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Gastroenterology  (Expert Forum)
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Chronic Gastritis?
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MedHelp Member's Question

Chronic Gastritis?

by Lynn28, Mar 15, 2002 12:00AM
I would just like to know if anyone here has ever been diagnosed with chronic gastritis?

Last year and endoscope revealed gastritis due to h-pylori. All meds were taken and a year later no relief. So last friday I went and had another endoscope and the biopsy reavealed no bacteria, BUT showed "Chronic Gastritis". So far the way my doctor has been treating it hasn't worked.... AT ALL.

Mainly just antacids. I'll be looking soon for another gastro doctor, BUT would love to speak with other people who have had this to see how they were treated and if they ever got better. It's such a painful thing to have and mentally it has drained me. Any input would be so gratful.  Much Thanks!

Member Comments (30)

by reb, Mar 16, 2002 12:00AM
Were the meds you took antibiotics? I was on courses of antibiotics and afterwards I was left with the most chronic stomach pain, worse after I ate. I tried everything (antacids, etc) but nothing worked. It turned out that due to the meds I was on, there was an imbalance of the good bacteria in my gut, so it was incredibly difficult to digest anything, (hence pain). I went to the health shop and got "probiotic" powder for drinks to replace the good bacteria and the pain is getting MUCH better, after just a few days. Best of luck!

by PM, Mar 16, 2002 12:00AM
I am so thankful to see this message.  I having been trying to post a similar message for weeks and everytime I try it says they can take no more messages.  I too suffer from Chronic Gastritis.  I have been to MANY doctors desperately seeking answers and help.  I am 30 and this is not normal at my age.  We have done a lot of testing, but still just come up with the Gastritis.  I have been on Nexium and Carafate for a yr.  It keeps me alive, but I hate taking meds all the time and looks to me like I will be on them the rest of my life.  I don't think people can comprehend how horrible this can be...especially doctors.  They don't seem to be real concerned.  The medical books must say "minor illness".   I disagree!  I had a low grade fever with mine for years.  It just broke last month.  I still have the Gastritis, but it is a little better.  I think the key to this little bit of healing was that I discovered a way to get vitamins in my body without it damaging my stomach.  I take any sublingual vitamins I can get my hands on (mainly complex B).  Most important is the Met-Rx Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Flavor Food Replacement Bar(eat it with your meal).  It it packed full of vitamins and protein.  It is the only one I tried that didn't make my situation worse.  It has given me energy and changed my life.  Another very important key is SLEEP.  Your stomach's healing power is 300 times stronger while we sleep.  I think it is TFF2 or something close to that which actually works to restore the stomach lining while we are sleeping.  I really didn't sleep the first year.  I was in too much pain.  Now I am sleeping 7-8 hrs nightly.  What a difference it makes.  If you can't sleep and of course doctors hand you pills so you can take it on a empty stomach and make it worse......  try sublingual Melatonin.  I don't take it unless I have to, but we have to do whatever it takes because the docs are no help with this.  I have one or two test left to rule out.  We are going to rule out Colitis, because I do have lower problems too.  There is also a possibility of auto-immune which would explain my fever.  If it weren't for my faith, I think I would be dead.  Please stay in touch.  It is good to have contact with someone who can understand this horrible illness.

by PM, Mar 16, 2002 12:00AM
PS...

On the Food Replacement Bar try to find the orginal bar in a white label.  The new Big 100 has been altered and is less tolerable.  I have been buying them out within a 50 mile radius.

by kajo, Mar 16, 2002 12:00AM
To: pm
speaking of chronic gastritis. has anyone ever told you exactly what causes this?? even when i eat very mild foods like yogurt or jello, i throw them up. sometimes, first thing in the morning, without any food, i just throw up something....not exactly sure what it is. about the low grade fever, my sister has had this for years. no gastric problems but they tested her for lupus and it was positive. good luck to all of us. these g.i. problems suck so i know how you feel.

by pmg, Mar 16, 2002 12:00AM
To: kajo
It can be caused by certain (acidic and fatty) foods over time, Helio-Bacteria, several autoimmune diseases can cause it, back-up of bile, certain meds (aspirin).  It really does suck... If you haven't seen a Dr. you really need to.  The sooner the better.  I have always felt nauseated with it, but I haven't done a lot of vomiting.  Most people do however.  In the beginning before I got on the meds, even bland food hurt me also.  I basically didn't eat for a couple of weeks.  I lost a lot of weight fast.  I hope you don't have it.  Good Luck

by kajo, Mar 17, 2002 12:00AM
I AM BACK TO EATING JELLO, YOGURT, OATMEAL AND SHERBERT. I AM ALSO WONDERING IF THIS COULD BE GALLBLADDER RELATED. THE OTHER NIGHT I HAD A BIG SALAD AND ATE A TON OF BLACK OLIVES. I FORGOT THAT THEY ARE REALLY HIGH IN FAT. THE NEXT DAY, I WAS VOMITING MOST OF THE DAY AND JUST FELT REALLY CRAPPY. CAN YOU HAVE A GALLBLADDER PROBLEM WITHOUT STONES? I HAVE ONLY HAD AN ULTRASOUND AND SOME BLOOD WORK FOR THAT. THEY SAY GALLBLADDER PROBLEMS ARE VERY HARD TO PINPOINT. EVER HEARD OF BILIARY GASTRITIS? I JUST FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT REFLUX CAN MAKE SOMEONE SOOOOOOO SICK??!!

by pmg, Mar 17, 2002 12:00AM
To: KAJO
Have you had a hida scan done?  It shows what percentage of your gallbladder is functioning.  You need to have this done if nothing shows on the ultrasound.  As for Gastritis, I could not even eat the foods you mentioned.  Jello has Citric Acid and Oatmeal is hard to digest.  There is no way I would eat salad or olives.  Are the doctors just trying to find out what is wrong or do you know that you have Gastritis?

by kajo, Mar 17, 2002 12:00AM
HI, THANKS FOR THE RESPONSE. NO, I HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD I HAVE GASTRITIS. THESE PROBLEMS STARTED 5 YEARS AGO AND BACK THEN I HAD AN ENDOSCOPY, PH/MOTILITY TEST ,GASTRIC EMPTYING TEST...ALL OF WHICH WERE POSITIVE FOR REFLUX. LIVED WITH IT FOR 5 YEARS..NO MEDS, CANNOT TOLERATE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF NEXIUM ETC. STARTED VOMITING WITH SEVERE NAUSEA ALL THE TIME BACK IN NOV. HAD AN U.G.I, SHOWED REFLUX AND THE 24 HR PH/MOTILITY AGAIN. THE 24 HR. PART THIS TIME SAID IT WAS WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS???!!! I DOUBT THE REFLUX FIXED ITSELF. SOMEONE SAID ITS THE MOTILITY PART AND THE LES FUNCTION THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT AND I HAVE YET TO GET THOSE RESULTS BACK. AM SEEING ANOTHER G.I.DOC ON WED. TO DISCUSS THE ENDOCINCH PROCEDURE TO FIX THE REFLUX, BUT IF THE VALVE PRESSURE COMES BACK OKAY, I AM SKREWED. THAT'S WHY I AM BACK TO RESEARCHING GALLBLADDER PROBLEMS TOO. MY OWN G.I. DR. SAYS HE IS NOT 100% SURE MY GALLBLADDER IS NOT ALSO INVOLVED. SO, THAT'S THE GRUESOME STORY HA HA HA. I FEEL SOMEWHAT FORTUNATE THAT I AM IN THE MEDICAL FIELD MYSELF AND HAVE KNOWN AND WORKED WITH MY G.I. DR. FOR YEARS. HE WOULD NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS TRY TO PASS OFF THE IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD THING. THE THOUGHTS OF MORE TESTS ARE EXHAUSTING, BUT A HIDA SCAN DOESN'T SEEM SO BAD. NOTHING IS AS BRUTAL AS THAT 24 HR. TEST. ANYWAY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SHARE YOUR INSIGHTS WITH ME. THESE G.I. PROBLEMS SURE DO STINK, BUT WHAT CHOICE DO WE HAVE BUT TO HANG IN THERE AND DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO FEEL AT LEAST SUB HUMAN.

by PM, Mar 17, 2002 12:00AM
To: kajo
I too have had the 24 HR PH/MOTILITY.  2 wks before the test my reflux was soooo bad I was trying to sleep standing up against my dresser.  Sad, but true.  I became desperate.  The 40 mg of Nexium caused some bad side effects with me also, but I had to do something.  I discovered that I could open the pill and take smaller dosages.  I just dumped half of it out (and I still do).  Long story short... by the time I took the test, the Nexium had made a pretty big difference.  I was beginning to think that I was crazy.  You are lucky to have a doc. that knows you.  Most of my docs look at me like "oh no, here comes the crazy woman again".  I don't give up though.  I will keep bugging them as long as I have to.  



I hope you find the source to your problem soon.