My Barrett's is gone. - Acid Reflux / GERD Message Board

remote · 08-07-2007, 09:59 PM

It's been a while since I posted here but this is weird. I just got the results from my yearly EGD I had 2 weeks ago, no sign of Barrett's. I was diagnosed with Barrett's last year after dealing with GERD for a few years. Last year my Doc tells me I'll have it for the rest of my life, small chance of cancer increase, PPIs forever, the whole bit. I get depressed and worry for a while then I figured I may as well start changing my habits, not that I had bad habits to begin with but it was kind of a wake up call to do anything I could so my condition wouldn't progress for the worst.

First getting the correct dosage of my PPI got me feeling alot better, cleared my head and helped alot with chest pain. Then I got a wedge pillow to prevent reflux at night, it was and still is very uncomfortable at times but I force myself to use it. Then five months ago I finally got serious about my diet and exercise, I was always very active but the reflux held me back alot. Actually, until I got the PPI dosage right I couldn't walk for 10 mins without severe heartburn. I bought a exercise machine that recommended a 2000 a day calorie diet, spading the calories over the course of the day with small meals, lots of water, plus working out 3 times a week. In February I was 196lbs now I'm 168.

I don't know if it was one of these things or the combination but I'm free of Barrett's. I didn't even know it could go away, my doctor said the chances are very small that it could. He said some studies of PPIs have have come back with the same results but they were very rare. I still have to be on the PPIs and have to have another EGD in a year to see if it comes back. Maybe I just got lucky but I thought I'd share. Today was good.

Thanks

Texas Tomato · 08-07-2007, 11:18 PM

That's great to hear! Looks like all your hard work paid off. It's inspiring to hear a success story.

Just curious -- which PPI are you on, and what dosage? I attempted to double my Nexium recently and it gave me horrible waking-up-screaming nightmares.

remote · 08-08-2007, 05:47 PM

I started on Nexuim but it gave me headaches, Aciphex did nothing and Pevicid upset my stomach. I went back to Nexium but I really didn't feel better until my dosage was doubled to 40mg twice a day, getting past the side effects was tough, I still get a headache now and then, but they are not too bad now.

Canyondweller · 08-09-2007, 11:12 PM

My Barrett's didn't show on my last two endo's. The Dr. said it was probably short segment Barretts and that can go away though sometime it goes underground but I showed no signs of it. I know I went thru all the worry. Due for my next endo this year.