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Gastritis - Help!

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Posted 8/25/2012 1:49 PM (GMT 0)
I'm a Crohn's patient and have to take 4g of pentasa (an anti-inflammatory drug). This drug always causes me gastritis. 3 weeks ago, I had to take nexium and zofran iv with a total of 15 injection of each. My GI was very reluctant to prescribe them then. Now, I'm vomiting and have severe nausea, loss if appetite and can't even swallow a sip of water. I don't want to change the med as my symptoms are under control. Btw, I have been a GERD patient for 14 years now. I have tried every ppi and feel only comfortable w nexium 80mg. I abused motilium and other domperidone drugs in the past and have excessive prolactin. The only antiemetic is zofran injections and these can't be used excessively, too. Any advice to deal w gastritis at home w/o rushing to my GI as I'm afraid he might change my colon med?
Any advice will be highly appreciated.
Posted 8/25/2012 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
Are you only take one Nexium per day? You may need to supplement with something else for the gastritis since Nexium is for the Gerd I am assuming. I have Gastritis and Gerd and I take one Zegerid and sometimes supplement with a Gaviscon or something similar.

Can you try to eat cereal or something small like a banana or toast? Start small and don't force yourself to eat if you just can't.
Sometimes starting small helps and you will eventually be able to eat a bit more. I know that when my Gastritis flares I will lose a good 5 pounds in a matter of days. I use to stress out so bad about it but now I just tell myself that I will get through it.
Posted 8/25/2012 5:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi minnietoty,

So sorry to hear you're stuggling with gastritis on top of all your other issues.  I have a very reactive stomach and react to antibiotics, and of course anti-inflammatories.

The fact that you have GERD as well, complicates things futher.  In my experience (before my Nissen fundoplication to stop reflux) whenever I got gastritis I'd get terrible esophagitis from the reflux. These would take me at least 2 months to heal and get feeling better, and I'd lose 20 pounds each episode because I couldn't eat. 

Two recommendations:

Try egg custard (find a recipe online)...it's got lots of nutrients and is smooth, so it won't irriate your stomach or esophagus. 

Carafate suspension...it's a prescription drug, but very benign.  I have been told by my PCP that it is totally safe to take long-term.  Most is just excreted in the GI tract.  It's a liquid that was developed to protect healing ulcers.  It coats the esophagus and stomach and protects them, so they can heal.  I found immediate relief.  It lasts much longer than Maalox-type liquid antacids.  It's not an antacid...just a protective coating. Each dose lasts about 6 hours.  You could ask your doctor...

(Only problem...you have to take in an hour before or two hours after eating, and 2 hours before or after taking other medications--because it'll inhibit absorption of the meds)

Don't eat anything that can't be chewed to a completely smooth/liquid consistency, because it will irritate your esophagus and stomach (when it mashes the food).

Wish I could be more help.

Hang in there!

Denise

Posted 8/25/2012 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
Tinlou and Dencha, thank you very much. Really appreciate it.
@Tinlou. I take Nexium double dose, 40mg in the morning and 40 mg at night but it seems it is not enough. Zantac has lost its effect and so did antacids. I took an 8mg zofran injection and could eat.
@Dencha. I really like the idea of carafate suspension. I always take the tablet one and never knew there was a suspension form. Unfortunately, eggs cause me severe diarrhea. I think I can eat a rice pudding.
I'll follow both of you regarding soft food, toast and banana. I feel my stomach is struggling in digesting hard food. Unluckily, I haven't taken my colon meds today and am afraid this might have dire consequences:(
Posted 8/26/2012 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
Good luck! turn

 

Posted 8/27/2012 1:02 PM (GMT 0)
I managed to see my GI yesterday though his secretaries made me feel humiliated. The accepted to let me in and then while I was waiting for 3.5hrs they wanted to apologize. I complained to him and he apologized for their behaviour 2 times. I believed that he was unaware of what they did. Anyways, he was very annoyed to find that my stomach really hurt that severly. So he prescribed famotidine 1x2, nexium 1x2, riopan gel as needed, carafate (I don't have suspension so he suggested grinding the tablets and adding honey and water to itx2). Also ensure powder was increased to two times as I can't eat. I was even prescribed a kids syrup multivitamin. However, I was warned against reducing any of my Crohn's meds as i don't need a flare up at the moment. I have to take pentasa 4g, entocort 6mg and the enemas and he told me to push myself to eat and see him in 2 weeks.
Posted 8/27/2012 1:03 PM (GMT 0)
I managed to see my GI yesterday though his secretaries made me feel humiliated. The accepted to let me in and then while I was waiting for 3.5hrs they wanted to apologize. I complained to him and he apologized for their behaviour 2 times. I believed that he was unaware of what they did. Anyways, he was very annoyed to find that my stomach really hurt that severly. So he prescribed famotidine 1x2, nexium 1x2, riopan gel as needed, carafate (I don't have suspension so he suggested grinding the tablets and adding honey and water to itx2). Also ensure powder was increased to two times as I can't eat. I was even prescribed a kids syrup multivitamin. However, I was warned against reducing any of my Crohn's meds as i don't need a flare up at the moment. I have to take pentasa 4g, entocort 6mg and the enemas and he told me to push myself to eat and see him in 2 weeks.
Posted 8/27/2012 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
Your doctor has good advice, especially about eating. Often, just the thought of food makes me feel like heaving but once I do get something down i do start to feel a bit better and then can start gradually eating a bit more each time. Just start small and do what you can and your stomach should begin to adjust accordingly. Good Luck!
Posted 8/27/2012 1:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hi minnietoty,

I'm so glad to hear that you got in to see your GI doctor.  Obviously it was the right thing to do!  I hope that you can get things straightened out quickly.  The meds you're now taking should help a lot.

Very best of luck,

Denise

Posted 8/27/2012 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
Tinlou and Dencha, thank you very much for your wishes. Eating is a real torture but I'm trying bit by bit to eat soft things. The only concern are my colon meds as they are a lot but I divided them.
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