Happy Holidays -- I have just joined as well. I have about 40 years on you, and many of them have been spent fighting GERD and other health issues. Sometimes I feel like there is nothing in the frig or cupboards I can eat that won't make me sick. I have found that walking at least 4,000 steps a day helps. I have other health complications, and now this. GERD to chronic gastritis, where it seems the entire abdomen is involved. How are you sleeping? Do you wake up in the night? Do you sleep with a heating pad? I find I can stand some of the Celestial Seasoning teas to quiet the gnawing feeling -- so far, so good. Yes, I have had test after test coming back negative, until this last one regarding breast cancer. and then to add insult to injury is the chronic gastritis. Don't get discouraged that nothing is showing up. Most of us will have a history of this journey through Gutland. Many of us have had lots of different diagnoses, only to find the most correct one is the most general one, and the most chronic one.

Hi there!
I'm sorry to hear about the breast cancer, I couldn't even imagine how I would react to that kinda news. I look up to people like your self that are still strong and optimistic. I sleep ok I wake up a couple times a night with bad night sweats. Everyone tells me Its my anxiety adding it's 2 cents and I believe them but my anxiety side says no its something worse.

Hi and welcome to the forum:)
Yes,gastritis,gerd and anxiety combo can cause tremendous weight loss.When I was first diagnosed exactly a year ago I was at the point where I was loosing 10lb in a week.I took 5 consecutive trips to ER and they didn't help me at all.I figured I needed to act fast and be my own doctor.I did my own research and later found ND doctor who helped me out with herbs and supplements.Obviously I am still dealing with gastritis but I know now what foods I can eat and what not to eat.This you need to figure for yourself as well.A food diary is a good idea.
As for the anxiety CB therapy works great if you can find a therapist for yourself.I also do Schult's autogenic training 2-3 times a day(usually following main meals and certainly in the morning and at bedtime).Look it up.Theres lots of instructional videos on youtube.Hope you feel better soon.Good luck!

Hi joham,
What were your symptoms that you had when you were fighting the good fight against both gastritis and anxiety? For me the worst is that I'm nauseous,no appetite, chills I can't shake and the obsessive thinking that I have cancer instead of gastritis. That's what freaks me out the most.

When I was at the worst I couldn't swallow a thing.I had so much acid in my throat that it was badly swollen and it was closing.I had nausea,bad chills and blurred vision.I was extremely weak up to the point that I didn't leave the house for 4 weeks straight(other than those ER trips)During endoscopy they found out gastritis, esophagitis, duodenitis and hernia.
I can understand what you are going through because back then I seriously thought it was the end of me.
Now.You have already been diagnosed.I don't believe they missed anything.Its just your anxiety.That tricky bitch is trying to play some tricks on you.This is all in your mind and those are JUST thoughts.They have nothing to do with reality.You are safe but you need to find a way to calm yourself down.Do you have any hobbies?Anything that makes you happy?

Wow that sounds horrible I'm glad you got through it. Its good knowing I'm not the only one out there. I can swallow just fine I keep my food down I haven't officially thrown up I get like this quick rush of the need to throw up and I've even dry heaved but nothing comes out. Your absolutely right she is a tricky bitch. I wish I wanted to eat something but I can't I have zero appetite and the wight loss is getting worse. Plus iv been having the night sweats so that don't help keeping weight.

I wouldn't worry about the weight loss at this point because almost everyone with gastritis will tell you its normal at the initial stages of the illness.Just calm the stomach inflammation for now if you can.That requires a great deal of self discipline.Mainly gerd friendly diet for the next few months and keep those stress levels at minimum.I realize its hard work but nobody will do this for you unless you do it yourself.No gastro doctor,no PPIs will be able to help you if you don't take care of the root of your problem which I believe is anxiety.You are still young and you can heal so start working on it.Good luck!

I think you are correct, your wise words have been more than helpful and for that I am forever grateful. I will update as soon I make some progress.

Hello;

I know this conversation is old and perhaps people who left the message will not follow up, but I leave this message for those who read in future. It is related to unexplained weight loss. I promised my self that if I get well, I explain things to people who may be worried.

Early Symptoms : Cough, a lot of mucus, chest pain, lack of appetite, weight 72 kg

Early medical tests ((GP doctor, not knowing it is related to stomach) performed Corona test, blood tests, influenza, sonography liver etc, allergy, lung ventilation. These tests were normal.

Symptoms two months later: Less cough and mucus, big lack of appetite, weight decreased to 66.4 kg (from 72 kg)

Gastro doctor visited: New tests include heart, more blood tests, endoscopy with biopsy (showed chronic Gastritis), Colonoscopy with biopsy (a benign polyp, <1 cm), MRI (belly, throat, and head, ok), blood tests for various markers , sonography of belly, Helicobacter test (positive).

Medications for Helico bacter 3 months after start of early symptoms: Completed in two weeks triple therapy including 3 g of amoxycillin and 2 grams of tetracycline, and 2 PPI for the bacteria per day, it was painful to complete this. Weight was around 66-66.5 kg (the weight loss seemed stopped after endo-colonoscopy). I still had occasional feeling of fullness (lack of appetite), burning sensation in chest and stomach.

6 months later (after early symptom): Weight went up to 68.5 kg...after eating around 70 kg, but I definitely have stomach acid issue, feeling of heartburn and throat.

Conclusions: Do not know what the reasons were.

Recommendations: When getting unexplained weight loss, definitely visit doctors especially gastro doctors and do the tests (it is possible they done not find anything). But perhaps not all of them are very life threatening. I hope this helps you feel better.

Chronic gastritis can make you feel like you can not function. Weight loss is a number one symptom due to inability to eat a lot of foods with gastritis. There are thousands of nerve endings in the lining of the stomach. It takes a decent amount of time to heal the stomach. But diet and mental health are key to healing it. It is always there but in a minor way once you have had a long time of few symtoms. I still can not have much black pepper. 8 years later it can still get me into a flareup. This issue takes discipline and determination as well as getting help with a mental health issue. I have noticed over the years on this site chronic anxiety/mental health is a very common factor. It can cause gastritis and continue it for many years for many people with it. . It took me two years to master this issue without a mental health issue. It is a very challenging problem but with hard work you can get there with a typical chronic gastritis diagnosis.

Thank you Lesleygm.

I see no one has posted on this for a while but has anyone found relief?

I have gastritis. I am taking protonix......after 4 long months I was finally feeling better for a month and then out of thr blue it started hurting again this past weekend.

I do have anxiety but take medication for that and it's under control.

My doctor Is planning to up my Protonix dosage to see if that helps......

Just looking for other suggestions and hope that this will go away. My mind and body is exhausted.

Gastritis is a tough one. If you have managed the anxiety well then work real hard on the diet part. Its the way to get to a way better place. I honestly have felt ppi's can make it worse. Lots of us on this site 10 years ago felt this way.I really did it through managing the diet and taking zantac here and there. Being on ppis stops you from learning the diet part. You start out with 5 basic foods that do not annoy your stomach. You stick to that for a while. Then add another item and so on. You cant treat yourself to anything that can bring back gastritis for 9 months or so and you can only have a small amount. The stomach needs to heal. This is a hard work, discipline determination issue. Without it, its very hard to get to a good place. But you can get there. Once you get way better you learn how to nip it in the bud quickly if you eat something that triggers it. Use a food journal. This is a 3 steps forward one step back process. Don't give up.