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Can A Biopsy Or An Endoscopy Cause Scarring Or Damage In The Stomach?
Question: Hey doctor so over a year ago when I was 19 years old I had a gastroscopy procedure for acid reflux that wasn’t responding to PPI’s. Ever since the procedure I have had stomach pain at the bottom of my epi-gastric region basically in the centre of my abdomen every single time I eat no matter what it is which fluxates in severity. During the procedure I was on Nexium 40mg once a day and they took biopsy’s from an abnormal area which turned out to be nothing. Now what I am wondering is that is it possible that these biopsy’s or the endoscope did some damage to my stomach causing scarring that is constantly irritated by food and has lead to chronic inflammation and possibly cancer down the track? Is that something that is theoretically possible and if so what can I do about it? My doctors are turning me away and saying it is nothing but I live every single day with stomach pain when I eat which I never have had before this procedure and I’m only 20 years old and can’t live the rest of my life like this what can I do?
Brief Answer:
no risk for cancer due to the procedure
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
rest assured that there is absolutely no risk that comes out of this procedure. Taking a biopsy does so little harm that heals within the next 24 hours. There is no risk for cancer due to the procedure. Since the endoscopy was clear, there is no ulcer and the risk for cancer is almost zero. I've used the word "almost" because there's always the possibility of a small cancer that's too small to be seen. The symptoms couldn't be attributed to it anyway.
If the gastroenterologist believes that you do have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) then treatment with nexium (or other similar drugs) is recommended. Nexium is the right treatment for functional dyspepsia as well. Adding domperidone to the regimen may help with severe GERD. Dietary recommendations may vary depending on the final diagnosis. Be sure to check your gallbladder as well with an ultrasound scan as sometimes the symptoms may be misleading.
So in conclusion, you don't run any risk due to the procedure. Don't worry about that.
Kind regards!
no risk for cancer due to the procedure
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
rest assured that there is absolutely no risk that comes out of this procedure. Taking a biopsy does so little harm that heals within the next 24 hours. There is no risk for cancer due to the procedure. Since the endoscopy was clear, there is no ulcer and the risk for cancer is almost zero. I've used the word "almost" because there's always the possibility of a small cancer that's too small to be seen. The symptoms couldn't be attributed to it anyway.
If the gastroenterologist believes that you do have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) then treatment with nexium (or other similar drugs) is recommended. Nexium is the right treatment for functional dyspepsia as well. Adding domperidone to the regimen may help with severe GERD. Dietary recommendations may vary depending on the final diagnosis. Be sure to check your gallbladder as well with an ultrasound scan as sometimes the symptoms may be misleading.
So in conclusion, you don't run any risk due to the procedure. Don't worry about that.
Kind regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for the reply doctor one other thing I wanted to ask in terms of reflux is about bile reflux I feel that sometime that taste of the reflux changes and that is when the acid suppressing drugs don’t seem to work is it possible that it could be bile reflux instead and if so is there any way to treat that? Is there any natural remedies that you know of that may help?
Brief Answer:
I don't believe its bile...
Detailed Answer:
You're welcome!
Bile reflux is usually associated with surgery in the stomach and adjacent organs. In normal individuals bile reflux is not supposed to occur or it may occur very rarely. Therefore I don't believe it's bile reflux. Keep in mind that acid suppressing drugs do not reduce the reflux itself. They only reduce acidity.
The answer to your second question (about bile reflux treatment or natural remedies) is that I don't know of any efficient way to prevent it.
Kind Regards!
I don't believe its bile...
Detailed Answer:
You're welcome!
Bile reflux is usually associated with surgery in the stomach and adjacent organs. In normal individuals bile reflux is not supposed to occur or it may occur very rarely. Therefore I don't believe it's bile reflux. Keep in mind that acid suppressing drugs do not reduce the reflux itself. They only reduce acidity.
The answer to your second question (about bile reflux treatment or natural remedies) is that I don't know of any efficient way to prevent it.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Makes sense so the endoscope wouldn’t have damaged anything that could cause bile reflux is that even possible? The other thing as well was do they usually always take biopsies because I noticed with my colonoscopy they didn’t do any biopsies only in my gastroscopy why is that? And with the gallbladder what did you mean by it can be misleading sometimes my mum has gallbladder problems so could that be related to me?
Brief Answer:
no risk for bile reflux
Detailed Answer:
As I said earlier this procedure carries no risk for bile reflux. They usually take biopsies whenever there is any visible abnormality. In most cases there are some signs of gastritis. And sometimes they take biopsies "blindly" (without any visible lesion).
The gallbladder usually causes right upper quadrant discomfort but sometimes it causes epigastric discomfort. When the symptoms are epigastric, gallbladder disease can be confused with stomach disease. Gallbladder disease can sometimes occur in families for various reasons (for example spherocytic anemia). If you haven't done an ultrasound scan of the upper abdomen I would recommend doing one, although it will probably be negative (do it just in case).
Kind Regards!
no risk for bile reflux
Detailed Answer:
As I said earlier this procedure carries no risk for bile reflux. They usually take biopsies whenever there is any visible abnormality. In most cases there are some signs of gastritis. And sometimes they take biopsies "blindly" (without any visible lesion).
The gallbladder usually causes right upper quadrant discomfort but sometimes it causes epigastric discomfort. When the symptoms are epigastric, gallbladder disease can be confused with stomach disease. Gallbladder disease can sometimes occur in families for various reasons (for example spherocytic anemia). If you haven't done an ultrasound scan of the upper abdomen I would recommend doing one, although it will probably be negative (do it just in case).
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I have been reading up online and ther is people that suffer with the same stomach pains that I have been having ever since I had my gastroscopy basically abdominal pains that they never had before the procedure so obvisouly it is possible for that to happen because before the procedure which I had exactly 11 months ago I never had stomach pain as a symptom only persistent acid reflux. Let’s just say it did do damage is it at all fixable because it’s been 11 months and I am still having the exact same stomach pain every single day without a doubt. Another thing I noticed that was odd since I did my gastroscopy and colonoscopy seperate I noticed they took no images in my gastroscopy although doing biopsy’s but they did take images in my colonoscopy is that not a normal thing I am curious? Should I go back to my gastro doctor and complain about it since I am not getting better can this become a legal case because I am fed up with living with stomach pain every single day of my life every time I eat it’s just the worst thing.
Brief Answer:
they usually take pictures
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
it is common practice to take pictures during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy even if they're normal. I really doubt that any damage was done but since you have daily symptoms I would suggest doing an ultrasound scan of the upper abdomen first and then talking with the gastroenterologist. A repeat endoscopy might help to clarify things and prove whether any kind of damage has occurred or not.
Since you like to check things on the internet, it may help to have a look at this: https://www.asge.org/docs/default-source/education/practice_guidelines/doc-adverse-events-of-upper-gi-endoscopy.pdf
This text is supposed to be read by doctors but it shouldn't be that hard to read and understand its main points.
Kind Regards!
they usually take pictures
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
it is common practice to take pictures during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy even if they're normal. I really doubt that any damage was done but since you have daily symptoms I would suggest doing an ultrasound scan of the upper abdomen first and then talking with the gastroenterologist. A repeat endoscopy might help to clarify things and prove whether any kind of damage has occurred or not.
Since you like to check things on the internet, it may help to have a look at this: https://www.asge.org/docs/default-source/education/practice_guidelines/doc-adverse-events-of-upper-gi-endoscopy.pdf
This text is supposed to be read by doctors but it shouldn't be that hard to read and understand its main points.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for that link I appericate it I had a good read through it I don’t think I would want to go through another endoscopy again as I really feel it did cause damage could a possible alternative be a capsule endoscopy are they safer and still effective?
Another thing is there any similar cases to me that have been documented that I could show the gastroenterologist that could be helpful in showing them that this can happen? Because in all honesty I just want to get better the last year has just been me being sick everyday and I have been struggling to work and studying because of it.
Another thing is there any similar cases to me that have been documented that I could show the gastroenterologist that could be helpful in showing them that this can happen? Because in all honesty I just want to get better the last year has just been me being sick everyday and I have been struggling to work and studying because of it.
Brief Answer:
the capsule is not a real alternative
Detailed Answer:
You're welcome!
The capsule is not a real alternative. Endoscopy is by far the best test for the gastrointestinal system. The capsule is only used for parts of the intestine that can't be approached with endoscopy (the small intestine). One - obsolete today - alternative is a simple x-ray of the stomach after the patient swallows radiocontrast media. The radiocontrast media spreads around and depicts the shape of the stomach so that gross abnormalities (like a tumor or a stricture) can be revealed. It is an inferior test though which has become obsolete after endoscopy.
I have rarely met people who attribute their symptoms to endoscopy (although their doctors did not agree...) but I've never read anything about it in credible medical books or journals. I understand that you have a serious problem so my suggestion is to visit another gastroenterologist (since you don't seem to trust the first one) and start over with the investigation. If the gastroenterologist asks for a new endoscopy, do not hesitate to proceed with it! Endoscopy is still a safe procedure despite your negative experience.
the capsule is not a real alternative
Detailed Answer:
You're welcome!
The capsule is not a real alternative. Endoscopy is by far the best test for the gastrointestinal system. The capsule is only used for parts of the intestine that can't be approached with endoscopy (the small intestine). One - obsolete today - alternative is a simple x-ray of the stomach after the patient swallows radiocontrast media. The radiocontrast media spreads around and depicts the shape of the stomach so that gross abnormalities (like a tumor or a stricture) can be revealed. It is an inferior test though which has become obsolete after endoscopy.
I have rarely met people who attribute their symptoms to endoscopy (although their doctors did not agree...) but I've never read anything about it in credible medical books or journals. I understand that you have a serious problem so my suggestion is to visit another gastroenterologist (since you don't seem to trust the first one) and start over with the investigation. If the gastroenterologist asks for a new endoscopy, do not hesitate to proceed with it! Endoscopy is still a safe procedure despite your negative experience.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for clearing that up doctor one last thing that I wanted to ask with ultrasounds can having too many of them be bad and cause cancer or lekiuma or because of the fact that they are sound waves they don’t really pose any type of risks or do they?
Brief Answer:
they don't
Detailed Answer:
You're welcome; the ultrasound scans are safe. You can do as many as you like without any fear of complications.
they don't
Detailed Answer:
You're welcome; the ultrasound scans are safe. You can do as many as you like without any fear of complications.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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