Diet - Diet - Diet is KEY.... I've said it before t you. Write down everything you eat (be honest) for 2 or 3 days, post it - and we can see where you are going wrong... coffee and chocolate is a MUST GO not a TRY. You just have to be really really strict with yourself. Gastritis is a lifestyle, not just a temporary change change in diet. You will get there. I promise!!! It's not that difficult once you get going in the right direction.

I agree with 2fastforward. Oh my yes--it's tempting to want to eat/drink all kinds of things. We have all 'been there.' This is tricky stuff to deal with!

I would agree, too, about posting everything you're eating/drinking for a couple days. Maybe it will help not only you, but others here, too. Good luck and best wishes.

You have to make serious changes in your diet, I am very strict with what I eat. It is boring but It's better than being in pain. I know that this is a very scary thing to go through, but with diet, exercise, and a positive attitude you will start to feel much better. You need to start with a very limited diet, and then start trying things, but you have to get yourself feeling better before you can try eating anything outside of a very limited diet. For example for breakfast I have a small serving of oatmeal with apple sauce and raisins. Lunch and dinner are chicken or fish, with potatoes, carrots and spinach. I snack on apples, bananas, peaches, and pretzels. All I drink is water. Eating this way may sound hard, but when you start to feel better you know that it is worth it.

One question... why not another scope? My second one showed that not only my gastritis healed, but I had a second problem with similar symptoms that was causing the same pain. Sometimes a little more information can take you very far. Diet is a part of the problem, yes, but that is also depending upon what you are really dealing with. I would suggest that you consider the scope, if the first one wasn't too big of an ordeal for you (I know not all places do them the same). If not, continue trying to work with the doctor and see what you can do but always be your own best advocate first and foremost. Many hugs and I hope you feel better soon!

Thanks everyone. I had really bad pain last night and hardly any sleep. Today I only ate plain foods. I did have some cheese sandwiches Im not sure about those. Are nectarines ok? I had some yogurt with pear in it and some earlier on with coconut along with some coconut water. Ive only had chicken potatoes and broad beans for tea. It is going to be hard sticking to a diet but I hope it works. I don,t have any tomato based foods or oranges. I had Weetabix for breakfast. Im still having tea,decaff as I need a hot drink.

I stay away from nectarines and stick with apples and pears. Just have to make the best of it. Stay away from all citrus.

Consider coming off of the tea too or at least diluting it. Caffeine, even decaf, can be just as bad as acidic foods sometimes.

As a cook by profession I will tell you having gastritis is the worst thing to happen to me. I cooked in the restaurant with nothing else besides butter and olive oil, Italian and French cuisine. So now to diet.... I have discovered some comforting things that may help you. Almond coconut milk, no sugar added, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, baked or microwaved with Smart Balance, broccoli and cauliflower and celerly (you don't have to cook, the nutrients in celery are really good for you) Make sure to eat small bites and chew everything to a pulp! Any kind of white fish, poached is best. Also for tea there is a brand called Choice organic teas that has ginger, lemongrass, licorce and anise, very mild I steep for 2 minutes and save the tea bag for second cup. I hope this helps. I don't like eating this way either but I don't like the pain.

Make sure to cook broccoli and cauliflower well.

Hi thanks all Im trying to stick to a diet but have fell away from it a couple of times. Im going through a bad flare up again which has lasted 3 days. I have eaten chicken and potatoes with green beans etc. How about salads? I had a sandwich with tuna and cheese with sweetcorn,lettuce and cucumber yesterday but also had some black olives,are they alright? Is apple juice ok? Ive not got into herbal tea yet but could try it. If a special diet really does make the difference then I must go for it. It is so hard.

Hi: I've had no problem with baked or boiled chicken, boiled, mashed potatoes and canned green beans (some say 'no' to the beans).

I think salads can be a problem. I started with just a little plain lettuce. Even months later, I don't eat salads much because everything is raw. But I also have GI issues, so they are a problem for me, anyway.

Tuna and cheese never bothered me, personally. How do you serve the tuna? I was always okay with a little mayo, or I could (later) eat a tuna hotdish with noodles and cream of mushroom soup (definitely not something to eat in the early months, though!)

The sweet corn would be a huge problem for me, as it's too rough. I can eat a few cucumber slices, but I make sure they have no peelings. But remember, too, they are raw and could cause some problems with many here. In the past, I've actually cooked a few cuke slices and they are good that way--different, but good.

Apple juice would seem too acidic for me. Right now I can handle a little fruit juice (I like cran-grape), but I do dilute it well with water.

Yes! I hope you do try the herbal teas. Have been okay with chamomile and ginger tea, and now I can handle mint, but I know that has been problematic for many, especially in the early months.

I find the teas to be soothing, and it's another plus since they seem to help my fibromyalgia tame down a bit.

I never had any issues with black olives, but I do chew them very well. Others here say they are a 'no no.'

If you start with just a few bites of a new food, that may be best. You don't want to be sorry later, so take it slowly. And yes, it's so hard to have patience with this, but it will pay off later.

Maybe find another way to give yourself a lift. Buy a book or some clothing, jewelry, etc. you've been wanting or find other little ways to reward yourself besides using food. That's the route I'm taking, and it has gone fairly well.

Good luck and keep us posted!! :)

Hi Ive been reading on WebMD about Protonix and its side effects,Im sure its Pantoprazole which Im on. Anyway it says one of the things it can do is cause stomach inflammation. No wonder its not getting better,the doctor put me on 3 a day. Im not sure but that would explain it. Im going to ask to be put on another PPI like Lansoprazole which I was on before for oesophaghitis. I will ask what I was on when I first got the diagnosis for gastritis. I have stopped drinking coffee and having chocolate etc and it settles down only to flare up again really bad. Im sure its the tablets as my stomach ulcer healed up before when I was on Lansoprazole. I need to look into it a bit more.

Good idea to look into it a bit more. Sometimes meds can be a problem with gastritis. I know some here also say some PPIs seem to be an issue.
Would it be possible you may have too little stomach acid? I would guess there must be a way to measure that(?)

Good for you for 'dumping' the coffee and chocolate! Not easy, but a smart thing to do.

I or someone else may have asked you this in the past, but have you ever looked into alternatives to PPIs?
I just did a quick search and several things popped up. I just searched for 'natural alternative PPIs' and there is a lot of information I hadn't heard before, some of which was quite surprising.

You are not alone at all. I had no idea that I had Chronic Gastritis until I got the scope down my throat. Weird how the Barrett's Esophagus went into remission and then I get this. I can't handle having the nausea, the stomach pain, feeling like I'm going to throw up all the time, and I'm afraid to eat. I'm changing my diet and going back to the one I was on when I had B.E. Just know that you aren't the only one that is scared, but, you also have a lot of support here. I just joined 2 days ago and I'm so glad I found this site. Talk to you again soon.