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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
A better understanding of gastritis
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
Kevin Pho, MD
Boston - MA
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.
A better understanding of gastritis
by princess7780, Apr 28, 2005 12:00AM
I have had complaints for the last 2 1/2 months of on and off nausea, excessive burping, and bad taste in my mouth. I had my gallbladder removed (because of a 8% ejection fraction) on January 7th and all my problems started about a month after the surgery.
I was given a treatment with a PPI (aciphex) twice daily and after symptoms persisted (they were better but not totally gone), my GI doctor ordered an uppder Endoscopy. I had it perfomed on April 19th and just recently got the results back.
Here is exactly what the doctor reported:
"Antral biopsies deomstrated subacute and chronic gastritis with lamina propia fibrosis. The giemsa stain was negative for Helicobacter. Distal esophageal bipsies did demonstrate findings consistent with moderately severe gastroesophageal reflux disease."
Here are my questions:
1) What is the difference between chronic and subacute gastritis? Does chronic mean I will always have it??
2) Is gastritis curable?? If so, with what? Can sometimes it be noncurable?
3) What could cause gastritis to occur after gallbladder surgery (both my doctor and I agree these symptoms were not present before surgery)??
4) What is lamina propia fibrosis?
5) What would or could cause moderately severe gastroesophageal reflux disease after gallbladder removal?
6) Will I need to be on a PPI the rest of my life because I have "chronic" gastritis (Doesn't chronic mean reoccuring or always occuring??) ?
7) Can gastritis cause intermittent symptoms? Bascially since this has all started, symptoms are are off and on...ie...I will feel bad for five days, feel better for 4, feel bad for a week, feel great for a week... Why would it be like this? I mean if have gastritis shouldn't feel bad pretty much all the time..??
Thanks for your help.
I was given a treatment with a PPI (aciphex) twice daily and after symptoms persisted (they were better but not totally gone), my GI doctor ordered an uppder Endoscopy. I had it perfomed on April 19th and just recently got the results back.
Here is exactly what the doctor reported:
"Antral biopsies deomstrated subacute and chronic gastritis with lamina propia fibrosis. The giemsa stain was negative for Helicobacter. Distal esophageal bipsies did demonstrate findings consistent with moderately severe gastroesophageal reflux disease."
Here are my questions:
1) What is the difference between chronic and subacute gastritis? Does chronic mean I will always have it??
2) Is gastritis curable?? If so, with what? Can sometimes it be noncurable?
3) What could cause gastritis to occur after gallbladder surgery (both my doctor and I agree these symptoms were not present before surgery)??
4) What is lamina propia fibrosis?
5) What would or could cause moderately severe gastroesophageal reflux disease after gallbladder removal?
6) Will I need to be on a PPI the rest of my life because I have "chronic" gastritis (Doesn't chronic mean reoccuring or always occuring??) ?
7) Can gastritis cause intermittent symptoms? Bascially since this has all started, symptoms are are off and on...ie...I will feel bad for five days, feel better for 4, feel bad for a week, feel great for a week... Why would it be like this? I mean if have gastritis shouldn't feel bad pretty much all the time..??
Thanks for your help.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Apr 30, 2005 12:00AM
, Apr 30, 2005 12:00AM
To answer your questions:
1) Some designate subacute as the middle ground between acute and chronic.
2) It depends on what the cause is. If the gastritis is causing GERD, it can heal if the GERD is appropriately treated.
3) There are several causes - NSAID or alcohol use, GERD, bile acid reflux are a few off the top of my head.
4) The lamina propria is the layer of connective tissue beneath the surface. Fibrosis refers to a scar (due to an injury). Thus, this term refers to a scar of the connective tissue beneath the surface. Chronic insults to the stomach (i.e. via NSAIDs or alcohol) can lead to this.
5) A hiatal hernia, bile acid reflux, or any dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) can lead to reflux symptoms.
6) It is likely that long-term PPIs may help with the healing.
7) It is possible that chronic gastritis can lead to intermittent symptoms.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b
1) Some designate subacute as the middle ground between acute and chronic.
2) It depends on what the cause is. If the gastritis is causing GERD, it can heal if the GERD is appropriately treated.
3) There are several causes - NSAID or alcohol use, GERD, bile acid reflux are a few off the top of my head.
4) The lamina propria is the layer of connective tissue beneath the surface. Fibrosis refers to a scar (due to an injury). Thus, this term refers to a scar of the connective tissue beneath the surface. Chronic insults to the stomach (i.e. via NSAIDs or alcohol) can lead to this.
5) A hiatal hernia, bile acid reflux, or any dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) can lead to reflux symptoms.
6) It is likely that long-term PPIs may help with the healing.
7) It is possible that chronic gastritis can lead to intermittent symptoms.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b
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