EoE (eosinophilic oesophagitis) can be difficult to live with. It can make it harder to swallow food, and food may often feel stuck in your throat or gullet.
We caught up with Sean Goss to hear about his experience with EoE and his treatment at Digestive Health UK.
What is EoE?
Eosinophilic oesophagitis is a rare condition that causes inflammation in the oesophagus. The exact cause is unknown, though it is believed that it is caused by an immune response to certain allergies.
Common allergies include milk, wheat, nuts, soya, fish, and eggs. For people with EoE, we sometimes recommend a four or six food elimination diet, although this is hard to stick to long term.
A sudden change in diet can be tough to follow. Though the EOS Network provides a useful page of recipes and cooking tips to get you started. Environmental substances, such as dust mites, pollen, and mould, may also play a role.
If you think you are suffering from eosinophilic oesophagitis, you should speak to a gastroenterologist.
How can EoE make you feel?
Sean Goss told us, “I was a bit in the dark with it. I was struggling at times, didn’t really see light at the end of the tunnel with it as well”.
It’s clear eosinophilic oesophagitis can have a psychological impact, as well as physical. The emotional toll of your struggles can become overwhelming, but with the right treatment, your symptoms can be resolved.
Symptoms include difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), food getting stuck in the oesophagus after swallowing, and regurgitating your food. You may also experience throat pain and reflux symptoms, such as a bitter taste in your mouth.
“It took me years to get diagnosed with Eosinophilic Esophagitis…I’d been having symptoms since I was 8 but not diagnosed till I was 34! I was told for years it was anxiety” – HealthUnlocked
“For years I’ve been dealing with eosinophilic oesophagitis by ignoring it.” – @LloydWhiteAnat
To diagnose eosinophilic oesophagitis, we will use a gastroscopy. We partnered with the EOS Network charity to provide a useful video discussing this on their EoE diagnosis page.
We know it can be hard to get a diagnosis of eosinophilic oesophagitis. The symptoms of EoE are very similar to other oesophageal disorders, such as GORD/ GERD. But, with EoE, you are likely to have a high count of eosinophils.
Watch Sean Goss, a professional football player, discuss his experience with EoE in the videos below.
[answerpacktv channel=”patient-testimonials” view-playlist-label=”View more videos” header-link=”/videos” landing-page-header-text=” ” landing-page-header-title=”Listen to Sean Goss describe his experience with EoE”]
Treatment
Since treatment at Digestive Health UK, Sean Goss said: “I really do believe it’s been life-changing”. Getting the right treatment for EoE can greatly improve your quality of life.
The treatment options for eosinophilic oesophagitis vary. We used to start by recommending changes to your diet to see if this makes a difference. However, now we have very effective medicines, so limiting your diet may not be necessary.
You may need to take medications, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and topical swallowed steroids. If these medications don’t effectively reduce or stop your symptoms, you will potentially need an endoscopic procedure, such as endoscopic dilatation.
With treatment, our patients reported:
“I am now finally able to eat without choking or food getting stuck. Big relief!” – Doctify
“I had problems for many years and seen many doctors. Dr Sami diagnosed the problem in my gullet and my symptoms disappeared now on the tablets. I feel great!” – Doctify
“I had problems swallowing for a long time and seen few doctors in my home country. I found Dr. Sami online and I am delighted that he picked up eosinophilic oesophagus after doing endoscopy. What an amazing feeling of relief. Treatment started.” – Doctify
We know how much of a relief it can be to finally be able to swallow properly. If you are having any difficulty swallowing you should speak to a gastroenterologist.
Untreated, EoE can lead to progressive damage and scarring in the oesophagus. As your treatment gap grows, so does the risk of oesophageal strictures and narrowing.
Book an appointment
If you are suffering from the symptoms of EoE, we can help. Our specialists will discuss your symptoms with you, and arrange any necessary tests, to diagnose your condition. You can also come to us for a second opinion service.
Once we confirm your diagnosis, we can recommend the best treatment option for you.
Contact us today and make your health a priority.
