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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
My Gastritis - Continued
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.
My Gastritis - Continued
by nanci, Oct 28, 2002 12:00AM
Hi All, read your posts this morning (was out since Friday and not on line).
To answer questions on how long I've had it. I was correctly diagnosed alittle more than four years ago, via scope and biopsies. I was prescribed Prevacid which I took off and on when I had symptoms. I would get symptoms for a few weeks, take Prevacid for a few weeks, be fine then stop. I always seem to have mild symptoms but because I don't like taking meds at all, never took the PPI consistently.
This past spring, I fell while walking and was mis-diagnosed. I was told I had a bruised arm when in fact it was broken so for about a month, I took large doses of Advil. By May, I was in bad shape. I lost 15lbs, was unable to eat, up all night with chest pains, stomach burning, very tired and cranky. Had a scope in July and the diagnosis was Chronic Gastritis with Intestinal Metaplasis. IM is a precanceous condition. You can imagine how I flipped out.
The doctor assured me that IM in the stomach region is not the same as having it in the esphogagus. IM in this region means pre-Barretts. IM in the stomach means tissue change which indicates healing.
I've had a consultation recently with my doctor and he tells me that there isn't much I can do and he sees this condition day in and day out, that even yearly scopes aren't necessary. That I should take Prevacid daily, 15mg in the AM and PM. I recently started taking Carafate which I had read about. My doctor told me that it's really prescribed for people with ulcers but I could try it. It helps some.
To answer questions on how long I've had it. I was correctly diagnosed alittle more than four years ago, via scope and biopsies. I was prescribed Prevacid which I took off and on when I had symptoms. I would get symptoms for a few weeks, take Prevacid for a few weeks, be fine then stop. I always seem to have mild symptoms but because I don't like taking meds at all, never took the PPI consistently.
This past spring, I fell while walking and was mis-diagnosed. I was told I had a bruised arm when in fact it was broken so for about a month, I took large doses of Advil. By May, I was in bad shape. I lost 15lbs, was unable to eat, up all night with chest pains, stomach burning, very tired and cranky. Had a scope in July and the diagnosis was Chronic Gastritis with Intestinal Metaplasis. IM is a precanceous condition. You can imagine how I flipped out.
The doctor assured me that IM in the stomach region is not the same as having it in the esphogagus. IM in this region means pre-Barretts. IM in the stomach means tissue change which indicates healing.
I've had a consultation recently with my doctor and he tells me that there isn't much I can do and he sees this condition day in and day out, that even yearly scopes aren't necessary. That I should take Prevacid daily, 15mg in the AM and PM. I recently started taking Carafate which I had read about. My doctor told me that it's really prescribed for people with ulcers but I could try it. It helps some.
A second opinion with a specialist is always in order if you're not getting results.
Keep us posted.