1. < Esophageal Cancer

Barrett’s esophagus

Posted by jvanstratten @jvanstratten, Mar 22, 2018

Looking for info and help with Barret’s esophagus. I can’t figure out just how serious this is. I have read way too much online! I don’t really know how strict my diet really has to be. It is really stressful-. Does anyone here have it? And exactly how serious is it?

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mrgvw | @mrgvw | Nov 26, 2023

I'll private message you. Yes... you're a mess. You need better care... but jumping into your shitstorm of maladies and performing triage to decide what's going to kill you first... a tough one. And of course, QofLife is what you care about most. Free Zoom call in 2 hours (9am Eastern).

Gary

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mrgvw | @mrgvw | Nov 27, 2023
In reply to @bonez3861 "I have had barrett's esophagus for 25 year's. They have done nothing for it at all...." + (show)
@bonez3861

I have had barrett's esophagus for 25 year's. They have done nothing for it at all. I believe the last 5 years he said it has dysplasia. But that is the least of my worries. I have so many other things wrong, gastroparesis with chronic nausea, chronic pancreatitis that I get a egd and eus every 2 months with a celiac block to the pancreatic nerves. I am on a feeding tube and pump fed into my small intestine. I have horrible bile reflux that has scared my esophagus really bad. I also have severe malabsorption and suddenly lost 15 pounds 3 months ago. I can't seem to put any of the weight back on. I am 5'5 and weight 96 pounds, my bmi is 15. I hate it. I made my doctor put me on pancreatic enzymes and they seem to be slowly helping but make my entire digestive system feel horrible and cramps really bad. My doctor hasn't ran any tests on me in over 10 years yet when I told him I think we need to see what is going on with my pancreas he said I was at the end of the road? How can he say that without even running tests? I am sure my pancreatic duct and common bile duct are blocked again. I'm getting a 2nd opinion at Shands hospital, I can't believe that at 63 now I'm done. I don't know how you can say that without looking at labs or looking inside my pancreas and checking my ducts. Any ideas would be appreciated. But my barrett's esophagus doesn't bother me.

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Well... you're still young enough to overcome this... if you are having doctors fully evaluate and prioritize your current issues. Not being a doctor, the problem for me is... which of your problems is at the top of the list? Because many of your issues cause your current symptoms of tummy and intestinal cramps, motility issues, nausea, etc.

Has your primary care doctor not ordered further tests or referred you to any specialists? You seem to have somewhat current GI information... from EGD and other procedures... correct? Taking these things one at a time... if your long term Barrett's is now showing dysplasia (especially high-grade dysplasia) in some parts of your esophagus... you are now very close to an esophageal cancer diagnosis. And if this is happening... it can progress very quickly... it doesn't necessarily stay stage 1 for six months. It is why most of us EC patients are caught at stage 3 and 4. You must be having EGD (preferably EUS) procedures every 6 months AT LEAST. rarely is anyone symptomatic at stage 1 or stage 2 with esophageal cancer. But since you have such nasty symptoms full time because of all you are suffering from... I'll assume you are constantly being checked! Yes?

Your gastroparesis... are you currently on metoclopramide? Guessing your vagus nerve communications aren't working very well. But us EC patients who've had esophagectomy surgeries... we know, because our vagus nerves have been completely severed. And most of us have adjusted, and are doing just fine... as long as we stay cancer free.

So... how is your pylorus functioning? What has been done down below to help motility... botox injection? Any stretching? Endoscopic snip snip of this muscle to loosen things up? Of course bile reflux (and acid reflux) can worsen.

Your pancreatitis... how severe is it? Has it been fully classified... mild or severe? Chronic or acute? Any biopsies done? Any gall bladder issues? How are you pooping... and what do they look like?

Look... I'll come privately and maybe we can chat. Obviously we want to know about any cancers you could have, or may be on the verge of... but what's just as important is your current QofLife... because if that sucks 24/7... what's the point of living.

See you privately,

Gary

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