Hi- My apologies as it took me a few days to get back to you. It sounds like you are eating a good variety of things. Greens and acids are often the hardest to digest (like apples). Fats and sugars too. Food diaries can help some. Your going to feel like your stomach or digestion is sluggish (which can be a separate condition) because the inflammation can also make you feel full. As for how often, much like food, it is a case by case basis. If it feels right personally, I would recommend continue until advised otherwise by a medical professional.

@johngreen: You're making a strawman argument. I don't tell people to replace PPIs with ginger, but with H2 blockers, which are a cleaner technology which causes less harm, and is appropriate for most people to take.

H2 blockers have been engineered by science, not by Harry Potter.

Would you like to see a study on long-term use of famotidine? I can find it for you - in case you can't Google.

@smilelikeyoumeanit: Just because you have a severe illness which requires PPIs, doesn't mean it's morally responsible to push PPIs on people who should try H2 blockers first.

PPIs have more risk associated with their use, it's a fact. Just because you had to amputate your leg because of gangrene, doesn't mean you should advise someone else to do the same when they have a mosquito bite.

Let's stop muddying the waters, shall we?

Caleigh, Are you taking any acid suppression medication or supplements at all? Or coating your stomach to protect your lining?
The fact you get pain/nausea sounds like you perhaps should consider this &/or go for a blander & lower acid diet temporarily.

All of us on here have different experiences & success with different diets/medications/supplements/herbs & that proves how tricky it is to find exactly what's right for us. Our gastritis will all be subtly different with different causes & areas affected - mine was initially caused by H pylori & is in lower (antral) stomach & duodenum - which means I am constantly battling the irritation from both gastric acid & bile... In my case only with ppi's I saw significant improvement, but this WAS a last resort. However I will stand firm & say I wish I'd taken them sooner. I currently take 20mg Nexium (morning), 300mg Ranitidine (evening) & gaviscon at bedtime, but I am reviewing this after receiving some useful info on this forum about pepcid, amitriptyline & pepzin GI.

If you don't want to take H2 blockers or ppi's then some of the natural supplements I've tried with some limited relief/success include slippery elm (coating), psyllium husk (coating) kelp (coating), alfalfa (alkalises), licorice (coats, soothes, maintains stomach lining). I was under the care of a Medical Herbalist who helped me devise a schedule with safe doses.

I did not have success with aloe Vera - but others have - products were too acidic for me. Loads of other unsuccessful stuff that I can't remember right now.

A reasonably good read is... Natural Alternatives to Nexium, Maalox, Tagamet, Prilosec & Other Acid Blockers: What to Use to Relieve Acid Reflux, Heartburn, and Gastric Ailments by Martie Whittekin.

Also Dropping Acid by Jamie Koufman.

Always consider the pH & texture of the food you're ingesting. The way I think is if I had an open wound on my arm would I want to rub this food in it??!! I know that sounds crazy, but it is a good thought process - there's no way you'd rub in acidic, stinging foods like tomatoes or fruit juice. Likewise gritty foods are a big 'no'.

Once the lining begins to heal, more foods/drinks can be tolerated, but be patient, kind & gentle with your tum.

Hi, ravenfish! The good thing is that all those I can tolerate. I used to love those foods (well, I just discovered sunflower seed butter)! I guess it's ok for me, then, to stop eating lunch at around 2:30 and be really full until, like, 8. I also get nauseous every day around 4 or 5 and that lasts until 8. Other than that, I can't complain. Missing chocolate and caffeine a little, haha!

Thank you!
Caleigh :)

Hi, smilelikeyoumeanit!
I take 1-2 Tums a day, as needed. I take 2 DGL Licorice tablets a day, one before lunch and one before a snack at night. I take digestive enzymes that are also an antacid. I don't want to rely too much on medicines. I'm vey holistic and all natural. Also, my GI doctor said that my inflammation is mild. I don't know if that makes a difference when it comes to how much and what medicines I should take. The burning and nausea usually happen most between 4 and 8 at night.

Thank you! Best wishes!
Caleigh :)

Things like slippery elm and psyllium husk are 100% completely natural. They work by coating/soothing/protecting the stomach & can help absorb acid.

I wonder if anything like this would ease your evening nausea at all?

Even something like a small serving of gluten-free oatmeal or rice pudding (made with coconut or almond milk) can perform a similar function to the slippery elm or psyllium.

I am extremely lucky that I have never had nausea/sickness as a symptom, but my worst burning pain was always between 4-7.30pm & I believe this can be correlated with a spike in daytime gastric acid production.

Acid is the enemy of gastritis & will cause further irritation & undo healing which is why it must be minimised by whatever route you chose.

Hi, smilelikeyoumeanit!

I was contemplating Slippery Elm powder. Have you tried it? Tums help if it's minor. Last night I took a Pepto Bismol and that seemed to help. I also have anti-nausea bands that I put on both of my wrists that press on the acupressure point on your inner wrist to help relieve nausea. Why is there a spike in daytime gastric acid production?

Thank you!
Caleigh :)

Yes I've tried slippery elm powder, but not for a couple of years since I switched to psyllium husk capsules. I think I used to mix approx 1tsp of slippery elm with a little cold water & then make up in the mug with hot water, then allow it to cool. It makes a gloopy thin, flavourless gel & is very soothing to drink. Other people might make it differently or refrigerate & sip it off a spoon. Or can take as capsules.

Pepto bismol is very soothing, but can cause constipation.

Gastric acid follows a circadian rhythm of production - basically our stomachs produce more acid around mealtimes - especially the evening meal. I have a few links/graphs etc somewhere.

Hi, smilelikeyoumeanit!

I will definitely try to buy some slippery elm powder tomorrow. I would love to see those graphs if you can find them. Also, I don't know why, but the past couple days my nausea and burning in my stomach has been exceptionally worse. I haven't done anything differently. It has decreased my appetite even more. It's making me feel tried constantly and I don't want to lose any more weight. I can't stand feeling like this!! Do you think aloe vera water and/or coconut water and organic licorice root tea might soothe it enough so I can eat? What do you suggest?

Unfortunately that is a common thing for people with gastritis - you don't do anything differently, but symptoms can 'flare up' - vary or worsen - for no apparent reason. The levels of acid in our stomachs & pain fluctuate depending on so many factors - stress, sleep, diet, hormones, monthly cycle... of course mainly diet too, but it is our whole life that can influence gastritis. Also if I get any bug, cold or virus then it affects my stomach now.

Aloe Vera was too acidic for me (it burned), but yes I have had both coconut water & licorice tea. They were soothing.

Perhaps you can contact members like soretum & sunlovinmom who I believe healed a lot without using ppi's. Also of course Ravenfish for the fabulous diet info. Many others on here too that know more than me about regimes for diet & natural supplements.

I have some knowledge & experience of natural supplements, but in the end H2 blockers & ppi's were the way forward for me.

You really must see a Dr if you think your symptoms are worsening. You really don't want this condition to worsen.

"Also, I don't know why, but the past couple days my nausea and burning in my stomach has been exceptionally worse"

Yeah - see my post on page 1. The one about Pepcid (famotidine) and dosage. If you can only get Zantac, then replace every mention of Pepcid 20mg with Zantac 150mg. Both are sold over-the-counter.

I have a strong feeling that you need to give this a serious try at least for a few days. Start taking Pepcid 20mg (or at least Zantac 150mg) every 12 hours. Don't eat for at least 30mins before and after the pill.

In just a few days on H2 blocker you won't develop serious acid rebound, but it may just help you feel relief and you may realize it's the solution to the problem. If it doesn't, you can still quit, in the unlikely case that it's a low-acid problem instead of high-acid problem.

Burning in the stomach is no joke, especially when accompanied with nausea. You have to do something - YESTERDAY.

Hi, smilelikeyoumeanit!

It has only been the past couple days. Maybe it was the turmeric that I tried? Praying that today is better!!!

Thank you!
Caleigh :)

Hi, shihonage!

Your symptoms have been worse the past couple days, too? And you found that Pepcid helped? I'll go out today and buy some. Can't you not take it with Tums, though? Tums seem to help for me.

Thank you!
Caleigh :)

Don't take Tums! Take Pepcid 20mg version every 12 hours and see if it helps! It's not a one-time remedy. If it helps, you may be stuck on it for a long time, but that's better than having excess acid create an ulcer in your stomach lining. If it doesn't help, then you can still quit it early without making things worse.

Caleigh, can you please make your parents read all my posts in this thread? No offense, but you can't fully seem to understand what I am saying, and your health is not a toy to play with. The digestive system is the center of your health.

Please get your parents to read this. Or just go to your physician and ask about Pepcid in regards to your problem. WITH YOUR PARENTS.

And stop taking random irritants like Turmeric. Your stomach cannot put up with it.

On that note, I am done with this thread. Sorry, it just makes me feel like banging my fists on outside of an aquarium. Que sera, sera.