To PM re: Your Gastritis

[nanci]

Can you tell me how long you've had gastritis and how many times you've been scoped.  You said "just to stay alive".  Do you have secondary things going on?

I've been dealing with symptoms for seven years now, correctly diagnosed about four years ago.  At first I was treated for Reflux without testing.

I found that Nexium made me worse but everyone is different.

Were you ever diagnosed with Intestinal Metaplasia?

[marygold]

Oy! Okay, nobody said anything about up through the navel. I suspect that my GP said what he did about the whole through the chest thing so I wouldn't ask about it anymore. My old GP's been known to do stuff like that. Mess with the results, play down stuff, exaggerate other stuff, cook the numbers, you know, everything that patients hate. I hated seeing him and absolutely refused to go to his office unless I was too sick to put up a fight, and then I would go to the walk-in or Emerg first. I've even walked out of the Emerg without being treated once because I got fed up. I had had a reaction to a migrane reliever, and it half paralyzed me. Scared my mom, cuz I could barely move, but when I did, it hurt! But when she got me into the Emerg, and we sat there for 4hrs without seeing anyone,or even getting anywhere near seeing someone, I bit the inside of my cheek and walked out. I wasn't moving very fast, but I'm stubborn. My mom had no choice but to follow cuz she knew there was no way she could talk me into going back. I went home and slept. I was a little less paralyzed in the morning, and I haven't taken those pills since. Heck, I haven't even seen a doctor since.

Well, that didn't have too much relevance to anything, now, did it? Anyway, I guess it can be summed up in that I'm pigheaded and stubborn. Probably too much for my own good, but I come from a long line of obstinate people, and I'm not about to let that tradition down! ;)

I still have no doctor. Yay. I still can't get medical until the end of the month yet either, but when I do, then I'll be cooking. I have a few things I want to discuss with a doc. But, then again, my mom hasn't gotten back to me with my old docs' addresses and stuff. I forgot to copy those down when I moved. I have to get those before I can get my records. I'm not feeling like I'm missing anything by not seeing one, though. But, lotsa people say that's not good. I dunno, cuz there was nothing more my docs could (or were willing to) do for me. My GP basically told me I was on my own.

Yeah, I dunno if you could analyze too much from this, but I just needed to vent today, and it's no fun sitting in my apartment talking to the wall. Or writing it on the window. (I know, I tried.)

Well, goodnight. Hope you're feeling well!

[PM]

Sorry for the delayed response.  I sometimes go a week without getting on the internet.  

Anyway, everyone I know that had the surgery never had their chest cut.  They are suppose to make an incision by your belly button and go up from there.  It greatly reduces the recovery time.  Of course as we both know any surgery is a risk.

Keep us posted on your dr. appt.

[PM]

Sorry for the delayed response.  I sometimes go a week without getting on the internet.  

Anyway, everyone I know that had the surgery never had their chest cut.  They are suppose to make an incision by your belly button and go up from there.  It greatly reduces the recovery time.  Of course as we both know any surgery is a risk.

Keep us posted on your dr. appt.

[nessers]

Coping is probably the hardest part of it all.  Fear of long term effects especially.  I wake up in the middle of the night and get sick, and should I make it until morning it still happens.  I just tell myself things are bound to get better.  And should a day pass I get sick only once, I'm walking on sunshine :)It's the little things I've learned to appreciate, it makes it all worthwhile. I think mainly I can keep a sense of humor about it all, much to my boyfriends dismay.  I keep it a light subject (though in his book its not and worries him) but it works for me, because nothings worse then FEELING SICK.  I know I'm sick, but I don't want to feel like I am.  It's too depressing that way.  I just get mad (in a healthy way) and think to myself nothings going to keep me from my daily routines, or going out tonite.  Sure I might not be able to eat that stack of ribs I'm salivating over, but I can still have fun.  And whats life without some fun. Right?  I'm going for a second opinion soon, still searching for a G.I. with a heart, the one I have now is the worst one yet.  I'm taking so much reglan, I'm having Stephen King's dreams.  I feel like I have ADD during the day, not a good things considering where I work!
Good luck!

[marygold]

Yeah, I got all them tips and tricks down to a fine art. I am incredibly disciplined, and sometimes it surprises me. Then again, I know how it feels to go even a little off the regime. Sometimes I allow myself one forbidden food in 1 or 2 weeks. Halloween I allowed myself 2 mini chocolate bars, one in the morning and one at night. This sounds really bad, but I had nearly forgotten what chocolate tasted like. I've had symptoms of reflux for 7 years now, and I've had a chance to get used to it, although my dad ignored me when I tried to say that something was wrong. He refused to take me to the doc's and told me I was making it all up. What was I supposed to do? I was only 12. I just shut up (not hard, since all the acid in my throat kept burning out my vocal cords) and accepted the pain as a way of life. We kicked him out over a year ago and he said he never wanted anything to do with me ever again. Not a big loss, as far as I'm concerned. After that, I finally got a GI and a scope test and got properly treated. Then I started to get better. Better is such a relative term. I did lots of research in the school libraries and I tried to do all the tips I read about and felt myself get a bit better. Yeah, I'm only 19, but I've stopped tormenting myself thinking why did I get it? I don't fit any of the stats, and kids shouldn't have to deal with this. I've never gone on a real sleepover because I can't sleep flat. I tried once, and the girls told me to sleep in the next room cuz I made them nervous cuz I sat up in the corner of the room to sleep. After that, I didn't bother trying to make friends anymore. I couldn't find anyone who'd understand.

About the vitamin C, I'm still iffy on dropping it. I'm in an undergraduate biology course, and we've been doing a little work on vitamin C. It catalyzes numerous reactions in your cells, among other things, and it's awfully important. I've been trying to get in touch with my prof to go over everything that vitamin C does and if it's safe to go off it. I'll post what he says about it in a new question when I get in touch with him. (Not sure when I'll talk to him. I've been by his office every couple hours for the last 3 days and still haven't caught him there.)

I'm really scared of long term effects, especially of Nexium, cuz that's some strong stuff. I refuse to think of myself as sick. It's a horrible way to live, and you get easily depressed with that mindset. There is someone that says she has been taking Nexium for 12 years, so I'm going to be asking her lots of questions. I forget her posting name right now.

I'm not sure if I'm a candidate for surgery yet or not. Nobody wanted to do it before cuz they all said I'm too young and still growing. I haven't grown for a couple years, and I'm perfectly average for my age, size, weight. My doc told me that if they do do surgery, it's gonna be major, as in they have to go through my chest rather than down my throat. I dunno 'bout that. I haven't done too much looking on the surgical procedures for this yet. I've also heard that a fair number of surgeries break down and it can get worse than before. What do you guys know about surgeries? I've only had a Barrium Swallow test (which showed nothing) and an endoscopy test (which showed a lot). My GP told me it's just a phase and I'll most likely outgrow it, and that was his reasoning for not bringing up surgery. My GI was skirting around surgery, and he said he would bring it up depending on the scope test results and whether or not Nexium worked. Nexium works, and I don't have Barrett's, so he said we weren't going to bring up surgery yet. I should probably get busy and do some research there just for my own benefit, so if it comes down to that, I'll be informed and not just sitting there wondering what the heck the doc's talking about. I swear, I should have gone into medicine.

[nessers]

Marigold I can relate.  I'm 22 and suffered from unknown stomach ailments since the age of 13.  I started off vomitting once a month then slowly to my many specialists dismay became sick every morning sometimes blood in my acid. I was put on several medications and none seemed to work for the long term though many offered short term help.  When I was 19 (your age) I quit going to see doctors and I felt my self improve.  I followed my diet and took supplements (ensure, centrum and papaya enzymes, liver cod oil pills etc) Even though I was still sick I felt healthier not seeing Doctors.  I WAS WRONG!!!!! Now I'm in the saddest shape ever which landed me in the ER two days in a row.  I've had to start over again seeing new GI's unfamiliar with my history (I've moved across the US) and the pain of leaving this all untreated is unbearable.  I still don't know what's wrong with me, just bits and pieces from what GI's have "assumed".  My point that I am trying to reach you with is don't give up hope, and fight the GI's until you have a proper diagnosis, and medication or any system that truly works and gives you a productive life.  You and I are both to young to be miserable all the time.  No one our age or older should have to live in fear and pain. Don't feel abnormal and pretend to be healthy....I'm on my way to rediscover what healthy feels like...back in the day before all this mess evolved.  :)

[marygold]

I don't know what healed is anymore. I just moved across Canada, and I can't get medical here for another month, and then I have to find a new GI. I just have to wait out that long. I loathe doctors with a passion, espacially my old GP. I never made an appointment on my own, and tried to cure everything with over the counter stuff. Until my mom tricked me into going (she said we were going to a movie) and finally got a referal to a GI. I actually liked going to see the GI. He also has GERD, so he knew what it's like and he wasn't condescending. I had people tell me I was making it up. I also took papaya enzymes for a while, until my GI told me that papaya enzymes can actually make it worse. Not much, but a little. Soemthing about helping the acid come up, I forget the actual wording. I haven't taken them for almost a year. I don't know exactly how to find a doc here, as I've never done this before. I've lived in the same town for my whole life, until I moved out on my own this september. I'll just have to ask questions. I'm not good at asking questions. I'm a very quiet person.

Nessers, how are you coping? I find it gets me down every so often, but I try to bounce back. How are you now, health-wise? What is your current/most likely diagnosis? Have you had any tests? If so, which ones? I hope you feel better soon. It's lousy being like this all the time. I don't think of it as being sick, because that would mean I'm always sick, and I don't like the sound of that. I just see it as a part of me. Still doesn't sound the greatest, but what can we do?

[PM]

I read the list of what you do to help your reflux.  You certainly have mastered it.  That is pretty much my life in a nutshell too, but 19 is soooo young.  Mine just started around 25 and got worse through the years.  I mainly ignored it until the burning pain got out of control.  Has your doctor ever mentioned doing the surgery on you to help you.  I think you and I are both candidates, but I am to sickly to handle surgery anytime soon.

I agree with Nanci, you should avoid the vitamin C.  I know we need our vitamins and I too haven't had acidic fruit much at all in over 2 years.  Met-Rx bars saved my life.  People are going to think I work for Met-Rx, but I swear they are the only type of vitamin that I have been able to tolerate.  The only kind I can eat is the Peanut Butter Cookie Dough flavor.  They made such a difference in my energy and my husband says he really started to notice a difference when I started eating them.  They are packed with vitamins.  Sadly, they are a little costly.  I hope you can give them a try anyway.  I eat them with a meal and drink milk with it, just so it isn't hitting my stomach wall.  I have gotten really lucky and found them at Walmart before and they were just $1.50 a piece.  Some grocery stores carry them at 2.50 a piece.  CVS has them for 2.69 a piece.  

Anyway, you sound like you are really being disciplined for your age.  I am so impressed.  I don't know that I could have done as well as you.  Hang in there and stay on the doc. to help you.

[nanci]

When I took Nexium, I took one in the Am and one before dinner so I was taking two 40mg a day.  If Nexium works for you, there is no harm in taking two a day but don't take it before bedtime.

I was referring to sales before holidays like Xmas.  Target is like a KMart so if you have discount stores in the area, try those for a blender.

As far as vitamins, I found them to irritate my stomach.  You can try a powder vitamin - Green Magna is very good, it has all the vitamins and nurtiants you need but it's pricey.  

If it were me, I wouldn't take anything right now until you feel you're healed.

[marygold]

Thanx for the help. I'll try to get a blender and try smoothies. I've never heard of a store called Target, and all the Kmarts closed years ago. What holiday is it? Oh, probably thanksgiving, right? I live in Canada, so our thanksgiving's over already. Although I still have turkey.

Would not taking the vitamins help? I'm inclined to think it might make it worse, especially since I can't eat fruit and don't get very much vitamin C at all. Eh, I can try it.

I have about 3-4 months worth of Nexium 40mg in my cupboard right now, so I don't think I'll get a new prescription too soon. What are the advantages of taking one in the morning and one in the afternoon? I like the convenience of only taking one pill a day, but if the benefits are greater by taking 2, I'll try it.

Thanx again

[nanci]

That's a very pretty name.  I would elimiate the vitamins, especially C.  Just for awhile until you feel consitently better.

If Nexium works for you, take it daily regardless of how you feel.  When you see a doctor, ask if you can get a prescription for 20mg instead of 40mg.  Then you can take one in the AM and one in the PM.  Try to buy a blender - you can get them cheap at KMart or Target.  Especially now.  With the holiday season, there will be sales.

It sounds like you're doing most things right.  Keep us posted, this board is the best support group you can find, although it's a bit quiet lately.

[marygold]

I've learned the hard way about most of the food omissions. I was untreated for so long that I found out about the bed trick and most of the foods by trial and error even before my diagnosis. This is a list of what I do/take:

small meals, fairly frequently
eat very little red meat, I stick to mainly poultry
avoid spicy foods, the only seasoning I use is very little garlic powder
avoid fried foods. I work at a fast food joint, but never eat there
avoid acidic foods, including all fruit, except bananas. They all hurt
cut down on cheese, as cheese is also acidic
don't eat anything with any sort of tomato product
read all labels in the grocery store
sleep in a hospital bed (6" is too low)
avoid caffeine, including chocolate
avoid carbonated drinks and alcohol (I only drink milk and water)
40 mg Nexium every morning, with a nonchewable vitamin C tablet and a multivitamin
get at least 6 hrs sleep every night
never lay down (not since when I got my bed, about 2-3 years ago)
take Gaviscon if I have an attack during the day
don't take any sort of pills except Tylenol (acetaminophen) and then very rarely
avoid anything overly sugary or salty
avoid processed foods, like processed cheese, mac and cheese powder, etc
excercise regularly (I have access to a full gym and weight room on campus)
only wear loose clothes
I haven't gone out to eat for a couple years as I can't find too much I can eat
I'm not overweight, I only weigh about 115lbs and am 5'6" and never was overweight
I don't smoke and never have

That's just the basics that I can think of off the top of my head. I've had lots of time to figure these out (7 years). I get by with them. Life's okay, but not great. I'm trying to make friends and they always seem to run the other way. I tell them it's not contagious, but I think half are scared off by what I can and can't eat, and the other half are scared off by my bed. 2 of my roomies still treat me weird, but the other one is really great about it. She doesn't treat me different at all.

My real name is Christiane, but I don't expect you to remember it. Marygold is fine.

[marygold]

Thanx for the tips. It's really hard not to get discouraged. I'm too young to have had it this long. I wish I could find a support group around here. I can try to get a copy of all my records. That's a good idea to have a copy of them for myself.

Great idea for the smoothies, but I don't have a blender. I just moved out on my own for the first time and am still trying to set up my own home. It's exciting! I always eat small meals, and I try to eat frequently. It takes me an awful lot longer to finish a meal than any of my roomies, for example.

I've noticed that there wasn't too much that my docs could tell me that I didn't already know about GERD as I always did lots of my own research. I even entertained the idea of becoming a specialist in this area when I went to university. What exactly are DGL tablets? There's a health store right by my apartment, so I might go there sometime.

Sometimes I don't take my pill in the morning when I feel really good, but not often because more often than not I am in serious pain by the end of the day. I had quite a few different meds before Nexium, and one med that I took for 3 months made me nauseous 24/7. I felt like I was going to throw up for 3 months straight, but I never did.

I still have trouble visioning this as my life forever. I know on a conscious level that this will never go away, but I'm refusing to acknowledge it. I think I'm still in denial, but I guess when I moved out and had to take everything with me; meds, hospital bed (6" is too low) and such, it's starting to sink in and I don't like it. I thought I faced up to it years ago already, but I guess not. Any help?

[PM]

Hi Jenn
I am a little more under the weather than usual.  Like Nanci I have had a huge appetite and it has been hard to control myself.  Now, I am paying the price.  I missed several nights of sleep due to burning and joint pains.  I probably had a fever, but I never checked it.  Anyway, as always, I am hanging in there. : )

Nanci thanks for your response.  DGL didn't help me at all, but then everybody is different.  I am a health nut, so I do walk as much as my body will allow me.  I sometimes ride my bike also.  I take fish oil everyday. I do think that it and Probiotics may have helped my lower problems.  To answer your question about seeing a GI doctor.  Yes, I have seen several.  I think they are all stumped.

To the 19 yr. old - sorry I forgot your name.  I no longer feel sorry for myself.  19 is far too young.  I agree with everyone else.  You out of all us should have the best chance of defeating or at least controlling this.  Find a good GI doc and let him do what it takes to help.  I see my mistakes now and wish I could change them.  I have had to learn the hard way.  Here are some tips for the acid reflux.

- stick to small meals (easier said than done)
-If you are having a bad day, avoid acidic and hard to digest foods, such as red meat (by the way I haven't been able to eat red meat in over 2 yrs.) Even lettuce can be hard to digest.
- Don't run or lay down after eating.  I wait at least 3-4 hrs. after eating dinner to go to bed.  It really sucks and I understand what you mean about friends not understanding.  This thing can control and consume your life if you aren't careful.  My husband and I had to see someone to help us get through this.  He use to complain about having to wait on my medication schedule before we could eat and then he would also complain about not be able to eat out at certain places.  He was a real jerk, but I knew I had to take care of myself or suffer the consequences.  Don't worry about what others say.  You do what it takes.
- avoid aspirin, but if you must take it- take it on a full stomach.
- eat healthy and avoid a lot of fat and grease. They all take longer to digest.  It is hard to give up some of these things, but I know I would rather feel better.  

Keep us posted.
-

[nanci]

If I were you, I would call your gastro doctor's office who ran the tests and ask for a copy of all tests, biopsies and medical reports.  There may be a charge for this but it should be minimal.  They will want a signed release from you so ask if you can either fax or send a letter asking them to release your files.  By law, these medical records belong to you so you shouldn't have a problem getting them.  I would do this now so you'll have them for your new visit.  Some doctors will only send records to another doctor.  If this is the case, I would be insistent and tell them that you want a copy for your own files.

As far as hunger, when I was at my worse, I hardly ate.  If you have a blender, smoothies are very helpful.  Just toss in alittle skim milk or soy milk, some fruit like bananas, apples, a container of yougart, some ice and blend away.  After a few days, I actually felt better.  Try eating small meals several times a day, toast, soap, sandwiches like turkey or tuna.  I was not hungry but I made myself eat even if it took me an hour to finish a piece of chicken.

You'll find, even with going to a specialist, most doctors can't offer much help and I find that I have to be my own doctor adding and eliminating medication or foods that work or don't work.  Read postings from Concerned Lady who often posts the do's and don'ts and how to self help for GERD.  You should definately try DGL tablets, especially if your throat is sore.  You can buy these at any health food store.

This morning, I decided to stop taking medication - I haven't been doing well for a few weeks and the meds I'm taking apparently are not helping so I decided to stop to see if this is the reason I feel poorly - in some cases, meds can make you feel worse instead of better.  

Hope this helps, do some research and don't get discourgaged - there is help for you.  It seems every other person I know has GERD - my best friend's hubby has GERD and Barretts and he is doing fine.  It's a long haul but with the right doctor and right course, you'll get there.

[marygold]

I can't get a doctor yet because I don't have a medical plan. I just moved and can't get one for another month. I go to university and live on campus, so the hospital is just next door to me, so I don't think I should have a problem with finding one. Do I actually have to have a copy of my records, or can I just get the info on my docs' back home and get them to send my records over?

I have no idea if there's a history of this in my family, but I'm pretty positive there isn't. When they found out I had it, nobody knew anything about what it was. I was diagnosed by my sister's ear, nose, and throat specialist. I finally talked my GP into refering me to someone (I really didn't care who at that point, just someone else) and he sent me to him cuz I kept losing my voice. Turns out all the acid aspirating onto my vocal cords kept burning out my voice. I can still talk, but it's very soft. I am unable to raise my voice except for very short periods of time, like for one sentence, and then I can't talk for about an hour afterwards.

After that my GP just kept throwing more and different pills at me, until he ran out of ideas. Then he sent me to a gastroenterologist at the beginning of this year. I only saw the guy a few times before I moved, and he put me on Nexium. He was good, though. He has GERD too. My GP's a jerk.

I always seem to have trouble with food. I'm never hungry anymore, so I have to force myself to eat. I didn't eat for almost 2 days once before I remembered make myself eat. I haven't been hungry for about a year. That's not typical, is it?

[nanci]

Sounds like you have a few things going on here.  I don't have GERD nor did I test postive for h-pylori.  However, a few years ago the doctor did put me on an anti-biotic cocktail as a precaution in the event the biopsy missed it.  I was so sick from that stuff but like you, did feel pretty good after a few weeks.

I'm 56 now and have been going through this for what seems an eternity.  This may have been something looming for decades because I always remember whenever I drank a glass of wine, my stomach would burn.  Even in my 20's and 30's, I always had a hard time drinking alchohol.  It was only after my first hushand died when I was 40 that I started having acute symptoms but just ignored them as stress.

My joints too ache, especially when I have symptoms.

I wonder if your gastritis is a side effect of GERD.  Have you done any research on this?

Some of the things I've tried are drinking aloe juice; chewing DGL tablets; making smoothies in the AM; soothing teas; long walks.  If I'm really bad, I'll take two OTC acid blockers before bed.  BUT, what works for me may not help you.  I only take Prevacid now, Nexium and Protonix did not help me.

Let me know if I can help in anyway - 31 is really young.  Are you seeing a gastrointerologist?

[Lynn28]

Hey Girl ;-) Feeling OK? We should really form a group.....LOL Too many of us. I hope you're doing OK. Me, can't complain at all. I'll let you know how my appt. goes. Can't wait to see him. Kepp feeling better and keep me posted.

-Jenn

[nanci]

First order of busines - get a good doctor.  Is there a history of this in your family.  

If there is a teaching or university hospital in your area, call and ask for their gastrointerologist department and then ask for a referral.  Once you get that app't, take a copy of your pictures, reports, etc with you.  

I just spent two days getting this all together to take for a third opinion at a hospital that's at least 1 1/2 hours away.

I couldn't take Nexium at all, it actaully made me worse.  I'm sort of on a merry-go-round myself trying to figure out what works an what doesn't.  

How were you diagnosed and what type of doctor are you seeing?

[marygold]

Could I join in here? I am having some problems with my GERD. It has been diagnosed as severe, and I'm not likely to ever get rid of it. I am on Nexium, 40mg a day, and that's the only thing that's keeping my head above water. I have had GERD since about 7 years ago, as well as I can figure, but was only diagnosed 3 years ago. I have had a scope test once already, and they tested for Barrett's, which I don't have, at least not yet. I don't like my chances, though. I saw the pics they took, and they didn't look so good. I'm trying to research about all the different complications and associated problems I could get from having GERD for so long. I figure I'm going to get at least one type of serious complication from GERD in my lifetime. I'm not being pessimistic here, I'm being as optimistic as I can. I'm only 19. I've never had a good doctor, so I've been teaching myself, but there are some holes. How can you cope with it and not let it get you down? I've always wanted kids, but I don't want to take any drugs if/when I get pregnant. Heck, why am I jumpinng ahead to kids? I can't even get a boyfriend who doesn't run when he sees what I have to do, like my eating habits, diet, medication, hospital bed. My best friend tells me I'm high maintenance, and I guess I am, but can't nobody see past that? I can't change it. Sorry, this is getting a little long winded. Could you just give me some tips on coping and not letting it get me down? Thanx.

[nanci]

Well, I finally did it!  I made an app't with a speciaist at the big place downtown!  Need to gather all the doctor reports and pictures, etc.  It's for 11/26 which is a good week because I'm taking off.

Wish I could say I'm doing good but I'm not.  I have total discomfort and burning whenever I eat anything.  It's below the breastbone and is downright uncomfortable but the funny thing is I'm always hungry, I mean I'm eating non-stop and packing the pounds on.  Just got back from the gym here at work and I even think that bothers me.  Have this terrible taste in my mouth constantly.  And, am I ever cranky!  I wonder what happened to those precious few weeks when I was feeling pretty good!  My husband mentioned the fact that the weather is turning which is suppose to be a bad time for people with gastro problems.

Keep me posted on your doctor's visit and how you make out.  I know you have a few things going on but at least you feel better. Haven't seen any of Karen's postings, hope she's okay!

[PM]

My doctor has never mentioned Intestinal Metaplasia of the stomach.  He just says chronic gastritis (I assume because it will not clear up).  I don't know your age, but I am 31 and don't think I should be going through this.  My chances of having any childern are not looking good.  I had planned to try by age 30.  

Anyway, I do have Barretts.  I was diagnosed with that in April of this year.  I have had 3 scopes in the last 2 years.  Everything started back in 1996 after taking Naproxen.  A GI doc. diagonsed me with HP and put me on the Prevacid/antibiotic pack.  That did wonders, but I have never really been the same.  2 years ago was when I started to really have problems.  I guess mine is different.  When I am at my worst with a lot of burning, I run low grade fevers with muscle and joint pains.  If I eat anything outside of bland food I get all these symptoms.  Eating small meals does help too.  Anyway, it has really been tough.  If I didn't have the fever, I am sure this whole thing would be easier.  My doctors have hit brick walls and really can't help anymore than what they have.  I have had all the test you can imagine and ruled out most everything.  One doctor thinks I have Mixed Connective Tissue Disease and maybe he is right.  Maybe my body sees the Gastritis as an infection and it creates an autoimmune response.  ??? Who could know?  I can't tell you the hours and money I have spent trying to figure this thing out.  It is crazy.  I keep hoping that I will find someone with similar problems and answers.

Have you had any luck with anything?  I have probably tried it all... including Reflexology with a highly noted Reflexologist out of China.