Barrett’s esophagus

@mcosby01, how are you doing? Any resolution on your symptoms or the cause?

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.

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

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

I have probably learned more from you and your wonderful suggestions than my doctors and literature they gave me. I'll be ordering the book soon. I'm a 66 year old hospice homecare caregiver. My husband has COPD and Emphysema and our grandson lives with us part time. So I feel like I'm always cooking 3 different meals at any given time. I come from a large family of great cooks and good food. I've been really struggling after I was diagnosed in June of last year. I followed the low acid low fat no sugar diet perfectly for 5 months then came the holidays and cheating started and I'm miserable again. But even before the holidays I was miserable because my downfall is not getting into the habit of more mini meals. I'm so busy taking care of others I don't have time to make 5 or 6 mini meals for me. I also have IBS so it's easier to go without eating then I tend to eat too much in the evenings it's a vicious cycle. But your advice gave me hope. Thank you.

I have Barrets too with no dysplasia. Also a hiatal hernia. You mentioned doing something about the hiatal hernia to help with BE.?? Ty

I'm not sure I understand your question, but if someone has a large hiatal hernia then one can consider surgical procedures in order to avoid BE. Either way, one can try all the other methods recommended before that. Something you can try with a hiatal hernia is that I find that if you feel fullness in your chest then it helps to move around, sit straight, stretch diaphragm area. Also, rocking from one foot to the other, one on toes and other on heel, and this sometimes helps shake the stomach down out of the esophagus area. Gaviscon advance (the one with alginate) makes a block between the stomach and esophagus so that the acid does not irritate the esophagus. I find this very helpful. Sleep on wedge at night, raise head of bed (put something under the legs at the head). And all the other suggestions that people have...

Thank you very much for your reply. I think I may try the gaviscon with alginate. I am hoping that I may be able to eliminate my non-dysplasyic BE. I think my having Gerd for such a very long time has caused the BE.

Hi
Barretts is associated or the precursor to esophogial cancer. When I was diagnosed 20 years ago it was recommended to have a Fundo. I was scared of cancer so I agreed. The reflux and regurg was destroying my life. It worked for 10 years still taking otc omeprazole. Then I found out the wrap was no longer intact. 3 more surgeries later I found myself at Mayo Jacksonville with absolutely no hope. All the drugs, all the tests (there were many), nothing worked. For 25 years I suffered. And what I found out was that I had .003 chance of getting cancer. I'm not saying I was misdiagnosed or that the procedures didn't help, but none of this actually fixed the problem of long term Gerds.
At Mayo clinic they found that the previous surgeries had damaged my esophogus and caused a large 7cm hiatal hernia.
Finally in May I had a special bariatric surgery that ACTUALLY fixed me. No reflux or bile in my throat. Can u imagine after 25 years of suffering 3 months later I am feeling real good!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am sooo happy to find this forum. I am really sad about my diagnosis two weeks ago. My understanding is that while erosive esophagitis can be reversed — Barrett’s cannot. I am extra fearful because I witnessed my younger brother die of stomach cancer in his mid 30s (non drinker, non smoker, healthy and fit while eating organic and having a six pack abs etc — when he complained of stomach pain docs did not scope because of his age and he was treated with protonix for what they aaaimed was an ulcer. A few months later after liver pain he was diagnosed with stomach cancer and he died 3 1/2 months later).

Sooo … I’ll always have post traumatic stress from my reflux lead me to get scoped (although the docs don’t think this is related to my family history). I was recommended to have another endoscopy in 3-6 months for more extensive biopsies . So far it’s non dysplasia Barrett’s.

I’m scared but have gone full speed revision of my diet , habits, sleep at incline …

I lost my job two weeks ago (but start a new one soon luckily). I’ve been spending the last two weeks scouring the net and YouTube videos and have found a TON of great info. But I love seeing other people that have experience living with Barrett’s.

I am scared