A friend of mine has been diagnosed with Barretts, has anyone heard of it? I've discovered that it starts with Reflux and generally gets worse. He has taken Tagamet but it hasn't got any better. I understand it can lead to stomach cancer. My friend is obviously very concerned about this. He has now been prescribed some tablets called PARIET, do you know anything about these? Any help and advice you can give on this subject, I'm sure will be greatly received.
Thanx D

PS Also, do you have any dietry ideas, are there any websites relating dietry needs concerning Barretts?

[This message has been edited by Douglas Mack (edited 01-23-2001).]

Hi
Several years ago I was diagnosed with Barrett's esphogaus. That is were the cells in your esphogaus change. Part of the esphougial lining become the same as your stomach lining. It is your body's way of protecting itself from the constant burning of stomach acid rising up into the esphogaus as is the case with acid reflux disease.
My Barrett's actually receded, which my doctor said is quite rare, so I consder myself lucky. People with Barrett's have a 10% chance of getting esphogial cancer. So it is important to have yearly biopsies done by having an annual egd endoscope performed. Your friend is lucky they discovered it before it changed to something more serious. It was recently reported that drinking green tea helps reduce the chance of esphogial cancer.

Thanx Dusty for your help. I'll pass on the idea of Green Tea, any other dietry tips? Incidentally, we were told that the esophegal damage was irreversible and would only get worse with time. Can it be cured?

I've got barrett's esophagus also (due to about 18 years of reflux). Dusty gave you a good description of what it is. I had to get endoscopies about every 3 months for a while because the esophagus lining was ulcerated and they couldn't tell for sure whether there were cell changes. I finally have been cleared (that there isn't cancer cells at this point) and I don't go back for 2 years. My understanding is that the best thing to do is to get the reflux under control. I sleep with the head of my bed elevated and take Aciphex and Reglan. Some of the other things I remember them suggesting is: Eat smaller meals. Don't eat after 8:00 p.m. Avoid acidic foods. Avoid alcohol. Do not smoke! Avoid fatty foods. Avoid caffeine. And the list probably goes on.

Generally with reflux, the doctor would have already given your friend these suggestions. If he hasn't, he may want to change docs! It is important to get the reflux under control to limit the additional damage to the esophagus. I have no idea whether it can reverse itself or not.

Good luck to your friend.

Hello,
I am not sure if you still watch this site but here some info you may find helpful. This was taken off of mayo clinic website.


Most people with Barrett's esophagus don't develop esophageal cancer. However, the prognosis is poor for those who do. Once diagnosed, the average survival rate is less than 1 year. Of the 12,000 cases diagnosed annually in the United States, close to 10,000 die. Less than 10 percent of people diagnosed with esophageal cancer survive 5 years.

hi barrets is a dangerous thing i was diagnosed with it aug of this year mine had gotten so bad my esophogus had completely closed off yes barrets can cause cancer and you have to be monitered real close because it can turn into cancer my esophogus was actully digesting my food and the drs where almost sure i had cancer but the biopsy turned out good.you do have to get put on a good medicine and make a lot of diatery changes because i also have an ulcer i actually had to cut out all meats also especialy red meats because its hard for your body to digest.and you have to avoid alcohol and smoking if you are over weight you need to loose it.its good that he got put on good meds im still baltleling with my drs to put me on something else because they put me on protonix and its not worth crap.good luck to you frien and webmd has some good info on esophogities and acid reflux.keep us posted. tmm35

Hi tmm. Why haven't your docs talked about Nissan fundoplication for you? I developed Barrett's and then after 2 years and no improvement on medication (40mg Prilosec) decided to have the surgery. My last endoscopy showed much improvement, and no Barrett's. I think if I read another post of yours you were at Stage IV dysplasia? I was at Stage 0 and so petrified of developing cancer, I opted for surgery. I found out that my lower esophageal sphincter wasn't staying closed properly (hypotonic), and no amount of medication would change that. The surgery was my only alternative, and my chances of developing cancer are much reduced now.

Good luck to you,
Katie G

I had a recent endo procedure ( dec 3). It seems that my problems got much worse about 2 wks after the procedure and after being on Nexium for 2 wks. Do you people that have frequent endos have your condition worsen afterwards? The doc said my barretts was mild and I had relatively few problems before the procedure but boy..this was a change. I am having a hard time adjusting to any of the PPI's..plus I am not sleeping well anymore.. Do these PPI cause you not to sleep and to be overly anxious??? Thanks for any help.

Hi New Dx and welcome to the boards! I can't really give you any advice/suggestions for your symptoms, because endos never seemed to bother me afterwards (I've had 7 of them done). I do know some people who post here have complained about problems with PPIs. I didn't have any sleep problems with mine - Prilosec just didn't really do anything for me. I'm sure there will be posters here who can provide you some personal advice/suggestions.

Good luck to you,
Katie G

hi katie the operation you talked about the drs cant do because the bottom part of my esophogus is so destroyed that the only procedure thay can do if it leads to surgery is the will have to remove most of my esophogus and use special tubbing to reconnect it back.no the insurance company are the ones im battleling about the medicine chamge .thank you for your concern katie .

Thanks for welcome.. I need any help from anyone who gets esophagus squeezes.. feels like a golf ball is in my esophagus after I take Nexium... the feeling last forever.. I am not getting help at doctors office.. They have suggested anxiety.. but this is very uncomfortable.. I have tried Aciphex and had the same feeling.. Any advice welcome. thanks

Hello, New Dx.

Aside from having Barretts, and a few other miserable Dxes, I am a Psychiatric Social Worker. One of the most useful techniques I have for patients in pain or suffering with anxiety and phobias, is hypnosis. Now, don't laugh or make faces! ;-P

Hypnosis is nothing like the stuff you see on TV. It's simply total relaxation of your muscles combined with extreme focus of your mind. I the first session after I have assessed the patient for "hypnotizability" I hypnotize them and then teach them self hypnosis. They are always in control, awake and aware.

Self hypnosis would allow you to relax your throat muscles completely so that you wouldn't have that golf ball feeling. You can find a legitimate, credentialed hypnotherapist in the phone book by looking under hypnotists and then seeing who is listed as an MD, PhD or MSW. Good luck, Dale

Hi All,

I have been told that I have Barretts Disease, I had bad heart burn for about five years and I used to choke on food it would not go down. For the last two
years I have been on medication and I have not choked on my food nor had any heart burn. Last year I had a endoscopy and was told I had Barretts Disease he took a biopsy and said it was not cancer at that time. He sent to a Doctor in Albany,NY for a possiable operation. This Doctor was going to move my stomach up above my heart and take off the Esophagus and reconnect it up there making for a very short Esophagus.I don't know what this is called. But to make a long story short in getting ready for the operation it was discovered that I needed a quadruple heart bypass, which was preformed and I ended up with only 3/4 of my heart. This year I went back for another endoscopy and was told that the Barretts was not any worse than last year and a biopsy again showed no sign of cancer and he still wants me to have the operation. I no longer choke on my food and I have not had heartburn in the last two years since I have been taking my medicine. From all I have read only about 5 to 10% of people with Barretts turns into cancer. I believe my best option is to have endoscopys about twice a year and than if it ever turns to cancer than have the operation at that time. I'm 68 years old now with 3/4 of a heart and have diabeties and hi blood preasure and I have been told that this operation is twice a bad as a heart bypass does anyone out there know what I should do this is a case of HAVE OPERATION or NOT HAVE OPERATION Cheers all Salam

Hi there Salem. Given your medical history, I think you're wise to wait and just have regular endos done. I developed Barrett's in 1999 when I was 37, but waited for 2 years to have the fundoplication. I had no other health factors to prevent having surgery, but I think in your case, your doctor should take a more conservative approach and just conduct surveillance on your esophagus, and continue with the PPIs.

Sounds like you're getting relief from reflux that way, which is a much safer way to go than surgery. Although I'm glad to have the surgery done and over, I was 30 years younger and with no major health issues. My surgeon doesn't like to recommend fundoplication for someone over 65 - says it's more difficult to recover from at that age.

Hang in there and keep us posted,
Katie G

Salam, I just wanted to wish you well - you have been through a lot! Frankly, if I were in your shoes, I would take the conservative route and go with the frequent endoscopies, especially if the surgery is still an option should they discover any sinister cell changes. Has the doctor told you if your Barretts is very severe?

Katie, wow, I can't believe Barretts can happen at age 37! I hope it's a very mild case and the surgery will keep further damage at bay. Did you have several years of serious heartburn or other symptoms? I'm 43 with severe reflux, and my G.I. doc doesn't even think it's worth scoping me, but your story gives me pause. Are you satisfied with the results of the fundoplication, and I was wondering, do they consider that a permanent solution?

Wishing you both the best of health! :)

:wave: Hi Wintergarden. In response to your question about whether my GERD was serious or not, I have trouble answering you. The reason is, is that I was diagnosed with mild gastritis in 1987/88 and then went for years doing nothing about it. Seems like burping/refluxing were just the way things were for me, with occasional attacks of severe pain, chest pains, heartburn, and needing antacids frequently. I just thought it was the norm for me and ignored my symptoms. However, it wasn't until my gall bladder started giving me fits in 1996 that I sought medical advice. An endoscopy done in '96 showed GERD, but no Barrett's. Within the next 3 years, I had Barrett's. The surgeon who did the scope said you cannot have Barrett's without severe and chronic reflux.

I just felt like my episodes of heartburn, gas pains, chest pains, refluxing, etc. were minor inconveniences. I got scared when I heard the Barrett's diagnosis. My fundo surgery has completely taken away my reflux. No more PPIs; no more monitoring the types of food I eat, etc. Endos performed after surgery (2001) in the last 3 years have been "clean" with minimal irritation of the esophagus noted. There are drawbacks to the fundo (which I've discussed in other posts), but you know what? If having the surgery saved me from developing cancer, I can live with minor drawbacks. My surgeon is very proactive about frequent follow-up endos for his GERD patients. I think your doctor should take more care in ruling out the severity of your GERD and conduct regular endos to monitor.

Good luck to you,
Katie G

Thanks for sharing your experiences Katie, it really helps. Certainly makes me want to press for an endo, but I might have to find another doctor who thinks it's worth doing. I wonder if they're less agressive in testing women, since the literature says the patients are predominantly male? I also tend to think there are countless GERD patients out there who also have Barretts and should be treated more agressively, but they'll never know it because doctors don't think it's worth doing the test.

I'm glad your fundo surgery was so successful with stopping your reflux! (now that I'm 2 weeks into PPI's with no improvement, the idea of surgery's been at the back of my mind as well). Glad your doctor is right on top of the situations as well. Wishing you continued good health! :)

Dear Salam,
I hope you read this in time. DO NOT get the surgery. If you do not have cancer, do not get the surgery. My husband had it 3 weeks ago and it is called an esophagectomy. He is in fact going back to the hospital in the morning with complications. Go twice a year and have the scope done with the biopsies to keep a close eye on it though. You will have to have the surgery if it turns to cancer but if you are not having any problems, I personally would NOT have the surgery. I hope this helps.

Salam, I just wanted to wish you well - you have been through a lot! Frankly, if I were in your shoes, I would take the conservative route and go with the frequent endoscopies, especially if the surgery is still an option should they discover any sinister cell changes. Has the doctor told you if your Barretts is very severe?

Katie, wow, I can't believe Barretts can happen at age 37! I hope it's a very mild case and the surgery will keep further damage at bay. Did you have several years of serious heartburn or other symptoms? I'm 43 with severe reflux, and my G.I. doc doesn't even think it's worth scoping me, but your story gives me pause. Are you satisfied with the results of the fundoplication, and I was wondering, do they consider that a permanent solution?

Wishing you both the best of health! :)


My husband is 36 and had an esophagectomy 3 weeks ago. He did have cancer. We are going back to the hospital in the morning due to complications. He had the surgery Salam was talking about where they take out your esophagus and pull your stomach up and use it as your espohagus. It was not fun...in the hospital 2 weeks....going back for more!

Hi All,

I have been told that I have Barretts Disease, I had bad heart burn for about five years and I used to choke on food it would not go down. For the last two
years I have been on medication and I have not choked on my food nor had any heart burn. Last year I had a endoscopy and was told I had Barretts Disease he took a biopsy and said it was not cancer at that time. He sent to a Doctor in Albany,NY for a possiable operation. This Doctor was going to move my stomach up above my heart and take off the Esophagus and reconnect it up there making for a very short Esophagus.I don't know what this is called. But to make a long story short in getting ready for the operation it was discovered that I needed a quadruple heart bypass, which was preformed and I ended up with only 3/4 of my heart. This year I went back for another endoscopy and was told that the Barretts was not any worse than last year and a biopsy again showed no sign of cancer and he still wants me to have the operation. I no longer choke on my food and I have not had heartburn in the last two years since I have been taking my medicine. From all I have read only about 5 to 10% of people with Barretts turns into cancer. I believe my best option is to have endoscopys about twice a year and than if it ever turns to cancer than have the operation at that time. I'm 68 years old now with 3/4 of a heart and have diabeties and hi blood preasure and I have been told that this operation is twice a bad as a heart bypass does anyone out there know what I should do this is a case of HAVE OPERATION or NOT HAVE OPERATION Cheers all Salam

Hi Salam...I wanted to post here so you would be sure and read this. My husband had the surgery you are talking about 3 weeks ago...it is called an esophagectomy. Please do not have the surgery and get yourself another doctor. Yours sounds like a quack. There is no reason to take out your esophagus when there are no changes plus no sign of cancer. My husband is 36 and it was very hard on him....2 weeks in the hospital and going back tomorrow for a ct scan because he has not quit coughing for 3 weeks since the surgery. My husband did have cancer. Do continue to get the scope done every 6 months to keep an eye on it. The doctor told my husband to wait 2 years and he did, then cancer showed up. If he had went yearly, they would have caught it sooner. So everybody that has Barretts, please go at least yearly....demand it if you have to. You are the patient...do not let doctors run all over you. If you have a question and they are walking out the door, find a doctor who will help you....not just operate for no reason! :nono:

Press for an endo...you have every right! It is your life we are talking about, if the doctor won't take care of you, find anther one that will!

An esophagectomy is a major operation and with every major operation there are often complications. It also involves alot of life changes you have to make post surgery like some people can't ever lie flat on their back. There is a small chance that barett's can turn into EC. I would not jump the gun on this surgery with your current health problems. Take your PPI's faithfully and try to make some adjustments like avoiding acid irritating things. If you are overweight that would be the first step to start on. Excess weight puts alot of pressure on the abdomen and makes the reflux and heartburn that much worse.

Really worried as I was never told I had Barrets until I now have a lot of pain and going to have the scope in a week. I have a thickened esophagus which came to light with an MRI scan. Anyone ever had this and hopefully not cancer??? Annoyed Barrets was on my report after a scope over a year ago but just told to come back in 3 years with no mention of Barrets at all :(
Thanks.