Treatment of Esophogitis

LosinginWa · September 11, 2007

I have been banded for 2 1/2 years now and just in the past 6 months or so have had on and off bouts of acid reflux, difficulty swallowing and chest pain. I went in for my yearly check-up and was sent in for an Upper-Gi and then diagnosed with Esophogitis....My fear is that this will predispose me to errosion or band removal.

Since I don't really have a "band" doctor and am only seeing my pcp I was wondering if there were others out there who had been diagnosed with Esophogitis and how it was treated. I'm wondering whether or not just trying medication is enough or if I should have my band emptied and go on liquids to relax the esophogas?

Has anyone else had this issue and if so how was yours treated?

Brittwoman · September 11, 2007

I am being treated for it with Nexium 40 mg 1x a day, Reglan 10mg 4x a day, and Carafate 1 gm 4x a day . Thank goodness I'm so much BETTER since my band removal on 7/30. My surgeon cut back my meds last week to just 1 Nexium and 1 Carafate a day now :whoo:

mjsafari · September 11, 2007

My husband is struggling with it now. He was banded on May 24th. He has severe sliming, along with burning. He has had all his Fluid removed and is on liquids. He took carafate for a week, but that didn't help, it actually made him feel worse. He was taking his pre-op Prilosec for about a week, but the surgeon has switched him over to Prevacid. He is to continue on liquids until he has a endoscopy on the 21st. It had to be cancelled when his issue first started about a month ago. It was scheduled as a follow-up to his endoscopy a year ago that showed pre-Barrett's.

Our surgeon said the usual treatment is to have all the fluid removed from the band and be on liquids until the symptoms subside. If there is no improvement, he may have to be hospitalized for IV fluids and NOTHING by mouth. He has seen a small improvement yesterday, so we are hoping he is on the mend. I think worst case is having to have the band removed.

I don't know if one bout with esophagitis would pre-dispose you to erosion. Repeated issues may though.