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.
Since I got sick, people always ask where did you go? I haven't seen you in forever or we never hangout. I say the normal "Oh I've been really busy with work and school" which is somewhat true, but the truth is having gastritis has really been hard on me. Some days I can't even get up and leave the house. I no longer want to go out with friends. I don't eat what they do, I can't drink, and what happens when I get a flair up when I'm out and about? And I really don't tell too many people for fear of people not understanding how much this has dramatically altered my life. I'm afraid they will react like several of my doctors have. This is all in your head or you're too anxious. But wouldn't you to be having touble if every thing you ate left you doubled over in pain and crying your eyes out? If you constantly felt so bloated that your stomach was going to pop because you thought you could eat a salad or a little too much peanut butter? And what do you expect my mental status to be like when I get only about two hours of sleep that night because I was up all night in pain and then have to work my ass off all day? This hasn't been just recently coming up. I've been trying to live with this for over a year now. I've had to give up every single beautiful vegtable I love to eat, or the occasional treat. I've had to give up marathon training, excersize routines, going out and eating or drinking with friends. People look at me strange when I NEVER eat at a social event. So I avoid them like the plague because I really can't explain to one more person why I can't eat what you eat or why I'm not "normal".
So how do you explain to the people around you? Most people think I'm anorexic because I just refuse to eat anything but the food I bring. And some days I don't eat at all cause i just CAN'T get sick at work. I see all of these depression anxiety, or bipolar pages about how people deal with their illness and how people explain how dibilitating it is and then they'll post it an article on facebook like "Get a clue" but theres no gastritis self inspiring page/article that will help others understand? Do you feel like gastiris has put some limitations on you? What kinds? How do you deal with those ?
So how do you explain to the people around you? Most people think I'm anorexic because I just refuse to eat anything but the food I bring. And some days I don't eat at all cause i just CAN'T get sick at work. I see all of these depression anxiety, or bipolar pages about how people deal with their illness and how people explain how dibilitating it is and then they'll post it an article on facebook like "Get a clue" but theres no gastritis self inspiring page/article that will help others understand? Do you feel like gastiris has put some limitations on you? What kinds? How do you deal with those ?
A lot of sacrifices happened after being diagnosed of gastritis and you are on your own. Your wife and kids does not understand the seriousness of your illness. For them its just a small issue that will go away after taking medicine.
The frustration and negative emotions that triggers the anxiety and later will lead into depression because it keeps coming back due to the food and eating habits that goes wrong. Especially when you followed all doctors prescription (PPIs/antacid etc..) and nothing seems working at all.
No more lunch session with your office colleagues, no more family, friends lunch / dinner with the known restaurant. Everything you need to prepare with discipline at home and bring it with you. All the time struggling with the temptation whenever i see and smell all my favorite food at home, office, outside world. Sometimes I failed with my struggle and taste small portion of it and later pay the consequence. pity me.
I have always had a nervous tummy that is now challenging in different ways with gasti and whatever comes up on my scope this week. I do believe anxiety makes it much much worse. I also agree with supplements and herbs for anxiety and I am going to start CBT. Only trouble with the supps/herbs now is finding ones that dont hurt.