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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Gastrointestinal System
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Gastritis and Stress

toomuchPho
toomuchPho
I wasn't sure whether to add on to my previous thread, but the topic seems appropriate for a separate discussion. How do you manage stress, and do you feel that it contributes/prolongs your condition??

a bit of background -

I recently saw a gastro specialist, who basically told me my gastritis could be largely due to stress.

She used the word gastritis loosely - and told me that since none of my other tests (barium, ultrasound, blood tests, h.pylori) came back abnormal, she suspects that we would find nothing if she did a scope exam. She's an expert, so I trust her opinion...I still have an option of one if this doesn't get better in a couple of months...

Anyway - the stress. I had a hellish 2013 - I was grinding my teeth daily and I'm in a habit of clenching my stomach muscles when I'm stressed - this went on for about 6 months, and I think it contributed to the crappy state I'm in now. I got very stressed again 2 days ago, and I found that my gastritis flared up almost instantly...I think I'm on to something.

I'd love to hear other's opinions. How you manage your stress when you suspect it's making your illness worse? At this point, I choose myself over issues with my family - I can't change people, I can only change how I cope.
tx.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I read in several articles that gastritis can only be diagnosed by having done an endoscopy. Gastritis can be caused by extreme psychological stress., but I don't now about everyday stress we oftenencounter. having said that, it seems that everyday stress can make existing gastritis worse.
I have ADHD which some doctors misread as stress and I had several doctors refuse to treat me a few years ago because they thought I was just stressed out. But I insisted they do further testing. Turns out that one time I had sick sinus syndrome and now I have a pacemaker. The other time a had a severe mastoid infection and I needed immediate surgery . After surgery the surgeon told me that the infection was just about spreading to my brain . Both conditions would have killed me. So I would say, please push for the endoscopy and have him look at your stomach to see what is going on.
ravenfish2013
ravenfish2013
There is a direct correlation between stress, anxiety and the GI system or GIT. It is called the mind-gut connection. You may be interested in reading up on it.

Regarding stress personally, learning what causes you stress and listening to your body is the best personal advice I found for assisting with managing it- especially when I had gastritis.

Good luck and hope you begin to feel better soon.
ablueflower
ablueflower
I notice that in times when I'm stressed my symptoms are getting worse. I think that in my case, gastritis is caused by stress. How to manage stress, I don't know, most of it I experience at work. I'm also a very anxious person and I worry too much and it certainly doesn't help with my problems. Relaxation techniques helps me to reduce stress a bit and getting enough sleep helps me feel better.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Listening to some relaxing videos on YouTube before bed can help with a stressed head also ASMR videos on YouTube are very relaxing. ASMR is the nice relaxation feeling you get when u hear a certain noise or a soft voice or when having a massage.
poorlygir4l
poorlygir4l
I wake up with anxiety and don't, know why. I often wake up with a gastritis attack. Its agony and Im sure the anxiety makes it worse. I see the gastro again soon but have been that they did the tests last time. Last year I had an endoscopy and have gastritis and an erosion. It seems to be getting worse with the pain but they just put it down to stress. You do an endoscopy but I know how difficult it is trying to get one. I got put on an antidepressant. It helps a bit with the anxiety but not with the gastritis pain. Thy want me to take morphine for that. I just want a cure.
rosebrook
rosebrook
When I was first diagnosed with gastritis I was suffering with the worst post nasal drip ever in my life, the drs said it was a sinus infection, but now that months have gone by and more tests done, the PND was from an under active thyroid, my numbers were so low, the body was trying to protect my sinuses with mucus, so for. 4 months the muscus was dripping into my stomach day and night causing thenexsesiven. Acids in my GI, the ENT dr explained it to me, and I was also taking Advil for all my aches which only made matters worst by destroying the mucsa lining in my stomach. I hope with diet and the proper meds my stomach will heal, but I was taking Vicidin in the beginning or when things get real bad.
Nina1959
Nina1959
I use meditation.
Also consciously letting it drop, telling myself it isn't worth it...
and,
Xanax....
rosebrook
rosebrook
Yes, Xanax every night for sleep and a aniexty
littlemart
littlemart
It seems to me that EVERYTHING is caused by stress. Every disease I have is worse when stress creeps into my life. And I have never been able to figure out how anyone beats stress. It's a part of life. I guess some people learn how to control it better. But I don't know how. I was born a worrier, my mother was a worrier and I'm sure I will die a worrier.
smilelikeyoumeanit
smilelikeyoumeanit
Stress can affect levels of gastrin in the bloodstream.
Gastrin levels affect how much gastric acid is produced in the stomach.
More stress = more gastric acid = more pain
Ines6375
Ines6375
I went to tremendous stress for many years due to a bad relationship. I did not have stomach problems before but a strong sensitivity developed during that relationship that culminated in gastritis last year. Now the relationship is over and I am recovering for gastritis. I used to think that I could manage the stress somehow but now I don't think so anymore, I just know that I must avoid as much as possible toxic people and relationships.