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Just finished upper endoscopy and had a few questions

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 7/23/2010 9:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone -

I haven't posted in a while due to the pace of life recently.  I finally went in for my first upper endoscopy, and had some questions about the results.  I am not looking for any medical advice, I just wanted to hear anyone's similar stories and what they meant for them.

They found an irregular z-line and esophageal mucosal changes suspicious for Barrett's esophagus (which was biopsied.) Also a hiatus hernia was also found.  To be honest, I am surprised since I am only 29, and have only been dealing with reflux for less than 4 years.  I would expect this findings in someone twice my age.  So, I am at a lost right now.  I have gone through a terribly rough stretch of my life, and am putting the pieces together, and then I get this news.  I am worried about cancer now, and my future in how it relates to that.   

Maybe I am jumping the gun right now, but if anyone can chare their insight on similar findings I would appreciate it.

Thanks guys cool

Joshua

Posted 7/23/2010 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Josh -
Good thing you don't want real medical advice because we aren't doctors! But everyone here has had experiences and sometimes they explain stuff well.

I'm sure you will have a follow-up visit to explain the results. In the meantime, don't sweat the hernia. You're a little young, but by the time you are 40 or so half the people have one. It's not a problem unless it's really big or the stomach is stuck in the chest. (That was my problem.)

Are you taking anything to reduce the acid?

Do you have active refluxing of the stomach after meals, or does it just seep into the esoophagus at night? In either case you might have a bad Lower Esophageal Sphincter. Ask the doc about that.

I got along from your age for another 30 years with just acid reducers. I only had the surgery after the bad wreck that pushed my stomach into my chest. But I also had active refluxing that I eventually found out was caused by specific food triggers. If you have that you need to keep a food journal and eliminate the foods that are your triggers. If you search food allergies and sulfites you can see my lists. I ignore the traditional acid food lists because they have nothing to do with my problem. After the surgery I still have the food alergies/sensitivities/intolerances, so I still have to avoid those foods because they now just give me tachycardia.
Posted 7/24/2010 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Alice for your reply. I think I am more worried about long term stuff you know? I am a worrier, and something like this is naturally fuel for the fire you know? I appreciate you taking time out to read my post and reply : )

God bless

Joshua
Posted 7/24/2010 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
As long as your LES isn't very wide open you could probably get by with PPIs for several more years.
Posted 7/25/2010 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Txtri,

I'm sure your doctor will put you on PPI's, and that will control the acid that has been refluxing into your esophagus and causing the irritation. You probably were having reflux long before you realized it. From what I've read, the PPI's will allow your esophagus to heal, and many people are treated just that way. You'll have to go back at some point for a follow up endoscopy, so your doctor can see if the acid reducers are doing their job. My guess is that they will work just fine.

Try not to worry. You're being watched now, and as long as you follow your doctor's directions, you will be very safe, and don't need to be overly concerned about the "suspected Barrett's". There are many people like you--being treated for esophageal inflammation--and doing just fine.

Your doctor will watch over you and be sure that you won't have long term problems resulting from this condition. Your job is to go to follow up appointments, take the meds as prescribed, and take this situation seriously without worrying about it. It is something to be concerned about if you go untreated, so don't assume that you're just fine. Let your doctor determine the course of action, so you'll be safe and healthy.

Good luck!
Denise
Posted 7/25/2010 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Dencha!

That's what my feeling is right now. So I am sort of hitting the ground running. Make sure I follow the nutritional and behavioral guidelines, and take the PPI's. And find ways to break the emotinal component to it. I mean this all started as a result of not dealing with some stressors in my life that just got out of control and took a toll on my health. My hunch is that if I can manage the refulx in the mean time, and do some work on my emotional/mental health, that this just might resolve itself on its own. I have seen it already with the IBS I was starting to deal with. I started taking some proactive steps to limit my stress, and get the proper help, and the IBS has definitely improved. My goal is to get this under control, and maybe reverse it in some capacity.

Thanks again everyone!

Joshua
Posted 7/26/2010 8:57 PM (GMT 0)
Josh,

I am a 34 year old who was diagnosed with GERD and Barretts last year some time.  If you search you will see all of my "freaking out" threads that I posted.  Don't have time to go into this a ton but I wanted to provide some reassurance as you remind me of me last year.  I started taking protonix twice a day and chose not to have the Nissan Fundo against most of the doctors advice due to the side effects.  I instead had the Barrx halo 360 ablation done to remove the Barretts.  Changed my lifestyle by eating right, dropping 40 pounds and exercising as well.  Today I am down to just one pill a day, no heartburn, look and feel great, and my year follow up EGD showed no Barretts.

Posted 7/27/2010 1:58 PM (GMT 0)

Right on BMcD!  Great news brother : )

I have been thinking about this GERD issue a lot over the last few days, and I am starting to think I have had this a lot longer than I even realized it.  I think the stressors which I felt caused it, actually just aggravated and worsened something that was underlying for probably many years before.

Since Friday, I just took this very seriously and jumped right into making the lifestyle changes.  It's weird, but now I have become ultra sensitive to it, and I am actually starting to notice what triggers it beyond just food...like emotional triggers, what situations am I in when it comes on, what thoughts am I having, how do I feel overall when it comes on.  Its like my stomach starts to go into a spasm and ejects acid up into my lower esophagus in response to some psychological/emotional issues.  I am starting to wonder if I can break that connection?  I am assuming that is where biofeedback comes into the picture.  I have that mechanism going on, and it seems like my LES is out of sync..so instead of being closed, it is opening and closing at the wrong times. 

It's just my hunch, and I am no doctor, and don't have nearly as much knowledge and expereince as a lot of folks on this forum....but that's kind of where I am going with my personal battle with this.

Thanks again everyone for your thoughtful replies.

Best wishes,

Joshua

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