Barrett's Esophagus - Center For Digestive Health

Barrett’s Esophagus

Overview

Barrett’s esophagus is a health condition that develops when acid reflux damages the esophagus, which is the pink tube connecting the stomach to the mouth. This damage causes the lining of the esophagus to grow thicker and redden in color.

Barrett’s esophagus often develops because of gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, which involves symptoms like heartburn and regurgitation of food. Barrett’s esophagus is the result of GERD symptoms leading to changes in the cells that line the lower portion of the esophagus.

Men and people with certain risk factors are more likely to develop Barrett’s esophagus. Those who have GERD or who believe they may be at risk of this condition should consult with a doctor, as Barrett’s esophagus can lead to esophageal cancer in rare cases

Applicable Procedures

24 Hour Ph Probe
EGD
EUS
Radiofrequency Ablation (previously called Halo Barrx)
Endoscopic Mucosal Resection

Does Barrett’s Esophagus Mean I Will Develop Cancer?

According to the Mayo Clinic, Barrett’s esophagus does increase a person’s risk of cancer, but this does not mean that you will develop cancer with this condition. In fact, the risk of cancer is quite low, and most people with Barrett’s esophagus never develop cancer of the esophagus. That being said, it is still important to work with a doctor to monitor the condition, as precancerous cells can be treated to reduce your risk of developing esophageal cancer in the future.

Should I Be Screened For Barrett’s Esophagus?

Experts recommend a Barret’s esophagus screening for individuals with certain risk factors. For instance, men who have weekly GERD symptoms that do not improve with medications, or who have two or more risk factors, such as a family history of Barrett’s esophagus or esophageal cancer, being over age 50, having excess abdominal fat, or being a current or former smoker, should be screened for the condition. While women are less likely to develop Barrett’s esophagus, they should be screened for it if they that uncontrolled GERD symptoms.

How Is Barrett’s Esophagus Treated?

Treatment will depend upon the severity of Barrett’s esophagus. According to the Mayo Clinic, if you have no precancerous changes to the cells of your esophagus, a doctor will monitor your condition and provide treatment to manage GERD symptoms. This may include medication, lifestyle changes, and in some cases

Common Symptoms

I find that I suffer from heartburn most days, and sometimes I even feel as if I am regurgitating my food.
I sometimes have trouble swallowing food.
After living with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) for several years, I started to suffer from bouts of chest pain.

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What They Are Saying

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Center For Digestive Health, Rochester Hills4.8

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june R.

The staff was so nice, friendly and helpful. They were very efficient. I would recommend them to everyone.

Tim H.

Well organized, great surgical team getting ready, great team in OR. Quick and easy.

alberta P.

From the moment I arrived and was checking in to walking out the door was truly a comforting experience. At 72 , this was my first colonoscopy. I was definitely surprised at how caring, comforting, and professional the entire staff was. A special thank you to Dr Richard Willie, for trying his hardest to get me into a better place, for which he did. You all should be proud of yourselves for how professional and comforting you all where! Thank you for making an awkward procedure less frightening.

Bernie F.

Dr. Donat was great, in fact the entire operation was top notch. Arrived at 11am, had my procedure and was out of there a little after noon and had the results online in 1-2 days. Highly recommend this practice.

Patrick C.

After 5 years it was again time for another colonoscopy. Making the appointment was easy. Then, there was efficient email reminders regarding how and when to prep. An easy to order package of supplies was offered but I just obtained everything locally. On the day of my procedure, all went very smoothly. The staff was very, very professional and the results clearly communicated with a printed report and photos to take home. I would recommend this practice.

Sridhar V.

I really like the care in this facility. Dr Nandi and the team is awesome !!

Sandra T.

First time at this location. Very nice office. When I asked questions Nicolle was very pleasant and explained everything thoroughly. Thank you, Noelle

Sweet P.

Dr. Weber, and Jessica Long, FNP, are amazing! They always take their time and provide quality care. I always know I can count on them to answer all of my questions and guide me to better GI health. Sending my sincerest thanks to them and all of the staff at The Center For Digestive Health!

Elinor S.

Dr. Wille and his staff are great! Taken in on time, given time with Dr to discuss my problem and treated with the utmost courtesy. Always my go to GI place!!

Mj B.

Everyone in the office treated me with respect and dignity. From the receptionist to the Dr this was a good experience!

Dan G.

I appreciate support provided by Dr. Bologna and his staff before, during and after my procedure. Thank you.

susan C.

Everyone was extremely polite and concerning. They all worked together to get their job done.

tiaisk8r

Great staff and wonderful doctors.

joe K.

Great staff there and see yah in 5 years!

Gwendolyn J.

Beautiful people doing a beautiful job!

Tom and Diane R.

Everyone there were every nice and helpful. Also Dr. Willie greeted me with a handshake and smile, which made me relax even more. Thank You again for making my time you go by fast. Tom Rakowski

Jenny W.

Great experience here, all the staff was super friendly and professional. From check in until they walked me to my car... Nothing but good things to say. I really appreciated the 80's rock while I waited!

Marilyn M.

It was a very good experience!! A well oiled machine from the beginning with doing the call back to set up an appointment, sending all necessary info that was needed for the colonoscopy plus answering all questions that I had. Following up with reminders for the date and time I had to be there. The day of every person was very kind and considerate of what was happening from start to the time I went home, with a friendly call later to see if I was ok and if I had any questions. A Top notch facility and Staff!! Thank you 😃

Mj T.

The team was very professional and easy to work with. I was literally in and out before I knew it.

Deanna T.

Very nice, thorough and you don’t wait very long after check in or being put in your room, the staff truly cares about the patient. Dr. Bakken is the best, she explains things prior to procedure and makes sure you don’t wait long afterwards for your results.

terry S.

Great staff, easy and quick procedure.. no complaints!

Mitchell P.

Dr Wille and staff is very professional and caring!

Bree C.

I love having Dr nandi as my doctor, I've been with him for 11 years , also the staff in the infusion center connected with the office are amazing! The only complaint is waiting on hold for so long to get to talk to someone.

Robert O.

Have been seeing Dr. Wille for years. Super helpful and very knowledgeable. Really satisfied.

Marvin Y.

Everything was fine and very timely.

The Center for Digestive Health4.8

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Jim M.

Everybody was very nice

Diane M.

Dr. Weber and his staff are efficient, professional, thorough while maintaining a very friendly atmosphere. Thank you to every one of you for your endless efforts.

Heather K.

Highly recommend! Everyone I encountered during my visit exceeded my expectations for timeliness, professionalism, knowledge, and friendliness. They worked together very well to make my experience as pleasant and comfortable as possible!

Linda P.

Everyone is very friendly and knowledgeable.

Our Doctors

We’re proud of our team here at Digestive Health Institute. Our health care providers include some of the very best colorectal surgeons, gastroenterologists and physician assistants. To learn more about our qualified team of specialists, please visit our providers page.

Amir Abadir MD, FRCPC

Anezi E. Bakken MD, MS

Sante D. Bologna MD, FACP

M. Emin Donat MD, FRCPC

Partha S. Nandi

Jack Tocco DO

John R. Weber MD

Richard T. Wille MD

Tusar Desai MD

Aalia Saeed, MD

FAQs

What happens during my first visit?

If you are a new patient, you can expect to have a complete physical exam. You will also be asked detailed questions about your current problems and your past medical history, your current medications, allergies, your family history and other pertinent medical information. If you are taking medications, please bring a completed medical history form with you to your appointment. Once the physician has reviewed your medical information and completed the physical examination, a plan of care will be developed. You may need to be seen again in the office, be referred back to your family physician for follow-up care, or require additional testing. If additional tests are needed, we will assist you in scheduling these tests.

What if I need to schedule an endoscopic procedure?

An endoscopic procedure allows the physician to visualize a part of your gastrointestinal tract with a special instrument called an endoscope. If your family physician has ordered testing, you will be contacted by telephone by one of our staff members. If a physician orders testing and you are in the office, the procedure can generally be scheduled during the course of your visit. You will be given a date, time, and location for the test, as well as written instructions telling you how to prepare for the test. If you have any questions about the procedure, please feel free to ask one of our staff members or the physician.

How do I get test results?

We ask that you wait 10 to 14 days before contacting us for results. Often results come from several different sources. This information needs to be compiled and reviewed by your physician before you can be appropriately advised.

What insurances do you accept?

We accept payment from most insurance companies including Medicare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Blue Care Network, Physicians Health Plan, Cofinity, Sparrow Professional Health Network, Medicaid, McLaren, Health Plus, and several others. Accepted insurances are subject to change at any time without notice.

If your insurance requires an authorization from your primary care physician, you may be asked to assist us in obtaining this authorization.

All patients are responsible for all copays and deductibles at the time of service.

If you have any questions regarding your benefits or insurance coverage, please contact our Billing Department at 248-844-9710.

What if I need to contact the doctor?

To contact your doctor during business hours please call our main number 248-844-9710. If you have an urgent need to speak with the doctor after hours, you will be rerouted to our after hours answering service, and your doctor will be paged. In the case of a medical emergency please proceed directly to the nearest hospital emergency room.

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