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Barrett's Esophagus
I have had stomach/digestive problems sine 1956. About two years ago it was diagnosed as Barrett's Esophagus. I have been going to a local gastroenterologist in my rural area of Texas. The last three times the endoscopic biopsies were "inconclusive" according to the gastroenterologist.
I have altered my diet trying to eliminate "problem" foods. However, sometimes everything I consume bothers me. I used a wedge to sleep on for about two years until I started having leg and hip problems. Several months ago I purchased an electric adjustable bed, which has helped in reducing the reflux. However, I still have erratic pain and reflux problems. I am currently on 20mg Prilosec twice a day and still I have some reflux problem.
I understand the nature, treatment and complications related to my condition. My wife and I are very concerned.
I am asking for the name of a HIGHLY qualified gastroenterologist in the Dallas, Texas area. I have little confidence in the treatment or concern by my current doctor. I live about 1 1/2 hours out of Dallas but am more than willing to travel to find the right doctor.
Bill Caddell, ***@****
I have altered my diet trying to eliminate "problem" foods. However, sometimes everything I consume bothers me. I used a wedge to sleep on for about two years until I started having leg and hip problems. Several months ago I purchased an electric adjustable bed, which has helped in reducing the reflux. However, I still have erratic pain and reflux problems. I am currently on 20mg Prilosec twice a day and still I have some reflux problem.
I understand the nature, treatment and complications related to my condition. My wife and I are very concerned.
I am asking for the name of a HIGHLY qualified gastroenterologist in the Dallas, Texas area. I have little confidence in the treatment or concern by my current doctor. I live about 1 1/2 hours out of Dallas but am more than willing to travel to find the right doctor.
Bill Caddell, ***@****
I have been Recently diagnosed with Barretts Oesophagus and Biopsy has been taken . I want to know the foods wich are likely to be avoided . and Waht about Jim. as i am doing exercise with heavy weight especially Chest Exercise. I feel that it may have negative effect. Can any one suggest.
A related discussion, Reflux was started.
A related discussion, possible Barretts was started.
A related discussion, What about the diet?? was started.
I was diagnosed with Barrett's about eighteen months ago. Like most of the people who have been commenting, I had no previous understanding of the potentially serious implications of this condition. I am not inclined to be passive and I began to explore this topic on the internet, make notes of the experiences of others and raise the questions with my gastroentologist. The initial answers were that the standard procedure was to perform an endoscopy (With Biopsies) every two years and wait to see if Displasia occured and then try to remove this by surgary while the displasia was low grade. Through the internet I became aware of Photo-Dynamic Therapy and it's apparent success rate in eliminating the Barratt's tissue. The advice that I recieved was that PDT was only reccommended after Displasia was present. I have no displasia. There have been some clinical trials aimed at eliminating Barrett's before displasia occurs. This seems to make the most sense and I have now enroled in a trial to compare Argon Plasma Coagulation with Multipolar Electrocoagulation in ablating Barrett's Esophagus.
I am scheduled for four procedures and I have just completed the second session. The initial indications for me and the eight people who tried this before me are very encouraging. It looks like the Barrett's can be eliminated with this treatment. The unanswared questions are 1) Will some of the Barrett's cells remain under the new healthy tissue that replaces the Barrett's tissue. and 2) Will the Barrett's return. Only time will tell but I am very optimistic.
I am taking a combimation of Prevacid 30 mg once a day or Pantoloc 40mg. twice a day and this has eliminated 95% om my Gerd.
To anybody who has been diagnosed with Barrett'e I would encourage you to find out if any of these tests to eliminate Barrett's at an early stage are being carried out in your area.
Good luck to all of you in your efforts to retain your health. At the end of the day it's all that we have.
I am scheduled for four procedures and I have just completed the second session. The initial indications for me and the eight people who tried this before me are very encouraging. It looks like the Barrett's can be eliminated with this treatment. The unanswared questions are 1) Will some of the Barrett's cells remain under the new healthy tissue that replaces the Barrett's tissue. and 2) Will the Barrett's return. Only time will tell but I am very optimistic.
I am taking a combimation of Prevacid 30 mg once a day or Pantoloc 40mg. twice a day and this has eliminated 95% om my Gerd.
To anybody who has been diagnosed with Barrett'e I would encourage you to find out if any of these tests to eliminate Barrett's at an early stage are being carried out in your area.
Good luck to all of you in your efforts to retain your health. At the end of the day it's all that we have.
Re Protonix: I could not tolerate Prevacid or Prilosec and am now on Aciphex, which is excellent so far after a little over two months. My gastro said if it didn't work, we'd go to Protonix. Prilosec has a new PPI called Nexium. They're all good for acid reflux. I'm glad my doctor is understanding, willing to listen and try different drugs.
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF ANYBODY IS TAKING PROTONIX. I GUESS IT IS A NEW DRUG FOR ACID REFLUX. THANKS
A number of the people responding to this list talk about chest pain as a consequence of Gerd and/or Barret's esophagus. I have had acid reflux problems for 1 year. Asthma like symptoms have emerged. These are controlled with albuterol. But the pain symptoms are not. It is painful to talk. Most pain is experienced on the right side of my chest. ....It is felt like more of a dull ache. Sometimes the ache is felt beneath my bottom right right... Sometimes the pain is felt as a tightness in my right backbone. ... Are these symptoms typical of GERD / Barret's esophagus?
Following high dose melphalan chemotherapy and subsequent bone marrow transplant during the past four weeks, I have had endoscopy 20/6/00 which diagnosed barretts oesophagus which I was informed by my gastro.specialist is a complication of having had 2 serious haemoraghes in the gastro intestinal tract following transplant. The reason for the transplant is I have primary amyloidosis in the kidneys and heart,sarcoidosis of the lungs and nephrotic syndrome{complication of amyloidosis]My specialist has told me that there is no cure for my amyloidosis but maybe after all this treatment the amyloid will stop growing.Needless to say I needed to have barretts Like I need the other diseases.Besides all the other drugs that I take because of the transplant I now also take Losec 20mg twice daily and have had the biopsied piece retrieved from the endoscopy and should have the results in the next week. I hope it is good news and that I only need regular endoscopies.
I'll let you know what happens and hope we all find something positive to look forward to.
Kind Regards Paul aged 48
I'll let you know what happens and hope we all find something positive to look forward to.
Kind Regards Paul aged 48
to anybody outthere. I want to have an endoscopy to rule out baretts. The only thing is i have alot of trouble with anesthetics. especially sedation. Has anybody outthere had the procedure done Other than being put to sleep? I hesitate to go that route because I have tacycardia and mitral valve. The thought of being put out because of the bad experiences makes me not want to do it. Please e-mail me Diana
to anybody outthere. I want to have an endoscopy to rule out baretts. The only thing is i have alot of trouble with anesthetics. especially sedation. Has anybody outthere had the procedure done Other than being put to sleep? I hesitate to go that route because I have tacycardia and mitral valve. The thought of being put out because of the bad experiences makes me not want to do it. Please e-mail me Diana
I have had the hiatal hernia repair and stil have problems with vomiting even though I am on prilosec 20mg twice a day. I had the hiatal hernia repair in 1994 and was also diagonesed before that in 1988 at 24 years old with Barrett's. I have had a couple of scares with dysplasia and also with atypical cells. So therefore; I have to have biopsies with an EGD every 6 months to a year. They have to take 21 biopsies each time since my section is pretty long.
My grandfather and an Uncle died from esophagus cancer so I am really upset. I guess that is why they keep me under survellance more frequently. No one else in the family has this disease so far. The doctor at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio told me that usually men get this more than women. But I had a twin which was a boy but he died at 3-4 months inside the womb. I was wondering if I could have inherited some of the male characteristics.
I have to go back again for another EGD July 18th, that is also my anniversary of my marriage, I hope that will bring me good luck since I have been married now for 14 years. I don't no if I could handle any bad news right now because of the kidney problems I have. I have lost 20-25% of my kidney function. So with my other health problems I am very frightened.
If anyone else has the same problem please contact me and I will check this sight weekly. I would like to hear from someone so I know I am not the only one with this problem.
My grandfather and an Uncle died from esophagus cancer so I am really upset. I guess that is why they keep me under survellance more frequently. No one else in the family has this disease so far. The doctor at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio told me that usually men get this more than women. But I had a twin which was a boy but he died at 3-4 months inside the womb. I was wondering if I could have inherited some of the male characteristics.
I have to go back again for another EGD July 18th, that is also my anniversary of my marriage, I hope that will bring me good luck since I have been married now for 14 years. I don't no if I could handle any bad news right now because of the kidney problems I have. I have lost 20-25% of my kidney function. So with my other health problems I am very frightened.
If anyone else has the same problem please contact me and I will check this sight weekly. I would like to hear from someone so I know I am not the only one with this problem.
I have had the surgeries and all of the medications as mentioned and I am still having difficulty in digesting foods. The tastes that comes up from the esophagus is nauseating and is terrible as I can not "burp" or "throw up". As of this writing, Mayo Clinic is seeking an answer for me. In addition, I have developed Dumping Syndrome from the surgeries. Has any one else gone through this? This syndrome is as bad as the Barrett's. Maybe, not as serious. Where do we go from here? Is there a doctor anywhere that can help us with this problem and the aftermath? Any information would be helpful.
E- Mail :***@****
E- Mail :***@****
To Faye:
I know it is frightening to see your brother having trouble. I felt the same way when I found out that me and my two teen age sons had Barrett's Esophagus. I could deal with it for myself, but it just didn't seem fair for those young athletic fellows to have to go through it. We all had the Nissen Fundoplication (wrap) and are doing great. At our last check up the boys were pretty much back to normal, but I'm lagging. I've probably had Barrett's since I was their age. I hope your brother will take good care of himself and do everything his doctor tells him to do! You can help him by reminding him (gently of course) as to what the doctor said!
I know it is frightening to see your brother having trouble. I felt the same way when I found out that me and my two teen age sons had Barrett's Esophagus. I could deal with it for myself, but it just didn't seem fair for those young athletic fellows to have to go through it. We all had the Nissen Fundoplication (wrap) and are doing great. At our last check up the boys were pretty much back to normal, but I'm lagging. I've probably had Barrett's since I was their age. I hope your brother will take good care of himself and do everything his doctor tells him to do! You can help him by reminding him (gently of course) as to what the doctor said!
I am 42 and just diagnosed with Barretts. I thought I would pass on a few experiences and would love to correspond with someone on dietary matters.
An alternative therapist I have been seeing recommended the following:
trying to follow the Hay diet - food combining
drinking lots of green tea - this seems to work well and I like it
not drinking for 1/2 hour before a meal and 1 1/2 hours after it - unless its green tea
I find in general that eating four small meals a day makes my tummy feel very happy at the moment and as a naturally greedy person I don't have long breaks between meals. I find that certain fruits are very good to digest; pears, ripe mangos, melon, plums, strawberries, grapes - especially green. I am not a big fan of peaches but maybe they are good also.
I live in London UK so if anyone from there wants to get in touch please do so but I would like to correspond with people from anywhere, hear their opinion on what I have written - anything
my best wishes to everyone
Katherine Phillips
***@****
An alternative therapist I have been seeing recommended the following:
trying to follow the Hay diet - food combining
drinking lots of green tea - this seems to work well and I like it
not drinking for 1/2 hour before a meal and 1 1/2 hours after it - unless its green tea
I find in general that eating four small meals a day makes my tummy feel very happy at the moment and as a naturally greedy person I don't have long breaks between meals. I find that certain fruits are very good to digest; pears, ripe mangos, melon, plums, strawberries, grapes - especially green. I am not a big fan of peaches but maybe they are good also.
I live in London UK so if anyone from there wants to get in touch please do so but I would like to correspond with people from anywhere, hear their opinion on what I have written - anything
my best wishes to everyone
Katherine Phillips
***@****
I am 42 years old and live in London (UK). I have just been diagnosed with Barretts after an endoscopy. Prior to this I had reflux for about 4 years or so and it was only when I suddenly felt about 6 months ago that I really didn't want to eat very much at all and for a month ate just tinned sweetcorn and cream crackers and felt better as a result that I decided I needed to see a doctor. It took a couple of months for the endoscopy unit to give me an appointment and it occurred to me that I was interested in pursuing the question of food sensitivity (I am very sensitive to perfume and chemicals generally and cannot use perfume/deodorants/ordinary washing powders etc.) so went to see a therapist at the Hale Clinic in London. I am now taking a combination of nutritional supplements and homeopathic medicines which seem to control the reflux far better than gaviscon ever did (I took it for a month to try it out). I currently take:
milk free acidopholus powder twice a day
choline/inositol
pantathenic acid
vitamin supplements
homeopathic medicines
I have replaced coffee/tea with green tea which I drink lots of (my therapist says I must drink a lot and I don't find drinking a lot of water on its own very comfortable)
I try not to drink for 1/2 hour before and 1 1/2 hours after meals which seems to be very effective
I have always eaten quite a lot of Indian food and now find that I can still cope with the milder south indian style cooking and that in fact potatoes which I had given up eating are digestable if eaten with fenugreek (I looked this up on the net and found that it is good for digestive ailments so will be pursuing research on that)
My therapist recommended that I try the hay diet to ensure easier digestion of foods and although I don't stick to it rigidly I find it very helpful.
I welcome mails about any aspect of what I have written, I will be seeing the specialist in a couple of weeks and would particularly welcome tips as to what questions I need to ask (my biopsies were negative). So far, from reading on the net it seems to me that I should ask the following:
Do I need to have a test for cancer of the colon since a recent study showed that I may have a five times larger chance of getting it than someone without Barretts ?
How big is the Barretts and where is it ?
Do I need to elevate my bed since I do not suffer from any symptoms at night ever (so far) ?
Is this in any way related to the fact that between about 16 and 26 I suffered from Bulimia Nervosa ?
My best wishes to all who have written to the site, many thanks for sharing your experiences, I will be calling back regularly-
(Just one slightly tongue in cheek question if you can send billions of messages down a fibreoptic cable the size of a hair (or something like that) how come an endoscopy tube need to be quite the size it is, I guess we are just not at the leading edge of surgical instrumentation guys. Anyway I am not complaining really as the staff at the unit were absolutely great !)
yours Katherine
I can be mailed at: ***@****
milk free acidopholus powder twice a day
choline/inositol
pantathenic acid
vitamin supplements
homeopathic medicines
I have replaced coffee/tea with green tea which I drink lots of (my therapist says I must drink a lot and I don't find drinking a lot of water on its own very comfortable)
I try not to drink for 1/2 hour before and 1 1/2 hours after meals which seems to be very effective
I have always eaten quite a lot of Indian food and now find that I can still cope with the milder south indian style cooking and that in fact potatoes which I had given up eating are digestable if eaten with fenugreek (I looked this up on the net and found that it is good for digestive ailments so will be pursuing research on that)
My therapist recommended that I try the hay diet to ensure easier digestion of foods and although I don't stick to it rigidly I find it very helpful.
I welcome mails about any aspect of what I have written, I will be seeing the specialist in a couple of weeks and would particularly welcome tips as to what questions I need to ask (my biopsies were negative). So far, from reading on the net it seems to me that I should ask the following:
Do I need to have a test for cancer of the colon since a recent study showed that I may have a five times larger chance of getting it than someone without Barretts ?
How big is the Barretts and where is it ?
Do I need to elevate my bed since I do not suffer from any symptoms at night ever (so far) ?
Is this in any way related to the fact that between about 16 and 26 I suffered from Bulimia Nervosa ?
My best wishes to all who have written to the site, many thanks for sharing your experiences, I will be calling back regularly-
(Just one slightly tongue in cheek question if you can send billions of messages down a fibreoptic cable the size of a hair (or something like that) how come an endoscopy tube need to be quite the size it is, I guess we are just not at the leading edge of surgical instrumentation guys. Anyway I am not complaining really as the staff at the unit were absolutely great !)
yours Katherine
I can be mailed at: ***@****
Wanda,
I was diagnosed with GERD last week and Barrett's Syndrome today! It was comforting to read your husband's initial success after surgery, but saddened to learn of it's recurrence. Thanks for the information regarding Photodynamic Therapy (2-8-2000). I'll check it out! If you or ANYONE else comes across additional information and/or treatments, I'd love to hear more. My email address is ***@****
I was diagnosed with GERD last week and Barrett's Syndrome today! It was comforting to read your husband's initial success after surgery, but saddened to learn of it's recurrence. Thanks for the information regarding Photodynamic Therapy (2-8-2000). I'll check it out! If you or ANYONE else comes across additional information and/or treatments, I'd love to hear more. My email address is ***@****
if anyone is interested in an e-mail type support group, go to onelist.com and do a search for Barretts. you will then get e-mails from the other members and can correspond with them on a daily basis. i did this about a week ago and it is great. iwent in for a motility test and 24 hour Ph study yesterday and i was amazed at how many people e-mailed me with encouragement, support, and their own experiences. definitely worth a look.
willis
willis
I was reading an article from the Mayo Clinic and the doctor indicated that he is very cautious in treating Barretts with acid blockers alone. He explained that the reflux could contain both stomach acid and i believe it was bile (please correct me if i'm wrong) and it is actually the bile fluid that causes the most damage to the esophageal lining. Treating Barretts with acid blockers alone does not stop the bile only the stomach acid. With this said, is it a good idea to just be treating with Prilosec or others? What do the rest of you think about this and has anyone else seen this same info? I believe the website I was on is mayohealth.org and the i chose digestive disorders and went from there! Thanx!
Hi Everyone;
I am a 45 year old male. I have been eating heartburn pills for at least 30 years, you name the kind I have tried them. Anyway about five years ago I had the camera put down my mouth and I have the pictures somewhere. It showed that I have a ulcer and the biggest high heria bad spelling that the doctor said he had ever saw before to the inside not the outside. Also said I needed to have my flat redone, he said they would put a loop in it and said that I had Barrett disease. Please excuse my spelling I am not that well educated. Anyway they wanted to do surgury and do it all at once. I asked a question which most doctors do not like. The question was What happens if I just deal with it the best I can. His answer was You will just wake up dead one night I quess he tought this was funny. Anyway I have not choke to death yet, but have woke up a few times and tought this was it. Has anyone else had this promblem?
I have been taken prilosec all this time, it works. But I have got to tell you the last year I have been getting really tried and the depression is getting real bad. If anyone one else feels like this please E-Mail me at ***@**** cause I really need to talk to someone.
I have all the pain back, cheat arm neck and headaches. I really dont know what to do, it got so back I cant make a living anymore.
I really few bad for you people out there cause I know where you are coming from, This is real bad. Live sure is not much.
I going to try to get off the prilosec and see if I can get out of this depression, cause I think that is where it is coming from.
And if any of you people are still taking propulsid out there you need to get with your doctor because it has been cauing some real bad heart trouble, in fact it has been taken of the market.
Good Luck everyone Larry
I am a 45 year old male. I have been eating heartburn pills for at least 30 years, you name the kind I have tried them. Anyway about five years ago I had the camera put down my mouth and I have the pictures somewhere. It showed that I have a ulcer and the biggest high heria bad spelling that the doctor said he had ever saw before to the inside not the outside. Also said I needed to have my flat redone, he said they would put a loop in it and said that I had Barrett disease. Please excuse my spelling I am not that well educated. Anyway they wanted to do surgury and do it all at once. I asked a question which most doctors do not like. The question was What happens if I just deal with it the best I can. His answer was You will just wake up dead one night I quess he tought this was funny. Anyway I have not choke to death yet, but have woke up a few times and tought this was it. Has anyone else had this promblem?
I have been taken prilosec all this time, it works. But I have got to tell you the last year I have been getting really tried and the depression is getting real bad. If anyone one else feels like this please E-Mail me at ***@**** cause I really need to talk to someone.
I have all the pain back, cheat arm neck and headaches. I really dont know what to do, it got so back I cant make a living anymore.
I really few bad for you people out there cause I know where you are coming from, This is real bad. Live sure is not much.
I going to try to get off the prilosec and see if I can get out of this depression, cause I think that is where it is coming from.
And if any of you people are still taking propulsid out there you need to get with your doctor because it has been cauing some real bad heart trouble, in fact it has been taken of the market.
Good Luck everyone Larry
I am a nurse in a hospital that specializes in esophageal surgeries. I am also a Barrett's esophagus patient. I have seen many patients do very well with the colon interpostition.
What is colon interposition?
I was diagnosed with Barretts on March 29, 2000 and have since been doing alot of research on the net. I am still waiting for the results of my biopsy and am scheduled to see my GI doc on April 12th. It has been comforting to read your stories and to find out that there are many symptoms associated with Barretts. To be perfectly honest I though I was being a little on the Hypochondriac side but now I realize that the chest pains, back pains, shoulder pains, etc are legit. The reason I first sought medical treatment was because I began to to vomit after every meal (this has been going on for about 2 months now) and can't seem to hold food down. It doesn't matter what I eat, it's coming back up. I have suffered from severe heartburn for about 5-6 years and no medication has helped. I've tried all of the ones you have listed but no help. I am currently taking Reglan and aciphex for the nausea, vomiting and heartburn but just like the others, they haven't helped. Does anyone else suffer from vomiting after meals? I have gotten to the point where I only eat one meal a day (I skip breakfast and lunch because I don't want to vomit at work). One thing that I've found in my research is that even though the symptoms can be treated and the acid reflux stopped, Barretts can't be reversed. Immediately after the scope, the doctor told my wife that I would need surgery. I don't know at this time what exactly he has in mind (I was examining the inside of my eyelids when he told her). Thank you for the opportunity to share my story with you and I'll let you know what the doc says on the 12th. If anyone would like to talk my e-mail address is will.***@**** or ***@****
Lee,
Do a search for Gastroenterology on the internet. I obtained several email addresses from the internet and heard from the head of the Gastroenterology Department at Washington University Medical School, St. Louis, MO for a recommendation for Dallas, TX.
There should me several large medical complexes in your area or at least Atlanta, GA.
Good luck.
Do a search for Gastroenterology on the internet. I obtained several email addresses from the internet and heard from the head of the Gastroenterology Department at Washington University Medical School, St. Louis, MO for a recommendation for Dallas, TX.
There should me several large medical complexes in your area or at least Atlanta, GA.
Good luck.
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