hey :)
it has been quiet on here. I'm in between flares... hopefully that last one was my last one (here's for hoping). It's very hard to bring the flares under control and it takes forever..weeks and weeks in my case.

I think I've done and investigated everything I can now and all I have left is to wait. If you have any questions, feel free to shoot. Have you changed your diet? I read that you're on Protonix. That helped me a lot, but the foundation of getting better is identifying what triggers you from your food. That means very boring meals for a while..

I'm feeling pretty good again. Even ate a salad with dressing and no pain. Still being careful. Thanksgiving food is next up, hope I can eat some of that and get away with it..

you will start getting better, Sara, I had my tomatoes for the first time since February - you will, too.

Sightly acidic things are the first on the "allowed" list for me when I'm better, which greatly expands the menu. I learned from last time this does not mean gulping down coffee and eating chili :)

So good to hear that you guys are doing well.... I am trying to get to a state where I am just pain free. Switched my diet to boring boring foods... Plain rice , potatoes, yogurt bananas along with tons of supplements... Also protonix. I too am trying to wait this out.... Most of my questions for you veterans relate to the healing process. I just want to know that I am getting better. It's hard some days to tell if I am any better as well as the anxiety that comes with waiting for the pain.....

It's nice when the board is active.... But I understand that noone wants to be here

anxiety is your worst enemy.. I got a gym membership and been trying to go at least 3-4 times a week. I find that it helps immensely - now I'm just too physically exhausted to stress! When I was at my worst, even slight tension would set off the burning. That was during my flare - it eventually subsided with a combination of meds/proper diet and unfortunately, time...

I'm doing much better too.

In my experience, Gastritis is everything about the mind! Do meditation, meet friends, walk in the park.

I'm also going to a Traditional Chinese Doctor here, i get Acupuncture and Tea with Chinese herbs. That seems to help!

hey, you're back! I was wondering how you were doing. Tx for the update. Good to hear you're better.

Toomuchpho, so you really saw the correlation between your anxiety and the burning sensation in your stomach?

I do have a gym membership, but haven't gone in 3 weeks. I usually would do 4 times a week... But I have been lacking energy. I still try and run about a mile or more a day though.

Just wondering about my sensitive stomach. Sometimes I think I can feel it hurting when I run or if I go over a pothole in my car. That absolutely drives me crazy.

Anxiety fuels this stuff so I need to find a way to relax.

" Toomuchpho, so you really saw the correlation between your anxiety and the burning sensation in your stomach? "

- Absolutely!!! the correlation is 100%. It's the mind and gut connection. On top of it, my GI specialist explained that the nerves in my stomach are super hypersensitive and send the wrong signals to my brain. Hopefully this will mostly go away in time...

"I do have a gym membership, but haven't gone in 3 weeks. I usually would do 4 times a week... But I have been lacking energy. I still try and run about a mile or more a day though. "

That's the whole issue. The bland diet doesn't give you any energy.. I've only been able to start going again in the past month when my menu expanded.. it's a catch 22.

"Just wondering about my sensitive stomach. Sometimes I think I can feel it hurting when I run or if I go over a pothole in my car. That absolutely drives me crazy. "

I had the same thing.

"Anxiety fuels this stuff so I need to find a way to relax. "

You have to ride it out for now... it will get so much easier once the flare dies down a bit... it sucks so much.

@toomuchpho. Great response... Trying to ride this thing out, but the mind gets in the way. I went out today to the store and was so concerned with the burning coming back. In the beginning did you have to eat every few hours? And if so how is it now?

Also, my stomach is sorta tender to the touch... If I gently rub on it, I feel somewhat gross... Wonder if that is a common complaint.

@herlehmann so glad your doing better. I read alit of your older posts and saw that you have anxiety issues as well... Are you feeling better emotionally as well?

It's kind of a day to day thing. It has gotten a lot better since June but I still have some weeks where it is wishy-washy. The worst for this month was the first week of November where I tried to wean down and made the mistake of trying a highly acidic food. It took me about 4-5 days to get back to normal.

Like others mentioned, anxiety really keeps the cycle going and learning how to manage stressful situations is a life-saver. Just learn to say no to stressful situations.

I have gotten back some bad food, I tried spicy Tex-Mex, a plain cheeseburger with some ketchup and fries, and a few others back into my diet. I can't handle tomatoes, raw, though. I have yet to try them cooked.

I think what is scary when you are at this stage is that you are close to the edge in that your stomach is healing but one wrong step can set you back.

I'm coming along nicely and thanks for asking. My IBS is more of a nuisance. Sometimes when the tummy is tender to the touch, and I'm talking light touch not pressure of any kind it can be nerves.
My diet is going really well. I've successfully eaten Thai, Malaysian and Indian out. I research the ingredients before trying so remain vigilant and safe.

Herm, I've been going to acupuncture since June, she is also a chiropractor, she has helped me so much, so you get the needles in your stomach? I'm shocked that the needles don't hurt going into my stomach. You mentioned you were from Germany, I've been taking Iberogast which is made in Germany I take it before and during meals really helps with digestion, it's all made from herbs. They say every German has it in their medicine cabinet. Is that true?

i agree with treeofstars. it really is a day to day thing. the pain in my stomach has now lessened and i am no longer taking PPIs, but i still battle breathing issues and tightness around upper abdomen. tho i stopped PPIs, i am on anxiety meds now. it's a temp. therapy and non-habit forming so i will be off of them at some point next year. by that time, i hope to be completely recovered.

i've expanded my menu as well and even started to drink tea again. :) so that's def. progress.