Barrett's Esophagus/surgery

Hi All;  I'm new to this group, and have been reading your posts with interest.  I've had GERD for over 20 years,  and recently was diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus.  This is a concern for me since my mother died from Esophageal cancer,  and her brother died from colon cancer. 

SO....we are going down the path to Nissen Fundoplication (sp) surgery.  I had a Bravo test last week,  and a colonoscopy.  New worry- my colon was 'full of'  polyps...I guess that would be another forum...

Right now I'm still feeling the probe from the Bravo, which isn't horrible, but not great.  I take protonix 40 mg 2x a day and 300 mg of Zantac at bedtime.  I burp constantly,  eat what I'm supposed to, and still have a lot of back and neck pain.  Cardiac workup is good.  I'm up for a manometry test next, I guess.  How many of you with Barretts have had or considered surgery?  I am not keen on it- who knows if it will really work?

 I'm not afraid of dying- it's something we all go through,  but I watched my mom die a pretty horrible death,  and I would rather not go out that way.  

Do you ever feel like you are just tired of people messing about with your insides?  Especially since so much of this is a 'lets see if this works' disease.   It's cloudy here in Arizona today,  that must be why I'm gloomy. 

betty

 

Betty,

How long have you been on the PPI's?

I was also diagnosed with Barrett's about 2 years ago.  I have only had reflux about 2 years...and that's when I was diagnosed.  about a year earlier I had chest pains, back pains, and thought it was my heart. I had an endoscopy and it was fine.  A year later, I started having a terrible taste in my mouth, and was very nauseous.  When I had the endoscopy that time, I had Barretts!  I was shocked; had never really had heartburn or GERD.  I have been on numerous ppi's--am now on Protonix and zantac at night.  Different drugs have helped for a limited period of time, but never last long.  I went to Shands at the University of Florida, and the Dr. there didn't recommend surgery...said having endoscopies every 2 years (but I'm having them a little more often) was the best thing to do.  I have a problem with constipation, and they felt that the surgery would make me more uncomfortable.  I worry about cancer, too.  Since I was diagnosed, I have found that several people I work with also have Barretts and just have the endoscopies, but it is very scary.

I'm not sure I really did get Barrett's in just two years.  When I asked my Dr. about the first endoscopy not showing anything, he said he could just be that the biopsies were taken in places where the Barrett's wasn't evident.  But you're right...it is scary.  I mentioned to a few people at work about it when I was diagnosed and found 3 others who had it, so I think it is much more common than I thought.  Most people don't have endoscopies regularly, so who knows how many people actually have it?  I haven't tried activa yogurt, but have tried everything else I can think of.  I have colon inertia, diagnosed years ago, and I've had more tests even recently.  The reflux problems are most likely brought on, or at least aggrevated by the constipation.

I've been on aciphex, nexium, previcid and now protonix.  I can't believe they don't work.  My husband suffered for years from GERD and now he takes one nexium a day, and sometimes not every day and he's fine.  I've been taking 2 ppi's a day for 2 years, without much relief at all.  In addition, I just had a bone density test and my bone density is terrible.  My gastro dr. wants me to cut down on the ppi's, as they can lower bone density.  Now I'm on an osteoperosis pill in addition to other meds.  Two years ago I was on absolutely no meds at all, feeling great and no problems.  The last 2 years have been a nightmare.  I just turned 51, and am in good shape physically, very active, but I feel like I'm falling apart.  I blame alot on menopause, because before any hot flashes, the only thing I had to deal with with the constipation, and like I said, that's been a lifelong condition.  I just know this reflux stuff is getting old!!

Very well said, boop,...you are right on. I was thinking the same thing about the second opinion. My doctor is not keen on me having the surgery so I'm certain that I will seek another opinion because I can't see staying on these meds for 5 years and then having Barretts anyway, plus, osteoporsis along with it.  Janie, I thought a person couldn't take the osteoporsis drugs if they have heartburn.

 I didn't know that about not feeling the pain after a while in your esophagus  but it makes sense. I think it's so amazing that we all seem to have friends or co-workers who have GERD...I also know two people who have had the surgery and are very happy with it...this is epidemic proportions, I think.

I also wonder why these medications don't work like their claim they do...we all seem to have to take extra zantac or something along with the PPI's.  I guess we build up a tolerance..it's maddening.

 

Post Edited (sillylilly) : 2/27/2007 8:29:39 PM (GMT-7)

In regards to menopause . . . that is really when I started having all my health problems, B12 deficiencies, carpal tunnel, GERD . . . I can deal with the hot flashes and night sweats and the swiss cheese memory, but it's all these extra ailments that are getting me down. I am going to see a GI next week (finally was referred to one). This doc does the Bard's endocinch. I'm not sure if I'm ready for that, but at least he'll be able to advise me.

Of all the little things I've had go wrong due to hormone deprivation, this is by far the biggest pain in the
a _ _!

Tummytuck

Hi everyone.  As far as taking osteoperosis drugs, you're right..Boniva and Fosimax (sp) aren't good if you have any GERD, etc.  I'm on Evista.  The side effects of that are much better....only hot flashes and blood clots .  I've only been on it for about  3 weeks, and so far haven't noticed any increase in hot flashes, but at this point, who would notice??

I have had a second opinion regarding the GERD and Barretts.  I live in a fairly small town, so I went 3 hours away to Gainesville to Shands Medical Center, which has specialists for everything.  The Dr. there pretty much agreed with my gasterologist at home. I've seen him 3 times so far.  They did a separate endoscopy at Shands, plus the PH test, and the gastric emptying test.  The PH test was normal; which means the meds are working as far as keeping the acid level low, but I still have the reflux part.  I'm not sure if that makes any difference as far as damage to the esophagus, but I can't help but think it's still bad.  I am considering going to Mayo in Jacksonville for yet another opinion.  I'm just tired at this point.  I can't believe how I took for granted being able to eat and not worry about how I'd feel afterwards.

For those of you with Barrett's, how often do you have endoscopies?  Both my doctors said they like to do one the first year after diagnosisl and then every two years after that.  Is that what you are doing?  My last one was last May, but I'm not sure I'm going to wait another year.

I'm with you, boop.  I don't lament the loss of my youth; I've had my turn.  But all of these bonus ailments are for the birds.

Tummytuck

Hi Sillylilly,

Love your name! Anyway, I live about 60 miles south of Daytona in Merritt Island...right by Kennedy Space Center, Port Canaveral and Cocoa Beach. When we moved to Florida in 1991 from the DC area, we looked at Palm Coast, but at that time it was just a little too small for us. It's a beautiful area though, and you'll be so close to St. Augustine, which is one of my favorite places.

I honestly think my reflux is from constipation....colon inertia basically means your colon doesn't work, and I never had the urge to evacuate. I rely on Senokot every 4 days or so, and it's been a way of life my entire life. My option is removal of the colon which freaked me out when it was suggested, but honestly if I knew it would stop the reflux problems, I'd seriously consider doing it. I think I will go to Mayo to see what they recommend.

I'm not sure who suggested the Golden Years were great, but I think I passed them in my 40's! When I hit 50 last year. I started falling apart...actually it was around 49. Until then, I felt great, never took any medicine and didn't realize how lucky I was!!!

Thanks for the encouragement...I will keep you posted!

Hopefully there wouldn't be an ostomy bag--if the surgery goes as planned, there doesn't have to be one!

I'm not close to doing that yet, but I was told my a surgeon at the colon and rectal center in Orlando that it was probably in my future.  I left his office in tears, and then did some further research.  It seems like since I've had to take so many different meds the senna I've always taken doesn't work like it used to.  I'm just very tired of this.

Good luck in April. I love Florida...hurricanes and all.  Where are you moving from?

You guys make me feel bad that I am only 34 (I look 22) and have GERD (since you say that these ailments are just for old people)...

sillylilly, thanks so much. yes, i've been feeling old.