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.
Hello everyone,
I have been through a tough 6 weeks and finally from an endoscope, abdominal x ray, and abdominal ultrasound i have a diagnose of mild gastritis. I was negative from h pylori through my blood work and also through my biopsy. My doctors seem to think what caused my problems was a combination of things. I had the stomach flu 6 weeks ago (I know this because my entire family had it) then I was also under a lot of stress during that time and because my nausea was not going away my PCP thought I could have a sinus infection so I went on a steroid and z pack and about 2 days into taking those medications my acid problems started. So for about 4 weeks now i have been treating gastritis.
I had my EGD on tuesday and according to my doctor everything looked normal, no inflammation. But he did have to dilate my esophagus because food was getting stuck. That has passed now. Also my biopsy came back completely normal as well.
I was on prilosec for three weeks and because i was still having the burning sensation my GI switched me to nexium. For the past couple of days the burning sensation is gone and i have been following a very strict diet. I have nausea in the morning and still can't eat big meals and i have discomfort in my upper abdomen. A big improvement of what I did have.
Is it normal for an endo and the biopsy to show nothing and still have symptoms or is this is sign that my stomach is healing? I feel like my GI saw nothing so therefore he moved on (which i understand) but I feel alone through all this because my family just keeps telling me to stop thinking about it and move on. I just want to know I'm on the right track and that Im doing the correct things to help heal this process.
Thanks for letting me vent
I have been through a tough 6 weeks and finally from an endoscope, abdominal x ray, and abdominal ultrasound i have a diagnose of mild gastritis. I was negative from h pylori through my blood work and also through my biopsy. My doctors seem to think what caused my problems was a combination of things. I had the stomach flu 6 weeks ago (I know this because my entire family had it) then I was also under a lot of stress during that time and because my nausea was not going away my PCP thought I could have a sinus infection so I went on a steroid and z pack and about 2 days into taking those medications my acid problems started. So for about 4 weeks now i have been treating gastritis.
I had my EGD on tuesday and according to my doctor everything looked normal, no inflammation. But he did have to dilate my esophagus because food was getting stuck. That has passed now. Also my biopsy came back completely normal as well.
I was on prilosec for three weeks and because i was still having the burning sensation my GI switched me to nexium. For the past couple of days the burning sensation is gone and i have been following a very strict diet. I have nausea in the morning and still can't eat big meals and i have discomfort in my upper abdomen. A big improvement of what I did have.
Is it normal for an endo and the biopsy to show nothing and still have symptoms or is this is sign that my stomach is healing? I feel like my GI saw nothing so therefore he moved on (which i understand) but I feel alone through all this because my family just keeps telling me to stop thinking about it and move on. I just want to know I'm on the right track and that Im doing the correct things to help heal this process.
Thanks for letting me vent
My last endoscopy still shows patchy gastritis & duodenal scar tissue which explains my own ongoing symptoms.
There could be some visceral hypersensitivity going on - after everything your stomach has been through - the nerves are still overly sensitive & feeling sensations. Or some post-infectious IBS type thing?
It sounds like you're doing the right things - suppressing your acid with Nexium & hopefully eating a bland, low acid diet. The fact you're feeling improvement already is positive.
I could have cried reading this part "...I feel alone through all this because my family just keeps telling me to stop thinking about it and move on..." I feel this is how people react to me... they just don't 'get it'... & I've long since given up trying to explain it to anybody. I just avoid mentioning it now. Just smilelikeyoumeanit.
Smilelikeyoumeanit is right on target - it could be visceral sensitivity, this is what I have. My endoscopy showed a beautiful, healthy stomach :) But I felt like jack the ripper was in there... It's the nerve endings... and hopefully they will settle down, but nobody can say how long that will take.
Is seems like the period leading up to your illness was relatively short, and hopefully the damage is not too great. I think you may stand a good chance of speedy recovery, just follow the diet and take your meds. And whatever you do, don't quit the ppi cold turkey.
All the doctors keep telling me its stress, I think its a little depression too. There has been a lot going on in my life lately and I think thats contributing to my symptoms. Everyone keeps saying i need to meditate but its hard to find time for myself when I have three kids under the age of 6! haha
So sorry you have this horror of an illness. Some people struggle with our issues as there is nothing visible.
Normal becomes are rubber band word here. You can gave a diagnosis and no pain so why not the other way round?
Stick with the small meals and strict diet. It can take a long time to work through this. It's been five years since I got gastritis and I have my life back.
It took time and hard work but things will get better for you.
Oh and vent away. We are all here to support those in need.
From the moment I wake, I think about would I'm going to eat for lunch and dinner.
I went on my first cruise back in 2011 and for that cruise and the three that followed I had a food list the kitchen worked from. I'm cruising again soon and won't need that list. This is huge and I'm so excited. I've learnt so much from all of this and made new friends so I can't regret having it.
That said I still have the odd pity party and feel sorry for myself. Most of my ups and downs are due to the IBS.