Barrett's Esophogas (pain, treatment, time, cancerous)

[AZgarden]

This is a pre-cancerous condition of the esophogas that shows changes in the cells which CAN turn into cancer, but also may not.
I have this condition, found when I had an endoscopy and colonoscopy as a general diagnostic health checkup. The colonoscopy was ok. The Barretts came as a shock to me, since I had no GERD or acid reflux.

I sometimes had trouble swallowing, but it was no big deal.

So now, I have this condition, and take meds to decrease acid, but the only way to determine the current condition of the Barretts is repeated endos (scopes). Does anyone else have this and what do you do about it? I just don't want to have these tests every few months, but the doc says how else will he know if the condition has changed. Any advice?

[Townandcountrygal]

I'm so sorry you have this condition! I have severe GERD so I've been reading more and more about this and related conditions. People with GERD sometimes do not notice the symptoms--but difficulty swallowing is definitely one of them--when I have an "attack" it feel like I'm trying to swallow a baseball and the pain is a 10. Endoscopies are not only an important diagnostic tool, when you have a condition such as Barrett's, it requires *regular* monitoring and following the gastro doc's treatment plan.

[phonelady61]

i have it and my doc said every two years since there is no history of cancer in my family .