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)
30g Cornflakes with oatly drink
2 weetabix with oatly drink
50g well cooked brown rice pasta with "sauce": 160g cooked carrots pureed with approx. 80g oatly drink and 15g extra vergine rapeseed oil
scrambled egg (2 eggs, little oil), steamed potatoes (100g), steamed carrots (50g), steamed Hokkaido (150g), 15g extra vergine rapeseed oil
sometimes steamed chicken instead of scrambled eggs ...
this is an example which works for me. However, sometimes the last meal is too big and i have to split it and wait before I finish my meal.
http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/search/default.aspx?searchBox=oatly+drink&newSort=true&search=Search
Soy milk makes me bloated, and I read and found that it's true because soy beans are still beans ... so I found out that oatly drink is the perfect one for me!
Here is a giant gentle hug for you. Hope you feel better and this helped in any way.
Tumeric is an Indian spice used in all curries. I have it in all the time and put a pinch in my Porridge and Soy Milk and Manuka Honey for my breakfast - it sits so well. It is very anti-inflammatory and is as strong as steroids for reducing joint inflammation.
Gimmestrenth - I think you have just confirmed something for me, like I have said I have had Gasty on and off for about 5 years and when it comes at me in the shape or a little heartburn - my fault - I will have just one Gaviscon and it has disappeared.
It came back real bad about 6 weeks ago much worse than 5 years ago and I was not sure why as I eat very good food, very little processed. I cook always from scratch and make smoothies and green juices with stuff like almonds, walnuts and seeds.
The one thing I have done is, I like red wine and because of problems with me teeth being sensitive and reading about drinking it thru a straw, I started doing this and I now think this has what has brought it back.
The strange thing is that I can still drink a glass of red it is actually soothing to ne. But I will ditch the straw. Just goes to show how this site and listening to others can really help. Thanx xx
And what I tolerated very well was a puree of this:
160g steamted carrots, 50g cooked Brown rice pasta, 100g steamed chicken and 15g extra vergine rapeseed oil. I cooked a lot of this, pureed everything and froze portions. Easy to digest as it is pureed but also contains protein and fat!
During a flare I make a fish pie out of salmon, peas, parsley and a half fat cheese sauce. Mash on top. This will last a couple of days, oh and I sometimes put prawns in as well loads of protein and they sit really well. I also grow green beans and have those steamed along with it. It is a healthy meal and plenty of calories, do you think you could manage to eat that?
I also make green juices out of celery, cucumer and carrot, all are very alkaline. I make a bit batch on Monday which makes five glasses and freeze them. I have one each day and leave it off at the weekend.
I also make homemade soups of veg and blend them till smooth and a little steamed chicken shredded into it makes a great meal with all your vitamins.
I also stick to Soya milk although I love semi skinned milk.
Half a banana mashed into porridge in the morning is remarkably soothing also.
Do you think you could tolerate any of these?
Sorry if I don't come right back to you but I do not get alerts any more as to a response, DS says a problem that they are trying to sort out.
I have to remember where I put my response. I would love to know if you think you could tolerate the above. You can't live on such limited foods for too long because other health issues will start up through lack of goodness knows what.
Let me know.
G x
You should try eating Activia yogurt with active bacteria culture with about 6 chunks of honey dew or watermelon if you would rather. it has helped me a lot its almost all i eat about 3 times a day and sometimes i eat peas with mashed potatoes. yogurt coats the stomach so youre not hungry and your stomach gets a break while the bacteria is working to heal your gut.
I have just started a herbal remedy ontop of my PPI called Slippery Elm Powder. I'm on day 3 and havent noticed much but it is suppose to soothe entire GI tract and promote healing. MANY people online boast about how much it has helped them. With chronic gastritis the only thing to do is take your meds, avoid culprits (alcohol, smoking, acidic foods, coffee) and have patience.
I have been reassured that it does get better and WILL go away completely if u stay strong and stick to the bland diet for as long as you have it (usually takes 3-4 months to clear up if u follow all advice) hope this helps. youre not alone.
also it is said that u should fast for 2 days after throwing up (as in fast they mean only liquids (water, broth, meal replacement drinks or watery fruit) - but as i said in my other post Yogurt is the best and feels really nice. i even eat vanilla yogurt and feel good.
and about oatmeal u should get a gluten free one that includes oats, flaxseed etcetc. i had maple muffin which didnt bother me but were all different. i say just stick to toast, yogurt, honey dew, banana(if u can they feel nice too but sometimes make my chest feel funny) and mashed potatoes and cooked veggies. (steamed)