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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
Will it ever go away?
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
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Will it ever go away?
by AaronFL, Sep 18, 2002 12:00AM
I have been diagnosed with gastritis from Oct. 2001. I have been on nexium since and still have extreme gas. I was told my stomach would recover 3-4 months after being on medication. I have changed my diet several times and now stick to protein and lettuce. I am in an extremely stressful work position, which I believe contributes to this. Also, I work out every day to help combat stress. Could it be something else and if it is gastritis or irritable bowel syndrome, does it ever heal? Signed, Forever Gas
I was well prepared and took out a copy of my biopsy and asked him why he wasn't concerned over the fact that I have chronic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia. He replied "becuase I see more of this than anything else". Then I say, technically, isn't IM a pre-cancerous condition. He got a bit bristled I think because he looked at this as a challenge. He said in my case "no" He went on to explain that if it was in my esophagus, he would be concerned about Barretts but it isn't. That IM means tissue change and for me the change is the stomach is healing. I tested negative for h-pylori and other bacteria.
Ironically, another poster, Karen had an app't the same day, almost at the same time with her doctor. She has the exact diagnosis as I do and her doctor echoed the same thing my doctor did, he wasn't concerned about the IM part either.
I asked if this could turn into cancer and he said he didn't know, that unfortunately, not much is known about gastritis but with diet and medicaiton, it should keep the symptoms under control. I think his attitude was he doesn't have a crystal ball!
He also told me that it was not necessary to scope me every year unless I continue to have problems. He split the Prevacid dosage and I take 15mg in the AM and 15mg in the PM. He suggested I take this forever!
So, that's where I am with it. I went from mild to chronic in four years but of course, I never watched my diet nor did I take Prevacid on-going. He did spend alot of time talking medical stuff but didn't add anything enlightening like how I got this way, etc. He said he just didn't know
I still don't want to take Prevacid forever and will investigate alternatives like DGL, etc.
And how are you doing.
-Jenifer
It's comforting to know there's a place to share and that I'm not along in having guts problem.
3 years ago, the Dr scoped my stomach and found H-pylori after I complaint about distended stomach after meal, reflux and chronic abdominal pain. Gave me a 2-week medication with losec plus two other medicine, afterwhich, prescribe Pepzan to control the stomach acid.
Initially it was doing well but after a while the reflux is back as well as rushing to the toilet after meals. Pepzan seems to be less and less effective. I stopped taking after that, worried that my system is getting immune or rather addicted.
Read some medical article which mentioned that removing h-pylori will cause more reflux. I don't know what to believe now. To this day, I'm still trying to find cure to my reflux and IBS. I was diagnosed with IBS after I told the same Dr the symptoms of gasey stomach and often have to rush to the toilet after meals.
The other problem is flatulence. The gas is very pungent and hot at time. I tried to consume less "heaty" food but to no avail. It comes when it wanted to.
The next thing I'll try is to consume aloe vera which is said to be good for IBS and gastric.
//felix