Barretts esophagus w/o dysplasia, feeling overwhelmed and anxious.
I (35, male) received my test results just under a week ago, with a diagnosis of Barrett’s esophagus without dysplasia. The endoscopy was performed due to persistent difficulty swallowing, a globus sensation, and, later, acid reflux. I had never experienced typical reflux symptoms before, which is why this diagnosis has left me feeling very unsettled.
For now, I’m supposed to take esomeprazole 40mg and come back for a follow-up endoscopy in a year. Unfortunately, I haven’t been properly informed yet—for example, what this diagnosis means for me in the long term or whether I should avoid certain typical triggers in my daily life.
My biggest problem right now is that I can’t estimate how much I need to limit myself when it comes to typical reflux triggers like alcohol, carbonated drinks, or spicy food, because I haven’t had typical reflux symptoms before. Accordingly, I won’t be able to simply “figure it out based on symptoms” in the future either.
Right now, I’m just overwhelmed and also afraid of the future, of cancer, and of possible side effects from PPIs. I would really appreciate hearing from people who may have gone through something similar.