Can gastritis cause lingering dyspepsia symptoms?

About 2 months ago I started feeling sick at my stomach in the afternoons which lasted for about a week, after this I developed a mild burning in my mid to lower abdomin (abdomen) that lasted for about a week. Then one evening I ate a granola bar and my entire stomach started buning bad and I blew up with gas worse than I've ever had. I could litteraly feel my heart beating in my stomach. I went to my doctor who put me on Nexium 40mg and sent me for an upper GI which showed mild inflammation and a congenital diverticulum. I was told I had gastritis which was probably caused by a virus or bacteria. I had some diarreah (diarrhea) with this but not much, and no fever. I had the antibody test for H. Pylori done which came back negative. After about a couple of weeks of eating nothing but toast and soda crackers the bad pain and gas subsided. Since then for about the past 3 weeks or so I have had a mild burning,gnawing type pain in my mid to lower abdominal area accompanied by some mild nausea. This comes and goes throughout the day and doesn't seem to be associated with food. I can pretty much eat what I want as long as it's not to greasy. Throughout the whole thing symptoms have always been worse in the evenings after work, and my pain has been typically mid to lower abdominal area and more focused on the left side. Stools seem normal and are light in color. I suffer from G.anxiety\Panic disorder and I have been really worried about this ever since it started because I have never had this type of stomach pain before. I'm also really worried about maybe having to have an endoscopy done because I am terrfied of being put to sleep. Do you think that I would benefit from any further testing or could this just be nerve changes in my stomach from the gastritis? My doctor told me she thinks this is functional and if it doesn't get worse she doesn't see any need to investigate further. My worrying and obsessing over this is probably makeing it worse, so any peace of mind you could give would be appreciated. Also, would the upper GI have showed anything bad like stomach cancer? Is this typical of gallbladder? Lastly, what is your opinion of what is has/is happening? Thanks a bunch.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

I would consider the upper endoscopy.  This is a more comprehensive test than the upper GI series.  You are not put totally to sleep during this procedure - what is known as conscious sedation is used.  An upper GI series would typically show some stomach cancer, but the test is not as comprehensive as an endoscopy.  

Possible causes can still include ulcers or inflammation of the upper digestive tract (that may not always be seen during the upepr GI series).  If the upper endoscopy is negative, you may still want to consider the abdominal ultrasound to evaluate the gallbladder and liver.  Another possibility would be a 24-hr pH study to rule out GERD.

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

[bluestarwizard]

I forgot to add that I am 30 years old, sorry.

[yoshi]

did you give you any medication for gastritis??

[bluestarwizard]

The only med I was put on was nexium.

[Suziepie20]

Have you ever been checked for Celiac Sprue Disease (gluten intolerance)?