have you considered gastroparesis? I didn't until I was doing the gastritis diet, etc and I wasn't getting better, so I started the gastroparesis diet and I am beginning to feel better slowly. However, I still can't eat a normal meal, I have to eat one food item, then hours later I can try another food item. Sometimes it's okay, sometimes not so good. I try to eat foods that digest quickly, like seafood, and banana's. Until I get to the dr I won't know for sure or not. Thus far what I am doing is helping.

Hi Sowle,
I've had a gastroscopy ( you may call it an endoscopy) and it confirmed gastritis. I think my hiccup yesterday was due to three doses of vitamin c the day before due to the cold I was trying to ward off. Needless to say it got me today.
I'm fortunate that I can eat combinations and today tried a small piece of cheese with lunch. So far so good. All going well I try again in a couple of days. I don't really have symptoms of gastroparesis and had never heard of it. Mind you if I'm not continuing to improve soon I will get further testing done and can certainly ask about it.
Thanks,
Sorteum

Hi Soretum-

Have they tested you for the c. diff infection yet? If not, I would highly recommend it. C. diff and gastritis often are linked due to the high amount of antacids that we use to keep the acid suppressed, thus slowing our digestive process and allowing the "bad" bacteria to multiple. Traditionally c. diff is linked to antibiotic use, but it may also be "picked up" in several types of medical settings. If you are continuing to rapidly lose weight or having lower GI issues, I strongly suggest you have them check. Or see a really good GI doctor. Turned out to be the cause of my continued pain after several months of still not healing.

Hi Ravenfish,
I haven't been tested for c diff and don't really have the symptoms for it. I haven't lost any weight for 4 weeks now. Can't wait to start gaining again but I know that will take time. I have only taken antiiotics twice in the last 25 years and both times for a tooth extraction and I took acidopholus tablets at the same time. I also hadn't taken many ant acids before getting sick. The occasional one.
I have been sick for 10 weeks now but am slowly on the mend. I know it takes time and I remain optimisitc. I will consider further tests in a few weeks if my progress isn't satisfactory so thanks for other options to be tested for.
Enjoyed a piece of carrot cake today. I've been ok with that for a week now. Tried cheese yesterday and will have a small piece every day to get my body use to the lactose again.
Take care and thanks,
Soretum

Hmm, hard to say, but pineapple sounds rather acidic. If it were me, I would stay away from that. I hope you feel better! Gastritis is awful.

Hi Ihategastritis,
I did some research before eating the pineapple and I have been ok with it. Like you I thought it would be too acidic but as my tummy settles different things are ok i guess. I try something new every couple of days in an effort to get my life back. I figure I have nothing to lose anymore and everything to gain. Even if a food gives me grief I must continue to try. I'm going to try tomatoes in the next few days. Tried a small amount of pasta this morning and so far so good. I realise some foods take longer to react. The way I look at it now is if I don't try a new food I could be missing out on something.
Apart from my sniffles with this cold I'm not too bad. How are you travelling with your gastritis?
Take care,
Soretum

Let me know how that goes. How long have you had gastritis?

I've had it for 10 weeks today. Happy anniversary to me!
I an improving albiet slowly but hey at least its getting better. No weight loss for four weeks and I think you'll hear me sqeal when I finally gain some weight. I'd be happy with a pound I tell you. How long have you battled with this. I know there is life after this for some people and I'm hoping to be in that party.

Ten weeks ain't so bad. They say it takes 6-8 weeks to heal, so that's in the ballpark. I hope it heals soon for you!

I like your positive attitude! I wish I had that. I'm starting to become a cynic and give up. I'm a seven month sufferer. My goal is heal by my wedding, which will be on May 29, 2011. I want to enjoy my wedding cake without incident.

Oh my gosh this really can drag on can't it. You will be better by your wedding and you will eat cake. It's funny when I first got sick I thought I'd be eating as normal in few weeks. Now I realise it will be months. Tonight I'm having curried sausages. Well as close as I can get to it. I use ground ginger, corriander and turmeric with beef stock and its not bad. I just have to eat something resembling normal food. I've eating all these ingredients before just not with anything as fancy as snags!
I think my dad would be proud that I'm remaining positive. He is the king of the positive attitude and mum is the queen.

i know we all have a run of good days and then wham a few bad ones. How do you all cope with that. I've been on an emotional roller coaster this last week and struggle with staying positive. I know this whole process is a day by day thing. I hate that it's taken my life from me and no one outside this group really gets how hard it is. They can be sympathetic but can't GET IT. I don't blame them. I had two good weeks and now day nine of not so good. Tell me it gets better. P*L*E*A*S*E.

Soretum--sorry to hear you are suffering so. I wish I knew when it gets better because I am going on 6 months of misery. I think out of all the days I actually had 1 good one and that was very short lived.

I think we have to keep in mind that anything for us can trigger the pain and discomfort. I know I have to avoid all foods if I am stressed or anxious. So if it's about 5:00 pm and I am on my last nerve then I wont eat at all until the next morning and even then I am in agony because I went to long without food. I feel we have to be our own judges and be our own investigators. Find what our triggers are from emotions to food intolerances. Also I think we have to keep in mind what condition our gastro is in and determine what foods would settle the best.

I agree no one outside of this group or who suffers what we suffer understand, and that is why most of us are prisoners in our own houses. Being out with people who just don't get it can me just as stressful as the disorder, and who needs that kind of stress. They say to limit the stress in your life, so I guess we do that the best way we know how.

Good luck to you Soretum we hope you are feeling better soon.

Hi Sowle,
Thanks for the kind word. This morning, for the first time in ages I got up at 6.30am as I couldn't take that early morning hunger pain any more. The tummy had settled and the pain wasn't kciking in until 6.30 but now it starts around 5.30am. I remembered one of your posts about eating that early and stayed in bed as long as I could but finally got up to start the drudge of the day. As you know once we're up and running that's it for the day. It takes so long for the tummy to settle before we can lay down and by then it's time to eat again.
My dad is paying me a visit to give me some much needed TLC. He can eat all the food in the house that I can't touch.
Take care and good luck with the recovery. Right now I'd also be happy with one good day, and it will come to both of us.
Soretum

so glad i could string one reasonable day together. I tried resting my tum for a couple of days and maybe rushed into my normal (new normal anyhow) routing. Will continue resting it. I've had enough of the pain as I'm sure everyone here has.
Back to the drawing board of trying to find my optimism that is fading as i type.

Ugh, last night I had a gastritis attack, and the pain keeps hitting me today. I don't know what I did... I didn't eat anything particularly unusual. Now I have this feeling of being stabbed in the chest. Arrrgggg.... :-(