Hashimotos connection to Barrett's...

I was recently diagnosed with Barrett's and am trying to change my diet accordingly. I've read "The Acid Watcher Diet" and still have questions. Can you eat low fat or olive oil mayonnaise? cooked onions or garlic? Is there a way to access even more complete dietary information? My diagnose was 3 months ago; so I'm not sure whether to stay on the healing phase or the maintenance phase. I'm doing some traveling in the next few months; so sticking to the diet is going to be more difficult. I also have a hiatal hernia and diverticulosis. I had thyroid cancer 11 years ago; so I'm on synthroid for that. My endoscopy/colonoscopy also revealed a precancerous polyp. I had it 3 months ago. How long should I wait before having either procedure again? One GI doctor suggested one year; another said it's usually 3 years. Is 6-9 months too soon for another endoscopy?
All suggestions are welcome, since I'm new to this, having denied any GI problems until now, since I was asymptomatic except for hoarseness in my voice. Now I have a little mucus buildup, which could be corrected merely by throat clearing, which I know I'm not supposed to do; so I try swallowing instead.

Hi @robertatheriveter and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! I see you posted in the auto immune group about Barrett's Esophagus diet
I think you may be interested in the following conversation as well that specifically discusses Barrett's and what type of diet you should stick to.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/be-friendly-diet/
Although there are many sites that claim they have the perfect diet for certain diagnoses I really do think it has to be taken into account what works for you and your body. Depending on your symptoms, which you said seem to be mild, you might tolerate something just fine that someone with more symptoms may not.

Have you found any foods that you just can't tolerate even though they may be on the "safe" list?

Hi, Amanda,

Thanks so much for your prompt response. I've looked at the discussion, and I'm impressed with the helpfulness of respondents. However, the last response I saw was from 2019. Is there more current correspondence? The comments about the diet were only mildly helpful because I've already read THE ACID WATCHER DIET. My questions were about items not mentioned there. My husband just went off the FODMAP diet after a year; so we're both very familiar with it, and I was on it most of the time with him. The problem with the diet you sent me the link for is that the foods to stay away from are the obvious ones we already know, and some of the foods to try are off limits on the acid watcher diet, although most of them are okay, especially on the maintenance diet phase.

As to your question about food tolerance -- unfortunately, I am pretty asymptomatic, which is why it took so long to take my gerd diagnosis seriously. I did find, though, that when I took my daily dose of liquid turmeric (Qunol brand), I reacted to it, and my nutritionist told me it was because of the black pepper in it. I checked the bottle, and sure enough! Even the capsules have black pepper; so I can't take turmeric supplements. I'll just have to use the pure powder.
Before I realized I shouldn't have it, I was using low sodium soy sauce, which didn't seem to affect me. Now I have Bragg's amino acids, just to be on the safe side. I've also been using a light Ranch salad dressing, trying to use much less than I used to do. Is frozen Greek yogurt okay? I've had it a few times, seemingly with no adverse effects, but finding it with no chocolate or mint is not easy, and I don't like salted caramel. Have you cooked with garlic or onions? Are Vidalia onions okay? Somewhere it says cooked sweet onions are okay, and they're the only sweet onions I know. Have you used shallots in cooking? I read that they're less irritating than onions. I'm also wondering about canned artichokes, if the vinegar is rinsed off before use. I have the world's easiest recipe for chicken breasts, covered with a mixture of artichoke hearts, mayo and parmesan cheese, then baked. My final question is about Hellman's mayonnaise. Is it okay to use the light or olive oil based mayo? If you have answers to any of these questions, I'd be grateful.
I'm now almost four months out from my diagnosis. I'm trying to be good. I haven't had my morning coffee, a glass of red wine, or lemon on my fish since then. I want my gold star! I'm wondering whether I should still be on the 28-day healing diet, which I've been doing for a few weeks with just a little cheating, e.g., nectarines and cherries, or whether I should be moving into the maintenance phase. Again, any advice is welcome.

Finally, thank you again for your quick response. I found when I had thyroid cancer 11 years ago that a support group made all the difference, both in valuable advice and in feeling less alone. I'm very happy that I found this online group.

Best regards,
Roberta

Thank you. He has been on every diet and food elimination under the sun. Nothing in that department has helped.

Good morning,<br>Nice to hear back from you. I feel better without PPI and Dr said H 2 blockers would not adequately do the same job. I also have osteoporosis and get yearly Reclast infusions. Thyroid meds and PPI both effect bone density I was told. I can't believe I go to a University Hospital and no one treats the whole person. I keep going from specialist to specialist with new diagnosis and am prescribed medications that contraindicate each other and I am the one pointing this out to them. I am sorry if I sound flustered but I am. It would be great to sit down with one Dr and go over all issues and maybe feel better again. I am still trying but with so many different diagnosis I believe something is being missed.<br>Thank you again <br><br>

No, you need to be flustered at the state of medical treatment today! What you ask for (one Dr. who treats the whole person) IS NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR! We must continue to speak to these needs and demand better (logical, sensible, etc) healthcare. How much does it cost for one person to see 20 Dr. over 5 years time - with each one requiring their own tests and yes, new prescriptions!! It is madness - and it must stop. The cost is dollars in one thing and astronomically out of control because of just what you mentioned. The cost to the individual searching for healing is deplorably intolerable. We are suffering because of this madness, and it's unacceptable. There are Doctors who treat the whole person, and there will be more if we keep demanding them, by refusing to ride on this merry-go-round that doesn't serve anyone (not insurance companies, not patients, not doctors, not hospitals) well. I have found a Doctor that practices Functional Medicine (treating my Hashimotos) and life is so much better. Keep speaking up. Keep searching those kind of Dr's are out there. Keep educating yourself. Look into Leaky Gut Syndrome and Candida / Yeast infections. In the meantime, you must trust your instinct - THERE IS SOMETHING BEING MISSED. Routine tests do not reveal auto-immune disorders, and rushed Doctors do not take the time to listen. Don't give up in your search for a Dr. who takes time to listen.