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Update on the condition my condition is in

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Posted 12/6/2011 1:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everybody,

Just wanted to come back and give an update. I've been reading posts now and then and still learn something new from here often, so its great to be a part.

I saw a very well-known specialist in GERD and Barretts @ UNC hospital named Dr. Shaheen. I have continued with the chronic heartburn and intermittent RUQ pain in my abdomen. He thinks the RUQ pain isn't something serious, since a number of tests have been done over the past year, and that enough tests have done for my GERD and RUQ pain for now.

He put me on desipramine (50mg) to see if it would help (for hypersensitive esophagus or functional heartburn). I was optimistic on it in the beginning and it seemed to work, but it looks like it was just a good period for my heartburn. Now I am having it again despite the desipramine, but we will see. I am trying to stay optimistic that it will work and not pass judgement.

He did say that since I don't have Barrett's (after 4 years of this), my odds of getting it are low (even though I am only 28). He said for people like me, who have had it for a while and been scoped and rescoped, that the odds are about 2% now. So I shouldn't worry that I am "getting myself into a bad place" with my reflux. This came from a renowned dr. and specialist in Barrett's who was referred to me by a Dr. @ Cleve Clinic (#2 in the nation in GI).

I still get depression/worry/pessimism on my condition every time I suffer symptoms since I am a young guy and greatly fear Barrett's and cancer (and don't take PPI's due to side-effects). However I am trying to just trust the words of this dr. (2 other GI's, 1 @ Duke and 1 @ Cleve Clinic told me similarly that Barrett's shouldn't be in my future, again due to the argument that it is probably genetic and if I were to get it I'd probably already gotten it by now).

Just wanted to give an update since I enjoy being part of this board. As I try to take my mind off of this I have been visiting less and less, but I always want to come back now and then as long as I can.

Thanks!
Posted 12/6/2011 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi ARM,

Thanks for the update.  Listen.  Don't waste another moment of your young life worrying!  You are doing the right thing to follow up on your condition.  Several very knowledgable doctors have assured you that you will  not get esophageal cancer.  Sure 2% gives you some chance, but there's a chance you'll be hit by a car, and you don't spend your life indoors, worrying that you're at risk.

Get busy with your life, take whatever antacids help your condition, and stop worrying.  Of course you'll go for rechecks from time to time, so docs can keep an eye on your esophagus.  That is the prudent thing to do.  But for you to spend another moment fearful about a future problem that is highly unlikely, is a huge waste of your precious time here on earth!

Take it from an old friend here at the forum (and I'm talking old), at 28 you have your life ahead of you.  Don't spoil the good times by worrying about something that is highly, highly unlikely to occur.  Let your docs worry about that! 

In this day and age, doctors are very hesitant to give you any type of reassurance for fear that they'll be wrong and you'll come back and sue them.  If your docs have given you such an assurance, you can be confident that they're absolutely sure about it.

Relax.  Enjoy life!  If goes by far too quickly.

Best wishes,

Denise

Posted 12/6/2011 7:34 PM (GMT 0)
theacidrefluxman

thanks for the update...always interested in how friends are doing...we rall share information and are all the better for it

i too cant handle PPIs and so using alternatives

i have barretts, and even those like me who do the ods are against us dying from it...more likely any of a dozen top contenders for the way life ends are far more liklely

i agree with denise...try to stop worrying, i know it aint easy...when my throat feels like something is in there its tough...divert your attention if possible

hang in there
mock turtle
Posted 12/6/2011 8:04 PM (GMT 0)

mock turtle said...
theacidrefluxman

thanks for the update...always interested in how friends are doing...we rall share information and are all the better for it

i too cant handle PPIs and so using alternatives

i have barretts, and even those like me who do the ods are against us dying from it...more likely any of a dozen top contenders for the way life ends are far more liklely

i agree with denise...try to stop worrying, i know it aint easy...when my throat feels like something is in there its tough...divert your attention if possible

hang in there
mock turtle

Hi mate,

You're not alone, i can't tolerate PPIs either, just stopped again after 4 days of Omeprazole and lost vision on my second eye last night for a few minutes which scared me as hell so i stopped completely, i will not force the poison on the body anymore.

I took the 4th pill yesterday and the GERD seems stabilized again, i am taking Proviva also, drinking it as i know it helps my stomach.
Posted 12/6/2011 8:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hey ARM,

I must say....

I love that song. I'm gonna watch the Big Lebowski later :)

Thanks for the update, it's great to hear how you're doing. I hope you and your GI can come up with a solution soon... I know how frustrating it can be.

Take care, and keep us posted -
Ashley
Posted 12/8/2011 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks all. I know the biggest challenge for me is staying positive...and I am able to do so when I am symptom free, but at least half the time I am with constant symptoms daily and it just becomes difficult to stay positive. I've tried everything that works for everyone else and gotten nowhere. I know this is where I have to improve the most.

Thanks Mock, Denise...every now and then I am able to see Barrett's in perspective, and when you both replied this is one of those times.

Thanks all for support and well-wishes. Hope you are all doing well in your struggles :)
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