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.

1,485 Members

3,230 Posts

0 Online

poorlygir4l 11/21/2011

I don't know if anyone has any ideas but my symptoms have flared up bad again. I went out Saturday night and did have some coffee and tea and some Chinese food. I was fine but had my tablet late,the Cimetidine. I had a sandwich with it and later went to bed. When I got up and started to eat I got bloating,soreness and discomfort. It worsened throughout the day and I started having reflux. The pain was so bad I couldn't sleep and had more reflux. I still have really bad pain and a bit of acid reflux. Ive struggled to eat all day. Im going to keep off coffee and anything fatty. I had walnuts and they have a lot of fat so Im not having them anymore. I want ideas on how to calm this down as its terrible. Its among the worst flare up Ive had. How can I get it under control. Should I go back on a PPI? I will need to see my doctor I think and explain how bad things have got. Has anyone else had to cope with a really bad flare up? Im not sure what to do now.

deleted_user 11/21/2011

Hi, poorlygir4l.

Very sorry to hear that you're having another rough spell.

I can only tell you from previous experience on my part that I suggest you go on a very conservative diet for awhile. That means no coffee, tea (other than chamomile), fatty or spicy foods (including Chinese), etc. I know it's tough and miserable to be on a very conservative diet, but at least for me that's what's really helped.

I don't have any advice on the medicines, as that needs to be between you and your doctor. For me, I always do best on a conservative diet (for awhile, until things have been better for a month or two), PPI, and Carafate.

Wishing good things for you!

soretum 11/22/2011

Hey poorlygirl,
My heart goes out to you. I echo JJ with regards to your diet. Sadly for now yummy foods filled with onion, garlic and other delights are off limits. This doesn't mean you have to eat a bland tasteless diet but it does mean eating out is restricted to safe only foods. For me that means fish, chicken or steak cooked without sauce. I prefer vego foods but sadly haven't found one out I can safely eat yet. (apart from breakfast foods)
Try doing your Chinese food at home. Ginger is very good for your stomach and if you can handle honey and maybe soy sauce your on your way to some sort of a dish.
Hang in there and really rest your tummy for a few days with very bland, plain food. Let is settle and build from there.
It will get better and it does get easier. Time is the greatest healer of gastritis along with diet change.
Take care,
Cas

poorlygir4l 11/22/2011

Thanks jjstark and soretum. I had a very bad night last night. The pain was awful and I had acid reflux. I couldn't sleep,it was agony and still is. I went to the doctors and was told to take 4 Cimetidine a day. It sounds a lot and Im worried that I can't fit in taking any Gaviscon round them. I really need a stomach coater. I was told to take Amitrptyline early evening too. They haven't been doing anything for it. Ive got to have the ph monitoring test but don't know when. I think its the gastritis as it feels like the lining inside my stomach is being eaten or boiling water has been poured down there. I saw the emergency doc so have to wait until next week to see my own doc. There may be more tests but I don't know what. I will try to be careful what I eat. I hope this eases soon. Have you had severe pain with it? I hope it gets better soon.

deleted_user 11/22/2011

Cas: I have been SO hungry for Chinese food! Do you make your own? If so, what do you put in it--veggies, seasoning, etc.? Thanks in advance for any ideas.

deleted_user 11/23/2011

Take good care of yourself. Hang in there. The flare up will lessen in time, if you treat your body well and relax. It is a difficult process, I know, but always remember that even the pain is a sign that your body is trying to heal. Hang in there and best wishes always.

poorlygir4l 11/23/2011

Thanks everyone. I

poorlygir4l 11/23/2011

Thanks everyone I still have a bad flare up its awful. I will have to be careful as the Chinese was at a restaurant. It was a chicken ommelate and prob full of fat also it had onions in it. Never again. I have had chicken and mushrooms before and been ok. It seems to have got more sensitive recently,calming down some days and flaring up really bad others. It proberly is what I eat but foods it did ok with it doesn't anymore. P

deleted_user 11/23/2011

My advice for Chinese restaurants - just get a stir fried rice with chicken or tofu, and mix with equal portions of plain rice. It might also be OK to get a simple chicken or fish dish with non-spicy sauce and some basic veggies that you can tolerate.

deleted_user 11/24/2011

Watch out with the soy sauce. As it is bean based, it can cause indigestion. It may also contain alcohol and other ingredients too.

deleted_user 11/24/2011

Thanks for the advice on the Chinese food, soy sauce, etc..
It was always a sort of 'comfort food' for me, but not so with the gastritis!

poorlygir4l 11/25/2011

Hi everyone well the pain is still agony. I haven't touched anything like Chinese. Ive been living on chicken mostly this week or tuna sandwiches. I only have plain cereal at breakfast and fruit like an apple or pear. Ive also tried ginger biscuits. I phoned the gastro in desperation and just got his secretary who said to phone the hospital where Im having the ph test. They say that I have to come off tablets for the test. I told them I couldn't as the gastritis had flared up bad. I also rang my doctor who said that I would have to go back on Pantoprazole,as the gastritis has flared up. She thinks its because my tablets were changed. I still take Gaviscon. Im thinking of taking the Slippery elm each day as it really is agony. How do I take it? Is it best to take it with breakfast? Then later? I only have the capsules. Thanks Hows your gastritis now?

deleted_user 11/26/2011

I take the slippery elm tea about 45 minutes after breakfast, and off and on throughout the day. To me, it doesn't seem to matter when, and it does seem to be helping--I'm a little better. Best of luck!

poorlygir4l 11/27/2011

Hi sunlovinmom thanks for the advice about Slippery elm,I will try it. Its still quite badly inflamed and hurts like mad. Its been bad for a week now and it won't settle down. D

soretum 11/27/2011

-hi sunlovingmum,
I now make 'my' Chinese stir fry using ginger (paste, or dried), tamari (wheat free soy sauce, honey and lemon juice. I also add sesami oil for extra flavour. My vegies are any of the following: celery, carrot, green beans, broccoli ( small amount) cauliflower, spinach, silverbeet, and zucchini.
I will try oyster sauce soon and see how that goes.
I do my version of a curry using ginger, corriander, and turmeric. Sometimes I finish it with coconut cream or yoghurt for a different flavour.
If you can't manage soy sauce you could try promite (is that an American food or English?)
Please ask any questions and pass on any of your food ideas also. I'm always keen to learn more.
Take care,
cas

soretum 11/27/2011

-hi poorlygirl,
Oh yes I've had horrid pain with the gastritis and would just as soon never go down that path again. With all my bravado for trying new foods I keep things very simple in my diet and don't try foods that wouldn't be advisable at this stage. I never give up home on the future...its all I have. I only have gastritis pain now though if I have a reaction to a new food. If I didn't now have IBS to deal with I'd be pain free, but not gastritis free.
Still I have a good life and am surrounded by caring friends and family. A lot to be thankful for.
Cas

Join the Conversation