Barrett Esophagus Support Group

Hi, I'm new here, but not new to Barrett's. I have to say that for a few years, I didn't realize how serious a condition it was. Diagnosed in 2003. I have had 5 EGDs over the years. Usually have some discomfort that lasts no later than that evening, next morning at the latest. The most recent has caused me so much pain!

I have a very high tolerance for pain. After my procedure, I was having back pain, fullness without eating, or with eating just a small amount of food. I didn't connect the these things with the procedure, because I have never had trouble before. I also have a hiatal hernia. My follow up was two weeks later, and I told Dr about these things, because they had continually gotten worse. He put me on Reglan. The Reglan didn't seem to have any effect on the bloating and fullness, but I continued to take it. One week after follow up, (Three weeks post EGD), I started having the most horrible pain in my chest. Food was not emptying into my stomach. It was just sitting in my esophagus. I called his office, and a nurse assured me he would call me back..of course I received no call. I went to Urgent Care that night, and the Dr there said he wasn't a GI Doc, and didn't know what he could do, so we called my GI Doc. They decided to send me home, and instructed me to to come into the office the next morning. I was awake almost all night, because the pain only got worse if I tried to recline, and breathing was difficult. I called, and went into the office that morning. They made me sit there til scheduled appointments were taken care of, then I found out that the Doc wasn't there, only the P.A.

I explain to her that Dr. told me to come in, and what is happening. Crushing pain to the chest that goes all the way into my back. Anything but a few spoonfuls of soft food, sticks in my esophagus, and anything I ingest makes it hurt more. She promptly decides that I need an ultrasound, because she thinks it's gall bladder! I was stunned. She wrote me a prescription for pain meds, and I voiced my concern that the pill would disolve in my esophagus and that it would hurt. I also said that I didn't think it was my gall bladder. (I have no symptoms of a gall bladder attack) She was pissy with me, and had no real answer about the pain, and wouldn't consider that it might be something else. I told her at that point that my pain was a 12 out of 10, and she said, "Well then you need to go to the ER, if your pain is that bad!" Not in a way that showed any concern.

I went to the ER. Useless! I explained that I have Barrett's, and that I had an EGD right before these symptoms began, and I believe that my problem is related to that. Well...They did blood work, which was normal, and EKG, which was normal, and gave me a little cup of a GI Cocktail, that numbed me for about 20 minutes. The amazing Dr. came in and told me that it wasn't my heart, and that it was GERD, and I should see my Dr. Then he zipped out of the room. My time with the Dr. was less that 3 minutes total during my visit. Still in major pain, I went home took sleeping pill and pain pill chewed 4 x-strength Cepacol, and drank malox, and went to sleep for a little while.

Saw my family doc today, and he gave me information for someone that he would trust to care for his family members, and a prescription for viscous lidocaine. I try to avoid eating, and take the lidocaine every three hours. It still hurts, even when it's numb I still feel the pressure type feeling in my chest. and back.

Has anyone had these problems? I wasn't having any discomfort before the EGD. I went in because it was time for routine endoscopy with biopsy.

The results were: Goblet cell metaplasia with adenomatous changes and mild glandular dysplasia, and Hiatal Hernia. When I had my last biopsy, it was minimal dysplasia

I take 40 mg Omeprazole daily. Right now supplemented with Reglan, Lidocaine, and Darvocet.

Sorry to hear about your situation, I have had BE for over 8 yrs and have a great Dr. That is the most important thing that a person with BE needs. Also a Dr that understands his or her patient. If you don't that then I would sugguest you find a new Dr ASAP. There is no need to put up with that kind of treatment. Whatever state you are in do some research on who is the leading GI Dr's in your area, you might have to travel a few miles out of the way but I'm telling you that it will be worth the effort.

I hope you start to feel better

AntC

Thank you, Antc. I am so disgusted with these so called medical professionals!

My family Doctor gave me the name of the Doc that he sees, so I think, hope and pray that this will be the one. lol.

Sorry to hear that you had/have that kind of horrendous pain, I can relate to that to some small point, what I am wondering is this, my GI doc told me they had inflated my stomach with air to get a better view during the EGD and that I may experience high discomfort from the air and that it could feel like chest pains and such, they were right, I did and it lasted for about 2 weeks, I was miserable, couldn't sleep right, had no appetite, etc. What you described is how I felt basically, but knew it had to be the pumped in air, after about 2-3 weeks it went away FINALLY but appeared again a week later, lasted a few days and now it's been over a month and no new symptoms or recurring.

The way they treated you I would seriously if possible consider finding a new GI doc, I know I am and this is my 2nd one already. I was diagnosed with Barrett's in May 2010 and still trying to wrap my head around it, my GI only told me he suspected until the biopsy confirmed it, well it did, and he's said absolutely nothing to me about it since.. I found my own research and then called them for additional info and he mailed me literature....

I'm suppose to get a 6 mos EGD but now not so sure I want to, I hate knowing it will wake me from my sedated sleep when I hear myself gagging like never before, happens every time, and no they won't use throat spray as well as sedation, already asked, said they found it's not very effective.

I'm concerned with genetic connection because my father like me had hiatal hernia, so do I, he had acid reflux, me too, and he developed ESoph. cancer and it killed him. Whether he had barretts I don't know, but he was a smoker so he may have had the other form of the Esoph cancer. Either way it still makes me wonder.

I hope this finds you feeling *somewhat* closer to better. Try and stay postive. I know it's hard but it will stop.

I wonder if it's just air that's causing my pain? It's quite possible as no one ever told me that,and no one is listening now. I did make an appointment with the Doctor that I wanted to see, after all.

I would go ahead with your next. This is the first time that this has happened to me, and it wouldn't be so bad, if I could get someone to communicate with me. Every other time, discomfort was done and gone by the next morning at the very latest.

Eating food that is almost liquid is getting to me. I have lost 7 lbs in the last 7 days. I don't mind that part of it.

I just want to say again, please don't skip your next scope. If your father died from Esophageal Cancer, you should definitely go and have it done.

I hope my rant doesn't make you skip the procedure.

My story is very similar to yours leading up to this severe pain that I am now feeling in my back to chest still 3 days after the precedure. I've never experienced this before and am scared that something has gone wrong. All my EDG's up until now have been event free with no complications. It will still be about 3 more days until I get the results back from 2 biopsies that were taken at the Esophageal Junction and the Antrum that showed Erytema and erosions. Also 8 years with BE myself and my father passing away with Esophageal cancer these same symptoms following my routine annual EDG have me very scared and confused. This pain I have never felt before and it will be tomorrow before I can get back in touch with my GI doctor. Is there anything I can do to relieve this horrible discomfort until then?

I just had my upteenth scope over the last 12 years following Nissan surgery. BE also. 3 day after this last scope I went to ER with severe wretching chest pains. First time in my life I was so scared and in so much pain I cried. The pain easily a 10. Why? Spasms of the esohagus. Dr. gave me Procardia sublingually to stop the convulsing. Helped within 5-7 minutes. Took that 2 times a day for a week. Truly worked for severe pain. But I still have underlying chest pain, but can finally function. It's been two weeks. Dr. is 3 hours away and when I call I of course have to talk to her nurse who is rude and cold. So I don't call anymore. Last Dr. was the same. Giving up on the medical field.

Post edited by: DianaG, at: 03/29/2011 07:08 AM

Post edited by: DianaG, at: 03/29/2011 05:04 PM

Unfortunately, a lot of dr's are very rude and ignorant, nowadays If they feel p***** at us patient's, then maybe they're in the wrong job. "Oh dr, I'm so sorry that I fell unpredictably ill today", not. Hmph. . It's as if you almost have to have your arms or legs hanging off, for them to listen to you. They should only hire dr's who can tolerate complaints, and will use their humor to help put a patient at ease. Otherwise, put up and shut up, all dr's out there. After all, ignorant dr's tell us patient's to do exactly that. .