I don't understand at times where the flareups come from, either. Sometimes I can eat just about anything and be fine; other times a few bites cause misery. I think patience is our best bet. I'm very slowly expanding my food list, but it's pathetically slow going. We will get there with patience, though, I belileve.

Were you able to get in early to see your gastro?

Hope things are better soon! Hang in there and I hope you bug the heck out of your doc to get some needed answers. Best wishes.

Hi sunlovinmom well I have to admit I have an idea whats flared it up as I had a chocolate biscuit. I don,t take enough Gaviscon either. I used to be able to eat a lot more last year than this year. Ive only ever completely got rid of the pain for one week then it came back. Its easy to eat the wrong thing if it eases off then it comes back. I also have some lower abdominal pain tonight,I think I must be coming on my period but no sign yet. Im not really sure what it is. Guess what we can,t go to our local hospital at the moment as 8 wards are closed with the Norovirus. I don,t want to go there at the moment. Mum has to go later today for a bone scan unless its cancelled. I wish she had changed her appointment I don,t want her getting that.

yes,I tend to get the flare ups on thursdays and fridays,but will be fine for the rest of the week. I also get them suddenly when im in school and the information is just not coming to me.

Hi grace Im glad Im not on a course as I couldn,t concentrate. Im more or less a housewife but I get frustrated as I can,t do much with this. I would like to go swimming with a friend but Im in so much pain. I would also like to go out for a drink and can,t. Housework isn,t enough but in the spring and summer I can do the garden so its a bit more,or go for a walk. Do you find you have to miss doing things you would like to do?

Hi poorlygir4l! I also had no clue where those flare-ups used to come from... I was an exercise nut and have not done anything seriously physical in just over a year since I've had gastritis. I have however recently discoverd QIGONG - it's reported to be very healing as it balances your "chi". it's also very relaxing, which is the kind of exercise we need...

Hi 2fastforward whats Qigong? That sounds interesting. I went for a walk yesterday and my back is killing me,lower back,I used to get that a lot. Its really kicked off and the gastritis is really bad Im fed up of all this pain. I thought walking might help so I will have to be careful.

Poorlygirl- Yes I feel like I do miss out on alot it feels like, I used to play rollerderby but couldnt play anymore because it would just be so painful,this winter i went to the fair and couldnt ride any rides wich I always look forward to,but suprisingly i found a bit of foods i could actualy eat there.

Hi Poorlygirl... Qigong (pronounced chi gong - some say gung) - you should just Google it. It originated in China...in a nutshell, it's a series of very calm movements that still the mind and opens up the energy channels within us, moving stagnant chi (energy) coupled with correct breathing promotes healing.. if your chi is flowing freely then you should not disease (or so they reckon).... it's an ancient practice and there's a lot of American masters actually. It's like Tai Chi (this is more martial arts based), only quicker to learn - as in quicker to learn how to do the movements properly to reap the benefits... with Tai Chi it can takes a long time to learn how to to the movements 100% - but it too is extremely calming and relaxing. I've just downloaded Michael Winn's Qigong Fundamentals from Express Files (free filesharing). You should give it a go!!

Hi 2fastforward it sounds good that exercise thing. It sounds like Acupunture which is suposed to open up energy lines or meridians and helps the chi energy. It unblocks things or something,I can,t remember. I had some acupunture last year and did find that it helped at first. It flared back up though. You have to keep going and also I was massaged on my back with an unknown oil. The Chinese doctor once did cupping on me Im not sure what that does. I had to boil up some unknown herbs and drink them twice a day. My cousin,who I mentioned the Acupunture to said it wasn,t "of God",we are christians. She said its best not to have it. I think though that God has put energies on earth and we should use them to our advantage. There is magnetism and electricity which we can,t see,also the wind. Chi energy might be a real energy and if it works thats really good. Moving the body about is good anyway. I say "great" to that exercise though I don,t feel like it at the moment. Have you heard of Zumba? A nurse was telling me she did it and I hadn,t heard of it.

Hi grace I would be careful if I was you with foods like those at the fair. Last October I had a good day and we went to a garden festival thing in the park,there was a fair there too. I actually had a ride on the Gallopers, the horse roundabout,at my age too. Anyway I managed to eat some doughnuts and have a hot chocolate with marshmallows on in the cafe. I thought this was great but my stomach flared up again soon after. Its been flaring up a lot since. Stomachs are so tempermental. I hope yours heals so you can do your rollerderby again,its seems some of us have been quite active. I would like to go swimming and to the gym again.