lets discuss about everyone's present condition & life style having barrett's oesophagus
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hi,my husband was diagnosed as a case of barrett's oesophagus 2 years ago. He always thinks that after a certain period of time his barrett's may turn into cancer though he follows every rules & regulations that doctor advised him. After taking medications he is well now,no heart burn no reflux about 2 years. His last endoscopic report was also good,there was no dysplastic change,only inflammation was present in barrett's segment. i always try to give him courage but sometimes i also become tensed about his barrett's. he is only 32 now. we still have a long way to go.i always try to make a communication with people having barrett's like him. If you have enough time to share & discuss about the present condition of your barrett's oesophagus,your age, whati is your next plan of treatment? then i will be grateful to you....
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Guest senjuti_14098
Posted
So I'll go ahead with my story here. It isn't monumental or huge, it just is what it is.
I've had GERD for the past 20 years, since I was 18. I started taking PPI's when I was 27. I had esophagitis, was diagnosed with GERD, and sent on my way. Shortly thereafter, I also lost my gallbladder. After that time, I tried different approaches: On PPI's, off PPI's, reducing the number of PPI's, etc.
Last year I was diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus, although it seems to be contested: one center called it an Irregular Z-Line and said I shouldn't think about. it. Another center said it was ultra-short Barrett's, did a biopsy, and discovered goblet cells. (The first center said that at that length, it's impossible to say whether the cells came from the esophagus or stomach cardia, which is the difference between an increased cancer risk and no increased cancer risk.) Regardless, I decided to presume the worst. I sought surgery as an option, but seeing as my esophagus doesn't work as well, and seeing as my acid levels are actually normal, no surgeon would touch me.
Since that time I've lost 40 lbs. I do a lot of liquid meals, especially when my heartburn flares up (which is often, with a frequent pain right where the bottom of the sternum meets the upper abdomen). I sleep on an incline, which I've gotten used to and, in fact, now prefer for comfort reasons. As it so happens, I also have a contour bed -- yes, it's angled -- but I found that the contouring actually makes symptoms in the area worse once in a while. I've transitioned to a largely vegetarian diet, following Dr. Joel Furhman's recipes, try to do low-fat meals, and take DGL with every meal, but still take PPI's, 20mg Protonix once or twice per day, as needed. (Recently it's been twice per day, I don't know why.) I don't lay down within 4 hours of eating, often more. I also don't exercise except on an empty stomach: I mostly cycle, and have my had my bike modified to account for the GERD. I also supplement with Gaviscon Advance after meals. I also get acupuncture, which was a desperate effort after my doctors literally said, "There's nothing we can do for you."
I don't really eat out much anymore, unless it's salads, it's small, and it's simple. When I do, I stick to the GERD restrictions -- no caffeine/chocolate/coffee, no fizzy drinks (mostly water only, and some herbal teas), no onions, garlic, tomato sauces, spicy foods, etc. I also avoid fatty foods and dairy.
I won't lie, at times it feels awful and drab. I get angry and lose hope, especially when my symptoms act up, when I'm in pain for hours, and become convinced that I'm doomed to a cancerous death, eaten away from my stomach. I get scared, anxious, and depressed. Conversely, at times, I go entire days feeling great. (Not weeks -- that'st just too long to go without symptoms.) On those days, I become... well, myself again, food sins and all. (I've been told by people who watch me eat that what I eat isn't overt or bad at all, but my body says otherwise.) I might allow myself a bite of a chocolate muffin, for example, but that doesn't happen much anymore: I'm too scared of cancer.
So that's what life is now: doing everything I can to avoid cancer and having it at the back of my mind all the time, every day, reading the same articles over and over again on Google, trying to see if there's any new scrap of research that can give me some hope.
My treatment plan:
- Stick with the drugs, probably for the rest of my life
- Continue working on eating better
- Fast on days when I can't eat
- Drink water and some teas only
- GERD diet, strictly followed.
- Eat until you're not hungry anymore, not until you're full
- Eat only when you're actually hungry: if timing becomes an issue, don't eat, because being hungry is better than having cancer.
- Bed stays angled
- Nookie gets planned hours in advance since I have to fast for it (laying down or vigorous activity after eating is a recipe for disaster.)
- Exercise only when fasting.
Clearly, I'm not a fan of my own life right now, but these are the cards dealt to me, and much of this is my own fault, so I can't say I don't deserve it. I guess I'm just grateful I caught it before I got cancer.
kim27383 Guest
Posted
I just found out and the anxiety is out of this world. I had acid last night after eating at 7:00 and falling asleep last night in my recliner. I'm realizing I'm not going to be able to eat at night at all after I get home from work and that is really bothering me. Even drinking just plain water still gives me the reflux. I take the same pill as you but mine is 40 mg. They did have me taking that twice a day for awhile but I thought that was too much. I'm worried all the time too. I'm trying my best to Google and read things to avoid but it's very difficult. I lost 40 pounds and I'm still working on it. I'm trying to get healthy and eat the right things but how can you be sure that it's actually helping? Ugh.
senjuti_14098 Guest
Posted
thank you Norb for sharing your story.... i love your last line...i also grateful to almighty that my husband's barrett's oesophagus was diagnosed earlier before something more bad than it.
kim27383 senjuti_14098
Posted
It's good that there is technology to help get things diagnosed early before they get worse. The earlier the better definitely.
BrianRE senjuti_14098
Posted
Hello, I am a 60 year old male. I was diagnosed with Barratts two years ago after suffering with reflux and heartburn for a number of years. I thought for ages it was linked to my IBS but an endoscopy showed up Barratts. Biopsies taken showed no cancerous cells and I was told the likelihood of it turning cancerous was smallish. I was recommended to take PPI's (Pantoprazole - 40mg in the morning before breakfast). I was told to have a endoscopy every two years to check on the Barratts.
?I had this last month and was told it hadn't got any worse but a hiatus hernia was discovered. Not unusual for someone of my age. I watch what I eat, I have cut out all fried foods, alcohol, citrus fruits, drinks that contain caffeine and chocolate. I also try to eat smaller meals more regularly and nothing within three hours of going to bed.
?My reflux is much better for this although I still get pains in my stomach if I eat more than a small to average size meal. Whether this is due to Barratts, Hiatus hernia or IBS I can't say and neither can the
?doctor at the hospital.
?I wish your husband well, the important thing I believe is to follow expert advise from doctors, have regular endoscopies and as the saying goes, keep taking the tablets !
?I h
kim27383 BrianRE
Posted
I have a hiatal hernia as well as Barrett's and mild IBS. I have also had diverticulitis as well so I'm having no fun. I'm only 39. I'm on the same medicine as you with the same dosage. I am worried every day about what I eat. Today at lunch someone brought lasagna. I turned it down because pasta always gives me horrible acid reflux. I haven't got my biopsy results from my scope on Monday day yet so I'm still waiting. Does anyone worry constantly about what they eat like I do? Did the doctors find it necessary to do a colonoscopy?
senjuti_14098 BrianRE
Posted
senjuti_14098 kim27383
Posted
you shouldn't be worry constantly what you r eating just avoid some food & fruits that may cause acid reflux. if you think more, acid reflux may increase. Because stressful condition increase acid secretion in stomach ( according to doctor) so don't be tensed. just follow the advised rules regulations. hope you will be ok.
BrianRE kim27383
Posted
I was diagnosed with IBS at 17 and have been on codeine phosphate since, it is uncomfortable at times and have led to runs to the toilet but nothing like some of the extreme cases of IBS sufferers. I have often had bad indigestion / heartburn in my younger years but always put it down to IBS. It was only when it got really bad about five years ago following badly infected gallstones and my gallbladder removal that I gad an endoscopy and Barretts was discovered. The PPI's help as does cutting out all that is suggested although I don't cut out as much as you Kim. It sounds like you get pains and discomfort more severe than I do.
?I do think anxiety does definitely play a part. If you worry about it becoming cancerous and get stressed, your stomach will produce more acid and this will make it worse. Easy to say not to worry of course. I am aware that if I do get stressed about anything then my I have more reflux and pain. When it was bad on one occasion it was suggested by a specialist that I increase my PPI (Pantoprazole) to 80mg a day. After a while I started getting severe burning pains in my chest and my nipples became very sore and tender. Upon going back to my GP I was told that higher doses of PPI can be a side effect like this for some people but not all. I have reduced down to 40mg a day and this has gone away.
I had a colonscopy about ten years ago when I had blood when I passed motions. This turned out to be a bad fissure in my back passage which has since settle down. This was not done as anything to do with my reflux / heartburn. I had not been diagnosed with Barretts by then.
?Good luck Kim, I hope things settle down for you.
?
kim27383 BrianRE
Posted
Thank you. I don't really have heartburn much but I can tell when I have had some acid in my throat. Like last night I ate a breadstick because my kids had gotten pizza to eat. I was afraid to eat that but I did eat a breadstick. I'm just worried on a daily basis and I hate it. I'm wondering if I'm never going to be able to eat at night again for fear of the acid. Last night I also ate a leftover crap ragoon and I think that was a mistake too. It's all trail and error I guess. The doctor didn't tell me anything about diet really besides beverages. I am just guessing on the others and trying to eat healthier.
BrianRE kim27383
Posted
kim27383 BrianRE
Posted
I just ate a tuna sandwich and had a bottle of water with it. I am wondering if I shouldn't drink when I eat so that it doesn't fill up my stomach where acid would overflow. Maybe that's been a problem the whole time. I really want to ask my doctor questions but after the procedure I wasn't remembering talking to him but I rememeber the scope which is ridiculous. I want to be able to ask questions about what I should do. What to eat/not to eat. If I should drink with food it not drink. It's all so confusing and I constantly worry.
BrianRE kim27383
Posted
You need to talk to your doctor or a consultant and get some dietary advice, all this worrying over what food or drink to have is probably adding to the acid you are producing making your pains worse. I find eating more slowly and chewing food so not swallowing large pieces of food helps. It's easy to say but take a step back and count to ten. Then think logically about what food upsets you and what doesn't. What helps and what doesn't, it might help to keep a diary each day.
kim27383 BrianRE
Posted
Thank you Brian that's a good idea. I will try and do that. I don't have much pain but I do have boating and then strange taste in my mouth from stuff coming up. I don't even get heartburn since I started back on the PPI. I am still waiting fir the biopsy to see what level I'm on with it I guess. I will try and keep a diary. Thank you so much.