Since I have been dealing with gastritis for nearly four months, I thought maybe I can share some of the experiences which have helped me steer through this challenging condition. I am by no means healed yet; one wrong step and my stomach shuts the digestive enterprise for a few days. But on the positive side, I am pain-free, my appetite has increased greatly and can eat bigger meals than before. I also digest much faster. Through what I have read so far on the internet, the doctors are pretty much useless when it comes to healing gastritis, and the only usefulness I found for them is the prescription of PPIs. The rest is upon us fellow sufferers.

The only necessity, I believe, to get through this phase of stomach non-cooperation, is mental fortitude and discipline. It is easy to succumb to a defeatist mindset, since it feels like it will never heal, after all most other illnesses heal much faster. But not so for the wicked stomach, it seems. The reason that it takes so long is probably that it can never fully rest. If it does rest for the necessary duration to heal, we will rest in peace along with it. But, I do not think it is logical to assume that it will never heal, since after a while it gets better and better, so why should it not go towards its logical conclusion, i.e. full healing? The mistake to which I have been prone far too frequently is to deceive myself and think that I am healed and ready to try out new things. But O, how mistaken was I indeed!

The bottom line is to continue with a bland diet even months after you feel that you are doing okay. It is not worth the risk to go to square one, believe me. Just hang in there, and even try to be ascetic for a while concerning food (I don’t think anyone has died of gastritis). It can be a strengthening experience, since there are things in life far more important than sensual gratification, and you might be directed towards them more than before since one arena of useless mundane pleasure is absent. Now I might sound like a motivational speaker or something, but don’t get me wrong, I myself doubt far too often that this will ever heal. But when I reflect rationally, I feel that if we give the stomach enough rest there is no reason it should not heal completely. It may take long, maybe even a year, but it will heal eventually (many people are not in the forum anymore which is a good sign and many come back with the good news of being over this). But becoming desperate and trying bad foods now and then will only make it worse and prolong the unpleasant condition.

Things that have worked for me so far are these (for the triggers there is enough information on the internet):

-        oatmeal in soymilk (well cooked) + banana + honey and a little bit of cinnamon (the only meal that is not bland)

-        potato/ sweet potato

-        rice with chicken broth

-        hummus

-        bread

-        apple juice

-        eggs boiled or fried with very little olive oil

-        chamomile tea

-        butter bread (at your own risk)

-        pasta with packaged mushroom sauce (don’t know how it didn’t trigger)

-        beet root

Note that everyone is different. Some people mention that they eat meat and fruit and vegetables but whenever I eat them my stomach becomes inactive again. You should quickly eliminate all the trigger foods and only and ONLY stick with the food that do not strain your stomach.

At the early stages be sure to chew very well and have 5-6 small meals or even more instead of three big ones. This will let the stomach rest. Do not eat more than two or three things together. I usually stick with only 2. Always wait to be completely hungry before you eat or drink. Never drink short after or during meals. I always wait to get hungry to drink. Then wait and eat when I am hungry again. Otherwise, the pain is back.

If by any chance you eat a wrong food and you feel that your stomach is irritated, be super careful. Although it might not feel so bad, it is a lot more prone to collapse if you eat a trigger food again. Normally the first time it is a warning and the second time a shut down. So go super easy on it till you feel it gains a bit of strength again.

I hope this helps a few of you.

Good luck and never lose hope.