To: Tessa and Daw

[lindee]

I appreciate your word of caution about Enteryx with Barrett's. My GI says the implant is done "under" the Barrett's mucosa, like it shouldn't matter. But I guess nobody knows for sure.

Tessa, I read one of your previous posts where you mentioned about a 6cm Barrett's. How are you doing with that? Did your GI ever mentioned about PDT(photodynamic treatment) or other treatment for Barrett's? This is personal, you don't have to answer me unless you want to. I'd understand.

[tmca]

Hi Lindee,

First to answer your question about PDT...No, i haven't considered having that as it is only recommended when high-grade dysplasia is present...I have low-grade dysplasia...Last year I had some slides that a local Pathologist read at high-grade...However, when my local GI sent the slides to another lab in Dayton for a 2nd opinion they came back at low-grade...We waited 3 months and did a new set of biopsies..Locally, by the same pathologist, he once again read one slide at high-grade...That is when I went to Cleveland Clinc and took my slides with me...They read me at low-grade and then they did their own EGD and took jumbo biopsies and again those were read by their pathologists at low-grade...We were finally convinced I am low-grade....I then had gastroplasty/fundoplication at CCF...If I had been confirmed at high-grade I would have choosen esophagectomy...My thinking at that time was, just get this esophagus out of me and lets be done with Barrett's esophagus...I even heard of a Dr. at the University of Penn. Medical School that does laproscopic esophagectomies on high-grade dysplasia...His name is Dr. Luketich...Since that time he and his partner are now doing them not only on high-grade but also on localized esophageal cancer....I'm not sure I would have had that surgery done laproscopic but I would have had a consult with them.......

I 'am anxious for my 6 month EGD and biopsies coming up in June as I need to find out If I am still refluxing....At 3 months post-op I was and have been back on meds and diet since that time..Im also courious to know exactly how or if my gastroplasty has effected my Barrett's segment...I imagine it is higher up in my esophagus since the surgery added length in my distal esophagus...I didn't think to ask my Dr. those questions at my post op EGD but I will when I return....

Tessa

[lindee]

Wow, you've been thru a lot too!
Esophagectomies done open or laproscopicly, are pretty drastic.
I think one's life expectancy post-op is like around 5 years. My GI told me a story that blew my mind during my last visit. He had a very elderly patient whose Barrett's turned to cancer, went for PDT and now doesn't even show Barrett's with EGD check(in better shape than we are).

Good luck with you next EGD.