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Gastritis and Esophagitis, severe inflammation for 2 mths

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 2/22/2011 9:19 PM (GMT 0)
Ariona I just started reading a book called The Pain Cure, by Dharma Singh Khalsa and CameronStauth, published in 1999. It's a good read so far on coping with pain and how it builds on itself.
Posted 2/22/2011 11:18 PM (GMT 0)
After a couple of chapters I did something I didn't even think I was capable of - I went for a short walk around the block. I've been so dizzy with anxiety & stress that I've been sure I'd pass out from any exercise. Today I decided I want my bloody life back.

I wrapped my head in a scarf (no hat here!) and put on my hat, boots, coat & glove and walked around the block. It's quite cold here today so I was a bit uncomfortable but I'm just so tired of waiting to be in pain again.

I'm inordinately proud of myself...
Posted 4/8/2011 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
I know none of you have written since February but I was hoping I might get a response anyway. Has anyone found anything else that helps heal the stomach after gastritis? I have chronic Lyme disease and am in constant pain. I'm currently on an IV antibiotic treatment. Last month I had to stop the treatment because of an allergy and a week later I was hit with the worst stomach pain and nausea. I vomited and had diarrhea and burning in my stomach for a week and a half. In two weeks I lost 15 lbs. I have now lost 22 lbs. Once I stopped vomiting, I went to a GI and he had me get an upper endoscopy. He found that I had a very inflamed stomach (gastritis), some tiny bleeds in my esophagus and decided I have chronic gastritis and acid reflux. He gave me dexilant to take for 3 months and then as needed. He also told me to take Align and 2 tablespoons of benefiber in a glass of water every day for the rest of my life. He also recommended I take Miralax (the powder kind) whenever constipated.

Although I have the vomiting and diarrhea stopped, I still have pain in my stomach and cannot eat. I feel like I have to force food down. Lately all I can eat each day is some unsalted saltines and maybe a fruit (non acidic). I've tried to drink a slimfast every day to get some nutrients and protein but it's hard. My Lyme doctor gave me carafate to help heal the lining of my stomach and told me to get a juicer in order to get all the nutrients I need. Since I already have a PICC line, I do a bag of fluids every other day as well. I also drink water all day.

The GI doctor tested me for all kinds of things and ruled everything out. He then said that the only reason this could be happening is stress. But of course I'm stressed! I've had chronic Lyme disease along with bartonella and babesia for years and have been on this IV treatment since last May. So I cant exactly get rid of the stress. I'm going to try the mastic gum that was suggested, and we'll see what happens with the juicer.
Posted 4/8/2011 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
I completely know what you are going through. After trying everything for my gastritis*brought on by months of antibiotics and Motrin* I tried Slippery Elm. My mother in law takes it for her Ulcerative Colitis and I was desperate after nights of a pain so BAD it brought me to tears and it was horrible. I told my doctor in a less than lady like manner... FIX ME. His suggestion? Karafate. UGH So on top of my gastritis AKA know as a midget trying to claw his way out of my digestive system... Now I had constipation. So I took the Slippery Elm and it's been 4 days and my pain is GONE. Not dulled, not just kind of there... GONE. I could just kiss solaray for such a good product. I take two pills in the morning and two at night. One thing: The taste of the capsules aren't that great but really.... who cares? Good luck and I hope it works for you. I have been there and I feel your pain.
Posted 4/8/2011 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
thank you for the advice! I will definitely try that
Posted 4/8/2011 2:37 PM (GMT 0)
I'm so sorry that you're going through this. It will take time to feel better but you will eventually.

What I've found is that we have a lack of understanding in the West of how important our internal flora is to our health & things like antibiotics can really disrupt the balance and cause a lot of discomfort and confusion. The symptoms we have are bewildering & it seems that doctors are quick to blame the patient (it's stress, implying you aren't 'doing' this right).

Please research probiotics. A good resource I've found is a website called Probiotics - Love That Bug. Different strains of probiotics help with different symptoms and Align is a good one but you'll most likely need to supplement with multiple strains rather than just one.

Other info I've found indicates that the balance of flora in our gut can affect our mood; another compelling reason to use multiple strains to repopulate your system.

I've been gripped by horrible anxiety about taking any medication or supplements. It's been a long road! But I'm finally starting to improve. Make sure you check with a doctor about taking more probiotics if you decide to explore that avenue but there is really no evidence of probiotics being at all harmful to people.

I hope you start to feel better very soon - the weird symptoms are not anything I'd wish on anyone and I'm sorry you have to go through it too.
Posted 4/8/2011 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the advice and I'm glad you're starting to feel better. I already take a bunch of supplements for the Lyme and other coinfections. It's just frustrating, being 26 years old and feeling like I'm 90. I already have the Chronic Lyme to deal with, this gastritis feels like someone putting salt in the wound. But I'm hopeful it will get better soon!
Posted 4/8/2011 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
I can't imagine how much that is to deal with! As far as the gastritis please look into some good quality probiotics. It will help heal the problem over the long term. What I've found helpful for symptom relief are Mastic Gum and some chinese stomach herbs from my TCM doctor. I think the fact that a lot of people have found relief from sources other than western medicine illustrates how little understanding our doctors have.
I think the one thing I've learned is to be patient with myself. Recovering is taking more time than I'd hoped but it is happening.

I wish you a speedy recovery. We're all too young to feel 90! =)
Posted 4/8/2011 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you and I wish the same to you! I'm definitely going to look into everything I've read on this thread and others. The most promising so far seems to be mastic gum, a good probiotic, slippery elm, and coconut water...so we'll see what works. Feel better soon and yes we are too young to feel 90!
Posted 4/9/2011 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
I'm going through the same experience as you all. I've been on nexium for 5 years but had a bad gerd attack about two months ago and my throat and esophagus still haven't healed. I am currently on Nexium 2x a day but I want to stop using it. My scope last month showed inflammation and i am going to see a gastro next week for my first consult. I don't expect much. I am also going to see a naturalist on monday for the first time. I am more hopeful about that. Maybe the licorice root, elm and aloe will help. My question for you: can those herbal remedies be taken with a ppi or while i am trying to wean off one? Thank you for sharing your experiences. It is making me feel better.
Posted 2/16/2012 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi ladies,
Can you please post how are you doing now and what has worked for you. I'm having a hard time finding stuff that works since I'm having a lot of side effects form medication.
thank you
Daniela
Posted 1/29/2013 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone! I have had HIDA Scan, endoscopy, colonoscopy, ultrasounds, blood work...my GI says I have moderate to severe gastritis and after 3 months I went today to his office to pick up Dexilant samples. Really didn't want to resort to PPI but feel at this point have no choice. His nurse said the doctor feels I am as of yet "not diagnosed"" and he seems surprised it is taking this long for his regiment to work, which includes VSL probiotics, Kefir, vitamin E and Lipolic Acid. I tried an H2 Blocker for a week and didn't notice anything, I chew on Gaviscon after I eat UGH I am feeling hopeless and anxious. Even my lips burn.Like some of you I have heard from others including a good friend that it takes awhile to heal. Thank you for listeningI will let you know if Dexilant helps. Also my diet has been no caffeine, gluten free mostly yams and avocados.
Posted 2/11/2013 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
I have found a product that is suppose to help with gastrointestional problems. It is called Pepzin GI might give it a try.
Posted 10/29/2013 11:22 PM (GMT 0)
God bless everybody here. I have been suffering from gastritis for about a year, it seems to be getting worse lately and I wish I knew how to make it go away. I feel awful somedays and then somedays are better than others. I take all kinds of stuff to coat and soothe my stomach. Pepto bismol helps but watch out don't take it with antibiotics it can bind to the antibiotic and just flush it out of your system. Also sometimes I like to take DGL. I take pepcid. I am going to try the gastritis diet. No red meat, just certain veggies and some fruits.
Posted 10/23/2015 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
Wondering if you guys systems got better going through this now.
Posted 10/23/2015 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
I think they must have or they'd still be here looking for answers! Gastritis can take an age to heal but it will eventually, but it needs patience and please be careful with supplements as I've been there in the past and tried all sorts but most just made it worse. Pepzin gi is a good one but I'd stay away from anything else. Just eat a bland diet, some potatoes, a little fish, an keep a food diary as well as sometimes even innocent foods can cause us problems, for example rice or cucumber give me awful stomach pain.

Hope u feel better soon, just remember to relax and have patience, it will get better.
Posted 9/1/2017 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
I was wondering anybody taking slippery elm really helped them. I tried two of them and they made my stomach hurt and I've been afraid to take anymore. I wanted to take something that would soothe the linning of my stomach since I have gastritis instead of irritate it.
Posted 9/1/2017 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
The one that is taking sleeping elm did you have any stomach pain after taking them.
Posted 9/2/2017 4:58 AM (GMT 0)
There is a new procedure available done on an outpatient basis to fix the stomach sphincter which is the problem with acid reflux and gerd. The doctor inserts a small ring size magnetic object about the size of the quarter. It's allows food to pass through to the stomach, but closes and does not allow acid to pass back up into the esophogus and hiatal hernia area. The article i read, there had been 10,000 procedures done so far and over a 90% effective rate, totally eliminating the need for any medications. In the last month, i was impacted with this miserable ailment, have been praying for relief for all affected and ran across the article. - Larry
Posted 12/5/2017 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
I had gastritis and esophagitis for 2 years. It was a real nightmare. I was on PPi's for the two years I was sick. I really wanted to share this because I literally go healed in two weeks of doing the following:

Intermittent Fasting: I eat twice a day one at 1 pm and the other one at 7 pm. I don't eat between meals. I have for lunch only a salad with (real lemon juice) made of spinach, mushrooms, carrots, raw almonds (protein), salary, and tomatoes.

For diner I eat chicken or salmon with steam or preferable raw vegetables.

The key to get well is to eat an alkaline diet and stick with it...for more details go on amazon and buy an alkaline diet guide for less than 5 bucks...I'm not gonna name a brand because it's not my intention to promote brands.

Also, instead of drinking coffee I drink green tea with lemon. Coffee really triggers heartburn in me...it's the opposite of alkaline.
I drink three times a day a spoon of baking soda (morning with empty stomach, after lunch and before going to bed) with a squeezed lemon in a glass of purified water.

I know this sounds like a lot, but It cured me.

Also, limit your alcohol consumption and if you do drink too much, take a ppi, but keep those to the minimum. Let me know if you have any questions. I'd love to help.
Posted 12/6/2017 2:59 AM (GMT 0)
Andres how long have you been healed? And by healed do you mean you experience no more reflux?
Posted 12/6/2017 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I have been healed for over a month. The only time I could get reflux is when I drink too much alcohol. Alcohol, coffee and acidic food are the worst. When I say acidic food, I’m referring to the non alkaline food: peanuts, chocolate, beans, pastas, etc. I’m not gonna list them all. But if you wanna really get healed do the alkaline diet, is more effective than medicine. My diet is not 100% alkaline but I’m limiting my meat consumption to once a day. Only for dinner. It works. Let me know if you have any other questions. I hope this helps.
Posted 1/6/2022 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with esophagitis some time ago. And things got SO rough that I could not swallow ANY of my safe foods even. All sorts of problems. I've been on omeprazole, famotidine, you name it. HERE is what has changed the game for me: GAVISCON ADVANCE. NOT the other Gaviscons but the ADVANCE one. It is a special British formulation. You can buy it on Amazon. There is a syrup and tablets. Both are GREAT. The syrup is slightly better and the chewable tablets are good for on the run. The tablets have a distinctive texture. It's best to ALWAYS take little bites of a tablet vs. chewing one outright at a time. They will be kind of sticky on the teeth. It's OKAY. You can scrape that with your tongue or fingers and swallow. You can take up to 8 tablets a day: 1-2 after each meal and up to 2 before bed. The first tablet will have a different kind of sensation when you swallow -- but it's FINE. You should ride with it and give the first dose (1-2 pills as a dose) 15-20 minutes to start working. The second dose (next 1-2 pills whenever you take them after the next meal) will REALLY confirm you're on the right track. These took me from eating NOTHING to be able to eat (liquids only) to safe foods the NEXT DAY and building up from there. Now I don't really take them. And if I have the slightest symptoms, I take an ACV gummy after eating a meal (2 gummies per day ideal -- 3 max). Then I'm GOOD. And I find myself needing the gummies less and less. But trust me, the Gaviscon ADVANCE is a BLESSING. You'll read the Amazon reviews and understand that this is the ANSWER. For those who get the mucus after eating -- and you nearly choke on it while sleeping... Oil of Oregano pills SOLVED that for me within one course (2 - 4 weeks, twice daily then at least a 5-day break // fewer doses need for future courses). I've used Best Naturals in the green bottle from Amazon and it works fab. But I prefer Gaia Herbs which is also on Amazon and in Whole Foods. It's richer. I really hope this HELPS! And I send my LOVE to all of you! * One more thing -- check out an app called Fig. It will help with grocery shopping re: what you can eat on an esophagitis diet. You make that diet selection in the app. And you can scan bar codes of items to get a thumbs up or down as you move through the aisles (or what's already in your fridge). Fig also makes grocery recommendations. I've found that the esophagitis AND FODMAP diet settings help when I feel a flare coming on. (You usually don't have to do FODMAP for more than a few weeks to rebalance.) You'll be really surprised by what you can eat. It's random but cool. XOXO!!!
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