I was diagnosed with barretts Oesophagus about a year and a half ago following an endoscopy. Immediately after my endoscopy I got severe heartburn. i had never had a day of it prior to the endoscopy. Since then i have taken 40 mgs of Esomeprazole a day and I am not having any heartburn or any other symptoms. But for the last six months I have been bringing up blood in my saliva. Usually worse in the morning but can continue all day. I have seen my GP who sent me to an ENT doctor who put a camera down my throat (through my nose) he said it was sore and a bit "refluxy" - his word - but other than that my throat was ok. I have also done a swallow test and was told all was ok. So then why am I bringing up this blood? Has anyone with barretts had a similar problem? Is it part of the reflux problem or is it something differnt? I am very worried mainly because I cant seem to get any answer to my problem.
Nearly 40% of those with Barrett's say they never experienced the heartburn pain of the acid refluxing that caused it. Thier oesophagi must be less sensitive.
Barrett's cells are also less sensitive than the squamous ones they replace so many who did feel heartburn, don't once the Barrett's has developed.
It is possible you have some oesophagitis which is bleeding? It doesn't need much to show in saliva. Or is it actually from mouth or throat?
Thanks Barretttts for your quick reply. No the bleeding is definitely not from my mouth or gums as I have had that checked. Regards my throat I have checked it out with an ENT specialist who said everything with my throat was okay. Could I get so much bleeding from oesophagitis? it has been going on for months now and some days it can be for quite some time and the blood just comes up with my saliva. I dont have to cough to bring it up. Do you think this could be because of the PPI I am taking - Nexium? Should I maybe try another PPI?
Unlikely the Nexium would cause bleeding. PPIs reduce acid and let any erosion heal but there are other PPIs you could try.
If you had a following endoscopy which you say you had, then I do not see any reason why the blood would come from your esophagus? The specialist would have seen some erosions and therefore you could make a conclusion based on your esophagus.
How is your stomach doing, do you have any erosions there?
Otherwise the bleeding must come from your gums or some area in your mouth or maybe from your nose down to the month.
If this persist, visit a mouth, nose, ear specialist.
I've read dozens of PPI's stories (eg. Nexium) but never have heard that a PPI class drug could cause a bleeding.
Take care.
Hi Esic - No I have not done a follow up endoscopy. I saw an ENT specialist who put a camera up through my nose to examine my throat. i am not sure what they call it but it is not an endoscopy where they sedate you and check out your intestinal organs. They only look at your nose (nasal passages) and your throat.
My stomach according to my last endoscopy was doing fine and the only problem was in my oesophagus.
O sorry, so you went to your ENT specialist and your previous endoscopy was fine.
That’s really awkward. I really don’t know what It could be, are you sure that your gums are fine?
Anyway, I believe that Nexium doesn’t play a role here (based on what I’ve read in the last couple of years).
Perhaps a pulmonologist...a lung specialist.
Hi mike!! Im having the same problem as you are.I was on PPIS and recently noticed blood in my saliva. I have acid reflux due to a hiatus hernia. Did you find out what it was? Thank you! Appreciate any response at all. Cheers
Hi Sobhan I am all good now. The bleeding has stopped as mysteriously as it started. I never was able to find out what caused it but I haven't had any pbleeding for 6 months now. Also the lump in my throat feeling has gone. I am still taking my PPIs - one in the morning and one at night and I have raised my bed so I dont know if all of this has made the difference but happy to say I dont have anymore of it.
You see... PPIs do not cause bleeding...
Hi Mike,
Around 2 years ago I had exactly the same symptoms as you with regards to blood in saliva. I was prescribed Omeprazole by my GP, 20mg to be taken twice daily. The symptoms continued for a few weeks and then promptly disappeared. That is until a few weeks ago when I tried to reduce my dosage due to the many poor reports with regards to the negative effects of long term usage of ppi's. I noticed that if I didn't take the tablet before bed, I would have blood in my saliva the next morning. I do not cough at all just spit and there is bright red blood in my saliva. There is not a lot of blood (it looks more than it is due to spitting into a white sink) and there is no blood the rest of the day just in the mornings. However when I take the pill before bed, there is no sign of any blood at all. My concern is that the Omeprazole is merely masking an underlying issue in either my oesophagus or stomach which has been present for the last couple of years.
Hi Mike
i read with interest your post.
i am experienc exactly the same issue re Barrett’s and Blood in saliva.
Do you have any advice you could offer me?
many thanks
Chris
Hi Barry
i am experiencing the same blood in saliva issues as yourself.
i have been told by a Barrett’s nurse that the bleeding is unlikely to be Barrett’s related and maybe from a second prescription drug I am taking called Lymecycline for acne.
i shall return to the doctor next week to discuss but did you have any more feedback?
kind regards
chris
hi mike i have had barretts for 2 yrs i 20 miligrams of rabeprazole every night i have never brought up blood and dont get heart burn some times if i eat the wrong thing i go to bed with intergestion so take gaviscon and its gone i think you need go back to dr hope this helps regards dave
Hi, have you done biopsy or stomach tissue testing for Helicobacter Pylori, could be fro this.
Hi Chris, You could check with your doctor if it could be due to Helicobacter Pylori and do an endoscopy with Biopsy or tissue testing from antral stomach if you are having Acid Reflux. Also, check your acid level, probably it would be low.
Hi everybody Thanks for all your replies. I am happy to report that one year on all is good with me.. I take 20 mgs of Nexium everyday. No major heartburn - sometimes i have to take a gaviscon or two usually when I have eaten spicy or oily food. No more bleeding at all. It has been 3 years since I took an endoscopy and my doctor tells me I don't need one for another two years.
you have acid reflux bad the ppi is healing your tummy and throat. but remember if you take ppi for a year no break not make your bones soft . so take for 6 weeks or so then come off them as long as you can . then start again very common . the gerd caused your barrets but the tablet ppi will help we all like a drink and this makes gerd worse but it's getting a balance . blood in spit is more common every one gets it but some people dont notice . gerd can cause blood in spit . I hope this helps Bill
i have acid reflux and when i wakeup i see light red blood in my saliva it been 2 months but its still the same even the medication is not helping and idea what could be the reason its only in morning rest day its fine but my throat is dry and little pain