Gastritis? Acid reflux? What? Dilemma - help!

[123mags456]

Hello

Sorry first of all, this is going to be a fairly long read and thanks to anyone who takes a few minutes to pay attention.

Starting from the beginning...
I was at uni for a year, never ever had a problem with acid reflux, never got heartburn, never got anxious. Was always out, partying, socialising etc with not a care in the world.

However last term at uni i began to feel really really nauseous when drinking, i didn't realise at the time having never experienced one before but as i have a huge phobia of being sick so i went into a bit of a panic attack every time this happened and made things feel worse. Eventually the nausea turned into reflux and i began to gag, this then gradually got worse and began to happen everytime i ate etc. My diet at the time was appauling, essentially it was alcohol, sweets and takeaways. There was also some smoking and drug use.

When i returned home the problems got worse to the point of nausea everyday all day, was essentially bed ridden. Went to the doctors and was diagnosed with gastritis, i got given lansoprazole 30mg. This began to work quite quickly and within a week or two i felt somewhat better, however i noticed i was having severe near sickening nausea and what i later found out to be panic attacks while out. I returned to the doctors and was told it was anxiety, simply knowing what it was i found myself able to overcome it mostly, after this was almost back to normal and continued taking my medication.

However after i continued to take the medication the symptoms returned, i was told by several people that continuing to take lansoprazole unnecessarily can lead to gastritis attacks due to having to lower amount of stomach acid. after this i stopped taking my medicine and was back to 100% - i had a few nights out drinking, back to a normal proper diet and was fine. No nausea, no reflux, no gagging and no panicking.

After this i decided to try and diet to lose weight as i am fairly over weight. I'd lost weight before and had gone about it by using a high protein moderate fat and low carb diet. This went fine for a week or two but unfortunately it seemed to bring my gastritis symptoms back.

This brings me to present day, i stopped that diet about a week ago, went back to the docs and was perscribed flupentixol for anxiety and told to start taking my lansoprazole again.

I don't know what to do here, the flupentixol is managing my anxiety well, previously a bit of reflux would send me on a panic attack. That doesn't happen, but i can't eat proper size meals or mix food types without trouble, i have permanent slight nausea, made worse by eating. I'm not sure whether i'm worrying about it and its anxiety thats causing my trouble and therefore i should stop taking lansoprazole or whether the symtpoms are 'real' and i should continue, as it doesn't seem to be doing much.

The reason i'm so concerned is because on the 12th of september i'm off on a lads holiday which no doubt is going to be a week long drinking session, i need to make sure i'm well for this!

Thanks to those who read this rant, i realise i dragged on - but i want to cover everything.

Thanks you.

[barbie2487]

Hey,
You sound like a male version of me. I guess you've tried going to the Uni counselling service, or asking your GP about counselling for the emetophobia (fear of being sick). I'm impressed you can do the lads nights out though, with the fear. Counselling does really help to get your anxieties in perspective.

Even if you think the indigestion is going to make you sick, it probably won't. I sat on my bed sipping water yesterday and trying to give myself therapy. I didn't throw up in the end. Just take a deep breath and keep sipping water. If you're feeling gassy a bit of ginger beer/ale can help to relieve that sick-y feeling but will also release the excess gas. I know it's hard to do, but remember that being sick will last for less than a minute. I can't do it either, but I'm already laughing at myself about last night, but it was no laughing matter as I sat trying not to be sick...

I too, have been experiencing the reflux/gastritis issue and just got prescribed something to help with that. I'm sure that stress doesn't help. Try to take time to relax and eat your meals, and be mindful of your food: chew slowly and stop when you're full: (this is helpful for your indigestion and can also help lower your weight). Try to cut down on the booze as much as possible as this will probably make your symptoms worse in the long run. Is there any way you can drink half as fast as the lads, or drink something that looks like alcohol (pints of coke instead of guinness). Lastly, try to relax, and enjoy your holiday remembering that you deserve to have fun.

[123mags456]

Thanks for that

I suspect i may be right, i think i might be looking at this the wrong way.
I performed a home stomach acid test today, the one where you take a quarter teaspoon of baking soda with a glass of water and time your burp. Less than 2 minutes being high, 2-3 being normal and 5 onwards being low stomach acid... i didnt burp for an hour and 20 minutes.

This leads me to believe my stomach acid is too low and therefore something like enzymes will help
Thanks for your advice, i'll have a read

[Red_Star]

You are wanting digestive enzyme supplements with proteases. Proteases (enzymes that digest protein) reduces inflammation, cleans out debris and infection, and stimulates healing. However, this causes exposed, sensitive tissue to start with. To avoid pain, take low protease enzymes and increase proteases slowly. Or you can tough it out for a few days of pain. :) I'll send you an excellent article about enzymes and gastritis.