Gastritis Support Group

I've been suffering with severe GI symptoms for a year now and still no official diagnosis. I am convinced it is my gallbladder and am meeting with a surgeon next week to discuss having it removed. I was misdiagnosed and treated for ulcers, IBS, stomach bug, Anxiety (my former doctor told me it was all in my head), Gastritis, and numerous other things that weren't the main cause. My endoscopies (I've had two) only showed mild gastritis which the doctors say could not be causing my symptoms. I am going to have my gallbladder removed as all of my symptoms point to that even though the tests have been inconclusive. I think my gallbladder is actually causing my gastritis.

My suggestion to you is not to give up. You absolutely have to be your own advocate and keep going to the doctor until they are able to give you the help you need. If the Protonix is working, then great and stick with it and hopefully it will go away in time. But if not, then pursue your doctors until you get an answer. Gastritis can be caused by a number of things (there is a cause...even if the doctors can't figure out what it is). If it doesn't go away, then you need to find out why. In the meantime, be gentle on your stomach, try to get lots of rest, exercise, and try not to think about it too much. Avoid coffee, acidic foods, alcohol, smoking etc. as those can all make it worse and stress can definitely aggravate it. And when it's at its worst, eat small,very light meals until you feel better. Good luck to you and it will get better in time!

Thank you for your response.

It's funny that you mentioned your gallbladder and your thoughts on it causing your gastritis, even though all tests on your GB have been inconclusive. I say this because all of my tests on my GB have also been negative or inconclusive and, therefore, I've been told that my GB has nothing to do with what I'm experiencing. I have a GI appointment next week and I'm going to see what he says in regards to what he thinks is causing the gastritis and I'm also going to bring up my GB again.

Now that I'm finally starting to feel better, due mostly to the Protonix, my insurance has decided not to cover it. I went to refill my Rx today and was told I was over my 90 day fill limit. Being that I have to take it twice daily, that's 60 pills, leaving me only 30 left for the next refill. Thing is that before the Protonix I was given Prilosec and I guess that since both were filled within 90 days that I can't have anything else in that drug class for another 90 days. Completely and utterly sucks. Finally getting somewhere and my insurance won't fill what I need to keep feeling better. Without insurance the Rx is over $300.... My GI is sending in a case report to the insurance company in hopes that they'll reconsider and fill my Rx as needed. I'm hoping they approve. Anyone else have this problem with PPI refills before?

I had the same problems for 2 1/2 years (even had gallbladder out) and it didn't get rid of the nausea. Finally diagnosed with gastroparesis (slow-emptying stomach) in July. You might want to be tested for that.

can you guys please keep us posted on what your outcomes and results are. I still have not been diagnosed with anything and I feel like crap. DOes the endoscope hurt?

Do I ever feel your pain! Same story for me, except he thinks I "may" have a little bit of bile reflux which could have caused it. And once you get it, 50% of people get rid of it...so take heart, maybe you will be the lucky 50% that does! I've had it since Jan 05 that I'm aware of. Prob had it before then. I wonder if it had to do with my pregnancy in 2002 of it it was just STRESS? I take 2 Nexiums per day, Liquid carafate, I Flora probiotics and Lebramax, soemthing for IBS. Also a about 5mg of Elavil for the pain...it really helps me go to sleep at night. God Bless. glenda

I would have to say that I think that the Protonix are really helping. I did have to restart the treatment after having an issue with my insurance company but since being back on them I've been feeling pretty ok. I have good and bad days and will say that when I over due it with acidic foods or drinks that it makes for a painful night/next day. I've been trying to cut a lot of the acidic foods out of my diet but sometimes I fall off the wagon, so to speak. I've also found that when I'm overly emotional or stressed that this causes a pain relapse. I've noticed this especially this week with the emotional journey I've gone through .

When I had my last visit with the GI I was told that my gastrits was quite bad, but hadn't turned into ulcers, which was good. He said I'm one of the cases that doesn't really have a reasoning behind what's causing the gastritis as that I may suffer from it for the rest of my life and have to take a PPI for the rest of my life. We won't know this until the course of this med (6 months) is up. If I stop the pill and feel fine, than it's healed but if not, I'll have to stay on it. A wait and see kind of deal.

I hope that all of you start to feel better soon. Take care of yourselves!!

Hi all, have any of you thought or tried a TCM for the gastritis. Or have you ever been told that you have a) too much heat in your gut b) too much damp in your body c) food stagnation d) spleen not working correctly in conjunction with your stomach e) heat in the liver (the Chinese liver is different to Western liver and located in the left upper abdomen not the left. I understand that a lot of pain in the upper left can be caused by stress/hormonal lissues. All these symptoms can bring about the pain and discomfort you talk about. I am holding out until I have my camera job done to see the exact diagnosis, then I will seek out a local TCM for one to one talks. Just a thought all.
Gwen

What is TCM?

Hi again, TCM is Traditional Chinese Medicine. I found a superb Doctor of Chinese Medicine on the web after looking up tongue issues, burning, swollen, teeth marks down sides, coated etc etc, with cramps and pain down left side abdomen. He gave me a diagnosis after several emails and is willing to make me a customized treatment as he is quite sure of my problem after I gave him the points I have made above.
I will let you all know how I go on.
Gwen