Intestional Metaplasia

[nanci]

My biopsy read chronic gastritis with intestional metaplasia.  When I questioned the nurse on what this means she explained it as tissue forming in an attempt for the stomach to heal itself.

Does this sound right?  Should I question this?

[pebs]

pernicious aneamia takes years to develope that is why it is called pernicious it gradually makes itself known - palpitations, tiredness, sore tongue etc it can run in families though not in my case. i was diagnosed in 1997, after much going  backwards and forwards to the doctor, blonde blue eyed people are more likely to get  pa it is very prevalant in the scandinavian countries and ireland [ all those viking warriors and i mean that seriously. my gasroenterologist  performs endoscopys every 12mths with biopsies i just had my latest on the 16th still waiting for the results , he told me on the day that they were no lesions etc but i wait  with trepidation for the biopsies. i do have intestinal metaplasia and gastric atrophy but  thankfully my stomach does'nt give me too many problems i just really watch what i eat.
thank you nanci and jilly bean, and nanci it was especially nice to hear from someone with pernicious aneamia please keep in touch

pebs

[nanci]

Hi

Can you tell me the symptoms of Pernicious Anemia?  Is there a test  for this or can it be detected in regular blood work?

[pebs]

pernicious anaemia is what  i have got, and intestinal metaplasia plus gastrc atrophy is what you get as part of it plus an increased risk of gastric cancer. i have an endoscopy every 12 months my doctor tells me that most people with pernicious anaemia die with the condition and not from it.  still i do worry about it  especially as gastric cancer is a tricky one and is not one of the better cancers  to treat. MY QUESTION IS THIS

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH ANTONE WITH PERNICIOUS ANAEMIA.


   pebs

[nanci]

Hi Karen

I never did get your funny email - try sending it again.

I'm feeling much better on the Protonix, almost like new.  I had a bad day on Monday and called.  They told me to take two a day, one AM, one PM until I start feeling better.  I haven't had any burning in two days!  I'm also taking the Celexa and I feel a definite change with that too.  I don't feel as nervous and small things don't seem to bother me.  I won't take it long, maybe for a few months, just until I can put this whole thing to bed and have some definitive answers.

My biggest problem is eating - I feel like eating but don't want to eat anything to trigger heartburn.  Bland food is so boring especially when you have a husband who cooks gourmet food all the time.  The man is a master in the kitchen!

Don't let the kids get to you - they grow up too fast, you spend all this money on them and then they leave!

Take Care, write if you want.

[nanci]

Where there other contributing factors such as smoking or alcohol?  I'm just surprised to hear that eating three meals instead of five small meals may have been a contributing factor?

I know there are similarities with GERD and gastritis but they are different.  I don't think gastritis affects the exphogagus the same way GERD does.

Did your doctor feel there was anything different you should have done that may have prevented this or was it going to happen eventually anyway, regardless.  I thought that was why people took PPI's - to stop the acid from doing this kind of damage.
It's very confusing to me!

[KarenS.]

Hello I know this discussion is a little old,I just found this forum.I`ve been using the heartburn forum.I met Nanci on there....well like her my biopsies revealed mild chronic gastritis,mild vascular ectasia,AND the dreaded intestinal metaplasia!Which I was told it was at the bottom of the stomach.I too which is strange go back to my GI doc. on sept.12 just like Nanci.And I will not leave without a thourough explanation for every D@#* thing they say I have!!!!I want to know how long its gonna last an if it can develope into cancer...he better explain,the only reason I found out I had the first couple of things was because I called and the nurse told me.As far as the metaplasia she did not tell me,I went in for an appointment to my regular doc....she told me....she assured me it USUALLY does not turn into to cancer,but I want a better answer than that.Everything I have read says different.I want answers just like Nanci does,she`s gonna email if she finds out something before I do.All I know is Im only 31 w/3 kids and Im tired of being sick!!!The prevacid has helped but it does not help for piece of mind!!!!!!Thanks for listening to me B@#*%$ about this!!!!Any helpful replies or anything else positive will be appreciated...I know me & Naci would appreciate anything positive about this JUNK!!!!

[KarenS.]

Hey girl,how are you?Did you get that email I sent?I thought it was pretty funny!Well im doing pretty good besides I wish my stomach didn`t have feelings(LOL).Im glad to hear your feeling good.Im trying not to be stressed about anything,the thing i`ve been stressed about is the kids,they DO NOT listen AT ALL!!!I can`t wait till Monday.....SCHOOL!!!!YIPEEEEE!!!I`ll still have my 3 yr old here,(she`ll Be 4 next wednesday)but it`ll be alot easier with my 7&9yr old at school.Well take care Nanci,feel free to email me anytime.Hey who knows maybe someday we can talk on the phone.

[nanci]

Hi Guys!

Here's a quote from a doctor who was contacted on my behalf by a friend.  This concerns Intestinal Metaplasia.

"Intestional metaplasia means that cells like small bowel lining appear where they do not belong, either in the stomach or in the esophagus. In the latter, this usually occurs in the setting of Barrett's esophagus and is considered premalignant (i.e. there is a possibility that cancer later develops). In the stomach the significance is less clear: some work indicates it is also a precursor of cancer but this is much more rare than in the esophagus.  In the stomach, it is also seen in the healing phase of an ulcer or inflammation (gastritis) and eventually disappears. A final appreciation of intestinal metaplasia requires putting together the endoscopic aspect and careful analysis of the biopsy specimens by a pathologist. In case of ! doubt I would recommend a control endoscopy in 6 - 12 months."

Note the part about healing process.  This is what the doctor's nurse was trying to explain to me.  In cases of gastritis healing, metaplasia means change and the change in this case is healing.  She did go into the explanation of Barretts, etc and said in no way do I have this extent of damage.  Of course, like Karen, I will not leave his office until I fully understand what this all means for gastritis sufferers.  Right now, I feel pretty good on the Protonix but don't want to take this forever.  I'm not going to react too strongly until I talk to the doctor - the last thing I need is stress to aggravate my symotoms.

Are you feeling better Karen?  Chicken Soup, what is being done for you?  Were you monitored all these 12 years?

[KarenS.]

Hey chickensoup,Im really sorry to hear about your cancer!!If you don`t mind me asking what did they do about it?I`ll let you know when I find out something!Thanks

[nanci]

I'm wondering with your history why you weren't mointored more closely, every six months.  Waiting three years between biopsies seems long to me.

You mentioned your lifestyle could have been better.  What would you have done different and what are you doing now?

[Lynn28]

Hi Jong-

How are you feeling these days? Do you feel as though you are improving? How about the gastritis. Have you had or are you planning to have another endoscopy to check to see if the gastritis is healing or what it's doing? I hope you are improving, really. It's been a long time for you. I'm sure your GI doctor is very good, considering he's at stanford.

-Jenn

[JH]

Treating H pylori probably will not lead to gastric cancer.
However, there are several reports of increased reflux diseases
in patients after the H pylori treatment. Therefore, many
researchers are beginning to think that H pylori treatment
increase chance for esophugas cancer.  I am currently suffering
nasty side effects of antibiotic treatment for h pylori.
my physician at Stanford Medical center inform me that
medica data at his clinic seems to show more acid reflux problems
after the antibiotic treatment.  For this reason, he does not
treat H plylori unless you have ulcer.

[virgo57]

Goodluck Nanci..write any questions you have down ahead of time so that when you get in the doctor's office your mind goes blank and you are left with...I should have asked this or that.
Keep us posted on how you are doing.
Best of Luck and Health :)

[kimbacat]

thanks for updating.  that's good that the nurse didn't poo-poo you and suggested a sit-down with the doc if you wanted.  

btw, I hope whatever symptoms prompted the EGD are improving

take care

[nanci]

Jenn, there isn't any errosion - that's what the nurse was telling me. The tissue present was a result of the stomach trying to heal.  I can't believe she would even make such a statement if she didn't know.

In my normal mind, I can't believe any doctor would brush something aside as nothing if the condition in any way could be precanceous.  All I had to do was show my concern today and whether or not the nurse thought I was nuts, suggested I come in and speak to him about it.  So, I'll go armed with information, get a copy of my reports and then I'll get a second opinion.

This doctor is on staff at two major hospitals and other doctors give him high marks in his field. That's why I can't believe he would brush something off that could even remotely become a problem.

And, the h-pylori, I can't be too specific cause we just touched on it - she said studies sent to their office this week - where these studies came from I didn't ask but if it's newsworthy, it will become public I'm sure.  

Thanks for all your support.

[Lynn28]

I'm sorry, but that nurse sounds like she does not know what she is talking about. Especially about the new study on H-Pylori and cancer. That's crazy. Go to Dr.Marshalls site, the doctor who discovered H-Pylori. www.helico.com

Also, she said there was errosion? I STILL think you need to see your results for yourself. I was told that it was gastritis as well, UNTIL I went to the hospital and got the results myself. They read, chronic minimal gastritis and chronic minimal esophagitis, as well as duodenitis. NONE of which the doctor told me. None! Now this was last year by my old GI who was worthless, so until I have another endoscopy, I don't know. Please try to get a second opinion. It's the best thing you could do for yourself. I have something I'd like to send to you regarding a response sent to me from a doctor about IM. If you can, it's ***@****  Feel better and don't worry ;-)
But get that second opinion, EVEN if it means traveling outside your area. Sometimes one has to drive far in order to get the best doctor. Think about it.

-Jenn

[nanci]

Okay, first of all thanks alot for your responses (well, all except one!)

I just got off the phone with the doctor's office and I'll try to summarize.  The first question she asked was "have you been on line".  She believes that people need to be informed but she'll get call after call from patients who read things on line and think their dying!!!"

She said I do not have an eroded esophagus nor do I even have an inflamation in my esophagus or any tissue overgrowth where there is errosion - I don't have that much damage. I have gastritis, an inflammation in the stomach lining.  What I have is tissue growing in an attempt to heal.  The body constantly wants to be balanced and will do whatever it can to heal.  

The term Intestinal Metaplasia when the esophagus is eroded is a precondition to Barretts.  In my case, it's tissue healing.

She suggested I come in to talk to the doctor so I have an app't on 9-12.  Of course I wanted to be armed and informed and will take all the information I found in the links you sent.

Could there be more than one definition to Intestionaal Metaplasia?  And, I think I'll get a second opinion anyway - correct?  OH, one more think.  She asked if I knew what H-pylori is - I told her my understanding.  She asked about what my thoughts were on curing it - I told her my understanding that if left uncured, it can become a pre-cancerous condition.  She said a new study just showed up this week that curing h-pylori has been found to cause gastric cancer.  Makes you wonder!

[virgo57]

This is a cut and paste which I was able to find,
No need to push the panic button,it is not a cancer, but it is something that will have to be monitored and watched. This is something you should sit down and discuss with your doctor.

Re: intestinal metaplasia (Barrett's esophagus)
From:
Date: 03 Jun 2000
Time: 14:50:44
Remote Name: 131.230.224.29


Comments
Intestinal metaplasia of esophagus occurs as a result of long standing reflux disease. This is called Barret's esophagus. It is a premalignant condition, with potential to go to cancer. Surveillance endoscopy every 6 months to 2 years is recommended based on clinical situation.

[Abbey]

Your comments aren't appreciated here.

[nanci]

I don't have reflux or GERD - I have chronic gastritis.  My esophagus is not affected.

When I asked what this term meant, the nurse said it was tissue growing in an attempt for the stomach to heal itself.  

I am going to call today for a more in-depth explanation.  You know, I'm glad I asked for her to read the report because she said initially that it was chronic gastritis and didn't add the other part.

The only issue I have is my gastro guy is one of the best in the area - he has no bedside manner but he is rated high.  I can't imagine him overlooking or not making a point that I'm back for follow-up and tests.  This seems strange to me but I will let you know what they say.

And, note to DeadManWalking - can you find another board to post on, I find you quite disturbing.  You seem very unhappy.

[kimbacat]

Hi Nanci,  
that sounds like a good plan.  metaplasia just means changes in the tissue which aren't normal for that type of tissue.  but changes aren't always problematic.  let us know what the doc says?  take care

ps.  know what you mean, good doc and good beside manner seems to be mutually exclusive sometimes ;)

[Lynn28]

"I was told on another board to check out what intestional metaplasia means - it may be a concern and that was in my biopsy so now I'm worrying that I may have a prelude to something more serious! I feel like I'm on a merry go round!"

I was going to say the same thing, but didn't want to worry you and you still shouldn't because the biopsy would have showed if it were something else. However, I did a search on google.com and I would question it if I were you, BUT don't start thinking. Just call your internist tomorrow and ask him. I don't think I like your GI :(  Have you thought about seeing someone at a university hospital, like the cheif of gastro?

[Lynn28]

Did you request copies? I would bring this finding up to your internist.