I was born with an intestinal issue called Meckel's diverticulum that ruptured when I was 8. I had surgery to re-sect my bowel and take out my appendix. My stomach never was truly ok like other people's might be. I had gastric sleeve surgery 2 yrs ago this month. Started at 335 lbs and got down to 218 in about 10 months. Then I developed stomach pain just a year ago. It started as gallbladder pain, definite gb attacks that I treated with beet juice, and herbal teas, not wanting yet another stomach surgery. After 2 months I saw gastro and he started testing and gave me carafate and pain killers, along with my usual ppi as I've had gerd for about 20 yrs. Carafate actually hurt, pain killers gave me constipation but I still take them when I can't sleep.
Starting in October I had an Upper GI, CT scan, Gastric emptying (the worst one by far), MRI, multiple blood tests including h pylori and finally my gallbladder was removed in early April after a gb specific test showed it was non functional. I hoped this would be an end to the pain. No such luck. It took 3 months but I got my EGD this past month and had my diagnosis of chronic gastritis with no bile seen. It actually felt oddly good to see the pic of all that redness and irritation in my stomach because after a while you think you are just making it up or over emotional. I carry it with me to remind me to be kind to my stomach.
I'm a wiccan and I tend to prefer natural remedies, so I see a naturopath now after my gastro gave up and said he'd see me in 6 months and I'd have to learn to live with it. I am taking slippery elm, marshmallow root tea (very soothing but not hot, just warm or cool), and following a specific diet to be certain my ibs isn't irritating my already sensitive stomach.
I am supposed to be eating almost pure protein, for my weight loss, for my CFS and for healing but have one heck of a time getting it down. Add to that things like pudding and ice cream going down just fine and I'm having trouble keeping my weight in check. I have glucose intolerance so if I eat even 50 carbs a day I gain weight. Therefore I have put 20 lbs back on since last August and this is very depressing. I'm working on it with a nutritionist but it's very difficult to resign oneself to eating nothing much but canned chicken and protein shakes. It can be very depressing for certain.
Since we've eliminated all possible causes but enterovirus and I'm not having another egd just to prove that, there is only the one thing left otherwise and that is that there is a slight possibility I am allergic to my stomach staples. I am working on getting tested for titanium and nickel allergies. If it come back negative I know this much be viral. If it comes back highly positive I need to decide how to get the staples out, which would mean a far more dangerous procedure of being an open surgery and having the surgeon stitch me closed instead of staples. That would mean a liquid diet for about 2 months. At this point I'm in limbo and grateful for you kind folks as I feel very alone in this. My family is so supportive but they just can't understand it all, not like others suffering with it.

Oh my word Nina... I am flabbergasted at what you are going through, and I want to be such a ninny with my little nausea and discomfort? Lots of hugs coming your way. And hopefully some healing too.

Sorry to hear you are in pain and hope you feel better now. Hopefully taking the right medication and eating carefully will eventually get you to being totally well. I have heard of gastritis lasting for years Bananas are a great food for this problem and would help if you eat three a day. Manuka honey is very good for it too. I would also add live yoghurt twice a day - plain no sugar to repopulate the good bacteria in your gut to help you fight this and other disease. It gets quite a pasting when there is something wrong there.

Hi Nina that's awful what you have been through. Im still the same with bad pain and no cause has been found for my gastritis. The gastro even said it may be a stomach nerve causing all the bad pain. I got put on 2 Lansoprazoles a day which don,t help. I had some blood tests and m waiting for the results. I had my gallbladder out in October 2009. Its interesting that you mention a staple allergy,I may have that too. I will have to ask the doctor. Keep me posted on how you go on. Ive started taking Slippery elm,ginger,coconut water or milk and Aloe Vera juice. Someone suggested Omega 3 oils so I may take them. You can get Flaxseed or fish oils. My pain goes away and comes back the next day and I sit up at night with no sleep so no change yet. Im thinking of changing my PPI though and maybe going on Ranitidine to see if it helps as PPIs can in rare cases actually cause gastritis. Ive read that PPIs can cause hip fractures and allsorts if taken long term too.