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.
We went to friends for a holiday dinner on the weekend. This is an annual tradition and it's a far out dinner with beautiful decorations, and food presented perfectly (it takes days for the prep work). The host also goes out of her way and makes me a different meal as I don't eat meat. So it started with a delicious soup (separate batch made for me with veggie broth), which was delicious but after a few bites I felt my stomach. (Took pepto bismol chewables at this point). Then had pasta appetizer which I was scared to eat (at least not tomato sauce based). And dinner was a lovely fish but surrounded with tomatoes. It was no problem eating around them but I felt so rude leaving all the tomatoes. (These are my husbands friends from school and they don't know my stomach issues). Everyone was drinking wine, which I so wanted. Took maybe 1/4 inch in the glass and just had mini sips, leaving half. Before the main course, I took a 150mg zantac, which doesn't stop the symptoms but thank goodness does at least help a bit (for now).
Guess this is a bit of a whine post as this is all so unfair. What do you all do in this case? I am not close with these people and don't want to blurt out my tummy problems (plus she already goes out of her way for my non-meat diet) but also at the same time, don't want to offend her (but don't want to pay for it either by feeling sick the next day).
Guess this is a bit of a whine post as this is all so unfair. What do you all do in this case? I am not close with these people and don't want to blurt out my tummy problems (plus she already goes out of her way for my non-meat diet) but also at the same time, don't want to offend her (but don't want to pay for it either by feeling sick the next day).
It also protects stomach lining against effects of alcohol.
I take Zantac 150 every 8 hours to control stomach acidity, but that is not enough. Eating something "wrong" could immediately mess up my stomach and start bloat. Eating something "really wrong" could push me into a week of eating oatmeal.
Thanks to continuous intake of Pepzin GI, I managed to shorten each scenario by about threefold, which matches the clinical findings.
Zantac lowers acidity, but Pepzin GI is a Japanese drug that acts like a band-aid for the stomach lining. It works best long-term, healing the stomach so you can indeed one day survive a social dinner with "adventurous" foods.
But it also works short-term, and on such dinner, you should take it before, during and after the eating process.
I really wish more people here would learn about this amazing supplement and some others (like Ulcetrol and Gastromend HP for heavy-duty H. Pylori work).
Pepzin GI and Gastromend HP, depending on circumstances, have saved my arse many times.
If you take zinc supplements already, you may want to stick to official doses. I started by 2 capsules a day, and felt the effect in 3 days, but this supplement's effect is really dose-dependent. 2 capsules is highly insufficient in my opinion.
I don't know about physical stores, but all that stuff is available on Amazon, so it should be in Canada as well. I used Dr's Best, Swanson and Source Naturals' brands of Pepzin GI, out of which Dr's Best actually works best, and I mostly stick to it.
I'm aware that with all the repetition I am sounding like some kind of sales rep, but I found there's very little knowledge about it, even my gastrologist and physician didn't know, and yet it made a tremendous difference in my life.
As for Pepzin GI...my only concern is that I am taking many things already
- 2 prevacid daily (PPI)
- DGL with each meal (well, when I remember and if haven't just taken a PPI)
- slippery elm (once in awhile)
- prelief (off an on...I put it in my coffee to lessen the acid of it)
- zantac 150 ... when having a bad day (nausea / discomfort)
- tums...if needed (i.e. nausea comes)
- pepto bismol....if needed (i.e. nausea comes)
- ondansetron....if needed (i.e. nausea comes)
So...again, the pepsin GI would be ok? I only take the last 4 when needed. Some days may not take at all while others I do.
@Fighter87: do a broader search, for "zinc carnosine", which is the Pepzin GI formula. You may find it under another brand like Swanson or Source Naturals.
As for your concerns about offending others. I've always took the pro active approach. Take the one who might be offended and simply tell them that you cannot eat spicy or acidic foods due to a health issue and leave it at that. Any true friend will understand.
Hope you are better.
Jim
Pepzin GI is a general suggestion I make because it's the "safest" for everyone to take, but Gastromend is a combination of all components currently known to heal the stomach, and it really made a difference when it was really "bad".
Most importantly it contains 250mg of mastic gum per capsule, which fights H. Pylori. But I tried pure mastic gum (by Jarrow) and Gastromend works better, likely because it appears to be a high-quality capsule which contains also DGL, Vitamin U and Pepzin GI.
Jim, keep us posted if it helps you. (PS - These are my husbands friends that I see once a year so if he doesn't say anything, I can't).
Think about it anyhow. You deserve it all.
Soretum