New to the Forum: I have Barret's

I am so glad that I "googled" the word manomatry and joined this forum! 

I am 32 years old, female and have been diagnosed with Barret's during a Gastroscopy in Nov 2009.  LES dysfunction - no hiatus hernia.  I had the manomatry done (the most awful experience EVER and will NEVER let them do that to me again) and it was normal.

I suffer from hoarseness and burning chest and throat all the time.  I am not over weight, my bed is elevated, I don't eat big meals, I don't eat spicy food and I don't burp (really not lady like) but still I struggle.

I am very new to this GERD and Barret's thing and a little bit anxious.  Will have my next Gastroscopy done 19 Feb and don't know what to expect.  There is cancer in my family (all over) and I am really scared of the cancer-threat.

Any advice and help will be appreciated.

Hey Smiley.

I am a 40/m who was diagnosed with BE, no dysplasia back in 11/09. I just had an extensive Halo360 (Barrx) procedure done last Thursday to ablate the Barrett's tissue performed by Dr. Robert Ganz out of Minnesota Gastroenterology. Essentially, the theory is you burn off this thin layer of intestinal tissue that is not suppose to be there and your normal esophageal tissue grows back in it's place 2-4 weeks later. After 5 years it has almost a 89% success rate of elimination. 2-3 days of soreness and soft food diet--that's it. Cryotherapy is an alternative--same idea--but here you freeze the suspect tissue. Heard there is less soreness after wards. I can't remember if you are allowed to post links here- so I will error on the side of caution. There is a John Hopkins board specifically for Barrett's sufferers which is a great and informative community (like here) and they share their stories and experiences. You can probably google it or PM if you can't find it. Also--strongly recommend that you send your diagnosis biopsy slides into a 3rd party like John Hopkins for a second opinion. Misdiagnosis is rampant with this condition-in fact someone suggested that up to 20% of cases. As far as the risks with BE- I think if you have looked around and done some research you will realize that while there while this condition predisposes you a greater risk of ESO cancer--that likelihood that it will progress is very slim. You should be a little more aggressive IF the tissue (called intestinal metaplasia) shows signs of dysplasia (change) over short periods of time, or your family has had a history of esophageal cancer, etc. Ultimately--you will want to control the acid reflux.

In my case, my GI, Dr Ganz is the principal investigator of the Torax Linx clinical trial and is helping to determine whether it will earn FDA approval and become available to the public. He gave me a brochure and I am looking at the next trial myself and have been meaning to ask him but I was consumed with the Halo360 as my first step. I will also wait to see what happens to the first Guinea Pigs!! lol.

Good Luck!
MM