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
/ Gastritis Support Group

Help with gastritis

himynamesjames
himynamesjames
Hi I have just become a member of DS, and I was hoping to get some opinions on what I have and anything you maybe are able to advise me on. I have been to the A & E department 4 times this year with chronic, stomach pains which would not go away no matter what i did. The 1st time they did all the normal checks they checked my blood and gallbladder to check that i didn't have gallstones. Then they just let me go home. The second time they gave me acid tablets (lanzeprazol) and told me to watch my diet and take the acid meds. The third time they did a gastroscopy which found nothing and then they did a breath test for H. Pylori bacteria which was negative. The doctors now say that its gastritis and dyspepsia, I really cannot handle another attack. I wondered if anyone has the same kind of problems. The most recent time the pain was so bad i had to call an ambulance I was also sick 3 times which hasn't happend before, the pain lasts for a full day from when i wake up until when i go to bed. The main thing i was really worried about is that i have read that from this point you can easily go on to develop a stomach ulcer as a result of the gastritis. Can anybody help and do you think the lanzaprazol and amytriptaline medication that i am currently on will help. Also do you know if this will ever go away. I am sorry to ask all these questions I just want to know what to expect.

Many thanks
Anita-Mo
Anita-Mo
With a restriction in diet and the regular taking of lansoprazole , you should recover if the gastritis isn't chronic. Eat small frequent easy to digest meals ie no pizza heavy fat laden meals. Think oatmeal porridge, jacket potatoes , chicken, fish . No red meats or hard to digest meals. People usually start with bananas , rice , toast , applesauce diet . Don't rush into eating anything heavy once you start feeling better the symptoms will usually return. Once you have symptoms of gastritis not caused by helicobactor then you have to change your diet and the way you eat . Take your lansoprazole in the morning half hour or one hour before food otherwise it is not effective . Gastritis takes a while to heal, within 4 to. 8 weeks you should see improvement if you stick to the diet. Within 6 months you should be much better but remember not to over eat. You could probably eat pizza after 6 months but think 1 slice and not 3 slices. Eat everything in moderation. Hope you feel better soon .
soretum
soretum
If it was gastritis it would have shown up in the gastroscopy. I sometimes wonder about the medical profession. Good advice from anita though.
himynamesjames
himynamesjames
Hi guys thanks for the advice, they have done many tests i tested negative for h.pylori, and the gastroscope didnt show anything, however I wasn't bad when I had the camera. The doctors said my condition is not an exact science, my gp said it was dyspepsia and the doctor in a & e said it was gastritis. I don't really get symptoms after most foods but if I over eat, I wake up in agony and it lasts a full day, I am usually sick 2 or 3 times and I feel very tender for 2 or 3 days after the attack.
lu2013
lu2013
himynames, just wanted to say that I have the EXACT same diagnosis. Right after my gastroscopy, my GI said he saw some inflammation and referred to it as gastritis. But other than that, nothing abnormal. Then in discussion afterwards (via email), he referred o it as functional dyspepsia...which is really what they default to when no other abnormalities are visible. Am sorry you're suffering so. Strangely, my GI said he saw no indication of excess acid, but I have to disagree as tecta and zantac to help (prescribed by my rheumatologist). Have you tried taking any acid reducing meds? Do they help at all? YOur pains sound so strong.
himynamesjames
himynamesjames
Hi Lu, I have been prescribed lanzaprazole for the acid reflux, but i still get pain sometimes so I am really not sure if its helping or not. The problem is when I start to feel better I return to my old ways with food and have the odd pepsi etc. Then out of the blue it hits me one morning like a train and i am right back to square 1 with it. The 1st 3 times it was just mega mega pain, but the latest attack i also felt dizzy and was sick 3 times it was awful and I ended up calling an ambulance. From what I can gather lots of people are saying we have to stay on a very basic diet, soups porridge's etct that are very kind to our stomach, this helps the healing process. I just find this very difficult to juggle around a demandinng full time job. Also Lu it doesn't have to necessarily be excess stomach acid your normal stomach acid is enough to irritate your gastitis further in which case lanzaprazole would be well wort trying as it will disolve a lot of irritating tummy acid and allow your tummy to start the healing process. Also look up mastic gum it is highly recomended on here and other sites I have just ordered some.

James
lu2013
lu2013
James, I hear you. I will have good days and will think "hey, maybe this is getting better with time" and then eat something and am back to the nausea. Am sorry your symptoms are extreme pain. And yeah, it can be really difficult when you have to keep on going with work. That makes sense what you say about stomach acid...for us, we would be very sensitive, even to normal amounts.

I am going to stop my PPI soon and hope to manage with over the counter. I will look at trying something like lansoprazole (mind you, I know I've seen Prilosec, but it may have been in the US whereas, I'm in Canada), Will have to check pharmacy again. Zantac with the PPI does seem to help at least when the nausea comes.
Hope you don't have any more bad attacks.
himynamesjames
himynamesjames
Thanks Lu, I am going to try and follow anita's advice as she recomends being strict with my diet for 6 months, and i have only really managed this for maybe 3-4 weeks which obviously sn't enough. Like i said before you think your better then wham it all comes back in one day and you then feel bad for nearly 1 week after.
lu2013
lu2013
Good luck, and hope it helps. I find it easy to watch what you eat day to day when you're at home, but there are social situations that makes it difficult such as when you go out to eat at a restaurant or someone's house (I started another thead on this)....which I suppose can trigger the symptoms.
Let us know how you get on.