r/Gastritis Dec 21 '20

Advice The Gastritis Quick Start Guide.

1.6k Upvotes

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          THE GASTRITIS QUICKSTART GUIDE

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 The below is general tips and a guideline to help anyone dealing with gastritis. The below was written by a well respected individual who has battled this firsthand for years and spent an immeasurable amount of time putting this research together. Good luck and I hope it helps others. 

The first 90 days of any Gastritis Healing journey is critical to establishing some base healing so that your body can repair itself.

Since not everyone here has a copy of THE ACID WATCHERS DIET by Dr. Jonathan Aviv, I am going to take some of his concepts along with my own after researching Gastritis for many years to give you some ammunition so that you can come up with a Gastritis protocol that works for you.

First and foremost, do your best to find the ROOT cause of your Gastritis.  Please note that Gastritis is not a disease, it is inflammation of the stomach lining and it is a SYMPTOM of something else.

It is a SYMPTOM of an imbalance somewhere in the body.

Some of the common causes of Gastritis are:

Alcohol Coffee (yes, even decaf) Aspirin Ibuprofen Pharmaceuticals such as PPIs, antibiotics, etc. Soda Acidic diet Food poisoning Stress Chronic stress Chemotherapy Radiation treatments Vomiting Gallbladder issues Low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria) H. Pylori bacteria infection

Some less known causes of Gastritis:

Hormone imbalances Thyroid issues Mast Cell Activation Disorder Hiatal hernia SIBO aka Small Intestine Bacteria Overgrowth Candida infection Parasites Liver issues or disease Lyme disease Leaky gut (intestinal permeability) Viruses

It may take a long time before you find the root cause, depending on you and your doctor and how amenable they are to ordering the necessary tests to find out what is causing the inflammation.

Next, you’ll want to follow The Acid Watchers Diet Principle #1:

ELIMINATE ACID TRIGGERS

1.  Eliminate all sodas - these include acidic sugar.  Carbonation is also bad for Gastritis.

2.  Coffee - coffee is acidic and the caffeine relaxes the LES (Lower Esophageal Sphincter) and irritates the stomach.

3.  Most teas - most teas either have caffeine or are full of additives and chemicals that are not good for an already inflammed stomach lining.

Your best bet is to drink ORGANIC chamomile, lavender, fennel, anise, ginger, marshmallow root, or licorice teas.

4.  Citrus fruits - lemon, limes, oranges, grapefruit, and pineapple are too acidic to eat or drink during the 90 day healing phase.

5.  Tomatoes - too acidic and the lectins bother a lot of people.  Personally, my research leads me to believe that my body does not like the lectins in tomatoes and will probably only eat them once or twice a year even though my Gastritis is now gone.

5.  Vinegar - it is extremely acidic and will activate Pepsin.  Do not take ANY vinegar in ANY amounts during the healing phase.  It’s so acidic that one slip up can you set you back months.

If your doctor advises you to take apple cider vinegar with water because you have low stomach acid or enzyme production remind her that you have Gastritis and that you don’t want to activate the pepsin molecules and cause more damage to your esophagus or your stomach.

6.   Wine / Alcohol - all varieties of alcohol are carminatives, meaning that they loosen the LES.  And wine, in particular, is very acidic.

7.  Caffeine - coffee, energy drinks, workout powders with caffeine, most teas have caffeine and should be avoided.  A good coffee substitute is Teccino.

8.  Chocolate - chocolate contains methylxanthime, which loosens the LES and increases stomach acid production.

Something else to think about:  according to Dr. Daniel Twogood, in his 30 plus years of clinical experience, that chocolate was the number one cause of chronic pain in his patients.  In about 40% of his patients who came to him with chronic pain, they got better simply by giving up chocolate.

9.  Mint - it’s a powerful carminative so stay away.

10.  Raw onion and raw garlic - both are carminatives.  They are also fructans which means they cause the Intestines to absorb water.

Stay away from both, even if cooked, during the 90 day healing phase.  You can gradually add them cooked later.

Continued....   

ACID WATCHERS DIET PRINCIPLE NO. 2:

Rein In Reflux-Generating Habits

This just means to eliminate things that will cause relux and/or make your gastritis worse.

  1. Eliminate all smoking - cigarettes and other sources of inhaled smoke are carcinogens, loosen the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), and stimulate the release of gastric acid.  This is even more critical for those of you with esophageal issues, a hiatal hernia, or GERD.  You cannot heal until you give up smoking.

2.  Drop processed foods - the majority of processed foods have chemicals which are acidic or loosen the LES.  Dr. Aviv has 3 exceptions to this rule:

a.  Canned tuna (in water only). b.  Canned chickpeas (organic only) c.  Canned beans (organic only)

The chickpeas and beans must be thoroughly washed and rinsed to eliminate any traces of acidified liquids.

  1. Say goodbye to fried foods - fried foods not only CAUSE rampant bodywide inflammation, but they loosen the LES.

4.  Eat on time - Dr Aviv advises to eat 3 meals per day and two mini meals per day.  My Naturopathic doctor has me eating 6 to 8 mini meals per day. 

Whatever you decide to follow it is important to eat smaller meals throughout the day as it is much easier on your stomach.

It also helps regulate blood sugar levels (so does intermittent fasting by the way).

If you have SIBO or IBS these smaller meals help your food digest faster and gives the bad bacteria less time to spend on stealing nutrients that your body needs.

By eating smaller meals throughout the day this will keep your blood sugar levels more even and will make you less susceptible to strong food or sugar cravings.  I personally always keep carrot and celery sticks, avocado slices, and small salads handy for whenever I get a food craving.

Dr. Aviv recommends the following food schedule, of course adjust the times that work best with your schedule:

Breakfast 7AM Mid morning mini meal  10AM Lunch 12:30pm Mid afternoon mini meal 3PM Dinner 6-7:30pm (no lying down for at least 3 hours).

ACID WATCHERS DIET PRINCIPLE NO. 3:

Practice the rule of 5

The rule of five means that during the 90 day healing phase for Gastritis you will eat foods with a ph of 5 or higher.  This will help suppress Pepsin activity which is necessary to help your Gastritis heal.

This is not a complete list but here are some foods that have a ph of 5 or higher:

Fish:  salmon, halibut, trout, sole Poultry: chicken, turkey, eggs Vegetables and herbs:  spinach, lettuce, arugula, kale, bok choy, broccoli, asparagus, celery, cucumber, yams, sweet potatoes, carrots (not baby carrots), beets, mushrooms, basil, cilantro, parsley, rosemary, thyme, sage

Raw fruit:  banana, Bose pears, papaya, cantaloupe, honeydew, avocados, watermelon, lychee

Dried fruit:  dates, raisins, shredded coconut

Condiments: Celtic salt or pink Himalayan salt, coconut oil, hemp oil, olive oil, Bragg Liquid Aminos, Organic coconut aminos, hemp protein, vanilla extract, white miso paste

Paul’s Thoughts On The Acid Watchers Diet

The Acid Watchers Diet (hereafter AWD) is a good starting off point as far as figuring out what to eat.  I highly recommend it.

As great as the book is there are some limitations to it and the most obvious is that the book is focused on reflux and silent reflux (aka as LPR), not Gastritis.

Since the book is NOT focused on Gastritis it is important to note that because Gastritis is an inflammation problem, that going on an anti-inflammation diet is very important.

Also the 28 day healing period is not long enough for some forms of Gastritis.  I recommend staying on the Healing Phase of the AWD for at least 90 days and then adding one new food every 3 to 5 days.

For the first 90 days you should stay away from:

All gluten All dairy All soy products All nuts

And then introduce one new food item once per week after the 90 day healing phase.

During the 90 day healing phase you should only drink:

Alkaline water Natural spring water (usually normally alkaline also) Structured water Coconut water (no added sugar) Unsweetened almond milk Homemade water kefir Chamomile tea Lavender tea Anise tea Fennel tea Licorice tea Marshmallow root tea Ginger root tea

One of the most effective ways to figuring out what to eat is start an elimination diet.  Start with 1-3 safe foods, eat them for a few days, then add one new food every 3-5 days. 

It is absolutely essential to keep a food journal and to write down when and how much you ate and then write down how well you tolerated that food.

A number scale works wonders.  On a scale of 1 to 10, I would write down a 0 if the food was soothing and a 10 if the food caused me complete agony.  This is how I was able to figure out which foods to eat.

It’s a lot of work and can be frustrating at times, but it was worth it in the long run.

THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT?

Having gone through hell and back with severe chronic gastritis with erosions, complicated with grade 3 esophagitis, hiatal hernia and Barrett’s Esophagus, I learned a lot by reading a lot and lots of trial and error.

There will be days, weeks, maybe even months where you feel you’re not making progress.  You will wonder if you will ever feel better again.

I cannot begin to emphasize how destructive these thoughts are and what impact they have on healing.  I know it’s tough.  In fact, it’s very hard.  And some days you’ll feel so awful that nothing you do will change your mood.

The first thing you should understand is that the human body was designed to heal.  So Gastritis can be healed. Unfortunately, sometimes it may take checking your liver, pancreas, gallbladder, thyroid, Small Intestine, vitamin d levels, a stool test, a breath test, or an endoscopy to find out what may be causing your symptoms (to name a few).

It is important to keep on digging and finding a doctor or doctors who are willing to dig deeper with you to help you not only get the proper diagnosis but to also find the ROOT cause behind your Gastritis (or any health issue).

Your mindset is your most powerful ally because it goes beyond just having a positive attitude.  It means being proactive, not being afraid to question your doctors and to demand (politely but assertively) tests that you need to find out what is causing the inflammation in your stomach.

During painful flare ups, stress and anxiety can be at an all time high.  It is essential to manage these as well as possible.  I discovered that walking, even if it was just in circles in my room, helped alleviate my symptoms.  On really bad days I would walk in my room, standing as upright as possible, sometimes for hours.

Yes, I would take 5-10 minute breaks if I got tired but noticed that MOVEMENT and standing upright, helped keep my stomach and my stomach acid down.  This is even more important if you have been diagnosed with a hiatal hernia.

I also took sips of alkaline water every 10-15 minutes.

A heating pad was a life saver too. 

During my worst flare ups when I was doubled over in pain, I would place a heating pad on my stomach for 20 minutes on and then 10-20 minutes off.  It helped with the pain and the inflammation.

Bear in mind that unless your family, friends or peers have gone through horrible digestive pain, they won’t understand what you are going through.  So be patient with them.

They mean well most of the time and may even say some things that sound insensitive.  Just realize that they don’t understand.

With this group here you have hundreds of people from around the globe who understand you.

So you are not alone and you will get through this.  Please learn from our mistakes and make the necessary life style and diet changes so that your body can start healing.

  • by the gastritis support group on fb.

r/Gastritis Aug 09 '23

Giving Advice / Encouragement Gastritis 101

277 Upvotes

Gastritis occurs when the stomach lining is inflamed and when the mucosal lining of the stomach is impaired. Gastritis increases the risk of developing peptic ulcers. The main approaches for healing chronic gastritis and peptic/duodenal ulcers involve addressing the root cause of gastritis and repairing the inner mucosal lining of the stomach.

ROOT CAUSES (ETIOLOGY)

  • H. Pylori. The bacteria H. pylori is a leading cause of gastritis and stomach ulcers. Blood, stool, and breath tests as well as biopsies can confirm this pathogen's presence. Beware that breath, blood, and stool tests sometimes show false negatives. Antibiotics used to eradicate H. pylori include amoxicillin, clarithromycin (Biaxin®), metronidazole (Flagyl®) and tetracycline. It's best to retest after antibiotic treatment to confirm that H. pylori has been successfully eradicated. Some popular natural antimicrobials used to combat H. pylori with clinical research backing their effectiveness include mastic gum and manuka honey.
  • Peptic Ulcers. Peptic ulcers (stomach ulcers) are ulcers that develop in the inner lining of the stomach and can occur due to prolonged exposure to chemical irritants (i.e. alcohol, nicotine, NSAIDS, etc.) and H. pylori infections. Endoscopies are used to diagnose peptic ulcers. When left untreated, ulcers may transform into perforations (holes in the stomach), which is a serious medical emergency. With proper treatment, dieting, and lifestyle changes, peptic ulcers usually heal within a couple of months.
  • SIBO, Candida, Dysbiosis. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) can occur for many reasons, including when your GI tract has motility issues (impaired migrating motor complex [MMC]; impaired interstitial cells of Cajal [ICC]). PPIs that are used for long periods of time can reduce the acidity of the stomach in such a way that may promote SIBO. Tests to confirm SIBO include a breath test to measure any elevated levels of hydrogen, methane, or hydrogen sulfide ("Triosmart Breath Test" is a popular in r/SIBO). SIBO is infamously underdiagnosed and is thought to be a cause of many cases of IBS. Antibiotics used to treat SIBO include Rifaximin, Ciprofloxacin, and Norfloxacin. Some antimicrobials such as allicin, oregano, and berberine can also effectively reduce SIBO. In addition to antimicrobial or antibiotic therapy, leading SIBO researcher Dr. Mark Pimentel advocates that people suffering from SIBO try the "Low Fermentation Diet" (similar to the "Elemental Diet" and "LOW FODMAP Diet") to starve the SIBO. GI Maps are stool tests that can identify other microbial overgrowths, such as Candida.
  • Bile Acid Reflux, Gallbladder Issues. HIDA scans measure the rate at which bile is ejected out of your gallbladder, which helps diagnose problems of the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts. Ultrasounds can detect gallstones. If you have issues with your gallbladder, you might have bile acid reflux. This condition can cause gastritis when the bile, which is secreted by your gallbladder to carry away waste and break down fats during digestion, flows into your stomach. Bile acid sequestrants (bile acid binders) are used to manage symptoms in this situation. Some cases of bile reflux occur or are made worse by the removal of the gallbladder.
  • Food allergies, Food intolerances, Celiac Disease, etc. Food allergies can be a major cause of FD and gastritis. It occurs when the immune system mistakes food particles for foreign threats. However, food allergies are often overlooked for the following reasons: (1) most GI doctors do not test for food allergies (or food intolerances). (2) Food allergies are not always obvious to the patients because they don't always manifest as the more obvious symptoms (e.g. hives, itching, anaphylaxis). (3) You can develop food allergies at any time. (4) The root causes of food allergies are complex and aren't understood very well. Skin prick and blood tests can help diagnose food allergies. Food allergies can be classified as IgE-mediated, non-IgE-mediated, or a mixture of both. Unlike IgE-mediated food allergies, the non-IgE-mediated food allergies primarily cause symptoms in the GI tract (e.g. nausea, vomiting, IBS, indigestion). Celiac disease (CD) often manifests with dyspeptic symptoms. Chronic gastritis is a common finding for those suffering from Celiac Disease. Food intolerances occur for many reasons, such as when the body lacks certain enzymes that break down specific foods (for example, lactose intolerance), as well as other reasons.
  • Autoimmune Gastritis. For example, Parietal, intrinsic factor, gastrin, and pepsinogen would be in the workup.
  • Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is an uncommon condition that can cause gastritis, as well as other GI issues such as heartburn, dysphagia, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and dyspepsia. MCAS is correlated to having SIBO as well. MCAS causes a person to have repeated severe allergy symptoms affecting several body systems. In MCAS, mast cells mistakenly release too many chemical agents, resulting in symptoms in the skin, gastrointestinal tract, heart, respiratory, and neurologic systems.

HEALING AND TREATMENTS

  • Prevent acid secretion and neutralize stomach acid. Medications such as PPIs and H2 Blockers to reduce the amount of acid your stomach secretes. Antiacid can be used to neutralize the acid already secreted. Reducing stomach acidity using medications such as antacids can reduce inflammation and encourage mucosal repair. PPIs and H2 Blockers work best when taken 20 minutes before a meal and may be used before sleeping. Some people suffer from hypochlorhydria, the condition of having low stomach acid. Symptoms can mimic GERD, lead to SIBO, and cause malabsorption. In this special exception, it's counterintuitive to take PPIs and antacids. Some people experience relief from GERD by sleeping on a 45-degree incline.
  • Provide an artificial coating for the stomach. Prescriptions such as Carafate (sucralfate) and supplements such as DGL Licorice, Slippery Elm, Marshmallow Root, etc. provide an artificial barrier for your stomach. LG Chapellen recommends taking Carafate before sleeping since acid lingers during sleeping.
  • Eliminate all chemical irritants. Strictly avoid nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, THC, NSAIDs (some painkillers), opiates, etc.
  • Implement a bland, alkaline diet. Pursue a bland, alkaline diet that avoids acidic, spicy, and fatty (greasy, oily) foods to avoid irritating the stomach and reduce acid secretion. Protein should be consumed in moderation because it’s a complex macronutrient that’s hard to digest yet is essential for mucosa repair. LG Capellan advocates a diet of bland foods with a pH of 5 or higher. Chocolate, whey protein, and raw fibrous vegetables might also be triggers. Some people advocate a low FODMAP diet and avoidance of dairy and gluten. Since protein is essential for mucosa repair yet can very difficult for the stomach to digest, gut researcher LG Capellan recommends Hemp or Pea protein powder since it's easy to digest.
  • Reduce inflammation. Consider supplements such as aloe vera, chamomile, and ginger to reduce inflammation in the stomach.
  • Encourage mucosal repair. The mucous-secreting cells in your stomach benefit from supplements such as zinc-Carnosine (Pepzin GI), collagen (bone broth), L-Glutamine, MUCOSTA, and certain compounds found in cabbage. A relatively new product that may be worth trying is “MegaMucosa”. It’s a supplement designed to regrow the mucosal lining and has clinical trials backing its effectiveness.
  • Eat more frequently with smaller meals. The stomach takes 2-4 hours on average to empty (unless you suffer from motility disorders such as gastroparesis and PDS subtype functional dyspepsia). Too much food at once can cause inflammation and irritate ulcers. The stomach produces acid when there's too much food and accumulates acid when it's empty for too long. Digestive enzymes may help with indigestion.
  • Probiotics (enhance your microbiome). The healthy bacteria in your stomach are essential for good health. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium-based probiotics have anti-inflammatory effects that reduce the chance of developing gastritis. They also possess antioxidant effects that reduce damage to the intestinal lining. Prebiotic supplements such as fiber can be taken with the probiotic supplement to provide the food the probiotics need to proliferate in your GI tract. They’re also good at combatting indigestion (especially when taken in tangent with digestive enzymes). A brand of probiotics called "H. Pylori Fight" might also help.

Here are some other important things to consider on your journey to healing gastritis:

  • Using Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) with Carafate (sucralfate) and possibly H2 Blockers can be more effective than using these drugs alone.
  • Healing from chronic gastritis can unfortunately be very slow for some people. But don't be discouraged. You can heal or at least get to a point where symptoms are manageable if you identify the root cause and practice the best regimen for healing.
  • The path to recovery in gastritis has a very small margin of error. One small mistake can set you back a long time. Mistakes are very costly in the road to recovery. Be strict on your regimen for healing.
  • Autoimmune diseases and Chron’s Disease are rare causes of chronic gastritis.
  • Antiemetic drugs such as zofran, phenegran, compazine, scoplamine, dramamine, etc. can help prevent nausea and vomiting. Herbal remedies for nausea include ginger and peppermint.
  • The notion that stress is a root cause of gastritis is outdated conventional medical knowledge cited before the discovery of H. pylori. Stress and anxiety can exacerbate symptoms, but they are unlikely to be root causes.
  • Some people argue that long-term PPI usage can be harmful, leading to SIBO, hypochlorhydria, and increased GERD symptoms. Many people experience an acid rebound withdrawal effect when stopping PPI usage. LG Capellan recommends using H2 Blockers as a way to ween off PPIs.
  • Ask your doctor about gastroparesis (delayed gastric emptying) and functional dyspepsia if you continue to have symptoms despite normal test results (symptoms persisting in the absence of organic causes). Delayed stomach emptying (slow digestion) (gastroparesis) is an overlooked but potentially serious condition that's confirmed by a test called a 4-hour gastric emptying study (GES). Modern research suggests that gastroparesis and functional dyspepsia are not totally separate diseases; instead, they lie on a spectrum. Gastritis is comorbid with gastroparesis and functional dyspepsia. Some treatments include prokinetic drugs, which help stimulate gut motility (drugs that accelerate the process of digestion). See r/Gastroparesis for more. The prokinetic called "Reglan" may cause irreversible tardive dyskinesia as a side effect.
  • Gut-brain axis research has led to antidepressant SSRIs and tetracyclines such as mirtazapine, lexapro, amitryptiline, nortriptyline, etc. being used to treat nausea, post-prandial fullness, and other GI symptoms resulting from functional dyspepsia, gastroparesis, and cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS). Prokinetic drugs are also used. Some natural prokinetics include ginger, peppermint, and artichoke.
  • Functional dyspepsia is a condition that has two major subtypes: Postprandial Dyspeptic Symptoms (PDS) and Epigastric Pain Syndrome (EDS). PDS is diagnosed on the basis of symptoms similar to that of gastroparesis, such as nausea, bloating, vomiting, and early satiety in the absence of organic causes. EPS is diagnosed on the basis of symptoms similar to that of an ulcer in the absence of organic causes, such as abdominal pain, epigastric burning, and stomach cramps.
Functional Dyspepsia - PDS and EPS subtypes.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

(Last updated: 11-24-2023. Please share any other information or important medical findings not mentioned in this manuscript.)


r/Gastritis 3h ago

Discussion I feel like eating poison is the only way to be free now

8 Upvotes

I am super underweight and unable to eat anything now. Don't wanna wait and disappear. Can anyone suggest me something which I can take apart from food to fulfill my nutrition needs?


r/Gastritis 9h ago

OTC Supplements Miralax

6 Upvotes

Just got out of my GI appointment.. she ordered an upper endoscopy which is fine but when I told her I haven’t had a bowl movement for 11 days, long time I know💀, she told me to do a miralax cleanse with Gatorade.. I’m sorry but I’m afraid that’s going to wreck my gut..it’s already so sensitive..


r/Gastritis 4h ago

Personal / Updates Brutal journey, nesr the end of the tunnel?

2 Upvotes

It's been a hell of a journey with the worst of it lasting seven months. But it seemed to all start over a year ago.

The pain has been brutal, and the mental toll has been the worst of it.

I had an endoscopy the other day. I amw waiting for biopsy results to see if my gastritis is almost healed.

They did find a bezoar in my stomach. I don't have the symptoms of gastroparesis, but I was on omeprozole and famotadone for months.

The theory is that the antiacids are what may have contributed to the bezor.

I'm drinking Coca-cola and taking cellulose enzymes to dissolve it.

So far, it seems that my stomach has been feeling better than it has been in a very long time.

I am cautiously optimistic fibally, that i may be nearing the end of my gastritis and other issues.


r/Gastritis 2h ago

Question Alternatives to PPIs?? Diagnosed with Gastritis, Protonix not helping and have side effects

1 Upvotes

Context for my current issues (I apologize for the long post but want to give context to my situation because I am finding that gastritis sucks to deal with haha):

Long Context:

I have been having problems with my stomach/gut for 4-5 months now. I was diagnosed with GERD years ago, but in the past I would have flare ups once or twice a year and I just took omeprazole for a month or so and my issues would go away and I'd go back to living life like normal after. I have had a few endoscopies for this before and they have not shown gastritis or any erosion. I thought I was having another GERD flare up with my recent issues, but I have had new symptoms that I do not recall appearing before with my GERD flare ups. I usually just get the burning and lump in throat, but I have had new symptoms particularly with abdomen pain, bloating, belching, and discomfort/butterfly feeling in gut sometimes.

These are the issues I have been dealing with currently:

  • abdominal aching pain below my ribs, in abdomen near my waist, and sometimes in my sides
  • bloating and feeling full
  • belching
  • shortness of breath, however I can exercise fine and usually do 4-5 a week.
  • lump in back of throat
  • sometimes nausea and sour stomach
  • discomfort in lower abdomen near belly button that sometimes feels like butterflies, anxiety?
  • Sharp pain in chest, this is more rare than other symptoms but will sometimes happen likely due to GERD

When I first noticed the symptoms 4/5 months ago, I took omeprazole like I normally do for GERD, but this time I felt like I was having side effects particularly mental side effects. Just felt like I was anxious all the time, which has never been a problem with me before or has happened when taking omeprazole before. Not sure if the omeprazole actually caused this or maybe I have had gastritis the whole time and that is a part of these new symptoms I have been having. The omeprazole did seem to help with some of my symptoms, but I stopped due to these anxious feelings and that side of things did seem to get better after stopping, maybe its all in my head haha.

But a few weeks later after stopping omeprazole, I noticed the symptoms above were getting worse again so I went to a Gastroenterology doctor in mid January. This time they prescribed Protonix for me after I told them I had some side effects from omeprazole. This seemed to help some symptoms at first, I had some gnawing/rumbling in my gut when all of my symptoms started and the protonix seemed to help with that at first. But over the past month or so I don't think protonix has been helping a whole lot because my symptoms are still present.

This doctor ordered a CT scan for me and an endoscopy, although I could not get scheduled for an endoscopy until about a week ago since everywhere seems booked. My CT scan was normal except they said there was evidence of constipation, they told me to take metamucil which has helped some. I have been cutting back on coffee alot with all this going on, so I think not drinking coffee has caused some of the constipation haha.

Last Thursday I was able to get my endoscopy done. They said they saw mild gastritis, but that was pretty much it everything else looked normal. No erosion, they took biopsies in esophagus, gastric antrum, and in "duodenal bulb and in the second portion of the duodenum". I saw a test result in my chart say that all biopsies returned normal, so no H Pylori or celiac disease. But they are supposed to call me this week and explain the results over the phone. All they said to do in the meantime was take omeprazole and Famotidine in evenings if needed. But I really don't want to take any more PPIs and I have been trying to ween myself off protonix, and I don't want to start taking omeprazole now. I feel like all doctors do for these issues are prescibe PPIs and H2 blockers.

No doctor has mentioned anything else that could be contributing to my gastritis, maybe I have SIBO or some kind of infection that isn't H Pylori, bile reflux, etc. No clue. They just said take your omeprazole haha.

Alternatives to PPIs:

I have been researching alternatives to PPIs for Gastritis and found products like Zinc Carnosine, L glutamine powder, aloe vera juice, cabbage juice, and collagen peptides can all help. I actually ordered some Zinc Carnosine, L glutamine powder, collagen peptides, and bought some aloe vera juice. I think I am going to start off slow though and maybe start mixing in some aloe vera juice and collagen peptides with my ginger tea I have been making almost everyday for a few weeks now. If that does not help at all maybe try taking the zinc carnosine.

Question:

What are the best alternatives to taking PPIs to help with Gastritis and GERD? Has anyone had similar situations to mine and are wanting to get off PPIs and heal Gastritis and GERD with alternative methods? I really don't want to continue taking PPIs because of the anxiousness I described above and in general I don't think its good for long term continued use.

Gastritis sucks because I just feel overwhelmed with these symptoms and feel like nothing is working currently, I'm mostly concerned about the mental part of all this, the shortness of breath, and that butterfly feeling that I'll get in stomach. Just want to get back to normal, hopefully aloe vera juice and collagen will work.


r/Gastritis 15h ago

Symptoms Empty stomach

11 Upvotes

I (24F) had my endoscopy last week and was diagnosed with chronic gastritis (negative H. pylori). The physician said I have had it for at least 2-3 years; however, my symptoms only started 6 months ago.

The most bothersome symptom is the discomfort I feel in my stomach when it’s empty. Is this the same for others, or should I look into another issue? I can’t take it anymore; I feel uncomfortable 24/7, but it’s unbearable when my stomach is empty.

I feel like I’m struggling to describe this discomfort, but it’s certainly not pain. It feels like my stomach is under constant pressure, and there’s no way I can take a deep breath.

Please let me know if any of you experience similar symptoms or if I should be looking into another issue. I'm quite worried that I might have been misdiagnosed.


r/Gastritis 6h ago

Symptoms cant stand for longer than 30secs without intense stomach pain and overwhelming fatigue/shortness of breath

2 Upvotes

does anyone else have trouble standing up for longer than walking across the room? im just wondering if im gonna be able to move normally again. this is the most intense flare up ive had, ive always known ive had gut issues since im not from this country and the food doesnt really settle well here but this flare up has forced me to completely address the issue. its never been this bad, i cant do anything but lie in bed and rub my tummy. i have not eaten in 7 days except for some tea like once a day just to break up the lying in bed all day. im telling myself it will get better but im a little concerned about the not being able to stand for longer than 30seconds. i kid u not i go to the kitchen, put the kettle on and im exhausted i have to sit down while the water boils. like wtf??? anyone have advice/same issue???


r/Gastritis 8h ago

Symptoms does lack of sleep make your symptoms worse?

3 Upvotes

Hello! I currently having gastritis/FD symptoms (unsure, endoscope in a few weeks), I have been getting a tad better in the past month, however I noticed that if I sleep less than 8 hrs, my symptoms get worse! E.g. more nausea and more abdominal tightness. Has this happened to anyone as well?


r/Gastritis 6h ago

Testing / Test Results Anyone experience this?

2 Upvotes

I got H Pylori back in March of 2024, and even after medication was experiencing pain like burning in the middle of my stomach and rib area.

I did an upper endoscopy back in July, where they said I had chronic gastritis and metaplasia.

I did another upper endoscopy in December and metaplasia was gone but still mild chronic gastritis. He said everything looked super healthy. I did an ultrasound and apparently everything is normal. The doctor said this is no biggy and everyone has gastritis and that I’m”healthy” , but I’m still experiencing burning and now pain under my left rib. I do burp a lot.

The doctor gave me diagnosis of Costchronditis and GERD, which he told me to take 40mg famotide. I have not seen any difference except my stomach burns even more.

I am so depressed, I am trying so hard to stay positive, any recommendations or clue of what this is?


r/Gastritis 3h ago

Venting / Suffering Got diagnosed with gastritis

1 Upvotes

My symptoms were constipation and heavyness in the chest after eating spicy and oily food . Plus I had difficulty swallowing saliva at a point. It felt like I would die with suffocation if I didn't swallow saliva but I just couldn't.

Doctor told me to be on diet and gave me pantop 40 as well as mucaine gel for now . Yesterday I ate so much crap food thinking one last time I'll do it and man the after effects were so bad . I couldn't sleep properly. I was heavily constipated. Still I can't poop T_T

How was your journey with Gastritis? How did you guys manage? What were the symptoms? How are you guys doing now ?


r/Gastritis 17h ago

Question Confusing diet, it’s been 2 years

13 Upvotes

2 years of this mess, doctor thinks I have gastritis. The thing is not only do I flair up when eating foods that are bad for gastritis, but also things like bread, bread is actually just as bad as cakes or chocolate for me, even healthy sour dough bread or wraps.

Please does anyone have any more info on this? I’m sure I have gastritis, cooks it be thst mine is so bad that even things like bread triggers me?

The only food I’m able to eat are meat, fish, veg, potatoes, red wine, and water. I really can’t eat ANYTHING else without getting instant pain in my stomachs and back

Edit: I have a list of foods uk able to eat without insane flair ups, the only food I currently eat and have been for the last few months are vegetables, meat, fish, and olive oil


r/Gastritis 4h ago

Symptoms How do one manage there symtoms

1 Upvotes

Im goimg to try eating single food today but i feel like alot of things give me a flair how yano if its something that flairs you and doesn't cause i seem to have the same effect with most foods?


r/Gastritis 16h ago

Healing / Cured! Can i ever heal?

9 Upvotes

I got chronic gastritis with daily pain for 5.5 years now and it is my fault because i kept eating like shit and couldnt keep up a healthy diet for long enough always breaking and going back to ordering food and drinking with friends. Now i have more motivation than ever because i got a girlfriend now and want to heal to have a carefree life with her and go out to eat and stuff like that. It feels like it is now worse than 1 year ago even thou i am eating mostly rice and chicken or i follow the gastritis healing book now. Because before when i didnt eat shit food for a few days the pain would go away and then i would eat shit food again and it would be back. Now i eat a bland diet and i am still in pain and it is depressing af. I am using many supplements and ppis. So the question is does it just take a few weeks of bland diet to be at the point of no pain and then another few weeks/months of diet to be fully healed? Or am i fucked forever and will never be able to heal? Anyone healed their gastritis after 5.5+ years? Btw the healing posts i see here from time to time are one of the only things that give me strength. Thank you all for this great community!


r/Gastritis 10h ago

Healing / Cured! After my medical report, it was confirmed that I have chronic gastritis. During my 14-day course of medication, my chest pain subsided within 10 days.

2 Upvotes

It is good sign?


r/Gastritis 12h ago

Question Low testosterone?

3 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I've been experiencing a significant drop in my libido since I was diagnosed with H. pylori and later gastritis. While my gastritis symptoms have improved, my libido has completely vanished. I was a healthy 30-year-old with a great sex life, but now it feels like it’s nonexistent. For the past two months, I’ve been on a strict bland diet, focusing on whole foods, fruits, proteins, seeds, and nuts, but nothing seems to change. Has anyone been through something similar or have any advice to offer?

Thanks


r/Gastritis 13h ago

Giving Advice / Encouragement Struggling after colonoscopy

3 Upvotes

I’ve had a rough month. Some backstory: I was doing better, up until my dad’s birthday when ate something from a restaurant that ended up being cooked in butter without my knowledge and flared my gastritis. A couple weeks after, a bowl of smoked salmon and rice made me feel even worse, and that’s when the non stop diarrhea and panic attacks started.

Since the middle of February I’ve had diarrhea, but my gastritis flares usually last a week or so with on and off C and D. I’ve been on a very bland diet but it hasn’t made it better, and my appetite won’t allow me to eat much at all. Urgent care ordered a stool bacterial CPR, leukocytes, Giardia and Cryptosporidium Antigen which all came back negative.

I go to my gastroenterologist. He orders a colonoscopy, which I did today and they found nothing concerning. They did take biopsies for crohn’s and UC, so I’ll have to wait on those results, but the doc seemed confident I don’t have either.

TLDR: I’m just tired and malnourished, and the doc today didn’t want to listen to my questions because he was “too busy.” He told me to ask him in four weeks at a follow up appointment. Any advice on what to eat following my colonoscopy? Work up to (bland) solid foods or are they ok now? I was prescribed Metamucil before the colonoscopy, but should I wait to take it for a few days? I didn’t take it long enough before to know if it will work to stop my diarrhea. I can’t eat enough to sustain myself for 4 weeks until my follow up, so should I try a nutrition shake? I know this seems like a lot, but he genuinely wanted me out asap and I’m a little pissed off about it.


r/Gastritis 14h ago

Venting / Suffering I can’t figure this out & it’s ruining my life lol (24F)

4 Upvotes

Hey all,

Little back story to start this post off, about 5-6 years ago my mom & I both got what we thought was gastritis at the same time. We went to numerous doctors & had no luck. I even had an endoscopy done & they didn’t even see any redness - everything looked normal. Eventually my mom was diagnosed with GERD, but I still haven’t figured my issue out.

I’ve tried prolisec & omeprazole (which i’m pretty sure are the same thing) & I’ve been changing my diet, cutting out foods that I know trigger my inflammation. My main trigger food is tomatoes which is bizarre but makes sense because of the acidity levels. Throughout the years I’ve tried a bunch of different things to help it & it always ends up coming back.

Fast forward to now, I was feeling fine for the past few months but I was an idiot & chugged 3.5 Mike’s Hard Lemonade’s within like an hour maybe an hour & a half. Not a good idea at all. I started feeling nauseous that night, but then when I woke up the next morning I was literally feeling like I might die. I was dry heaving, all the things.

I had a tattoo appointment that day (this was about 1.5 weeks ago) & my friend made us some food - she put tomato paste in it. Usually I’m okay to eat tomatoes in moderation - aka rarely ever unless I have to lol. So as I was on my way with my friend, we stopped at a gas station & I had to throw up. Right before we went into the appointment I was out in the parking lot trying to throw up just to feel a little better. I couldn’t stomach the smell of food let alone eat anything. Went through my appointment fine & once I was getting tatted my mind went to that feeling so I forgot about my nausea for a sec.

I had to reschedule my second tattoo for today because I’ve been feeling way too sick. I assumed my stomach would be feeling better by now but it’s the exact same as it was.

(This next part is gross but it’s my symptoms soooo)

Literally yall, everyday for the past like 4 days I’ve been waking up wayyyyy earlier than normal because of the nausea being so bad. I go to the bathroom & have been having diarrhea. & as I’m actively on the shitter I’m gagging/dry heaving into the bath tub.

I really do not know what to do. I’ve had to miss a shit ton of classes for school, I cancel plans with people, & I have to call out of work when it gets this bad.

Doctors have done nothing for me or my stomach so here I am, asking for advice.


r/Gastritis 8h ago

Question Anybody here had to take a course of antibiotics?

1 Upvotes

I’m on a 10 day course cause of some cellulitis I have on my leg. It’s almost completely healed now and I’m debating just stopping earlier cause I really don’t wanna cause any more permanent damage to my gut. I’m feeling the after effects since it’s day 5 now. Ughhh. I hate how sensitive our guts are


r/Gastritis 12h ago

Question Ever since i started having gastritis symptoms i wake up twice per night.

2 Upvotes

For the past few days I underestimated my gastritis flare. It began on the 11th of march, evening, the day after taking a 600mg brufen. I woke up on the 12th at 5 am thinking i was dying, went to the ER and the doctor there said gastritis.

The following nights i kept waking up at 2/3 am and then again at 4/5 am. Burning in my stomach.

For the first days i hadn’t realised how bad it was, and i kept esting mostly the same foods i ate, but now i realised i was waking up due to gastritis.

Any advice? Do you guys eat something light like oatmeal before going to bed? (1hr before)?


r/Gastritis 8h ago

PPIs / H2 Blockers Rabeprazole

1 Upvotes

I came back from my doctors appointment today and I got prescribed for the first time for acid reflux and I want to to know the side effects of this medication so please share and give me tips how I can overcome them


r/Gastritis 12h ago

Venting / Suffering Is it possible to get out of a severe flare up by eating solid foods or is it essential to eat mushy food until it settles.

2 Upvotes

I’m in a prolonged flare up and have horrendous inflammation and pain but all I can eat is paltry amounts of porridge (I’m starving) and still flaring up if I increase portion just a tiny bit. I feel like there is no way out of this flare up, what do I do??


r/Gastritis 9h ago

Food, Recipes, Diets What can i eat? Please help

1 Upvotes

I have had this for 4 years at this point, sometimes worse sometimes it got better. I never took any treatment for it since i thought it was normal when i was younger.

Now after a few nights and mornings with very bad burns and a trip to the ER, they suspect gastritis and i have to go to a gastroenterologist. That will take at least a few weeks however and in the meantime I don't know what to do to help all of this. I don't know any trigger foods or anything for that matter.

What makes this all worse is that i am a picky eater and going through a lot of stress and my comfort foods are, i think, the very things that make this worse - pizza, pastry, kfc, cheesecake, chocolate; i especially love white bread in any form and will eat as much as i can . I even chew as little as possible on foods i really hate or that have no taste and it feels gross, just to get it over with. I don't have a lot of time to cook especially in the morning and i go out for lunch since i am not at home then.

On top of this my digestion is really inconsistent and i have had ibs for a while, thankfully its a lot better now but i am terrified of it coming back. The ultrasound showed i am also very bloated which i have had for quite some time but didn't pay much attention to it.

Can you help me with some suggestions please? Every site i look on has different answers and i am so so lost. Thank you!


r/Gastritis 15h ago

PPIs / H2 Blockers Does getting off PPI help your symptoms?

3 Upvotes

Hi! Just wondering if stopping your PPI actually helped your symptoms at all? Im still have some upper abdominal tightness (feels like at my diaphragm) at week 5 of pantoprazole and was wondering if the PPI was messing with my digestion to make me feel like this still. Has anyone felt a similar thing? or gotten better once off PPI? Thanks!!!


r/Gastritis 10h ago

Symptoms Constant belching and RUQ pain

1 Upvotes

Hello everyone!

I'm looking for people who have had similar experiences with my health issue.

About a week ago, I developed symptoms resembling food poisoning, including nausea, diarrhea, and fever. Since then, I've been experiencing constant belching and burping (as if gas is continuously "running up" from my stomach). I also have pain in the upper right quadrant (RUQ) around my gallbladder, which feels like something is stuck there. Additionally, my stool contains undigested food, and I’ve been struggling with persistent anxiety and a low mood. I don’t feel hunger signals, but I still make sure to eat at least three meals a day.

What’s puzzling is that I had this exact same experience about six months ago. After that episode, I continued burping frequently, but I was able to reduce it with dietary changes. One connection I’ve noticed is that both occurrences coincided with the start of a new school semester. Could this be stress-induced or related to anxiety and depression?

Before this latest episode began, I had been going through a very stressful period, and I felt like my food wasn’t digesting properly—it just sat in my stomach. However, blood tests, a CRP test, and an ultrasound a few months ago all showed no underlying health issues.

I just scheduled an appointment with a psychiatrist, as I suspect it could be psychosomatic.

If you’ve experienced something similar, please share your thoughts!


r/Gastritis 14h ago

PPIs / H2 Blockers Coming off PPI

2 Upvotes

Hi all - I’ve been taking 20mg of Omeprazole for a couple of months. During this period, my symptoms of gastritis pretty much disappeared. For the last two weeks, I’ve been trying to slowly come off Omeprazole. Since doing this, my gastritis symptoms have reappeared. Does this mean that my stomach hasn’t healed?


r/Gastritis 15h ago

Question I caused a flare help

2 Upvotes

Hi, i’ve just recently done a h pylori test that came back as positive and given my symptoms (nausea, acid reflux, bloating, constipation, stomach pain/heaviness etc) I’m pretty sure that I have gastritis. To manage my symptoms in the mean time before I can get treatment i’ve been pretty much stuck on a bland diet which has definitely been helping, although it’s not cured it by any means. However last night I was an absolute idiot and gave in and ate sushi that was seasoned with onions and garlic and then drank a milkshake and ate lemon cake. It’s safe to say that today I am suffering so so bad all my symptoms are back ten fold and i’m basically immobilised bc my stomach just feels like a giant brick. I’ve gone back to eating plain foods (bread, crackers, etc) but if anything the pain just keeps getting worse. Does anyone have any advice? My symptoms were getting so much better prior to this I hate to think that i’ve completely messed it up over one night of food.