Barrett's Esophagus

[joedev51]

I have Barrett's Esophagus, I have been to my GI doctor for a Endoscopy and he said, it wasn't bad. I am taking Nexium 40mg. once a day. I have noticed that if I eat spicy food or drink acouple of beers that the next day I feel like there is something stuck in my throat. I told told the doctor about it, but he said, thats normal with my condition. Does anyone else get this feeling.? And what is it ?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
The food items you mention along with alcohol can exacerbate a gastric reflux either due to a weak sphincter or due to hiatal hernia.
Once that happens, the throat closes up, and you get the feeling of something stuck in the throat.
Treatment is a combination of drugs to reduce the acid and lifestyle changes. You will need to take a combination of medications (under medical supervision) like a proton pump inhibitor (like Nexium you are taking) such as omeprazole, lansoprazole or pantoprazole empty stomach in the morning and an antacid gel after meals for complete relief. Possibility of H pylori infection too should be looked into by a carbon urea breath test and a combination antibiotic tried. Many a times a persisting H pylori infection can be the cause behind acidity not responding to treatment.
Life style changes that will help include: Avoid heavy meals and eat frequent small meals. Avoid too much of caffeine, tea, smoking, fried food and drinks both alcoholic and non alcoholic fuzzy ones. Avoid heavy exercises within 4 hours of a heavy meal. Raise the head end of the bed by pillows to 30 degrees. Avoid lying down for least 2 hours after food. Maybe these tips will help you. Take care!

[Caryopteris]

This study shows a correlation between Celiac disease and Barrett's esophagus, so you might want to be tested for Celiac disease.  

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15712649