Hello, could you tell me what Barrett's is thanks
Jimmy
Barrets: Hello, could you tell me what... - Lung Conditions C...
Barrets
Written by
Smyth
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
20 Replies
•
Barretts, full name Barretts Oesophagus, is a pre-cancerous condition in the oesophagus caused by long term exposure to stomach acid. So those with long term acid reflux are liable to get it and when its diagnosed, if you are in the U.K., you will have an endoscopy every two years to check it hasn't progressed to cancer.
Some say those who know they have Barretts are the lucky ones. Oesophagul cancer is one of the most serious cancers and those who have Barretts get checked regularly while the many who unknowingly have it don't.
OMG does it never end .........i wish i had never read that 
Sorry Mandy, didn't mean to frighten you. If you have reflux ask for an endoscopy, and if you get one have sedation which makes it a really easy procedure.
Don't worry Mandy it doesn't always become cancerous, and O2trees is right about those with Barretts being lucky. If I'd not had Barretts I wouldn't have had the endoscopes or had such an early diagnosis of cancer, that made a big difference.
ok so....does heartburn and discomfort when you swallow food and tiny bit of what is like vomit but burning vomit in the back of your throat sound familiar
Heartburn, the occasional burning reflux, yes I had those, I didn't have any discomfort when swallowing though, That could be a hiatus hernia, my mother in law had all three symptoms and she had a hiatus hernia, not Barretts. Best to get it checked out if there's any of those problems though.
in reply to Magpuss
You sayhad those..dose that mean You longer have them
Andy
Magpuss in reply to
I no longer have an oesophagus Andy. My Barretts progressed and I developed cancer but it was picked up early and I was able to have an operation to remove the oesophagus. I'm one of the lucky ones, because it was picked up early I didn't need chemo before or after the op and 'as long as I'm careful with what I eat and drink' I don't need ppi's.
Forgive me if I am misunderstanding but how do you eat or drink if you no longer have an oesophagus?
I had my stomach released from the stomach cavity and pulled up into my chest, two thirds of it was fashioned into a new 'oesophagus' with the remaining third being left to perform digestive duties. It's called an Ivor Lewis procedure.
oh no now i must have a hernia...........
My mother in law had gaviscon on prescription apart from that she had to chew her food more thoroughly, eat little and often and avoid any foods that aggravated the problem. Initially she thought she might need surgery but once she'd got used to having smaller meals, snacks and more chewing she was fine.
in reply to Mandy6513
If it helps Mandy I had acid in my throat and oesophagus for ten years. It became so bad that I dreaded swallowing my food. cameras down . No Barrets,no acid score just very corroded oesophagus. Eventually one sunny morning my oesophagus split. blood everywhere, ambulance. In hospital it stopped. Had another camera down. Same result. Started on suckable omeprozole. Started to get better almost immediately. Now I eat and drink everything except curries etc. To get Barretts you have to be susceptible. A friend of mine has known that he has it for 15 years and just has his two yearly camera down. YUK I know!
Mandy6513 in reply to
oh thats made me feel loads better .....x
Yes me too Mandy. All I can say is thank goodness for gaviscon.
Severe and prolonged heartburn can cause a change in the skin cells of the oesophagus, when that happens it's called Barretts oesophagus. The skin cells attempt to to become the same as those in the stomach which can tolerate stomach acid but the change is never completed. These partially changed cells can go on to become cancerous or they can remain as they are in which case the diagnosis is, and remains Barretts oesophagus. Barretts patients have endoscopes every two years usually in case any further changes take place.
