Coud this be Barretts Esophagus? - Acid Reflux / GERD Message Board

jhamilton401 · 05-30-2006, 10:35 PM

I have had stomach problems for over 2 years now undiagnosed.
I am going back to my gastroenterologist June 1 to undergo more testing to find out what is going on.
I haven't been able to eat right. Every time I eat or drink anything it feels like it is stuck in my throat. I have just recently stopped being able to eat ice cream because the cold really makes my throat feel like its shutting off and tightens up.
Like tonight I've only at some mashed potatoes from KFC and drank a warm Sunkist. I now have this major burning feeling in the back of my throat and I can really feel it in my ears. Its like the insides of my ears deep inside and the sides of my throat in the back of my throat are burning like their on fire.
Constantly all day long my throat is raw and dried out feeling no matter how much liquids I drink throughout the day.
I haven't taken anything for it. I have tried every over the counter antiacid relief med and they haven't helped. I've also tried prescription Nexium and Prevacid.
I've had an endoscopy, colonoscopy and ultrasound of my gallbladder done so far. I refused to do the barium swallow test because I told my doc I seriously didn't think I would be able to get the liquid barium down because sometimes I have a hard time even drinking water.
Its been about a year now since I've seen the doc. I lost insurance when my job fired me for taking too much sick leave they said.
I know he wants to do a hida scan so that will probably be next. The only thing that turned up on the other testing was mild colitis. Also the ultrasound my gallbladder couldn't be found. He said either I was born without one which would be rare or its contracted up underneath my liver and couldn't be seen.
Please help someone if you know what I'm going through please post I'd love to hear from you.

Ol'Line Rebel · 05-31-2006, 07:46 AM

Hi j,

I warn you I am no expert; I've only "had something" for about 4 mos. Less experience than lots here! But, I wouldn't jump to the Barrett's conclusion now.

Sounds to me as if you have laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), could be the disease version (LPRD). All your problems are in your throat. I think it's doubtful that would be Barrett's.

I've heard/read that Barrett's often can only be diagnosed by biopsy from endoscopy. It doesn't necessarily present symptoms any different from plain GERD. In fact, often like some GERD and so on, it may not give symptoms at all. Hence endo/biopsy is necessary.

But your symptoms seem throat-related, and Barrett's is kind of rare, so I wouldn't worry about that right now.