Acid Reflux and its Symptoms: Are they chronic?

@13440r, , Hi, I listened in on your post. I have severe GERD and now I have a sore throat that won't go away. I have also had trouble swallowing for about 12 years. Can you tell me what Barrets esophagus feels like?

Thanks, Dany

Foot cramps can come from that? I have foot cramps plus Barrett's esophagus. Had ulcers colon plus diverticulosis. You name it wwith stomach trouble I've had it. Also silent gerd causes me to lose my voice sometimes. I'm at wits end what to do next. I'm gluten and dairy free. Glad you are feeling better

Linda, I had GERD, and was treated at U. Wisconsin Hospital, Madison. They first did a endoscopy and found that I had a 4" Barrett's Esophagus segment. There was no high grade dysplasia.... after a couple more endoscopies they found it had gone to High Grade Dysplasia.... which now is headed towards Esophagial Cancer. I was then given RFA (Radio Frequency Ablation) therapy. Barrett's is where abnormal lining appears (much like in your intestine) to protect the lining from the stomach acid.... this being abnormal can lead to cancer. In RFA, first treatment, they used a 360 degree instrument that burnt off 3 microns of the abnormal lining all the way around... that first is the worse, but tolerable. After it heals they check it again and if needed they use a 90 degree instrument that they can aim at the abnormal lining. I just looked up the LINX procedure they use magnetic beads to help your hiatel valve to open and close. http://www.surgery.usc.edu/uppergi-general/gastroesophagealrefluxdisease-linx-howitworks.html.

Linda, my BE was 4" long, discovered it during an endoscopy. I have had four RFA treatments.... one 360 Halo and three 90. They wouldn't start treatments until it went to High Dysplasia. There was some dysplasia found in last endoscopy, so I will have another treatment most likely. This hasn't surprised me Dr. Gopal said it may take longer due to the length of the segment. The pictures from the last treatment compared to the first ones are remarkably different.

Linda,
I had high grade dysplasia before I started going to Mayo along with a node that required a mucosal resection. After about 6 RFA treatments every 3 months, Barrett's was not detected. They moved me out to visiting every 6 months but when I got scoped my last visit Barett's was back but with no Dysplasia. They moved be back to 3 mo visits and since they found Barretts the last time I am sure I will be having another RFA treatment when I return in December.

You can’t feel Barrett’s Esophagus. I was diagnosed with it in 2008 after an endoscopy. I took Prilosec every day since then  and then in June 2016 some changes started happening with cells in the esophagus. It was diagnosed as LowDysplasia then in February it was diagnosed as high dysplasia. I have had two RFA and two EMR and  WILL GO BACK FOR A RFA IN  Dec. I just wonder if anyone Out there had been cured of the high dysplasia or if it did go into cancer. I wouldLove to Hear from someone about this. Linda

Thank you for the reply and information about Linx. I Don’t know yet what myPrognosis is so am concerned since I do not know what to expect. They found a cancer cell in June in biopsy but nothing showed up in the endoscopy of sept 29. So I guess I wait to see what developes by the next  endoscopy  in December 6. Has any one had cryotherapy which is a freezing treatment?  How does it compare to the RFA?  Thanks in advance for any comments. 

Where do you Iive  and go for treatment?  I have been toMD Anderson one time but have had three treatments here in Dallas. With a local GI  doctor. I may decide to go back toMD Anderson after this next treatment in December depending on the condition 

I have obviously had reflux over the past 20 years but have not had any reflux in the past year that I can recall the 40mg proton I had kept me from having heartburn or reflux where I have the contents come back up my esophagus. So it surprises me that I don’t seem to hVe much symptoms but I still have high dysplasia. I have just wondered if it goes away completely after how many ? treatments. 

I appreciate your report. Sounds like yours might be under control. I wonder if I should return to MD ANDERSON instead of going locally in Dallas. Perhaps after the next scope.