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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ChattDana 08/29/2015

Hi all, in April I had an endoscopy that showed "mild" gastritis and the inflammation did look mild compared to the pics I've seen on the web of severe gastritis, but the pain never felt "mild"! Well, my GI said that I could eat and drink what I like in moderate amounts and he gave me prescription Zantac (I refuse to take PPIs) and sent me on my way. I did get better after a few months and then I started to drink sodas, beer and eat all the spicy food I want--however about 2 weeks ago I felt a searing pain that kept throbbing after one night of eating spicy food and drinking beer. I swore that I would eat bland food from then on, but I have cheated a few times and now my stomach is in a lot of pain again---I am now back on my double dose of Zantac (prescribed by the doctor) and eating mashed potatoes and peas (things that I know don't irritate). My question is this:
Has anyone thought they were healed and then this junk came back? Thanks!

Sara59 08/29/2015

Oh yes. This happened to me quite often until I figured out what foods irritate my digestive system. Soda is a big one for me. So is chocolate. Raw tomatoes too. I used to be able to eat spicy food but now I'm pretty sensitive to even just black pepper or cinnamon.

Alcohol used to give me nutcracker esophagus if I took too big a sip. Sorry you have this. You can get away with eating everything for a while, but when you feel that old familiar feeling, quit and go back to what you know doesn't hurt.

I get tired of bland foods too, but when these are the only things that don't cause pain, you learn to put up with it. This started for me back when I was in my late thirties. It isn't too hard to manage once you understand it.

littlemart 08/30/2015

Sorry I can't help you. But I can sympathize. My doctor told me I would have good days and bad days. He was so right! I am taking Zantac and Pepzin GI. I pretty much eat what I want or eat what I feel I can handle. Not having much trouble right now and I do kind of watch what I eat ( for the most part ). I do not drink alcohol... never did. So that's not an issue. Every so often I have a half cup of coffee with my Miralax. Sometimes it bothers me, sometimes it doesn't. Seems like this is all a crap shoot. Try everything, do what you can and hope for the best.

Andy1986 08/30/2015

Yes I seem to have constantly 'relapsed' since I was first diagnosed with it. At one point though I was pretty well healed and was drinking cokes, orange juice, and it took basically a diet consisting of entirely chocolate to give me another flare. Wont make that mistake again, I think in the first few months after you've healed you still have to be careful, because there can still be inflammation its just it doesnt give you symptoms. I think after about 6 months of feeling well though you should be able to eat and drink anything in moderation.

ChattDana 08/30/2015

Thank you-- I appreciate your sharing your experiences. I have a question then: if a food that should be irritating but doesn't hurt me-- would it be ok to eat it? I eat cooked tomatoes and they never cause pain for me although they are supposed to be very acidic .

Sara59 08/30/2015

My thinking has always been if it isn't hurting then go ahead and eat it. I was able to eat cooked tomatoes but not raw. Right now I am on a very restricted diet so they are out. If it happens that I can eat them again without pain, you bet I will.

Nina1959 08/31/2015

Yeah, I think so many of us keep flaring due to food intolerances...
I don't think it really ever goes away, just lies in wait.
I can eat some foods once a week, but if I have them two days in a row I am hurting for days.
Even my gastroenterologist now tells his patients that he would rather see them do elimination diets than take meds....

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