Hi all,

Does anyone know if you can have sleeve surgery if you also have Barrett's esophagus? Just got the results from the gastrologist...was too shocked to think of asking her when she was on the phone with me and now her office is closed.

Edited February 20, 201511 yr by VickiCat

Well, none of us can give you medical advice here. I can tell you that my surgeon will not do sleeve gastrectomy on a patient with Barrett's, and if you Google it you will see that seems to be a pretty common approach. My surgeon recommends bypass for patients with Barrett's. I know a few in my support group who had bypass when they had initially wanted the sleeve, due to a diagnosis of Barrett's. They are both doing great! No complications, look very healthy and are losing weight quickly.

Thank you Bufllehead....

I do not want the bypass....I am bummed.

Two of my friends had bypass, and both have lost over 100 pounds and have kpt the weight off. One of them is actually featured on a huge billboard as advertising for her surgeon. Please don't be bummed. You have a viable option

Thank you Projectme

The reason I don't want the RNY is I'm afraid of "dumping".

I took care of my father-in-law (bedridden) who had diarrhea all the time (most of his stomach had to be removed because of ulcers)...my elderly mother suffers from it quite often (sometimes we have to turn around and come home from shopping)....I could not stand it if I have that problem. It scares the crap out of me. (pun intended)

I know nothing about the RNY except you can suffer from "dumping" and malabsorption......

To top off my day I just got fitted for a stupid cpap machine.........I think I'm going to cry. If i drank I would tie one on tonight.

Edited February 19, 201511 yr by VickiCat

Don't worry about the cpap. I have never actually slept any good length of time with mine, because I am a ridiculously finicky sleeper. I turned it on every night, tried to use it, and end up pulling it off. I was cleared because i made the effort. I was able to sleep with it on after surgery though..I assume due to the meds I was given.

My surgical center is awesome. The nurses, docs, anesthesiologist. They took phenominal care of me. There was 1 other woman there, so I nevet waited for help, or for my meds.

Hi all,

Does anyone know if you can have sleeve surgery if you also have Barrett's esophagus? Just got the results from the gastrologist...was to shocked to think of asking her when she was on the phone with me and now her office is closed.

I think that you need to get the Barrett's esophagus treated first. Please don't let the gastro or any other doctor tell you to do a "wait and see" approach with the Barrett's - which would be yearly endoscopies, biopsies, etc.. This approach does not address the Barrett's. They have made a lot of advances with removing the Barrett's with laser or other methods. Please do some research on this. While only a small number of people with Barrett's esophagus get esophageal cancer, I can tell you from personal experience that esophageal cancer is very, very difficult to treat with a poor prognosis.

My husband died 9 years ago at age 56 of esophageal cancer after having Barrett's esophagus for many years and getting yearly scopes. They always did a biopsy so when the cancer was caught it was caught very early and they removed his whole esophagus and pulled up his stomach to form a new one. They were optimistic - they said it was stage 1. Two years later he died.

I am not trying to scare you but don't let them tell you that only 1 or 2% of Barrett's turns into cancer. What if you are one of those where it does? What is the effective treatment? What is the prognosis?

It is rarer for women to get esophageal cancer. I understand that.

But if it were me I would find a doctor who would do whatever is necessary to get rid of the Barrett's portion of the esophagus by whatever means they are using these days and they have made a lot of progress in the 11 years since my husband was diagnosed.

Good luck to you.

I had the gastric band and wanted a revision to the sleeve, but I also found out I have Barrett's esophagus and my surgeon would not do the sleeve. The reason is the shape of the new stomach a sleeve is made into will cause acid reflux which leads to Barrett's esophagus. Gastric bypass is known to get rid of acid reflux in most patients. I was freaked out and saddened by this, but I knew I didn't want to not have any weight loss tool so I went with the gastric bypass. I have never regretted doing it and my recovery was much easier than when I had the the band surgery. I have never had acid reflux again. I have to have a scope yearly and acid reflux medicine once a day maybe forever. I have not once thrown up or had that stuck feeling either. I had the revision a year ago this coming up may. I have never had to run to the bathroom for bowel problems. I have dumped only once and that was on Carmel popcorn I got for Christmas. My symptom was bloated stomach , sweating, stomach and I had to lay down from being extremely tired. When I woke up an hour later all good, but I wont do that again. I love the bypass!!

Edited February 20, 201511 yr by tebowfan

Information that's accurate should always trump uninformed fear.

It really should.