I had an endoscopy 3 1/2 yrs ago. No problems, just GERD. Have been taking Zantac for 3 yrs mostly at night. Symptoms have recently worsened. Could I have Barrett's or esop cancer? Should I get another endoscopy?
9/ 3/11 1:24pm
Because you have recently had a change in your symptoms, it's important to see your doctor to discuss this. Perhaps you need a change of medication. You may also want to think about if there have been other changes such as diet, sleep or stress that may have brought on the worsening symptoms.
Your doctor may want to re-scope you just to make sure there have been no changes but he may want to try switching medications first to see if that brings about improvement.
Stephanie
9/ 4/11 10:38am
Thanks so much for the response. I went to my GI and he now has me on Dexilant 2x per day. It seems to be working because symptoms are better but not gone. My stomach just seems angry :-) I have to take lots of deep breaths when I eat so I can relax and allow my food to go down. My doc didn't request a follow up visit though. Should I just go back on my own or only if I don't get better?
9/ 4/11 12:30pm
Absolutely! One of the biggest issues I see with our medical world is that we all still see our doctors as knowing everything and being right. Realistically they have to make their best guess and then see how it goes. In the past everyone came back for a follow-up no matter what. That doesn't really make sense either since it's a waste of time & money. Doctors really need to say "take this, you should feel better by ....... date. If you are still having issues by......... come back to see me." Because so many docs don't see this, I've seen a lot of people switch to another doctor trying to get answers. Realstically though if we would generally go back to the first one with the fact that the medicine didn't help or didn't help as much as we needed it to then the doctor would be able to put one more piece of the puzzle together.
I am glad that you did get some relief on the Dexilant though. Make sure to tell you doctor what you are experiencing during eating.
Stephanie
Important:
We hope you find this general health information helpful. Please note however, that this Q&A is meant to support not replace the professional medical advice you receive from your doctor. No information in the Answers above is intended to diagnose or treat any condition. The views expressed in the Answers above belong to the individuals who posted them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Remedy Health Media. Remedy Health Media does not review or edit content posted by our community members, but reserves the right to remove any material it deems inappropriate.
By awbsufferer— Last Modified: 09/04/11, First Published: 08/24/11
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
