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.
Shihonge I'm wondering what your symptoms are or were when you are having a bad round of gastritis. Do you have ulcers or any other stomach problems?
I ask because you seem to be our "resident doctor" ( I know, you're not a doctor ). But you have the best information for us. I'm sure you study and research this topic a lot. You should have gone into medicine as a profession.
A few days ago I reported I was doing much better. Then one morning things went a little sour. My IBS kicked in and since then I'm getting all the burning in my stomach and throat and mouth again. So, I'm confused about what I really should be taking. My tests showed some acid reflux, not a lot and a loose LES and the gastritis. As you know I've tried several things with the goal of getting away from taking PPI's. The reason I don't want to take them is because of the possibility of bone loss. I've never had any side effects from them so far.
After reading that you take Zantac 3 times a day I started wondering if I should increase mine. Maybe take one first thing in the morning. I'm using the Pepzin GI. That really seemed to help until recently. It's probably still helping, but this "flare" is just making things seems worse.
After reading what everyone else does to combat this thing I realize that there are a lot of combinations of remedies.... not any one-size-fits-all. But the experimentation could be dangerous. Also looks like there is no real cure. We will always have these problems no matter what we do.
I have to remind myself that MS complicates everything and makes all other illnesses seem worse. My immune system is in overdrive, trying to keep up with all the changes in my body.
You've helped me before. Please don't get mad, but I continue to need your advice. Thanks.
I ask because you seem to be our "resident doctor" ( I know, you're not a doctor ). But you have the best information for us. I'm sure you study and research this topic a lot. You should have gone into medicine as a profession.
A few days ago I reported I was doing much better. Then one morning things went a little sour. My IBS kicked in and since then I'm getting all the burning in my stomach and throat and mouth again. So, I'm confused about what I really should be taking. My tests showed some acid reflux, not a lot and a loose LES and the gastritis. As you know I've tried several things with the goal of getting away from taking PPI's. The reason I don't want to take them is because of the possibility of bone loss. I've never had any side effects from them so far.
After reading that you take Zantac 3 times a day I started wondering if I should increase mine. Maybe take one first thing in the morning. I'm using the Pepzin GI. That really seemed to help until recently. It's probably still helping, but this "flare" is just making things seems worse.
After reading what everyone else does to combat this thing I realize that there are a lot of combinations of remedies.... not any one-size-fits-all. But the experimentation could be dangerous. Also looks like there is no real cure. We will always have these problems no matter what we do.
I have to remind myself that MS complicates everything and makes all other illnesses seem worse. My immune system is in overdrive, trying to keep up with all the changes in my body.
You've helped me before. Please don't get mad, but I continue to need your advice. Thanks.
1) Zantac was before September 2014. Now it's Pepcid, because it is a cleaner drug. Due to differences in strength I had to switch from Zantac 150mg every 8 hours to Pepcid 40mg every 12 hours. Once developing certain tolerance to H2 blockers one cannot switch down, only up.
2) "Shihonge I'm wondering what your symptoms are or were when you are having a bad round of gastritis. Do you have ulcers or any other stomach problems? "
Started with gastritis, then messed up with listening to conflicting advice (quit Zantac too early, had fast food) and got an ulcer. In the first few months it was accompanied by pain and weight loss. I also got an inguinal hernia from rapid weight loss.
Now, it's no longer about having "bad rounds" but sometimes I screw up by eating too much stuff I shouldn't. It becomes an urge, which is entirely my fault. When that happens, I spend a week walking up the safe-food-chain, then get back to chicken, then continue improving.
Each time I hope there won't be a next time, and adjust my risk factors for various foods.
3) Sublingual B12 (methylcobalamin) may alleviate some of the PPI side-effects. 5000mcg version. It can also help with MS symptoms.
4) Consider Gastromend HP instead of (or in addition to) PepZin GI. It is stronger, has better healing effect. But watch out for any unusual symptoms like increase in constipation. 4 capsules of Gastromend contain 2 capsules of PepZin GI, so dose according to directions and that fact.
5) Experimentation is unavoidable. You have to be your own test subject and quickly adjust to what's going on. Burning can be caused not just by insufficient acid blocking, but by letting the acid gnaw on the stomach because your between-food intervals are too large, or you ate an aggravating food.
Eventually as your stomach heals this effect will disappear, but just because it's there doesn't necessarily mean you need stronger acid suppression. Look for other factors as well.
You have to develop a cause-and-effect understanding of your stomach, so then you can start to control it.
I cannot be your navigational computer with a response for every fluctuation on course. I tell you where the pedals and levers are - then YOU have to navigate your experience.