M. D. Ostrander
Message 1 of 1
Barrett's is a condition that doesn't go away. It's a pre-cancerous condition. It's basically a warning sign that if you don't stop your acidic reflux, you could be in serious trouble very soon. If you are diagosed w/ Barrett's, it indicates a change of the lining of your esoph at the cellular level. Anytime cells change shape or how they function indicates a pre-cancerous condition. Nexium is excellent - it is a proton-pump inhibitor - which means it actually stops your stomach from producing too much acid. It will not stop reflux, but it will make it non-acidic so there will be no damage done. Drug therapy is usually very effective - it has been for me. Hiatal hernias are described by when your stomach actually moves upward weakening your lower-esoph-sphincter (LES) muscle - allowing acidic reflux to flow into that region. After time this causes a change in the condition of these liner cells - or Barrett's Esoph.