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Autoimmune Gastritis

I have had autoimmune gastritis for several years, it comes and goes, some time a few days or weeks, sometime a couple of months. so far, all the doctors gave me were anti acid medicines, but, for me, these antiacid medicines don't work at all. My question is: if my gastritis was caused by autoimmune problem, why don't they treat the real problem and give me something to suppress the autoimmune function (like Prednisone) ? Thanks.
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Avatar universal
Sometimes people with an autoimmune disease are later diagnosed with Lyme disease.   Have you ever been bitten by a tick???    I gradually developed stomach problems about seven years ago after being bitten by a tick.   I've tested negative for lyme every time (PCR test) but I'm now on IM Rocephin as a "challenge".   I'll get my final lyme test done after that round of antibiotics.    (My doctor initially prescribe zithromax, but I could not tolerate oral antibiotics because of my stomach problems.  )

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Avatar universal
Thank you for the information. No wonder the antiacid medicine does not help me at all.  I'll talk to my doctor again and see what he say. I understand the side-effects of Prednisone, but As I know, there is really nothing else can effectively and quickly suppress the autoimmune attack.  I used prednisone twice in my life, one time for my kidney, one time for my hand joint, both times eliminated my problem quickly (in less then 1 month), therefore I asked if it will work on my stomach too.   Thanks again.
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Avatar universal
Hypogirl, if you have autoimmune gastritis whomever was giving you acid suppression meds should be avoided. In this autoimmune condition, you're facing a condition in which your body is attacking the cells in your stomach that will result in a LACK of acid production, in addition to not producing enough intrinsic factor which is needed to bind to the B12 you take in with food and allow that to be transported to the small intestine for uptake. So you end up with a deficiency of vitaming B12.

Ultimately, those with autoimmune gastritis have an atrophic gastritis - the lining of the stomach is compromised - you lack acid. Treatment for the condition focuses on trying to reduce inflammation and avoiding environmental triggers such as spicy foods, etc., in addition to trying to increase levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid so that pernicious anemic doesn't develop.

Prednisone would would compromise the whole of your immune system - not just work on things that are going on in your stomach. And the side-effects from drugs like prednisone can be horrendous even in low doses. Unfortunately, at the current time there is nothing that is specific enough to target just what is going on in your stomach without doing a heck of a lot of damage to the rest of your body.


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