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.
After taking 40mg of Nexium per day and following a bland diet for just under 2 months, I have seen about 70% of my symptoms of gastritis go away; however, any time I add in new foods or increase portion size, I seem to stagnate or lose some progress.
Back to my question, often times throughout the day I will become hungry, say every 2 hours and for sure every 3+ hours. Knowing I am underweight due to the gastritis and need to gain weight, I will typically try and eat whenever I get those hunger impulses, usually resulting in 5 meals per day.
Here's the question: Is eating 5 meals a day helping or hurting my gastritis recovery?
I ask this because some people say the stomach should never go empty and others say the stomach should be allowed to rest. At the same time, being 6ft1 at 130lbs, I'm extremely slim and will only be able to maintain at 4meals a day, while consequently either gaining or staying the same at 5 meals and losing weight at 3 meals. Or do I just need to forget about weight and get to completely healing my gastritis (worrying because I am at such a low weight and people say it could take years to completely heal).
Another question which I also need help on. When people say to eat oatmeal do they just mean plain oats and water? or do you add something for flavor or added benefit/calories? (people say add tumeric to foods)
Back to my question, often times throughout the day I will become hungry, say every 2 hours and for sure every 3+ hours. Knowing I am underweight due to the gastritis and need to gain weight, I will typically try and eat whenever I get those hunger impulses, usually resulting in 5 meals per day.
Here's the question: Is eating 5 meals a day helping or hurting my gastritis recovery?
I ask this because some people say the stomach should never go empty and others say the stomach should be allowed to rest. At the same time, being 6ft1 at 130lbs, I'm extremely slim and will only be able to maintain at 4meals a day, while consequently either gaining or staying the same at 5 meals and losing weight at 3 meals. Or do I just need to forget about weight and get to completely healing my gastritis (worrying because I am at such a low weight and people say it could take years to completely heal).
Another question which I also need help on. When people say to eat oatmeal do they just mean plain oats and water? or do you add something for flavor or added benefit/calories? (people say add tumeric to foods)
I have noticed though that I do not wake up with stomach aches in the morning nor do I get that excessive fullness (meal restricted ofc) that I used to get as well as the pain during meals. After that is another question.
I have an EGD tomorrow to check my progress, does anyone have any experience with their second EGD in the sense that: what do you do if the EGD shows no evidence of gastritis but you have symptoms?
I was diagnosed with functional dyspepsia about 5 years ago so its possible I have an accomodation issue that lends itself towards acid accumulation.
I'm not talking about going out an eating a cheeseburger, more like instead of just eating one granola bar, eating two then having a flare as I continue adding, albeit, small amounts of food.
I agree with the premise though.
http://www.topix.com/forum/health/helicobacter-pylori/T2HHK9EFVGAJTLMHJ/p332
The only things I took consistently over the course is 20mg of Nexium 2 times a day and a bland diet consisting of oatmeal squares, rice cereal, rice, turkey, flavored water, chocolate chip granola bars, and pop chips, and occasional cheese and butter.
I still feel like I flare a little but my symptoms wise, like I mentioned, are much better. 100% gone like the EGD showed? No but definitely noticeably better.
The doc says my diagnosis of functional dyspepsia is likely correct and we are currently exploring alternative prospective treatments varying from Cyproheptadine to low dose tricyclics. He even wants me to try Levin, even though I don't suffer from cramps. Worth a shot I guess though. Also considering going full force into try Pepzin Gi, L-Glutamine, and tumeric.
Doc also wants me to slowly taper to 20mg of Nexium per day. Thinking of doing the every other day then every second day every third day thing but take it real slow. I'm sure there are plenty of threads out there but if anyone wants to sum it up for me that'd be great.
Also, just want to say for anyone struggling, just keep with it. I know mine healed relatively fast (~ 2months visually speaking) but I still had my fare share of douts and anxiety (19 years old, worried about future).
If anyone needs anything, feel free to message me and I will continue to offer my advice on these boards.
Lunch, 2nd Lunch, 1st Dinner, 2nd Dinner: 2Slice of generic oven roasted turkey, a medium handful of rice, a 1/4 -1/2 serving of pop chips, 28g of oatmeal squares, and 1 granola bar (the granola bars are essential for calories. I usually make the bone headed mistake of eating until I feel close to full instead of still sort of hungry. Usually eat 1 but ocasionally eat 2).
If I am in a flare or feel I am stagnating I will just skip the granola bars altogether, decrease rice portion, maintain oatmeal square portion, and remove all seasonings. Usually I will feel good as new in about a day (well, back to original pores new not 100% symptom free)
Sometimes I use seasonings such as this soy-free soy sauce (I'm Asian so it's a struggle, made of cocunuts, and very low sodium), maybe one shake of salt, and a dusting of tumeric.
Now that I know it's healed I will probably slowly introduce more foods and different types but will probably keep the blanday diet for at least another month to make sure I don't relapse.
I don't think portion size really matters, just make sure to stop eating after you've gotten a sustainable amount of food but still have that urge to eat/still a little noticeably hungry.
And a disclaimer, none of this is probably scientifically supported, just my personal experience. Sorry for the detail as well, just know that if anyone's like me, you can never be to detailed.