Barrett’s esophagus

@riflemanz64 I really am fortunate in that. Now I’m told it is in remission so for now I am especially so.
JK

I read everything about Barrett’s as I had it for ten years before it went to low dysplasia in June 2016 and then after another six months February 2017 to high dysplasia. Then an EMR shoed a cancer cell in June 2017. Since then I have had five or six ablations and at my last appt in August of 2019 it showed no more Barrett’s. That was wonderful news but I know it can come back. My question if for anyone out there that had had this history of Barrett’s to see what their experience is. Because I do not have symptoms of GERD, I forget to be cautious and take the Prononix pill of 40 gram each day. I have never been a pill taker snd always felt that if you could not see a result from taking medicine, it is best to not do it. But I feel very guilty and don’t want the Barrett’s to come back , but also tend not to take pills when I cannot see the outcome as helping. I am due to go back for an endoscopy in August 2020 and am nervous of what they might find. I understand that there is silent Gerd do sm very confused. Should I be taking the PPI pills twice a day 80 mg when I Am not feeling any discomfort at this time. Of course, my diet had changed. I eat small meals more like grazing during the day instead of eating a whole sandwich. I do drink coffee 1-2 cups every morning and then switch to decaf tea which I brew. I have cut out spicy foods like Mexican snd Italian and just in general watch what I eat. My weakness is chocolate but I limit it to chocolate covered nuts to get my fix. Three or four each evening. I do not have the acid reflux diet cookbook which I have considered but just keeping it simple has worked for me now. I am debating to call and ask for an earlier appt to have some biopsies to see if my diet is working well. I am feeling quilty about not taking the Pills twice a day. Has anyone else on this had a similar concern as mine. If you cleared up the Barrett’s what had been your time frame for keeping it away? I appreciate this forum to discuss and make us all more aware. Linda

That's great your Barrett's is gone. I would continue to take the Protonix as it deceases acid. Just watch the diet and i bet you'll be fine.

Hi Linda @l3440r (it took me a while to figure out that was an L, not a 1 at the beginning of your @ identifier!)
My experience is similar to yours except my ablations haven’t stopped yet. I have had 5 so far. But from the mapping the surgeon did last year, he estimates I’ll need at least 4 more. We had scheduled 3 for this year but may not be able to get those in due to covid19. My March procedure was postponed indefinitely.
Both my surgeon and my gastroenterologist have told me I’ll be taking prevacid daily for the rest of my life even after the ablations are complete. They don’t want there to be any chance for low grade dysplasia to return. I don’t either!
I have been taking prevacid for over 20 years for Barrett’s.

@l3440r Linda, I never really had GERD symptoms, I was just hoarse.
Although my gastroenterologist said after my last endoscopy in the fall that my Barrett's seems to be in remission, he did want me to continue to take omeprazole. I take one 20mg one a day.
I have to be honest here, I am really not following all of the restrictions. I very rarely have citrus but I do have chocolate and 2 or 3 cups of coffee a day. Dark roast coffee is the least acidic because the extra roasting burns off more acid.
My Barrett's was never severe so I have been fortunate. I don't like taking omeprazole daily, but I will continue to do so as long as my gastroenterologist feels I should. I cannot really say what the time frame was for it clearing up. I still had it when I had an endoscopy two years prior, but then as I said, it was in remission in the fall.
JK

It is serious indeed, if not managed properly, it could became an Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. The diet is important, the medication that reduce the acidity of the digestive tract and the follow up according to the criteria of the Gastroenterologist that is the treating physician is also to be observed.

I'm keeping to my strict diet. I hope mine stays stable. I was supposed to get a egd scope in October but since the covid hit I bet the hospitals will be back logged.

@riflemanz64 as I have said before, you are the poster child for this condition and how to deal with it properly! I have not been and therefore am now in the middle of having up to nine radio frequency ablation’s for low grade dysplasia that developed in my Barrett’s.

I have zero symptoms of this Barrett's since going on this diet so I hope your right! The diet is very easy for me now. I hope your Ablation's go well for you! Have they been delayed due to coved?

Yes, delayed. I was supposed to have one the last week of March and it was canceled. Which was fine because I think I’m more afraid right now of Covid than I am of my low-grade dysplasia becoming high grade dysplasia.