Gastritis Support Group
Gastritis is a medical term for inflammation of the lining of the stomach. It means that white blood cells move into the wall of the stomach as a response to some type of injury. Gastritis has many underlying causes, from infection with the bacterium H. pylori, bile reflux, or excessive consumption of alcohol or certain foods or drugs like aspirin.
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So this all started about a year ago. I was starting to have unknown health problems when I started running long distances. It didn't start with any digestive problems. I was just always cold, progressively losing weight, either excessively hungry and then I'd I'd go days that caused me to be no longer hungry. I dropped down to my lowest weight I've ever been to 140. Then the digestive problems started. I wanted to eat paleo, lots of whole fruits, veggies, heavy meats, but it just got worse. After tons of tests they finally did an endoscopy. They found I had a healing ulcer and stomach tears. They put me on PPI's. I GOT WORSE. I gained 20 lbs instantly and was extremely constipated, I couldn't move from the couch for two days because I was in so much pain, but I was mortified to go back to my doctor in fear he was going to tell me it was all in my head. So I suffered through it, when I went back and saw him I fought thru tears and told him I was fine and never returned to his office again. I then began seeing a natorupath.I took tons of suppliments and watched my diet, but still I was struggiling. throughout the year I've had TONS of tests done. Hormone tests all normal, evrything they could have check by blood, I promise, has been checked. Adrenal function tests, parasite tests, fructose/sucrose/lactose/ SIBO intolerance , food allergy tests all done and came back normal. The only things that came back abnormal where my magnesium, low vitamin D, my a1c was a barely high , and at one point my liver enzymes had been elevated. My period just returned to normal after a full year of not having it. (I stopped birth control around the time I started to get sick but I dont feel like there is a direct link) Two weeks ago I went to the ER twice because I was in so much pain in the upper right quadrant and of course in the stomach. It hurts when I take a deep breath in, like its pushing on something there that hurts. I took nothing but pain killers for a week, I couldn't walk because I was doubled over in pain, and couldn't even lay down to go to sleep. Since then I've gotten a new GI doctor and he is fantastic. I had an abdominal ultra sound and it came back normal and then an endoscopy and surprise! Gastritis (I pretty much knew that). I have a HIDA scan scheduled in a couple of days. There is a suspicion of gallbaldder problems and endometriosis. Both run in my family. My question to anyone that will answer: HAS ANYONE HAD THEIR GALLBLADDER OUT? DID YOU BENEFIT FROM IT? DOES ANYONE HAVE ENDOMETRIOSIS? HOW DID IT PRESENT TO YOU?
I'm on Omeprazole, metacolpramide, hyoscyamine, sucralfate, and Ambian w/o it I wouldn't be able to sleep. (before it I didn't sleep for four days straight because It hurt so bad) I have tried every herbal remedy: the only thing that works is aloe and dandelion tea (sometimes)
I want to go a natural way but I'm just in way too much pain and after a year I need to find something that will help me. This is really affecting my quality of life.
I try to eat healthy but anything with fiber tears through my stomach. I can't have oatmeal(it really hates me), squash, anything of the green colors, carrots really hate me, pretty much all meat and eggs. The only thing I found I can tolerate well is processed food like cereals, crackers, sometimes a tad bit of peanut butter, olive oil, cream of rice, chickpea soup, and I make my own white flour muffins. I just really want to eat colorful healthy foods :( WHAT ARE SOME FOODS THAT AGREE WITH YOU? WHAT ARE FOODS THAT REALLY DON'T AGREE WITH YOU? I know I wrote a lot but I've got a long background. Before this I was a happy 20 year old who ran marathons and I just really want to run again and be able to go out without having my PH water in my hand or my medication/suppliment bag close to me.
I really appriciate all who take the time to reply to me
So this all started about a year ago. I was starting to have unknown health problems when I started running long distances. It didn't start with any digestive problems. I was just always cold, progressively losing weight, either excessively hungry and then I'd I'd go days that caused me to be no longer hungry. I dropped down to my lowest weight I've ever been to 140. Then the digestive problems started. I wanted to eat paleo, lots of whole fruits, veggies, heavy meats, but it just got worse. After tons of tests they finally did an endoscopy. They found I had a healing ulcer and stomach tears. They put me on PPI's. I GOT WORSE. I gained 20 lbs instantly and was extremely constipated, I couldn't move from the couch for two days because I was in so much pain, but I was mortified to go back to my doctor in fear he was going to tell me it was all in my head. So I suffered through it, when I went back and saw him I fought thru tears and told him I was fine and never returned to his office again. I then began seeing a natorupath.I took tons of suppliments and watched my diet, but still I was struggiling. throughout the year I've had TONS of tests done. Hormone tests all normal, evrything they could have check by blood, I promise, has been checked. Adrenal function tests, parasite tests, fructose/sucrose/lactose/ SIBO intolerance , food allergy tests all done and came back normal. The only things that came back abnormal where my magnesium, low vitamin D, my a1c was a barely high , and at one point my liver enzymes had been elevated. My period just returned to normal after a full year of not having it. (I stopped birth control around the time I started to get sick but I dont feel like there is a direct link) Two weeks ago I went to the ER twice because I was in so much pain in the upper right quadrant and of course in the stomach. It hurts when I take a deep breath in, like its pushing on something there that hurts. I took nothing but pain killers for a week, I couldn't walk because I was doubled over in pain, and couldn't even lay down to go to sleep. Since then I've gotten a new GI doctor and he is fantastic. I had an abdominal ultra sound and it came back normal and then an endoscopy and surprise! Gastritis (I pretty much knew that). I have a HIDA scan scheduled in a couple of days. There is a suspicion of gallbaldder problems and endometriosis. Both run in my family. My question to anyone that will answer: HAS ANYONE HAD THEIR GALLBLADDER OUT? DID YOU BENEFIT FROM IT? DOES ANYONE HAVE ENDOMETRIOSIS? HOW DID IT PRESENT TO YOU?
I'm on Omeprazole, metacolpramide, hyoscyamine, sucralfate, and Ambian w/o it I wouldn't be able to sleep. (before it I didn't sleep for four days straight because It hurt so bad) I have tried every herbal remedy: the only thing that works is aloe and dandelion tea (sometimes)
I want to go a natural way but I'm just in way too much pain and after a year I need to find something that will help me. This is really affecting my quality of life.
I try to eat healthy but anything with fiber tears through my stomach. I can't have oatmeal(it really hates me), squash, anything of the green colors, carrots really hate me, pretty much all meat and eggs. The only thing I found I can tolerate well is processed food like cereals, crackers, sometimes a tad bit of peanut butter, olive oil, cream of rice, chickpea soup, and I make my own white flour muffins. I just really want to eat colorful healthy foods :( WHAT ARE SOME FOODS THAT AGREE WITH YOU? WHAT ARE FOODS THAT REALLY DON'T AGREE WITH YOU? I know I wrote a lot but I've got a long background. Before this I was a happy 20 year old who ran marathons and I just really want to run again and be able to go out without having my PH water in my hand or my medication/suppliment bag close to me.
I really appriciate all who take the time to reply to me
Herbal supplements did not set well with me either so I stopped them all...are you on nexium or dexilant or any other PPI?
Have you healed from yours? how long did it take you to see improvement?
Even if this doesnt apply to you, get yourself to a good therapist. This is a very depressing issue and if you have an underlying issue that you havent had help with get help for it . Mental health issues tend to be the number one cause of GI problems.
It would be simpler if you find out something else is causing all these symptoms. I do wonder if something else is causing all of this. have you had a colonoscopy? You should be better after a year of managing this and being on a PPI.
I am a major runner too and some people think over many years of running you can wear out the soft tissue etc but this doesnt appy to you. It does to me more so.
Barretts has to be managed carefully. You may need a stronger PPI like dexilant 60mg maybe. You need to heal the esophagus. Once you have Barretts, PPIs dont work too well for it.
Dont have your gallbladder out unless that is the reason but that issue is usually a poor diet problem. Not sure about endometriosis but it doesnt sound right to me.
I am not sure you are getting the right help. Are your parents supporting you and making sure you get to the bottom of the cause of all these symptoms. A year of this is too long without any improvement at all. Your doctor should be pretty concerned about this.
I am wondering what is getting in the way of your healing if it is gastritis alone.
There are lots of posts in the GERD and gastritis site about diet and what works but it sounds like you have that figured out for yourself.
I hope you get to the bottom of this and get relief from your pain
Yes, I had mines removed a few months ago. In my case I also have chronic mild gastritis and mild reflux. No regular symptoms, just pressure on the middle of my chest 12 hours daily, every day ( not heartburn or cardio related) Bloating as well. I eat healthy and actually under weight thanks to my diet which I hate because I want to gain weight. They removed it and it did help just a little, but still 75% there. I have taken omeprazole, pantoprazole and raniditine. They did not work at all so I stopped. Now I'm going to a nutritionist this next week- I do take probiotics which hep a little and enzymes. Sorry I did not help, just hope you get better. ;-)
I have had a colonoscopy, it was normal.
And I'm just getting back on the PPI after my first time on a PPI I was very mortified to be on it. Now that I am taking Omeprazole prescription I feel a difference, but I still cough up most of my food that I eat :(
My parents have been really good about taking me to all of my doctor appointment and supporting me the best they can. They've pushed me several times to go back to the doctor because there where times where I didn't want to go because I didn't want the doctor to tell me I was "anxious" or "crazy."
After getting my first endoscopy and dealing with that crappy doctor I didn't go back and I went to a naturalist. I was so determined to heal it naturally. I tried everything she recommended, and was mortified of taking PPI's even after my primary care doctor insisted that I started taking them again.
After sticking to my guns on the natural route I was struggiling, but able to go to work and run again an little again, not the marathon I really wanted to run.
I was off and on. And then I had a huge relapse and was done with the natural route. I found a new GI doctor, told him about regurgitation and my stomach pains. I think he was thinking gastoparesis and Ibs because those where what his first two medications where for. I kinda knew it was gastritis and made a new appointment because the treatment and drugs he perscribed weren't helping. until I had to go to the hospital new years day and the day after. I was in so much pain.
I do deal with tons of mental problems from this. I'm absolutely mortified. I wondering how I'll live my life always being stuck to some kind of medication. Lots of my life goals have been shot because of this. I'm worried about the long term effects of the drugs I'm using and putting into my body. I cry my eyes out atleast once a day. I have a job that requires me to help people, but I can't even help myself. I know that I'm sad about this, I know that I'm anxious about this. I see these more as symptoms and not causes because I was completely fine before this. and I tried mental medications but even being on antidepressants I was still bawling like a baby everytime I ate something that killed my stomach.
Make sure your doctor is on top of the Barretts. You need to have a scope done regularly when you have Barretts. barretts usually takes years to develop. have you had reflux for years? You can reverse it as well.
Can you get to a therapist? The anxiety that you are having now makes all the symptoms worse and makes it harder to heal the stomach. You may need coping strategies and ways to alleviate your anxiety. A lot of people try Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. You need someone who is very good with anxiety.
Give the PPI more time. After 3 months you should see a big difference if you are also good with the diet and you must reduce the anxiety.
Yes, drinking a lot can give you gastritis in the first place and also cause a tear. Especially if there was throwing up involved. Also antibiotics can cause gastritis. Do you take anti inflammatories as well? There have been a few young people on this site that have developed gastritis from drinking too much in one night.
I agree natural doesnt treat gastritis well for many people. You may need to add Zantac to your regime.
You can have PTSD with an EMS career. Do you feel that makes any sense for you at all?
the regurgitation part is odd. It doesnt fit in with gastritis but it sort of fits with reflux but you reflux up small amounts a few hours after you eat. Are you anxious eating? I can see if you were really anxious you might cough and bring up your food though. You dont have a hiatal hernia? Look at the meds as a short term thing, you wont be on them forever.
I am pretty sure you need to see a therapist who can help you cope and reduce the anxiety. It is so hard to heal with all the mental anguish you are going through. many on this site have the same issue. You are not alone with this. Most get help for the mental aspect.
So, I am thinking the mental part is making this very difficult for you to heal. I also think a few factors caused the gastritis and reflux. Like the alcohol and antibiotics and a few other factors. being an EMS is stressful. It may be affecting you and you dont know it.
This will take time. if you reduce the anxiety and the mental stress and you still dont heal, I would get to another doctor for a second opinion but my gut is telling me it is all about anxiety. It is very common.
Get to a therapist soon. I think it could help you a lot and allow healing to take place.
Hang in there. I know this is hard and you are young. Too young to be dealing with this