What have you given up? Also what have you gained?

I find it easier to just say I have a stomach condition and I have to keep a strict diet... people understand. It sucks that someone so young like you is dealing with this....i've given up a lot (volleyball matches) I will start playing again once I heal more....

I can totally understand and I sympathize with you.I too had to give up pretty much everything and all of the little joys of life.I stopped going out other than coffee shops or shopping trips.And most time I go out I bring my own food.Im also pretty tired of eatin bolied chicken(even this causes problems) and grilled fish all the time.I lost tons of weight within the last year struggling with gastritis.I am 5.4" and weigh 110lb.It does suck.You just need to reinvent yourself now.You need to find new hobbies.That will help you get over gastritis and forget about it for at least a moment.I have my passions and to be honest only those passions and my kids keep me alive at the moment.Good luck!

I have my yoga and horseback riding that make it worth living for me.I wont let gastritis take over my life.Obviously I also have bad days quite often and this is when I see my therapist and she helps me out.For me clearly stress flares up the gastritis.I have accumulated a lot for the past few years so the healing process wont happen overnight.Like Karadura said patience is the key to healing gastritis along with good stress management,diet and supplements.

I totally understand and honestly could have written all that myself! I am 23 years old and been dealing with this for over a year, although only diagnosed in June. I had to leave my last job due to gastritis as i couldnt handle the hour drive on 2 hours sleep a night.
I also feel like im losing old friends as im often too sick to meet up, and cant go out to eat or drinking like we used to. I also struggle to make new friends at my new job as i cant join in with most of the social events that revolve around eating or drinking.
Luckily i have a very supportive partner and family and make sure I spend as much time with them, watching films, going out for dog walks and shopping trips to try and forget about the gastritis. When i heal more i hope to get back into my workouts at the gym and hopefully one day be able to go on holidays/travelling again.

All of you guys are inspirational.

I find a common theme among gastrits sufferers is just how aware they can be. They know it effects more than just themselves and will often feel worse for the people it effects than themselves.

Keep it up, yall

How do i respond to people around me? I've had trouble with that myself and would love to hear people's opinions. Sometimes I just say i have bad acid reflux so at least they've heard of the condition. though sometimes i just say "i'm having health problems" and most people don't want to know more. and if they do, i will explain what's been going on.

I've also had stares/comments/looks that I'm anorexic or a nut about diet when I bring my own food so I understand how frustrating it can be. I guess my way of dealing, unfortunately has been avoidance, of all places food and drink. I only invite my closest friends over and they know that I can't drink and can only eat certain things. I still get jealous that they are eating pizza and drinking wine, but at least I have the company and we play board games.

And yes I've experienced the limitations for sure. I used to go out drinking with friends, wine tastings, breweries, European vacations, fancy restaurants. I used to try new recipes every week, loved Starbucks coffee, tea, and baking. I have said goodbye to all those things, but only for now. I am confident that I will heal. I refuse any other outcome and am staying positive that I'll get my old life back. I know some posts on here can be discouraging but recall that everyone is different. We all heal differently, are different ages, live in different environments, have different causes of gastritis, and go on different treatment plans. Just be honest with yourself when it comes to food and meds and believe that you will heal.

How I've dealt: JoHam nailed it on the head when she said to find new hobbies. What I've found that doesn't revolve around food to take up my time- yoga, spa days (massage, pedicures), meditating, reading classic novels and some new age/healing/self help books. These are all great for anxiety too. I also hike/take walks in the park and have gotten back into exercise (arm workouts, biking) now that I've healed from a back injury and started watching all the great films that i've never seen before.

Find a creative outlet also. I am writing a novel and started a creative writing group in my town. My hobbies are different now, sure, but maybe it's better that i spend my saturday hiking or reading a classic novel than at a brewery

More importantly, what I have gained. Knowledge that only YOU know what's best. Not your doctor, your boyfriend, your mom. My therapist has also helped me with some anxiety issues that will continue to help me after I have healed. I've also found that alternative treatments aren't BS either and that there's more to healing than GI doctors. Medicines can help heal, but it's up to you in the end to be honest with yourself about what's working and what's not.

Maybe you can write that inspiring page/article for all of us :)

Normally I'm extremely private with my health issues but one concerning food - therefore every aspect of life I felt talking about it was my only option to keep my sanity.
To people I knew I would tell them I had gastritis and offer a brief explanation. To others I simply said I have food related issues and I can't do this or that.
I avoided social settings that involved no food options for me in the very early stages, which wasn't many. I generally phoned ahead to see what they could do for me.
You will find your comfort level but holding it all in is stopping much needed support from those who love you.
I thought all my friends would vanish but they all stuck by me and were so supportive, as was my family.
Now I have my life back and my answer to where do you want to eat is wherever you want. It's my way of thanking them for letting me choose for years.
Good luck and again only do what you feel okay with.

I have given up alot. I can't drive anymore because of my blood sugar highs and lows. I haven't slept in my bed since all this began. I sleep on our couch where I am able to recline sightly. I don't have the energy to go anywhere. I miss eating food so much. Some people don't get it when you try to explain it and just compare it to themselves having sensitive stomachs. I used to have a sensitive stomach. What I would give to have my stomach back.I am supposed to be on a Reactive Hypglyemic diet and that has been very hard to balance this all. I have been able to use the Ensure to help with that and I feel that I am getting the vitamins and it does help. But when I am really hungry I rely on my scrambled eggs for my protein. I think this is very dibilating. You tell people that you haven't eaten food in a few days and they right away say, you have to eat something. And I say, I can't eat if I am not hungry. Then the scary part when you are staring at all this food you want to try, the fear that you don't know whether or not your stomach will reject it. On the other hand, I am still able to use the computer and do my ancestry research which I enjoy alot and keeps me busy.

Wow guys thanks for your wonderful responses! It's been quite inspiring reading some of your post. I posted this last night because I was feeling a little bit frustrated and sorry for myself. For a while I didn't know if there was anyone else struggiling with the same things I have been. It's been really great to read everyone's posts. Thank you for your fantastic responses!

We are all or have been in the same boat. This is the best place to vent, ask questions and offer support. We all get it.

You've probably already seen it, and it's not really meant to be inspiring, but rather, helpful, but the small site in my profile was created to help at least some people with gastritis. People who have more or less typical forms of it.

Yes eating out has gone, cheese and wine Fridays nights with my girl friends is not the same with water and crackers. A husband who says you must eat does not help.
Cries of "where has the old Gwen gone" from nights out in the pub with mates make me frustrated. It sounds bad but I just want them to get gastritis (maybe they can catch it off me like a cold lol)!!
I like new age natural and spiritual solutions. I keep asking my angels to come up with a plan and I am sure they will.
I got rid of this five years ago and have eaten and drunk anything so take heart it can be got rid of. It has only come back through my neglect.
But stay on this site for inspiration, you all feel like family to me and life/mind savers.

Gwen thank you for that inspirational post.

I took have taken a more new age/spiritual approach in the last two weeks as well (since medicine and doctors don't seem to be helping, so why not try something else).

I know I will be a stronger person because of this and I totally get having the girls over for wine and sitting there with your water and crackers.

We will get through this, we all will.

Has any of you ever heard of so called masked depression?"Its a term used to describe depression that is hidden by other conditions or symptoms that are not associated with clinical depression"
People who suffer from masked depression does not necessarily have to experience the feelings of overwhelming sadness or despair.On the contrary,they can appear quite happy "on the surface" however they will manifest a whole spectrum of symptoms within their bodies such as: gastrointestinal distress,heart problems,sleep problems etc.Hence masked depression usually responds to antidepressants with great success.However I still believe that herbs,supplements and CB therapy is the way out.