Barrett's is no joke. I had 8cm for over 24 yr and was always told I'd have to stay on PPIs because no acid should touch it. When my 1st GI moved out of state his partner took over my care and at his at his 1st endo he found low grade dysplasia. That was in 2015.
So 3.5yrs and 5 esophageal ablations later, I have only 2 cm left just above the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). This area seems to be refactory to the ablations (laymans term: burn & scrape).
My LES was wide open and I was constantly refluxing despite being double dosed on prevacid, zantac and using over the counter antacids. I pushed to have the LINX procedure and have a re-repair of a hiatal hernia so that this area of Barrett's would have a chance to respond to future ablations. I really don't want esophageal cancer.
So far since my surgery on Jan 22, 2019 I have had no heartburn for the 1st time in over 25yrs. YEAH!!!! I've stopped the zantac and over the counter antacids. I've weaned the prevacid from 60mg a day to 30mg.
I've decided to stay on 30mg until the last of the Barrett's is eliminated just as a precautionary measure. My GI in San Diego said I need to wait 6 months to 1 yr after my surgery to have another round of biopsies and ablations. My saga will continue in Houston.
The take away is don't let a Dr downplay Barrett's. It's a serious cancer risk.