Will it ever end?

[AaronFL]

I am 27 diagnosed with acute gastritis on 10/01 from a biopsy. I do not have h-pylori bacteria. I have been put on nexium 20mg 2x daily. Just went down to 20mg 1x daily. It has been a year even though the medication has helped. I'm afraid my stomach with never fully recover causing other problems in the future. I was also put on wellbutrin to combat the depression and energy problems from this. I have been on a bland diet. Is there any natural things I can do? Any help would be appreciated. I believe my gastritis is a direct effect of stress in my life I have even thought of quitting my job so I can get better. Any thoughts from anyone? Thank you, Gastritis in Miami

[nanci]

Hi - well, I finally found someone else with chronic gastritis!  Not that it's an accomplishment but at least we can bounce stuff off each other.  Most people with gastritis usually have something else like reflux, etc.

I've had this for about seven years now.  Initially, the doctor said I had reflux.  This was diagnosed without testing.  He put me on Prevacid and it helped after a few weeks.  But, periodically, symptoms would return.  I never took the Prevacid daily, just until the symtoms got better.  I moved six yrs ago and the stress of that coupled with my daughter's wedding, new job, etc., brought it back so I went to a gastro doctor who ordered a scope and biopsy - findings, mild gastritis, no h-pylori, no reflux.  Take Prevacid!  Okay, so I do this off and on for another four years.  This past May, symptoms came back with a vengenence. I believe it was the direct result of a mis-diagnosed broken arm I had.  I took advil for about a month, three at a time several times a day.  This I did to manage the pain.  Found out a month later my arm was broken, not bruised (dummies at the ER neglected to call me back!!!).

So, the gastro doctor ordered another scope and I was diagnosed this time with chronic gastritis and intestional metaplasia.  The IM part of this is technically a precanceous term.  Well, I just about flipped.  A few meetings and in-depth research points to the fact that IM in the stomach region is not the same as IM in the esophogus - long story for another time.

I tried Nexium, Protonix with no success.  Went back to Prevacid.  Took 30mg in the AM, 30mg in the PM.  Now I take 15mg in the Am and 15mg in PM.  I recently started taking Carafate and that seems to help.  I take this before I eat.  It's usually prescribed for people with ulcers.  I heard it may work for gastritis too so even though my doctor said it probably wouldn't work, I wanted to try it anyway.  It seems to be helping.

Okay, some of the natural things that got me through the worst of it.

-- Drink aloe juice before meals, just a few ounces.
--Try chewing DGL tablets - lots of success stories from people who swear by this - I don't think it helped me all that much but others give it high marks.
-- Avoid caffine, alcohol, tomatoe products, spicy foods, any thing that causes burning or indigestion - this is a trial and error thing but definately avoid caffine and alcohol.
--Drink soothing teas with honey - very relaxing.
--If you smoke, stop - you probably already know this.
--Drink lots of water - it helps
--If pain is really bad, try eating a baked potatoe, plain. There is something about this that helps with acid.
--Don't lay down until 2-3 hours after you eat.
--Try eating small meals as opposed to large meals.
--Make smoothies - lots of vitamins and good stuff.  I toss in a banana, a few berries (frozen is fine), some fat free milk, vanilla yogaurt, a few ice cubes, all in a blender and have it on the way to work - not like a cup of coffee but it does grow on you.

What can I tell you about stress - I took Celexa for about three weeks and it really seem to help with my anxiety level.  Having gastritis is not a walk in the park and this alone can make a person stressful.  But, I stopped taking it because I was afraid of addiction and it may sound silly, I didn't want the weight gain I kept hearing about.  I didn't like the side effects which were not being able to sleep and constant tiredness and lack of motivation during the day.  So, I stopped and sometimes feel I should be back taking it!

I am going to make an app't with a specialist in Chicago  My gastro guy is suppose to be the best in the area but his attitude is there isn't much you can do about this.  Well, if I don't have a bacteria, then what is causing it - he doesn't seem to know!  

Today, I feel better, not great.  I gained back about 10 of the 15 pounds I lost.  

Hope this helps.

[Lynn28]

Nanci, now you know MORE than one person with chronic gastritis....(Smirking) We know too many! Aaron, sorry to hear you too have this (no words can describe) thing. I'm 28 and have had chronic gastritis for NO reason. Great diet, in great shape, take good care of myself, but had H-Pylori. Now H-Pylori has been eradicated (Months ago), but a recent scope still shows gastritis. I have to say though, I've been feeling great. Eating everything under the sun. It took two years, so maybe you need more time. Also, protonix is what did it for me. I'm positive. 80 mg a day. Try switching to something else. You don't smoke or drink do you? Also, what are the symptoms that bother you most?
You're not alone. Trust you me, there are MANY of us out there. MANY. Feel better ;-)

-Jenifer

PS-Have you gone for a second opinion?

[AaronFL]

Nanci-Thanks for the wealth of info!
Toccoach-Thank you for your advice!
Thank you so much you guys. You have really put my mind at a better ease. I don't smoke, don't drink, no drugs, don't over eat, I work out 6 days a week, i'm in the best shape of my life and I am learning to manage my stress better.

I am def. a stress freak. I actually have not gone for a second opinion but I did go to a specialist. My primary doctor diagnosed me, but I still went to a specialist. I may try changing my medication.

I have been changing many things in my life to ease stress. I noticed when I was on vacation, I really had no problems with my gastritis.

Thank you so much for all your input it really does help.

[AaronFL]

Jennifer, The symptoms that bother me the most is the gas and acid reflux. Drives me crazy. Sometimes I will get this pain in my stomach and it takes a few days to subside. Also, sometimes I will eat something that will aggrevate it and another time eating the same thing won't. Thanks again for all your help!

[PM]

Hi Aaron, I too understand your pain.  I thought I would suggest that you search back to March of this year on this site.  There was a great and long discussion on Gastritis.  I don't seem to be able to tolerate much of anything and I listed some of the foods that I could eat.  I will have had Gastritis for 2 yrs. in Jan.  What a sad and long journey this has been.  I take Nexium and Carafate.  Both help, but I wish I could get back to 100%.  I don't think it is going to happen...

Hi Jenn,
Yes, I am still alive.  I check out Med Help a few times a month.  Mostly I continue to search for anything including rare diseases that would be causing my continuing GI problems.  Hope you are well.  Let me know how things are going. Talk to you later.  Melissa

[Lynn28]

Aaron-

I'm glad we could help put your mind in a more positive place. We were all the same when we were first diagnosed. Searching for EVERYTHING we could find. I'm sure Nanci, Mellisa, and myself, along with many others, could probably and should, write a book at the wealth of information we have gathered. It SO helps to talk with others as well. You'll get better. So you have reflux? That alone needs attention!!!! Protect the esophagus. If you have reflux constantly, you definitely need yearly scopes to ensure that your esophagus isn't getting damaged. Find a "Good" GI in your area. Go to barnes and noble and look through the book, "Best Doctors". It's GREAT. Find a good one and go. Try a differnt PPI. There are SOOOOOOOO many out there. Working out will aggravate it "Big" time! Be careful. Try just walking. Have you been checked for a hiatal hernia? Well, take care of yourself ;-) Go look through that book, stay unstressed, and chew, chew, chew ;-) Helps the stomach to digest easier. No soda either. I know, you know......If you ever need us, we are here. Keep us posted.

Take care-
Jenifer

[AaronFL]

Thank you guys again. I called my GI Spec today and they weren't to happy I was still going through this after a year. I have an appt in a couple of weeks. They have switched my medication to Prevacid as of today. We'll see how it goes. It's great to know other people out there going through this. I was so freaked out at first, everyone telling me what to do and they had NO idea. I didn't know working out could aggrevate it, I will have to be more careful. Thanks a million! Aaron

[nanci]

I just started taking Carafate along with Prevacid and it seems to help. I still can't eat what I want or have that single glass of wine but it's a small price compared to the gastritis symptooms.  

I don't seem to have the other issues like GERD or hiatel hernia.

My doctor even tells me that yearly scopes are not in order even though my biopsy showed chronic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia.  IM technically means pre-canceoous.  I've asked two other specialists and they both say there is nothing you can do about it.  There is conflicting information that IM heals by itself or it's there forever.  It's very frustrating!

I am going to see another doctor just to get a clear understanding why yearly app'ts are not necessary.  My doctor told me only if I was still having symptoms.

My husband feels I'm making too much out of this - he said that my doctor would not dismiss something potentially serious nor would any doctor take that chance and state follow-ups are not necessary if they were.

Like I said, very frustrating.  I do know that I don't want to take medication forever!