Husband going in for an EGD

For years my husband has been having issues with acid reflux and heartburn. I've been nagging him to have it checked out but he's stubborn and hates doctors. So in the past year it got to the point where if he ate anything it would get stuck mid chest and he would end up vomiting. I finally convinced him to see the family dr who put him on 40 mgs of Omperzole (which has helped tremendously - no more vomiting) and she referred him over to my GI.

But now the GI has me a bit nervous because he told us that my hubby is a prime candidate for esophageal cancer - years of uncontrolled acid reflux, middle aged, a smoker and social drinker. So tomorrow he is scheduled for an EGD.

Can anyone please tell me their experiences with an EGD and/or what was found? If its not cancer, what else could be causing him to vomit like that.

Thanks Bill for the response. I'm not worried about the EGD procedure but the results. I've had enough colonoscopies to know how the sedation goes (I know different end but still...).

If they take biopsies, will he have any discomfort?

Hi Sherry,

The biopsies shouldn't be a problem at all...he shouldn't feel anything post EDG, and of course he'll be out cold when they take them.  Like Bill, I thought of a stricture, which is probably the reason for "vomiting" which is likely coughing up food that doesn't make it through the narrowing.  It's a fairly common problem with GERD.  I wonder if they'll dilate it during the procedure.  It would make sense!

Good luck!

Denise

Good news, no strictures or sign of cancer :) He has some erosions in his esophagus but they're healing, gastritis and mild inflammation at the beginning of his small intestine.