Barrett's esophagus: What to expect?

All good as to date. Dr. Linda Di Teodoro at Boorland Groover has done my upper and lower. The last time was @ Baptist downtown. She has helped me manage all my other symptoms as well. She is a Great Gastroenterologist and has a wonderful bedside manner also. I have been seeing her for some time now. Her and the team she works with are really wonderful

@jeahunt12
Hello Jean,
Diane here, 80 yr old female, who was diagnosed in 2016 with BE. In the beginning I went every 2 yrs for my scope, stayed on a PPI but also faithfully took an over the counter Probiotic/Ultra Flora Spectrum, (Metagenics, online). for the upper and lower GI. Do not take at the same time of day as the PPI. I continued to have a scope every 2,yrs and my case did not improve nor did it change much. However In the past year, my BE has worsened with multiple ulcers in upper GI! I now go every 6 mos to 1 yr for the scope and through my own online investigation ( not the doctors suggestion, they just hand out medication after medication!! ) I have found to stay on an “Alkaline” diet, which has tremendously helped! YouTube and Internet have some good alkaline suggestions!
Avoid red meat, citrus and caffeine.. consume green tea, alkaline PH water, or filtered water, green vegetables and berries, there are foods to help improve. But DONOT wait 3 yrs for another endoscopy! Change doctors if you must!
I have my next one in 2 mos., hoping the past 6 mos on alkaline diet, omeprazole 40mgs( losing my hair) will help improve my condition. I DO NOT have Disphysia at this time. Just Trying to heal the ulcers. 2 online sites I have found helpful are Cleveland Clinic and Johns Hopkins to deal with Barrett’s. Wishing you a complete recovery,
Blessings, Diane

@dcdonly45 Thank you so much Diane for the response. I have an appt on June 10th with another GI in the area that have very good reviews regarding BE management. I am reading on this blog that we also have a lower GI which the first Dr has not done. I will address this with the second GI in June. Blessings to you as well. I will add you to my prayer list. Jeannie Florida

@brucekn

Hi, how are you doing? I just came across this if you don’t mind. I got diagnosed with BE in Dec 2025. I asked for an EGD when I had my first colonoscopy due to my dad dying from esophageal cancer when I was 11 years old. I’m 54 now. (My dad caught it too late, btw, it had already advanced.) I’m glad I asked for the EGD and caught it early even though I’ve been on meds for years. (It’s 1cm, short stage. No dysplasia for now.) I just had hiatal hernia repair surgery and a Linx device installed two weeks ago bc my issue is not only genetics related but anatomical. My question is, should I request a “tissue cypher” test and did they charge you? I’ve had 3 egd’s since December so I’ve got samples. I’ve heard insurance may or may not cover it and it’s around $5k. The company that issues the test, Castle Biosciences, said if insurance won’t pay for it, they won’t charge me. I think it’s worth it if the surgeon doesn’t see it as urgent. I want the BE removed before it advances considering my genetics. Ugh. Were you billed for the test or did insurance cover it? Thanks for your response. -t

@tee54 ,
Hi. I was diagnosed many years ago with BE, following my inability to swallow that caused some embarrassing situations, since making myself throw up was the only way to clear my esophagus. Have been on Omeprazole now for over 12 years.

A new GE guy did a 6-monthly EGD on me in November 2025, and recommended that I have the Tissue Cypher test. I asked if it was covered by Medicare and he said it was (I’m 75 next month). He also submitted a biopsy sample to the usual lab where the analysis is done.

The EGD and the usual biopsy lab were both paid through Medicare Part B (there’s a Medicare rate that is usually much less than is charged, but it’s still “covered” in Medicare speak). However, I have never seen the Tissue Cypher claim go through on my claim history with Medicare. Sometimes it takes up to a year or even more for Medicare to pay the company and add to my history of claims settled, such is Medicare. So, whether it was paid or not by M/C, I can’t say as I don’t know. However, when a provider accepts M/C “assignments”, even if it isn’t approved by M/C, I am not billed, the provider is just shorted by the amount.

I know this may not answer your question, and I don’t know if you are on M/C or not. Please feel free to ask any further questions or any comments you may have.

Bruce.

@brucekn

Thank you for your response. I’ll call them back once I follow up with the surgeon. I’ve had 3 egd’s since December so I have samples! They said if my insurance (private) won’t pay for it, even after appeals, then I won’t be charged. I just need them to tell me that in writing.

I hope you are doing well.

Tanya

Thanks Tanya. If I can help in any way, my e-mail is brucekn@me.com. Or post here and tag me.

This potential esophageal dysplasia is so asymptomatic.