Saddaze,
I am truly sorry you are going through this. I do know and understand what you are going through. As for meds--a month isn't long enough. I also have gastritis of undetermined origin (meaning it is not caused by infection viral or bacterial). My endo said that if it had been bacterial they could treat it with anitbiotics (Prevpak). Since it isn't, the normal course of treatment is ppi's. He told me that gastritis is a very common contributor to GERD along with hiatal hernias. He said the surgery is the absolute last option as he has seen so many patients who were actually worse 2-3 years after surgery than before.
He also said that a month or 2 of ppi's is not long enough to treat. It can take 2-3 months to get gastritis under control. He did give me a list of common food triggers. These include: caffeine (coffee and soda--for some reason tea reacts differently), mints, most refined sugars, starches, breads, nuts (including peanut butter), spicy foods, fruits high in acid, beans (such as red beans, black beans, chili beans), dairy products. Stress is also a major factor in gastritis and can trigger it.
My primary care doctor advised me to elevate the head of my bed and to take 2-4 gaviscon just before bed with a glass of water. She said the gaviscon creates a foam barrier that has helped a number of her patients at night. My endo said, if you are having a really rough period to take your regular ppi and add up to 300mg of zantac (taken 2 hours apart from the other ppi).
Have you tried Activa yogurt? I find that it does provide me with some relief. Sean Glenn wrote some interesting books on how to over come gastritis (overcominggastritis)
I agree with Ankido. Keep your head up and let's fix your problem. Also, did you know that Gastritis, GERD and IBS all have very similar symptoms? It's also possible to have 2 or more of these. This past year my doctors have begun to think I might have all 3. They also keep telling me to reduce stress (a lot of stress in home life and work life these past 5 years).
Above, all--don't give up. You are new to this and it takes awhile to find the triggers and hopefully control them. Even then, there will be times when you relapse.
Marburg
saddaze said...
Ankido said...
I wouldn't jump the gun and thinking your illness will lead to cancer. People believe in cancer too quickly and reading the Internet makes things worse and causes anxiety. I've been suffering with this illness for 10 years now now since I was 21. There have been times were I felt normal and then right back again the acid was there. Sometimes there are things you do, dont do or eat that cause this illness. I've come to the end of my road with this problem and the only solution left for me is to 1. Quit Smoking and 2. Start working out again. Alcohol and Tobacco play a major role in my case. I'm not active anymore with sports and I use to smoke a lot until a month ago when I decided to cut down. It's only a matter of time when I completely quit to see how my stomach reacts to it.
Keep your head up and let's fix your problem. Your new to this and in due time you'll find relief and learn how to control it. Let us start by explaining a few things if you haven't already. Remember, the most important thing is diet and exercise.
1. Do you work out or go for walks/runs every day?
2. What is your diet like on a daily base?
3. Do you drink or smoke?
4. What meds have you tried and what's worked and what hasn't?
5. Did you have a bad diet, drink or smoke while you used meds? Most of the time the meds won't work if you don't keep your body clean.
Good luck buddy and keep your head up. There are people in this world with far more worse issues then us.
Hi Ankido -- here is the answers to your questions ( and thank you for taking the time to respond to my post)
1. Do you work out or go for walks/runs every day? i live in NYC im always running around and walking -- i do not own a car
2. What is your diet like on a daily base? i drink a lot of coconut water mix with powered greens for some nourishment, baby foods (banana and pear etc..) and baby rice cereal, soft vegetables-- like beans, peas.. -- i was tested for food allergies ( all negative) -- a couple of weeks ago i was eating nothing and I was still sick ...
3. Do you drink or smoke? no i do not drink nor smoke ( although i might as well at this point)
4. What meds have you tried and what's worked and what hasn't? nexium , prevacid, protonix -- the only one i havent tried is aciphex.. none work at least suffiently -- im still burning -- ive given each a months time..
5. Did you have a bad diet, drink or smoke while you used meds? Most of the time the meds won't work if you don't keep your body clean.
I take Miralax everynight for my constipation (thanks to my body naturally and for the ppi's that add to the constipation) -- and im currently taking 30mg prevacids x2 -- my diet has never been better really -- but this junk chemicals im taking im sure will age my liver , pancreas and kidneys prematurely - thats a fact