If it's really the gastritis that's the crux of your problems, then you can manage it and improve. I have, and I know others who have. It's about discipline, not doing stupid things... and PepZin GI ;)

However you mentioned before having other illnesses which may compound your problems. That is a whole different ballgame.

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Life Extensions makes a pill with CoQ10 plus Shilajit, which serves as a catalyst.

Shilajit has been used to battle fatigue, among other things:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22771318

CoQ10, like Shilajit, has very interesting benefits, such as helping with MS:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24621064
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23659338

... something to consider, perhaps. Shilajit is a folk cure that's getting more clinical confirmation of its healing and potentially anti-aging properties.

Good morning.
I'm sorry you feel so terrible... It's so very disheartening to be sick for such a long time. I'm going on 6 months and trying to persevere, one day at a time. I do get very sad every now and then... We need to have hope. Do something nice for yourself, however little. Don't sweat the small stuff, let some things go if they bother you. And be selfish. It's okay to be selfish.

I'm so sorry you're feeling so down, littlemart. You sound just like me. There are days when I'm so depressed at the idea of living with this for the rest of my life. But then I have one good day and I get really positive. My stomach rules my life. Anti-anxiety meds like Valium and Xanax help immensely but I use them sparingly because they are very addictive. Mornings are the worse for me too. I often wake up already in pain. I rarely leave the house anymore and I even have social anxieties now. I used to be the life of the party just 2 years ago. You have other issues with taking care of your husband's health problems, so that doesn't help either and I'm sure you're under stress which just makes the stomach problems worse. Try to stay as stress-free as possible which I know is difficult. Maybe consider trying a benzo like Valium, Xanax, or Ativan, but be very careful as it's habit forming. And yes, there is hope. I was sick like this off and on from 1998 to 2003. Then it went away and I had 9 perfectly healthy years without any major stomach problems, until the end of 2012. So I have hope that I will eventually get better. And you will too!!

Hi I hope it gets better. Ive suffered gastritis since the end of 2009 when I had my gallbladder out. It has just got worse over the past couple of years and Im in a lot of pain most days. I know it takes your life away it has mine. I can,t do much as Im in pain. I would like to go swimming but not well enough. I go out a bit for shopping or to church but feel like a burden on my husband who is always doing things when Im really bad. Its hard and Im on anxiety meds too. Ive just got some Pepzin GI and I know a few people are trying it. Last week I had an endoscopy and found out that I have bile reflux gastritis so I don,t know what to do now. Im scared but hope that with natural remedies they will help me.

Oh yes. This illness took my life from me fir several years. I have most of it back now. This winter (Australia) was rugged on my gut and after a horrid couple of months things are improving. It will get better but progress can be slow.

Like you, I have other medical issues, mine are CFIDS, hypoglycemia, tremors, IC and hypothyroidism. All contribute to making life more challenging, but as for flat out pain, gastritis and IC are the worst offenders. I've found that avoiding stress when possible is helpful, and I also take xanax before a known stressful time. I don't take much, about .25 mg lays me for about 8 hrs. It seems to really calm things before the stress reaction kicks in.....

Since my diagnosis with gastritis at the end of July, my life has centered around my stomach. This sounds terrible, but I thought focusing on getting it to heal faster would speed up my return to work. I've been off work for nearly 5 weeks and will need to return next week.

littlemart, I do my best to hold on to hope, if not, we can't beat this illness. I feel like you on some days. But seeing that some of our posters here are recovering gives me hope.

poorgir4l, I had my gallbladder removed too in Feb 2014. I've had GI issues since then. I believed I had gastritis before it was removed but it wasn't so severe, and my primary care doc didn't do her job of sending me to a GI specialist. Not sure how much it would have helped, but a good doctor is hard to find, it seems.

Sadly, the western approach is more suitable for treating trauma cases. I don't think it is helpful in dealing with chronic issues, like ours -- because their approach is diagnosis > immediate symptoms > remove symptoms with drugs. Hence, our doctors, whether pcp or GI have not been very helpful and added to patient stress.

This is probably going to be a lifelong illness we have to deal with, patience, endurance, hope, discipline, are all needed. At least in this community, we are heard. Thankful for that.

Thank you all so much. I have been on Xanax ( very small amount ) for a few years. I have several autoimmune diseases and chronic stuff and they all seem to carry anxiety as a symptom. And I have plenty of stress in my life with my husband. He has some very serious health problems. We are selling our farm of 38 years.... another very sad and stressful situation. The place is too big and I cannot take care of all of it anymore. My main problem is MS. Not a fun disease.

I believe my gastric mess started 6 years ago when I had a small bowel resection to correct a blockage. Nothing has been the same since then. Try to hang onto your parts if you can!

I've heard a lot about this Pepzin, but can't find it here. Is this one of those online meds?

I understand the social anxieties! I used to be the "fun one" too. But have pretty much lost my sense of humor. Actually I just don't have the energy anymore. I try to watch funny stuff on tv or in movies. I also try to keep them to the half hour shows. I rarely make it thru a whole movie. Also read a lot and they are usually funny mysteries or stuff like that. Anything that makes me giggle helps.

I love my kids and their families, but they just wear me out. Usually have to take a half Xanax if I know they are coming. Lots of panic attacks now. Yeesh!

Well, that's about it. We all have our stories. Best to all of you.

Yes the little things can help. My favorite part of the day is between 4:00 and 6:00 when I sit on my couch in the sunny part of my living room, with my heating pad, and curl up and read a good book. The book takes my mind off things. And of course every night I watch TV which also takes my mind off things. I go for walks on nice sunny days, look at the flowers, etc. If I'm feeling really down though, I nice intense cry can do wonders and I think it releases stress. My heating pads are my best friends and I have 3 of them in different rooms. Downsizing from your farm is a good idea. Having a smaller place means less work to worry about and less stress. You're in my prayers and I hope you and your husband feel better soon!!

Yay for heating pads! I love the rice filled herbal ones, they are all over the house :)

My heating pads are my life line on the bad days.
I agree that western medicine is limited with this illness.