GERD & Heartburn Support Group
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is defined as chronic symptoms or mucosal damage produced by the abnormal reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. This is commonly due to transient or permanent changes in the barrier between the esophagus and the stomach. If you are afflicted with GERD or heartburn, join the group and find support.
Just to let you know, my husband had barrett's and was being checked every three years. At the last scope, we found out he has cancer. Normally, they expect to see cellular changes before it goes to cancer, but there was nothing noticeable during the last scope. Medicare has established a three year period for conducting scopes, and they seem to be the driver for establishing the frequency of such routine checks. You may want to talk to your doctor about having more frequent scopes. There is only a 1% chance of barrett's going to cancer, but it happened to us. Please get your routine scopes.
Thanks for the heads up.
Wishing you and hubby all the best, hope the treatment goes well.
(Hugs) for support
Thanks.
I am going for my Endoscopy on May 28th to be evaluated for a Hiatal Hernia, but I have had GERD for 12 years. Been very well controlled with Nexium. I thought I heard that Barrett's does not go away, but I do not know much about it.
BE has no symptoms in and of itself. All it is, is a change in the makeup of the esophagus lining. My BE is a single spot the size of a nickel. I get scoped every 2-3 years and just had one last May. It came back fine.
BE has 3 stages: the benign form, which shows no precancerous changes. The best knowledge right now suggests that at this level, if the GERD is well-controlled, you have a good chance of keeping it this way.
Second stage shows the beginning of changes. At this stage, they do scopes more frequently.
The final stage involves a significant precancerous change. At this point, depending on the situation, they may recommend ablation or some other therapy to remove the barrett's tissue.
Typically this is a slow process, so I'm very saddened to hear about prayinglots' husband.
I don't know that BE can go away, but if you're at that level where no actual changes have taken place, then you'll want to do all you can to keep it there. Many things can factor into why it progresses, but the most obvious is the presence of acid and bile.
My last scope showed no changes. I'm not due for one for a another year, but I may request one. My gallbladder has been failing for awhile now and very recently the symptoms have worsened and seem to have impacted my entire digestive process. It does not empty properly and I also have gallstones. I have no pain or heartburn symptoms (which I do get if I mess up or forget a dose of my Dexilent) and bile supposedly hurts even worse. Around Christmas I had the classic symptoms of an ulcer and treated it by adjusting my diet, stopping all NSAIDS, etc. The symptoms passed in a few weeks.
But I keep having what feels like spasms or something, and now and again I get that hungry feeling back. It all started when my gallbladder really started to fail, so I'm hoping it's kind of related and that when I get the darn thing in 2 weeks it will alleviate some of this. But I want to check my esophagus just in case the BE has decided to behave uncharacteristically.
I actually did go see my gastro doc back in January and explained what I was feeling. He said it did sound like an ulcer and since my symptoms had improved he said it sounded like my treatment was working. And certainly there is much to be said about the connection between your digestive system and anxiety problems.
I called the office today to speak with the nurse to express my concerns and ask for another scope. As I said, I just had one barely 12 months ago, but with these things one can never be too careful.
Best wishes and prayers to you and your husband.