Nodules

Here in the states they say the first one after a year and then in 3-5 years. I think that is way to long to wait for something as serious as this.

Actually, I'm in Texas and just recently was told by 4 different doctors that 2 years is standard protocol. I agree completely with you that 3 - 5 years is too long. Barrett's doesn't usually develop into cancer, but sometimes it does, and mine did. If I'd had to wait 3 - 5 years for an endoscopy instead of two, I'd be looking at an entirely different prognosis.

Very true I completely agree with you. I'm in Iowa and I'm on state insurance I wonder if that is the difference?

I suppose that could have something to do with it. I've been under a few different insurance policies since I was first diagnosed almost 30 years ago. After the initial endoscopy was approved and a diagnosis of Barrett's was made, there has never been a problem having the endoscopies as often as every year. Because I was only 32 or so when I was first diagnosed, the insurance balked a little because Barrett's used to be extremely rare in young women. That's not the case so much anymore. Either way, a doctor can usually appeal to an insurance company to get procedures approved. Last month the company originally denied the PET scan I needed, but then the doctor had a phone call with them and it was approved. He said that it's just a game the insurance companies play.

Thank you i will keep that in mind. I am supposed to have another one in a year. Have you cut out any foods from your diet in the 30 years? Any tips for us new to this?

I probably didn't cut out as many things as I could/should have. It didn't seem to matter what I ate, with the exception of a few things, so I ate whatever I wanted. I guess that grapefruit and pineapple were the two things that I couldn't eat at all, because of the acid. I've always loved spicy food but the spiciness has been reduced with age. I didn't drink or smoke so I didn't have to cut those things out, but if you do, I would definitely advice that you stop. I had to cut back on coffee, but I didn't cut it out altogether. I sometimes adjusted on a day-to-day basis, depending on how I was feeling. I've always been a very busy person so I never had time to spend on special diets. I did figure out that I couldn't eat close to bedtime. That would almost always keep me from sleeping well.

The medications and knowledge are so much better today than 30 years ago. Mostly just keep up with your scopes so that if a problem develops you'll know about it sooner rather than later. Good luck with all this.