Gastric Polyps

[katie1111]

I had endoscopy which showed, among other things, 10 gastric polyps.  My doctor told my husband that these might be the cause of my nausea and suggested they may need to removed under general anesthesia.  He said I was to await the biopsy results and then schedule a follow up appointment.  Has anyone had this kind of a procedure?

Katie1111

[irish]

I am not that familiar with polyps, but I do know that there is a familial tendency for some polyps. I would t all with your doc more. Also, the autoimmune aspect should not be forgotten as autoimmune might be a component in this whole thing. I would question every one I could to get more information on this. The other thing, I wonder if there is a medication that you are taking that could cause polyps. Anything is possible with medical stuff. Please let us know what you find out. People are learning more things that they pass on to this site that helps the rest of us. Thank you and good luck. Irish

[Pepita933]

The gastric polyps are in your stomach?  Polyps in your colon are frequent, and usually removed I think when you have an upper and Lower GI. I have achalasia, which is an auto immune disease that makes your esophagus a big garbage chute.  My next surgery they tell me for this problem is resectioning the stomach to the aotic notch and removing the esophagus.  Aren't we a barrel of fun!

My surgery for opening the valve between the stomach and the esophagus was called fundoplication which was done with a Di Vinci machine, in other words robotic.  It was minimally invasive, I was in the hospital for a couple of days, and then out.  I had I think 5 or so different small incisions around my stomach.  They have 2 surgeons, one at the computer and non sterile, and the other at the machine and sterile.  It is quite interesting to learn about, it is used for many different surgeries, heart etc. 

I don't know what they will do to you.  Is the gastroenterologist the one doing the surgery, or a general surgeon?  I wish you the best, and hope this may solve your nausea.

[katie1111]

This was my third gastroscope and the polyps have been present each time.  I don't know why the concern this time, unless there are more or they have increased in size.  I also was diagnosed with GERD with the first and still have the GERD.  After the first gastroscope I was started on Protonix.  I know it can cause the polyps, but I already had them when I started the medication.  The other things that showed were Esophagitis, GERD, Hiatal Hernia and Gastritis.  I guess I have reason to be nauseated.

Katie1111

[Pepita933]

I use a wedge pillow when I sleep at night.  It is something I have to have or all the liquid in my stomach ends up in my mouth and nose-- not very restful(from the achalasia)  Anyway, I found it made a big difference with the gerd.  I am guessing that they are thinking that the polyps are what is making you nauseous, and that may be the reason for the concern.  I'd think if the medication causes polyps your doctor may want to tell you why you need to take it instead of something else.  So you have a lot of inflammation going on in your esophagus. It may be that the sphincter closing the stomach from the esophagus isn't doing its job very well anymore.  That would cause acid from the stomach to go up the esophagus and cause the inflammation of the esophagus.  The gastritis I believe is inflammation also often in the colon--but that is called colitis.  Is gastritis inflammation in the stomach?  Some folks produce more acid in their stomach than others, do you drink a lot of fluids, like me?

If they do something about the polyps I would ask they repair the hiatal hernia at the same time!

[katie1111]

Just came back from my Gastro appointment.  My GI is no longer worried about the polyps as the biopsy showed no problem with the polyps but I probably have autoimmune gastritis.  This wouldn't surprise me as I am already being treated for B12 problems and anemia.  He is switching me from my oral B12 to nasal B12 and running some more blood tests - Serum pepsinogen1, gastrin, HLA typing for B-8 and DR-3 which I believe are to confirm the autoimmune Gastritis.  At least he is no longer talking about surgery.  However, apparently other than controlling the B12 and anemia issues there is no treatment.  My chronic nausea will continue.  I just have to regulate my diet by what my stomach is doing. 

Katie1111

[irish]

Did they biopsy the polyps when you had the esophagoscopy?? This is one was to check for cancer. I have had colon polyps and they just remove them and biopsy them during the colonopscopy. Just curious. Irish

[katie1111]

Yes,  I had multiple biopsies including the esophagus, polyps, duodenum and gastric mucosa.

Katie1111

[irish]

Glad to hear that. They didn't miss anything. Irish

[Kathy57]

Katie1111,

I have GERD, Gastritis, Barrettes, and esophagitis.  I take meds twice per day and I also sleep with a wedge.  Can't live without it.

I am scheduled for upper endoscopy in August.  I'm supposed to get it done every couple of years, but I drag my feet.  I'm glad that you don't have to suffer through a surgery.  I really have to watch what I eat, and sometimes I overdo it and suffer for it later!

Hope you can find the right things to do to cope better whether it be diet, meds, or a combination of both.

Kathy