[Travelinglady]

I found out yesterday that my esophagus is not pushing food down like it should. I see a specialist about it on Thursday. Anyone else dealt with this problem?

[sarahsweets]

I have a hiatal hernia which causes acid reflux. I used to be very overweight and when I lost it all my GI doc told me I didnt need acid reflux meds anymore. Well all that time I was having reflux but never felt it and now I have Barretts esophogus.

[Travelinglady]

Thanks. Not a hiatal hernia this time or Seroquel. My doc has scheduled me for several tests, starting with an endoscopy.

What's Barrett's esophagus?

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

I found out yesterday that my esophagus is not pushing food down like it should. I see a specialist about it on Thursday. Anyone else dealt with this problem?

Depends on specifics. Esophageal dilation procedure helps some folks. If it is pharyngeal dysphagia, I recommend a consultation with a Speech Language Pathologist (your MD can refer you). Have you participated in a swallow study? Lots of different names depending on where you live...Modified Barium Swallow Study...Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study etc...it is non-invasive (provided they don't do nasendoscopy) and basically enables the clinician to watch food and liquid going down...almost like an X-ray with movement. What are your symptoms? How long? How old are you? Any new meds? (some can cause swallowing problems) Any neuro issues? Is the problem swallowing food, liq, pills, or all?

When you say specialist, do you mean ENT? How was this identified?

Good luck for your follow-up

[sarahsweets]

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

Thanks. Not a hiatal hernia this time or Seroquel. My doc has scheduled me for several tests, starting with an endoscopy.

What's Barrett's esophagus?

Barrett's esophagus

Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which there is an abnormal (metaplastic) change in the mucosal cells lining the lower portion of the esophagus, from normal stratified squamous epithelium to simple columnar epithelium with interspersed goblet cells, these normally present only in the colon. This change is considered to be a premalignant condition because it is associated with a high incidence of further transition to esophageal adenocarcinoma, an often deadly cancer.[1][2]

The main cause of Barrett's esophagus is thought to be an adaptation to chronic acid exposure from reflux esophagitis.[3] Barrett's esophagus is diagnosed by endoscopy: observing the characteristic appearance of this condition by direct inspection of the lower esophagus; followed by microscopic examination of tissue from the affected area obtained from biopsy. The cells of Barrett's esophagus are classified into four categories: nondysplastic, low-grade dysplasia, high-grade dysplasia, and frank carcinoma. High-grade dysplasia and early stages of adenocarcinoma may be treated by endoscopic resection or radiofrequency ablation. Later stages of adenocarcinoma may be treated with surgical resection or palliation. Those with nondysplastic or low-grade dysplasia are managed by annual observation with endoscopy, or treatment with radiofrequency ablation. In high-grade dysplasia, the risk of developing cancer might be at 10% per patient-year or greater.[1]

[AceRimmer]

I have that trouble sometimes. My co-worker's husband has it. It's from reflux causing a narrowing of the esophagus.

Benign esophageal stricture typically occurs when stomach acid and other irritants damage the lining of the esophagus over time. This leads to inflammation (esophagitis) and scar tissue, which causes the esophagus to narrow.

Benign Esophageal Stricture: Causes, Symptoms & Diagnosis

I have not been to a doc over it. I just take a zantac before bed or sleep sitting up. If I do that I don't get reflux. Unless I eat spicy food late at night. Then it takes a huge amount of zantac to keep the refux at bay even if I sleep sitting. No more AYCE Indian buffet.

[LucyD]

What was the result of your endoscopy? I'm curious and interested.

[NightRain2019]

I went off my acid reflux meds for a year when I stopped having heartburn & couldn’t afford the meds. After awhile had shortness of breath, which I didn’t recognize as a symptom, and my voice has changed. Can’t sing now (not a great loss for the world but I miss it) and people often call me “sir” on the phone. They haven’t ordered any GI studies or anything but I would urge anyone w acid reflux to become educated about all of the symptoms & keep up on their status. Just sayin...