I know how you feel lu Ive had it for around 4 years but this year it has been a lot worse with a lot of pain. It flares up and settles down then flares up again. It can keep me awake all night. I want to be normal and to eat and drink so sometimes I think to myself well I will have a coffee or an Indian, Chinese or whatever but I always pay for it. Now Im going to have to try to manage it by staying away from things. However it has not been a lot better when I have done. I was getting a hold of it a bit in the summer by eating ginger jam sandwiches every night and eating bland. I then had to go into hospital with asthma and their foods and not having my ginger upset it again. Ive found that when my chest has been bad it has settled a bit which is weird. Do you take Slippery elm or any other herbal treatment? Im at my wits end as it has got so bad now but like I say my diet has got to stick to bland proberly. People have healed from balnd diets when they have had it for longer than 9 months. Someone had it for over 3 years and healed so it can do don,t give up hope. I guess we need to think positive. I know it has ruined my Christmas and in the summer I got no holiday. It is not fair at all.

hi lu2013, ive had for coming up 4 years although unlike poorly girl this last year has been better for me , ive started eating what i want can drink alcohol again & apart from the odd niggle have'nt had a bad attack for about 11 months, it takes patience i came off this site a while ago as some people seemed to find themselves cured in weeks, many on here will have had it for a few years at least, my doc told me your never cured anything could start you off again. try to avoid stress this is the worse for pain

poorlygirl, I'm sorry that you are on and off. It's so unfair that we cannot have our favourite foods without paying for it, isn't it? I love thai, but haven' tried it since this all started last March. I did try slippery elm and take it on and off, but its one that has to be apart from meds and as I currently take PPI two times a day (and lunch is at work), so I often forget. I do take DGL and have just started pepsin GI as suggested here (and would like to go back to 1 PPI/day). AM sorry it's been hard for you with holidays. I agree as when you're away it's constant restaurant food which is really limited.

yorkboy, good to hear you are mostly better. Sounds like there is no cure, but it's just managing it.

Had a decadant meal last night (well, decadant for having gastritis). Meal was normal but did have cake and a touch of ice wine (with an extra zantac). Tummy is sore today and gnawing, but could be worse so at least it currently is not strong nausea. Really sucks.

hi lu2013,

first of all, thanks for posting this. I have felt like a social "snob" many times and your post somehow makes my feel good that I am not alone. Not that I would wish this situation on anyone.
In the end, I just came clean and tell people - whoever who wants to listen - that certain food just does not agree with my stomach. you need not elaborate - sometimes 2 sentences is all it takes. All my colleagues know it - cos I would insist on needing rice (plain white rice) in my lunch because I feel better and have limited symptoms eating it. I rejected all alcohol, all invitations to drinks after work. I don't go out for dinner too often, but I don't feel that I am missing out (too much) because I am a busy working mum.
of course there will be festive celebrations, but I will focus not on the food (I just bring my rice along and eat whatever that is not too spicy, too oily, too fried.. etc). I eat only half of the desserts or maybe 1/5 of it. I focus instead on the company of friends that I have with me. The blessings of the friendship around me.
It is not easy, when everyone are raving about the wonderful food that I like and desire but cannot eat (or chose not to eat). And here
I am, eating my bland plain rice (to fill my stomach).

Positivity is an effort. Just have to keep it up and be thankful for all other aspects of your life that it going well....
My advice, take your meds along and eat them at the party if you choose to. But don't dwell on it. Just tell yourself that you are just eating a multi-vitamin. But if you don't want to eat meds and then choose to avoid the food that might trigger the gastritis, good for you too! Stay positive, don't let this gastritis get to you or your social life!

From day one I was up front about my food issues and everything attached to this grotty illness. No matter what the occasion I make the people aware of my foods and make sure I'm catered for or ask if can bring my own if they can't. I've experienced only positive people in the almost four years I've walked with gastritis. While I can eat many more foods than before and have gained more freedom with eating times etc. I always research new places.
Never feel telling people would burden them. all my family and friends have been happy to accommodate me along the way. Now I'm so thrilled that I can be more flexible. I feel like its paying back their kindness in some strange way.
It will get easier I promise.

Dears, I m new here , can you help me please? , how you feel with gastritis , I mean what is your symptoms, I have erosive gastritis and I have also loose stool sometimes, can loose stool be due to gastritis? Moreover I have sometimes abdominal pain and I feel better when I eat, could somebody describe his symptoms? To be noted I feel much better when I take nexium

Hi Joeccc and welcome.
It might be better if you start a new topic as you question will get lost in this post a bit.
Your bowel movements will change with gastritis and may depend on what you're eating at the time.