So, I lost my appetite and lost weight very quickly, obviously that isn't normal.

The NHS are under a lot of pressure, but finding out I would probably have to wait 5 or 6 months for the endoscopy and colonoscopy I needed, triggered me to call on my private medical insurance. Three weeks later I have both done in one go and they sent off 5 biopsy's for analysis.

The private medical team got their results and sent them to my Doctors Surgery for them to follow up. I got in a text that basically said You have been diagnosed with Barrett's Oesophagus, please stop taking Naproxine.

No follow up, no explanation, no book an appointment and no help with what to do next.

I had to research this myself and the vast majority of UK websites (including the NHS) have bugger all useful information on how to improve your life.

So, I started looking for solutions and came across a website that mentioned changes in diet, so I started looking into that and found (quite quickly) that there were a couple of eBooks I could download at no cost and there were paperback versions available on Amazon.

Because I prefer to see recipes in book version I purchased The Complete Barrett's Eophagus Cookbook 2025: Heal Acid Reflux and Support Digestive Health Naturally with 100+ Soothing Recipes, a 14-Day Meal Plan, and a 2-Week Easy Planner by Dr J. D. Melville | 28 May 2025 and The Essential Barrett's Esophagus Diet Cookbook for the Newly Diagnosed: Nourishing, Acid- Reflux Friendly Recipes to Soothe GERD, Support Healing, and Improve Digestion by Dr Sarah Mitchell.

So, the symptoms I had are not typical, but I have also had Acid Reflux and Heartburn for several years; it seems that this has caused damage to the valve between the esophagus and stomach which in turn has damaged cells in my esophagus.

The two cook books above both point out that reducing excess stomach acid is the primary goal and so eating foods that are kinder to the stomach is key to making my life easier and preventing the issue from worsening.

Why is reducing the impact so important?

A key reason is that although the risk isn't particularly high, the changes to the cells in the esophagus do increase the likelihood of cancer of the esophagus and nobody wants that as it increases the risk of dysphasia which means you have problems swallowing food.

Key take aways

The recipes books both point out the high risk foods that can be summarised as fatty foods and fried foods, in other words a really healthy diet is needed, but there are some extra points here.

You may think vegetarian then, but that is not enough on it's own. There are certain things that even though they are fruits and vegetable by category are likely to cause an increase in stomach acid, like tomato or onion, however most green vegetables are good (except anything spicey). Also, citrus fruits like lemons and oranges should be avoided.

Pulses are good, skinless chicken is good, greens as above are good, but dairy is generally bad as is chocolate. So Oat Milk and Almond Milk are great, but Coffee is bad, even de-caffeinated is bad as is chocolate.

I know, what's the point in living!

If you take this as being 100% as things stand, then Chinese or Indian dishes due to spices, no pizza, no Spaghetti Bolognese, no Lasagne, no Moussaka due to tomato, no burgers, no bacon.

Now, there is some leeway, you can check to see if you have a negative reaction to ingredients like tomato etc. But anything spicey is a no go, so nothing hot and spicey.

My Outlook with Barret's Esophagus

Lets look at this in a positive way, it's a bit inconvenient, but it is a positive change to a healthier diet. You can get pulses in tins so you don't need to soak them over night and eating soups and smoothies is not on every menu.

I've already started changing my diet, low fat yogurt is good with raspberries or blueberries or even strawberry's, melon and mango is nice, but make it all with plain fat free or low fat yogurt.

Simple salads with cucumber, walnuts, lettuce, and things like pomegranate are all great.

Muesli with oat or almond milk and permitted fruit is a great way to start the day, especially since eggs are a food that needs to be tested, generally egg whites are permitted. So I'm taking the cereal route because it is easier and better than having toast (Wheatmeal bread) every day.

Updates on my diet may well be forthcoming as recipes.