I truly thought I was dying before I was diagnosed with gastritis. I felt so bad I just knew I must have stomach cancer. I was nauseated and my stomach was sore and burned off and on. I had lots of weird sensations in the sternum area as well as left side. I was very sore above the belly button and would even get side stitch type pains and sometimes stabbing pains in the stomach area. I sometimes had pain go all the way through my back. Carafate helped tremendously (was prescribed that by ER doc) then at my PCP follow uo sppointment 2 weeks later I was prescribed 40 mg omeprazole. I had an endoscopy with biopsy. No H pylori, Barrett’s or cancer. Just gastritis, which is plenty to deal with. I have an extremely stressful job. Stomach acid builds up constantly from stress. If you drink carbonated beverages and/or alcohol you will delay healing. You need Carafate to coat your stomach so it can heal. Otherwise stomach acid keeps your condition aggravated. You must also eat a bland diet to give your stomach a rest so it can heal. Hang in there. You will get better.

Thank you, that helps alot and is very comforting. Even though it's a pain in the butt to deal with, I'm really glad it wasn't anything serious for you. I hope the same for me, and I will be looking into the medicine you mentioned. Googling symptoms has been a bad idea for me, as all point to stomach cancer for the most part.

Literally felt the same thing starting a month ago. I did all the google searches, then went to the doctor and he said its gastritis, I am a 33 year old male. I was having IBS type stuff too in my lower belly and both the primary and GI are fairly confident and nonchalant about needing an endoscopy. I have one scheduled for Nov 2nd if I don't feel better by then. I have switched my diet completely around. I have not had alcohol in a month, significantly reduced coffee consumption, switched to foods like, celery, carrots, spinach, grapes, apples, all raw. I have incorporated more vegetarian meals like eggplant and zucchini. Removed most acids. Started on apple cider vinegar and ginger root. Eating boiled chicken, rice, and beans. I started getting over confident and had a big meal last week of calamari and Reuben sandwich with french fries, followed the next day by pizza and the set me back a bit. On this diet, I feel like I am improving, the worst part is the Anxiety. I really feel like the worry is he worst, and it seems like this goes hand in hand with Gastritis though you don't see it when googling gastritis symptoms. Finding DS has helped me significantly in realizing the Gastritis is much more common explanation for everything we feel than something worse. D_R Thanks for your posts!

Oh wow, hopefully your symptoms improve by then and you won't need the endoscopy at all. That's great that you've changed your diet and it's helping. I need to do that as well. I have to some level, but still drink a cup of coffee a day which I know I shouldn't. Take care and let us know how things turn out for you.

So is gastritis basically gerd? Or chronic indigestion? Or it's own different issue

Gastritis is damaged and inflamed stomach lining. The lining protects your stomach from the acid that is necessary for digestion. When it is damaged you can become very ill. It causes all kinds of weird sensations and burning. With gastritis there is a potential for B12 deficiency due to lack of intrinsic factor. B12 deficiency has many symptoms including anxiety.

Hi,
I have had some sort of acid/bile reflux for about 17 years. I am now 47. Recently, I have had the same burning and fullness feeling in my stomach area for about 2 weeks. Never had an ulcer or gastritis from 3 endoscopes I have had. I understand the pain and burning. I also am 5'10" and only weigh about 126 as I have a hard time gaining weight due to feeling like it's hard to eat. I also get alot of reflux during the night and wakes me up alot. I have had chiropractic adjustments, taken natural remedies, Aloe juice, taken the meds in the past and nothing has completely "cured" it. I have another endoscopy scheduled for next week as I want to find out about this burning. I wanted to say I can relate to the frustration of dealing with something that affects your basic needs of eating and sleeping. I am open if anyone else has suggestions as well.

Oh and I also have severe generalized anxiety with this stomach stuff as well as I worry about eating, sleeping, and what it's doing on the inside. I know I've also had alot of fear in my life so I'm sure that contributed to the stomach issues.

Wyn, did you get the endoscopy done yet? How for it go?

I have had my condition now for about five years on and off probably the worst 3 months ago and still agoraphobic due to the stress and pain, but I was just limiting food really and not really taking anything to get rid of it so trying a list of supplements to see what works. I had an endoscope but still didn't find anything bar how painful the condition is, just keep plowing through it is such a painful condition, I was say a second opinion though because any pain no matter age should be given an endoscope just in case it is something else