How to Diagnose Barrett's Esophagus
- 1). Recognize the symptoms of Barrett's esophagus. You may have frequent heartburn or trouble swallowing solid food. You may also experience intense nausea and notice blood in your vomit or in your stool.
- 2). Consult your health care provider and explain your concerns. During the initial exam, your doctor may ask about your medical history and symptoms. If he thinks that the situation warrants it, he may suggest an endoscopic throat exam.
- 3). Follow the specific instructions your doctor gives you about preparing for the endoscopic throat exam. You should not eat or drink anything for about eight hours before the procedure. You should also avoid any over-the-counter pain medications because they can increase the chance of bleeding during the procedure.
- 4). Your doctor may give you an IV sedative or pain medicine before the procedure to make it more comfortable for you. The doctor will also spray your throat with a local anesthetic or ask you to gargle with a liquid anesthetic.
- 5). On the exam table, the doctor will insert the endoscope into your throat and you may feel some pressure. Take slow deep breathes through your nose and try to relax. As the doctor examines your throat for the abnormal cells, he may also insert a tool to scrape esophagus cells from your throat. This tissue will be sent to a medical lab to evaluate for columnar cells, which provides a definitive Barrett's esophagus diagnosis.