don’t drink it at all. The only drink you really can find without acid is water. Milk even has acid. So there is my story about how I found out and how I deal with it. I don’t always follow the diet if I feel good.

I was diagnosed with GERD about 15 years ago and I am 39 now. I was overweight most of that time but don’t smoke or drink much. I was going every two years for an endoscopy and for years suffered with Barrett’s Esophagus. After the 3rd test came back that I still had Barrett’s I decided to do something about it before it was too late, I took my Prevacid ALL THE TIME rather than my usual here and there method, try to avoid or eliminate my trigger foods and most importantly to lose weight. Well I am happy to say that the combination of all three helped me to get rid of Barrett’s since my last endoscopy this year came back negative and now my doc says I don’t have to have another one though I will always be on Prevacid/Protonix!!! I definitely notice my symptoms flare up when I gain 5 or 10 pounds back or when I “forget” my medicine. So far this year I have lost 23 pounds though I gained 6 back so I am still working on losing another 15 or 20.

Hope this helps someone. Good luck.

I had a positive blood test for Celiac Disease but the only way to verify it is to have an endoscopy. They didn’t find Celiac Disease of the small intestine but was told they found Barrett’s Esophagus. I was 42yo female at the time without any heartburn symptoms other than during pregnancy 8 yrs perviously. A swallow exam verified the reflux. I was shocked to see it happening on the screen, yet no symptoms. I was put on H2 blockers for one year then developed ulcers of the esophagus. I was then put on a PPI (Nexium) once a day so that the ulcers would heal. I went through a battery of tests including an esophageal manometry and a 24 hr PH test to see if I would benefit from fundoplication surgery. My GI retired in the middle of testing and the new GI looked at my symptoms (I had many related to Celiac) and had me go on a gluten free diet. Most of my reflux symptoms cleared. They have put the surgery on hold, I have been able to decrease my meds to every other day, have stayed gluten free and am waiting another endoscopy 9 months from now.
My symptoms of reflux were belching, light sleeping(reflux waking me at night not realizing it), morning nausea feeling better after eating, chest pains and difficulty swallowing food and liquid at times. It all cleared when put on the meds. I will be watched to see if the barrett’s tissue changes to a more serious type that leads to cancer ever 2 years for the rest of my life and to think I never realized I had heartburn. Once the tissues change you can still have the heartburn/gerd but not feel it because your esophagus has tissues in it much like the stomach at this point where we also don’t feel the acid.
I hope this can help one person if they are suffering from any of these symptoms.

I’m a 42 year old female and I was just diagnosed with a sliding hiatal hernia and Barrett’s Esophagus on Monday – Sept 28th, 2009. I do not have the result of the biopsy yet, but I’m trying not to get anxious because it really won’t do me any good to go there. I have however; done a lot of research since my diagnosis, as I’m sure everyone does when faced with a medical condition. As I think back through the years I realize that I have had severe heartburn since I have been in my 20’s… I just considered it a part of life, ate a few Tum’s and went on with my day. I never imagined that indigestion could lead to this.

I had my gallbladder out last February due to gallstones and my heartburn actually went away for a bit, I thought maybe that was the issue and I felt so good! Unfortunately it came back full force within a few months and when the Tums’s by the handful weren’t doing the trick anymore and I knew something was up. I also had a very annoying tickle in my throat that would not go away, so my doctor first sent me to a Ear-Nose-Throat specialist who took a look at my throat saw the irritation but didn’t find anything else, he is the one who recommended I have an upper GI scope so they could look further down. Truthfully, I pushed it off for several months because I was so busy with work and I was a little scared (mostly scared and used work as an excuse). When it got to the point where the burning behind my chest bone was so bad and I was putting Tum’s in a candy dish and offering them to guests, time was up. I went to the doctor, bit the bullet and went in for the scope.

I think the gastroenterologist that did my scope probably thought I was an idiot because I just looked around the room looking for the person he was telling this information to, it certainly couldn’t be me. – Fact of the matter is I was simply in shock… I was in total shock actually.

“I have what? I don’t have barrettes’ in my hair, silly! It’s a precursor to what? What exactly is sliding besides the obvious visuals on my person? You took a biopsy…Yuck, what’s up with that? I can’t eat or drink what, great, really great! Oh, geez what’s on my shoe…looks like gum… I’m sorry, you were saying? Why are you still here, why are you still talking….NO WAY – NOT ME!”

Overall, the scariest part is wondering if I’m strong enough to change my lifestyle choices. I see a future of water and vegetables, constant meds and a lot of prayer that I’m not a statistic. Geeezzz this is a lot to take in, I keep trying to tell myself – this is not a curse, but a chance. Think positive!

It is very interesting to read the comments since I left my first post on July 31. In dealing with Barrett’s E, I have raised my bed – at first too high and I was sliding down at night… I have given up my morning coffee and am making fruit smoothies instead. I have given up alcohol except for a sip now and then. I haven’t had jalapenos since July or much spicy food. I can’t give up chocolate but am trying to be careful of the time that I do have it. I was given about 8 different drugs to try. Since I will probably have to be on something for the rest of my life – I have decided on Prilosec for just that reason – it is relatively inexpensive and can be bought generic, over the counter.
The list of foods to avoid is ridiculous and I have decided to just be careful. Of course, I feel guilty much of the time.
My doctor feels that moderation is the most important thing and – staying on the acid inhibitor. I will have another scope in December, will see. In the meanwhile, my aunt is extremely ill with esophageal cancer and it is all very scary. Even my ob-gyn mentioned all of the barrett’s she sees in her office now. Why???

I am 34 and I was diagnosed with Barretts on October 1, 2009. Otherwise I am pretty healthy. My year was pretty eventful, I had a c-section last year and as i was losing the baby weight I felt a lump above my belly button and it turned out to be a epigastric hernia. It would make me sick to my stomach if it was touched. I had surgery to repair it in May and then i felt great! then all of a sudden somewhere around the 4th of July and since then I felt like I ate a chip but didnt chew or swallow it properly and it scraped on the way down my throat or that i had a kind of sore thoat. I had pain in my neck that was not a typical sore throat. I also had pain in my chest bone. I was put on Omeprazole and it didnt seem to help much, then i went on Ranitidine and then after my endoscopy on the 1st of Oct. I was put on Protonix. It helped for a bit and it seems like you need to be on it for a while but the symptoms of pain came back, so then back on Ranitidine I went. Its been a week now and I was told to take Protonix in the a.m. and Ranitidine at night. I feel like an 85 year old woman. I am 34 and I am sick of feeling sore and sick of complaining. I bought a $170 pillow to keep me elevated at night which by the way is no better than what I was doing before. I actually still put pillows on top of the therapy pillow to make me higher!! I stopped eating chocolate, ice cream, OJ, cranberry juice, pizza, spaghetti sauce and I stopped eating 3 hours before bed. I want a good book with answers! Why am i still feeling crappy when i am doing what i am supposed to? My biopsy came back negative THANK GOD!! and i will get another endoscopy in a year or 2. i am scared to death about getting cancer. I need to lose 30lbs. but am constantly picking at foods throughout the day to soothe my throat. I f i could dangle a popscicle down my throat with throwing up i would to help the irritation! How did I get this?? I never ate spicy foods I NEVER had heartburn accept when i was pregnant 6 years ago. I didnt have any at all this last time. So where did this come from?? Will my kids get it?? I wonder if it was a screw up from my hernia surgery?
I just want more answers than I am getting at the doctors. Should I be symptom free if on the right meds? and should I be able to eat a few of the “avoid” foods without a problem? Thank God I dont smoke or drink coffee! All I know is tht the 3 people I have talked to that have it are not being as strict as I am and they feel fine eating and living normally.
In the end I am fighting this with all I have and just look at it as a kick the ass to change my lifestyle. Anyway sorry to ramble on but its nice to know I am not alone.

Hi I have Barrett’s Esophagus also my husband died in 2007 and in April of 2008 I had to go to the emergency room for bad stomach pains they did a endoscopy on me and they told me I had Barrett’s esophagus told me I had to take priolosec for the rest of my life. How depressing now lately I have had most of my meds get stuck in my throat and in the morning when I get up I always have a sore throat is this any way to life? I am also on antidepressants for fibro boy what next. Life sucks most of the time.

I am at the age 40 now.3 years before when I had the problem of stomach pain & acidity,I went to see a doctor.He did endoscopy and had found that I was with Grade -III hiatus hernia of size bigger than 5cm.Also I had peptic ulcer from H-pylori bacteria.He gave me ‘tripple therapy’ for ulcer and asked me to control diet.Even after that I experiencd heartburn,chest pain ,coughing etc. .I was suffering from barrett’s esophagus.Later from internet I realized the adverse effects from backflow of acid to mouth.When I take medicine-ezomoprosole,it reduces.Again it comes.Later I decided to control this without medicine-Do not allow the acid to flow back to esophagus.For that I am doing the following:-
1. Very important-Finish dinner 3 hrs before you go to bed.Major portion of the acids produced would be utilised for digestion before go to bed.
2. Rise your head by 15cms while sleeping to control flow of acid to mouth.

3.Eat more alkaline foods to neutralise the acid produced in stomach.

4.Reduce weight and there by obesity.

I have Barrett’s Esophagus. Diagnosed from biopsies taken as part of an endoscopy. My esphosgue looked find, however, Barrett’s was found to be present at the microscopic level. Did research, only 1 to 5% of persons with Barrett’s advance to cancer and there are clinical trials at NIH looking at new treatments–so we all have some health problems, and I can live with this one. Will get endoscopies as requred.

Am now having problems with GERD–due to being under a lot of stress. My Dr is talking about surgery due to my hyatial hernia.

Am on prescription strength Previcid twice a day–
however, several people said it did not work for them. Can you tell me your experience?

I am a 53 year old female that was diagnosed with Barrett’s Esophagus three years ago.

Several months prior to this diagnosis, I began belching after eating and also had nausea after every meal. I saw my primary care doctor (PCP) who ordered lab work and a sonogram. The lab results showed that I had elevated liver enzymes, and the sonogram showed that I had gallstones. I went to my gastroenterologist, who said I have Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The doctor said losing weight would also decrease the fat around my liver. I was about 40 pds overweight.

Although I had no stomach pains, removing my gallbladder was suppose to help with the nausea and belching and that it could have been the reason for my elevated liver enzymes. Unfortunately, the surgery did not help with my nausea. I returned to my gastro doctor who preformed an endoscopy, which came back as me having Barretts. I was in shock, since I never had any symptoms of acid reflux, other than the burping/belching which could have been caused by the gallbladder. I was put on 40 mg. of Nexium once a day and will most likely be taking this for the rest of my life. Last December I had a total knee replacement and in June of this year, I was diagnosed with Diabetes. I have made many lifestyle changes during these three years which include no more carbonated beverages, caffeine, and chocolate. More importantly I eat smaller meals. I count carbs and I’m steadily losing weight. I’m also out walking every day. My A1C went from 6.7 to 5.1 and I hope that my lifestyle change will reflect positive results when I see my gastro doctor next month.

I started getting severe stomach pain in Aug 2009.
Felt like I was being jabbed over and over from lower belly button area right up into my liver & galbladder area. (no heartburn/no acid in my throat/no burning/ nothing except these gut wrenching pains and nausea. Could not eat/could not fill up my stomach without going into a severe attack lasting hours.
my dr thought i had galstones. he did 3 very expsinve test. told me to come back in 30 days.
(one test was a ct scan…told him there was no way i could drink 2 huge cups of that orange stuff. told him that i would die. i had to drink it anyway and right after the ct scan i went into 1 21 hour attack…no sleep (my doctor told me to ask the doctor who gave me the ct scan why i got so sick !!!!! true story)
I took myself to another dr…took another test & biopsies came back positive for “Barrett’s Syndrome.
I do not have heartburn/no soar throat/no acid reflux…nothing but nausea/stomach pain/sometimes attacks/lost 17 1/2 lbls. cannot eat anything except some meat/plain potatoe/some green veg without anything on them. Does anybody expernce this too???? none of the meds make me feel better. following the diet the dr gave me, but still nauseous most of the time.

I was diagnosed with Barretts in 2009 after about 10 yrs of off and on acid reflux plus 5 stents placed in my heart. Stabbing pain whwn the attacks come and a huge loss of weight from 117 to 92 lbs. No way to live since I can’t take care of my house, pets, and normal things that need to be done. The only way I see out of this hell is a miricle healing from Jesus. Wommack Ministries on line has a testimony of a young boy healed from Barretts and I know a pastors wife who was healed of it. Put your trust in the Lord and download free healing scriptures and praise music.

I was diagnosed with Barretts Esophogus 2 years ago. I was at my primary doctors with back spasms and mentioned to him that I have had a lot of acid reflux….for years! I also told him about the severe chest pain as if I was having and angina attack. He asked how long and I told him it has been years. He sent be immediately to a gastro doctor. The gastro doctor did an endoscope and found that I have a hiatel hernia (small) GERD (reflux disease) and low and behold Barretts Esophogus. FYI to those that think you can get rid of Barretts….you can’t. Once you have it, it is not reversible. It is about managing. I take a prilosec perscription….heaven forbid I miss a dose! I can tell what days may be good and what days are going to be bad.

Reading these posts, many of you say that your doctor recommends an endoscope every two years or so. I have to have one every year. Missing a year would concern me. I am always very anxious about getting one done just because I want to know that I am good for another year. It is recommended every year.

My doctor told me that I am stuck with the meds for the rest of my life along with the endoscope. However, he believes in eating in moderation but know what irritates you the most.

If you are feeling a lump in your throat and you are having food stuck or you are choking, please see a doctor immediately. My doctor made me promise to call if that ever happens….you need to do the same.

Hi,
I have been diagnosed with barratts syndrome & hiatus hernia. I have a lot of pain just below my breast bone and acid reflux all the time. I had endoscopy in march 09 and my doctor has informed me that it should be done yearly.
I have to take omperazole 2tables, twice a day. I have only just started this many, so cannot say if it has been healpful.

I am 29 years old and I was first diagnosed with H pylori. I was having real bad stomach pains almost to passing out. Then I was I had a scope done and found out about three months ago I have Barretts and hiatal hernia. I have not had heart burn or acid reflux. I am not over weight I am very active and workout. The doctor did not tell me much. Does anyone know about the stomach pains and does this go along with it?

Lynn I have the exact same problems!! Have you found out anything else????

I have hiatal hernia and Barretts, doctor put me on nexium 2 times a day. did not work at all, only caused more reflux and pain!!!! now I am seeiing TCM doctor who gives me medication to protect lining of esophagus. Also medication to find a balance in the body: good balance means good organs and stomach will function better (for intake of vitamins and nutrients). Overall feel much better, but reflux and pain are often there, although i take all precautions of diet, small meals, sleeping with elevated upper body etc etc. I wish I could do something to take away the Barretts because my big big fear is cancer. Good luck to you (us) all, guys!!!! Let’s hope for a miracle, a scientist who can find the ideal treatment to make it go away! My son, 17 years old, promised me to study medicine or pharmacy to try to find a cure for us!!!!!!!

Around 2005 I started having acid reflux I was on no
medication. Went to the Doc , had the endoscope down
my throat and up my butt.I found out I have a hiatel herna.
Where this came from I do not know. I

i have been told i have barrets esophagus, i am only 22 years old, its very scary to think being so young and having such a thing, i also suffer from depression which is also hard, i made mistakes which have lead to this , when i was a teenager i suffered from bulimia which is the main cause i have barrets i now have to change my diet and quit smoking , its very hard what to no what to eat and what not to, i have 2 toddlers which i want to be their for them for the rest of their lifes but i have a feeling with suffering from this at such a young as i might not have the joys of doing so. i feel really alone as it seems to be alot more common in middle age people i havent even really lived life yet and im so worried at the moment everything i eat hurts and worried that it might come back up.whats the best diet to help………….. my doctor also hasnt told me alot only dont eat acidic food , no alcohol, no smoking, but i have read alot on barrets and there seems to be alot more that i can not actually eat, is there anyone else been diagonised at such a young age?

same deal here just was told i had BE and nio big deal with the dr just take your pill see you in a year very big deal 34 with a 2 yeare old i am going to roswell park cancer hospitail for all the answers hop to set mind at eazz

I’m 57 and recently was diagnosed with barretts and hiatal hernia when i went in for a gi to be sure i was ok for donating a kidney to my son. what a surprise! I had some indigestion for about 6-8 months but i just figured it was from getting older. I’m not overweight, i don’t smoke, i exercise, and i’ve been very healthy all my life (very thankful!). I was very upset with all the great part of life i had to give up especially coffee and alcohol!!!!All the other things are difficult to give up too. It’s hard to get answers. have talked to 3 drs and nothing about this disease is black and white. One was very blunt and when asking questions, reminded me what a serious disease this is (duh) and to cut out everything. I lost 10 pounds in 2 months cause I’d go to bed hungry almost every night (my husband and i usually ate dinner about 8pm). I am doing better because i don’t want to lose much more weight. I just wish i could get better information about how much can we cheat. A little once in awhile? I don’t have many symtoms (fortunately) so i don’t know if maybe i can drink a little or eat some foods that are acidic. Anybody know what we with barretts can even drink??? Only water??? I would like to know something that tastes decent i can drink! It’s a frustrating disease but i am thankful i don’t have some of the terrible symtoms that some other people have. and i don’t even know if it gets worse. Anyone know? any of these answers would be appreciated.

I was diagnosed with BE when I was 35. I had no symptoms of gerd. I had my IUD removed under anesthesia and went home. That afternoon, I had terrible heartburn & was burping every second. Also, my tummy got real big. I tried over the counter drugs and nothing worked. The heartburn went away after 2 weeks and the burping continued. It slowed down by a 75% 1 month later when I was at a party and drank 1 margarita. While I was drinking the margarita, I noticed the burping was decreasing. After that, I made an appointment and found that I had BE. I’m taking 20 mg of Omeprazole daily and I thank God so much that the burping decreased a lot. I do get heart burn when I eat chocolate or tomato. I try my best to avoid foods and drinks that will give me those symptoms. You have to study your body and see what accelerates gerd symptoms. Try to avoid foods as chocolate, tomato, onion, broccoli, sosa waters with caf., etc.

I was diagnoses with Barretts Esophagus in May 2011. This was the 3rd scope in 5 years because I’v had acid reflux and a period between 2003 and 2008 I was getting sick alot. I started out in 2000 taking protonic then in 2004 my doctor gave me omeprazole, Up unitl I found out I had recent changes of my esophagus with mild Barretts I was put on Dexilant 60MG. While my copayment was $10 for omeprazole I get Dexilant for free because the makers of Dexilant pays for my $35 copay. Since finding out about Barretts Esophagus I have stoped drinking anything with caffeine and I don’t drink carbonated drinks except 7up or ginger ale once in a while. Nothing hot or spicey for me as well. I dont stress on the fact I have barretts. Doctor wants me to go for a rescope next May.

1 year ago still get pain under ribs and bact also get breathless i got barretts and gatris is this normal

hello rachelle i suffered from a young age aswel,i was only in my early 20,s when i started choking on food or anything else i ate i used to have to vomit it back up.i also used to make my self throw up after meals and that was probably the cause because i developed and ulser in my esophagus but i didnt realize i had an ulser until about 8 years later when the doctors finally took me seriously and give me an endoscopy.they thought me choking was all in my mind but i had a huge ulser and because it went undiagnosed for so long i done a lot of damage although the ulcer cleared with med in a week i was tested and tested positive for barretts and 7 centimetres aswel so i felt the same.to young to have it.i blame the doctors if they put the camera down earlier they would have caught it b4 it got too bad but they thought i was too young to have any real problems.tut tut!

Im 23 and I was diagnosed with Barretts, (8cm) after the scope procedure (which I had waited months for) I had been throwing up food and water for nearly 4 months…I dont think its all pyschological but the doctor said that the barretts and my hernia are the result of my vomiting and not the cause, and he said its more of a “head thing”
Its been a couple of days since then and now they have suggested I take some meds to reduce the acid in my stomach and take another test in 6 months.
So Im left with no answers and no help?!!?
I cant coninue to live like this…and my main concern is, if I cant hold food or water, how am I going to be able to old the meds?
As I had to take meds for an infection before and kept throwing them up….and another thing that annoys me is my dehydration level, I havent passed out yet but I cant stand up without feeling lightheaded and being ou of breath, and I cant hold liquids very well.
Also Im what they would call underweight, my bmi is 15.3 so other concern is,am I aneroxic? And if so where is my help? Why am I left alone with no support?!?!?!

Alexandra, I hope you find another doctor – the one you visited seems like a jerk. Keep looking until you find one who takes you seriously. You are so young. Trust yourself – if a doctor doesn’t make you feel comfortable or is blaming you – it’s time to find a new doctor. Good luck sweetie.

By the way, I was underweight all my life until I had my second child at 30 years old and quit my job. When I wasn’t under stress from work, I was able to keep weight on. Usually, those who suffer from anorexia think they look obese when the rest of the world thinks they are too skinny. It doesn’t sound like that is your problem. If you can’t keep food and water down – you are probably malnourished.

As for comments on my hiatal hernia and barrett’s esophagus from acid and bile reflux – I have nothing more to add to the conversation. I’m 37 and wish I knew why this problem is on the rise. I eat healthy meals, I am 130 lbs. I know my reflux mainly happens at night when I sleep. I spit yellow bile every morning. I just don’t want to die young from cancer. Wish docs knew more.

I am 23 years old and was diagnosed a week ago with Barretts after my second endoscopy. I had my first one done about 6 months ago and was told that I had Barrett’s esophagus. My mom being an RN thought that it was very strange for me to have developed Barrett’s at such a young age with no symptoms of acid reflux except chest pain. I went to Mayo clinic and saw a Barrett’s specialist to which he performed a second endoscopy and confirmed that I do in fact have Barrett’s. My father is currently undergoing treatment for his Barrett’s but he has had years and years of acid relfux issues. I am on surveillence for a year but I am still wondering how in the world I ended up with this diagnosis at such a young age and no acid reflux problems ever. I have a large history of health issues, Lyme disease, pneumonia, shingles, meningitis just to name a few… is it possible that the Barrett’s formed from always being sick/ getting infections? Can it be viral? Anyone with information please respond, thank you and God Bless.

Wow a lot of us have this BE. You know I was thinking, would one know if they have acid reflux if it didn’t come all the way up? Like if it just hung out around the stomach opening? May be that is why so many ppl don’t think they have acid reflux? Ugh I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer two years ago, have to have that monitored every year, now this. Soooo depressing. But it seems like all of you are doing good so that is a plus.

I was diagnosed with BE over a yr ago and just went for my second endoscopy. My new dr could not find any Barrett’s and the biopsies were normal. Doc said patches I had last year maybe were what was removed by biopsy. So I don’t need another scope for five years! Although he said there’s a little bit of change in my esophagus, it’s not consistent with BE. I’m in my 50s and have changed my diet, raised my bed, and have been taking Prilosec, vitamins, and marshmallow root since my original diagnosis. I also had few reflux symptoms but do have a small hiatal hernia. Had never heard of BE before all this.

I had an EGD at the beginning of april…the nurse caleld abck with the results saying that I had BE..I called back asking her for some clarificaiton as I read there are levels..with dysplasia etc….she called back and said the dr said ti was very mild BE and just to watch diet. My PCP got the results and called me saying that the results dont specfically mention BE, but mention spots in my esphogus that have a few abnormal cells, nothing cancerous…so is this BE or is it not…I am soo confused…anyone have any ideas? Or similar experiences.?? I have awful GERD especailyl at night. watching what I eat and taking Pantoprozole and heart burn and sour stmach just awful…..Anyone have any simiar experiences..I am 32 and a littel freaked out.?? thoughts?

Hi, wow so many people with Barrett’s. I have had Barretts for many years and at this time 2/3 of my esophagus is affected. I have been in to have esophageal dilatation at least 71 times since 1999. I also have 3 esophageal strictures that make it necessary for the dilatations. I usually begin to get foods stuck in my esophagus which is when I know I need to have another scope and dilatation. I take nexium daily and have made many changes in diet, I too avoid many foods that trigger GERD. I am feeling the need for a dilatation as I choked on some raw veggies. The problem now for me is that I just was diagnosed with 2 herniated discs in my C spine area and these are putting pressure onto my spinal cord. Worried that the scope/dilatation will put further stress on these as I know the position you must be placed in for the scope. I am unable to swallow any pills and NSAIDS are a no no as they cause me horrible stomach upset. Anyone ever had these issues. really wish there was someone that related to this situation.

Hi
My husband has esophageal cancer stage 4. Just found out
upset with doctors has had heartburn for 30 years. last endosopy
was in 2004 . they say it was normal but has large hital hernia
abnormal zline, few tongues in esophagus and gastritis on this
endoscopy. was never tested again no doctor ever mentioned
barretts to us. We never heard of it. We dont know what to make of this.
could it have been there in 2004 and they missed it ?? any info
would be appreciated
thanks

Use honey and chew gum. The gum really mkes a difference for me. The gum produces more saliva that keep the heartburn away.