IS this gastritis??? Or something else...

[JR__0]

  I'm about ready to give up. 18 years old, diagnosed with GERD. My problem is I suffer from severe gastritis and a bloody taste in my mouth. The gastritis comes on every couple of weeks and lasts about 2-3 hours. It consists of chest pains (feels like a heart attack almost but I've been checked for heart problems) sometimes, and always nausua, a feeling of "soreness" or pressure in the stomach, headache, acid reflux (that sometimes actually makes me feel better!) and sometimes a slight fever. I'm on prevacid and compazine as needed. I only get the bloody taste when I go running, and I have coughed up blood (blood was bright red) before after a hard run if I don't stop when I get the taste. My doctor just tells me "to give the meds more time"... it's been a year! Any ideas on what is wrong with me? Or should I just take my doc's laid back approach and ignore this?
Dear J.R.,
Chest pain, nausea and heartburn are consistent with gastroesophageal reflux and should respond to anti-reflux measures and lansoprazole (Prevacid). You may need a higher dose than what you are taking. Esophagitis (inflammation of the foodpipe) or a small tear in the lower esophagus (Mallory-Weiss syndrome) from repeated vomiting or dry heaves can sometimes cause one to vomit blood. From your description I don't have enough information that proves you have gastritis (inflammation of the stomach). Gastritis is usually diagnosed with an upper GI endoscopy and biopsy. Most commonly, gastritis is secondary to a bacterial infection with an organism called Helicobacter pylori or secondary to irritation from medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). If you have taken lansoprazole (Prevacid) for a year without a change in your symptoms, I would recommend that you have an evaluation by a gastroenterologist and if clinically indicated an upper GI endosopy. If the upper GI endoscopy is normal, a 24-hour ambulatory pH-monitoring test can help to confirm the diagnosis of GERD. Good luck to you.
This response is being provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Always check with your  personal physician when you have a question pertaining to your health.
If you would like to be seen at our institution please call 1-800-653-6568 our Referring Physicians' Office and make an appointment to see Dr. Muszkat, one of our experts in Gastroenterology.
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*Keywords: gastroesophageal reflux, gastritis, lansoprazole, prevacid

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