Gastritis..? H.Pylori..? Ulcer..? All in my head..? :(

Digestive health
1

Hello, my names Andy. I'm 22, 6ft 1", 12 stone (last time I was weighed -5 months ago I think) I don't drink alcohol at all, I don't ever eat spicy food & I think in all my life I've smoked about 3 cigarettes the last one being on new years eve 2011. I also have Ulcerative Colitis, I was diagnosed with that via colonoscopy in October 2012, however I've lived with the symptoms on and off for the last 4 years. Other than that I'm fine... well not recently anyway. sad

It all seemed to start about just over a month ago when I was stressed out and nervous about almost everything in my life. I started missing the occasional meal, or eating one at an odd time or too late. I've always eaten a lot, not too much, but a lot. My diet has never been top notch, but I wouldn't say it was awful.

Anyway I was getting stressed about things in late August and like I said my eating habits were thrown wildly off for about a week. But then it became two weeks & then three sad And before I knew it I was feeling sick,nauseous and weak. I had a heavy feeling stomach and couldn't bring myself to eat much. My stomach would complain that I wasn't eating and I would get really bad hunger rumblings that would be quite nauseating, but then if I did eat something I would feel sick. sad

I found myself in the doctors and her diagnosis was stress induced Gastritis, which I had never heard of before. I wasn't really told too much about Gastritis, but I was told to basically try and de-stress myself & get myself eating again. I was also given some tablets called Lansoprazole(?) I was supposed to have one a day, which I did. So I took all 28 of them and have now been off them for about 5 days.

I feel as though the Lansoprazole didn't do much, if anything at all. After having been on them for a week I ended up back in the doctor's office for a follow up to see how I was doing. At that point I was more or less eating again, (still not my normal amount though) and my stomach didn't feel too bad anymore. So my doc said "ok well finish the course of tablets and you should feel better" and that was that.

I didn't really manage to "de-stress" in the end, if anything I was getting more stressed. I ended up looking up Gastritis on the internet, which I will say right now was a mistake sad I ended up reading about stomach cancer among other stuff.

On top of this constant nausea,to make it all a little worse I had stopped taking my Mesavant tablets for my Colitis because of a silly fear that the combination of those and the Lansoprazole would make me feel ill. sad So for about a week or two I've had a slight flare up of my Colitis sad

Anyway I have not been on the lansoprazole now since last friday. My stomach still hates me and I've been feeling nauseous pretty much every day. I've made myself take my Mesavant Colitis tablets again but I know from experience that that SHOULD clear up in a week or two. I have been much better with my eating habits, I've made myself eat even though I haven't always wanted to. I've eaten more this week than I think I did all last month. However I ended up having an emergency appointment with my doctor on monday morning sad I got up, felt more or less alright, had some cornflakes and before I knew it, it was as if my stomach had grown a fist and was trying to get out of my body. It was the most discomfort I've felt since this all started so I was in a bit of a panic to say the least.

Another thing to point out is that I have noticed an odd sensation this week. And that is that when I feel hungry, my stomach seems to struggle gurgling. Its hard to explain sad My stomach doesn't seem to rumble as much anymore, but if it does it is VERY "deep" and it feels rather more horrible than it used to normally. Also I've not been burping as much as I used to (if that's relevant at all), even though a lot of the time it feels like I need to burp. When I DO burp however its always a small pathetic one that doesn't relieve anything sad

Anyway I told my doctor about how the lansoprazole gave me a bit of relief, but my appetite wasn't great still. I said that I had nausea still and a heavy feeling in my stomach and that I couldn't seem to notice a pattern. By that I mean I can't tell if my stomach is aggravated by certain foods etc. I told her that I hadn't been taking my Colitis tablets & I more or less got told off sad rightly so I think in a way, I've just made things a little worse for myself sad

My doctor gave me some anti-emetics I think they're called Cyclizine(?) I've been on 2 or 3 of those a day since Monday. I think they've given me peace of mind if nothing else. The Doc booked me in for some blood tests which were taken today. The results should come in by next week apparently. My doctor is still certain that this is all because I get so stressed out, but I'm going in circles here sad I have still never vomited throughout this ordeal, which I'm assuming is good...? sad But this nausea is just crippling me.

I asked my doctor if maybe I needed to cut out dairy or gluten from my diet but she said "no you need to eat" My doctor is lovely but that felt very dismissive of her sad To be honest though if I DID cut out dairy and gluten I feel like I would be left with nothing to eat sad

My appetite is pretty much back, but its nothing like it used to be. It's very depressing I have to say. I'm not going out anymore because even walking around seems to make my tummy feel bad. I don't even want to imagine what would happen if I ever got on a bus or a train, I've never really been susceptible to motion sickness before... but then my stomach has never felt like its dying on me before sad

What I've been left with is a recurring sensation that's like a brick in my stomach in the middle area under my ribs. Whenever I'm hungry my stomach feels too weak to tell me so. But then I'll feel just sort of sickly a little while after eating. I wouldn't say I've been in pain as such, more of a nauseating discomfort. I'm annoyed at myself that I've read through pages and pages of the internet for what might be wrong with me. I know I should trust my doctor, she knows what's up after all, but I'm just a little sceptical since she didn't perform any kind of tests on me, apart from her lying me down and feeling my abdominal region in a few places.

Right now I'm in a horrible position of waiting for my blood tests to come back to me. I don't even know what they are looking for or what they might find? What if hey find something bad? What if they find nothing at all & tell me I'm fine when I might feel no better or worse even? The nurse took about 3 phials of blood out of my arm and I remember the doctor saying they would do a general blood count or something... and look at my liver funcions for some reason..? sad I don't know. Can Gastritis be confirmed through a blood test?

My doc said she didn't think I had an ulcer, (or cancer). But this H. Pylori thing, (I've done my reading to say the least) If I DO have Gastritis that seems like the only reason to me how I would have it. I've read though that some people have Gastritis/H. Pylori for years and sometimes it might never go away and then could perhaps lead to ulcers which then lead to cancer anyway sad If I was to feel like this for any more than a few more weeks I feel like my life will be destroyed & I might end up in hospital...

On the other hand I suppose this COULD be all due to anxiety and extreme stress, but I can't seem to make any progress, I'm in a vicious circle & it's upsetting me sad I miss eating the food I used to eat & I miss not worrying about myself so much sad I'm sorry this is a ridiculously lengthy post & if anyone has actually read through it all I'd like to say thank you. Perhaps leave me any advice? Or even a kind word or two? I feel like I'm at the end of my tether. If I do indeed have Gastritis, what should I do to help myself? If I have H.Pylori what would that mean for me?

Thanks,

Andy

2

I'd say (a guess) your problem is Duodenitis (inflammation of the Duodenum). H.Pylori isn't anything some more Lansoprazole and some Antibiotics wont fix smile

3

Thanks for responding smile Do you think Duodenitis might show up in my blood test results..? Also would anti-biotics and more lansoprazole clear this up quickly..?

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UC would probably mask any of the subtle / slightly raised Blood changes caused by Duodenitis, yes ideally the H.Pylori would be cleared up in a couple of weeks, then add a couple more weeks just to resettle smile

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Hi Andy sounds like I am currently going through a very similar situation as you. I'm a 31 year old male and suffering with stomach problems. The doctor also gave me Lansaprozole but don't think it is having much affect. I have just finished the course and so need to go back and see what the next step is as I'm fed up with feeling like this. I don't know about you as you didn't mention it but I feel constantly bloated as well as the dull ache/pain. I mean I actually wake up first thing in the morning feeling like I've eaten a 3 course meal!!! When it's been a good 12-14 hours since last eating. Just wondered as it's been a little while since your last post how did you get on? Are you still suffering? Did they find out what the cause was in the end?

All the best.

Tel

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Hey Terry, didn't think anyone would reply to this again but thanks.

In short, no they haven't found out what's wrong with me. As is I am still sick. Been ill now for 5 months. I've been getting stomach ache every day now since September and it's getting to be a bit of a joke now. I'm really quite depressed about it. My life is on hold, I haven't seen my friends or even so much as left the house now for a long while. I tried to not let it ruin my Christmas but it spoiled it completely. But my Ulcerative Colitis has stolen the spotlight in the doctor's eyes recently, so ALL their attention has been focused on that. This is part two of my story I guess if your interested:

I actually ended up in Hospital in late November because my Ulcerative Colitis got so bad, I was passing blood INSTEAD of stools, feeling so weak that I was needing to fall asleep for a couple of hours throughout the days. I was eating again but it was just going right through me, I'd become anaemic I think. I was at my Doctors office back in November and she was actually great, she arranged for an ambulance there and then after taking my blood pressure and after seeing how grey my complexion was (also I had to go to the toilet twice when I was with her)

I was in Hospital for just over a week. I was put on a drip of fluids and painkillers and I was stabilized. The doctors took lots of blood out of me and saw that my inflammation levels were really high. I kept bringing up my constant stomach aches, but I've yet to get a straight answer out of anyone. One doctor told me tha it is related to my Ulcerative Colitis (which I don't think is right) One doctor told me that I had a stomach ulcer, but the next one said that I didn't. I'm disappointed with the doctors at my local hospital, I feel like they have just ignored my complaints of stomach aches or just brushed them aside, choosing to focus instead on my Ulcerative Colitis.

When I got to go home I was put on a course of steroid tablets that was supposed to decrease slowly every week starting with 8 tablets a day week 1, 7 tablets a day week 2 and so on. The steroids were supposed to decrease the inflammation in my bowels. However as I entered week 4 when I was supposed to be on 5 tablets a day, I was going to the toilet 10+ times a day, mostly with blood & I was feeling weak and faint again. So I eneded up back in hospital. I think this was about the 18th December. I can assure you I was feeling very festive indeed! *sarcasm*

I was in hospital again for another week where the docs and nurses repeated the process of a drip of fluids and painkillers. According to the blood tests they kept doing I was stabilized again. I was still passing loose and bloody stools though, but it wasn't as extreme as it was before. I got to go home on Christmas Eve, which was nice. I've been at home now since then. I just had to try and ignore my stomach and bowel problems. Its been the worst Christmas ever though, I love eating at Christmas, mums a great cook an she always gets great stuff for us, but this year I couldn't enjoy it.

The difference this time when I got discharged from hospital was that I was on 8 steroids a day for two weeks instead of one. I've been on 7 steroids a day now for a couple of days. My Ulcerative Colitis is still quite bad, but its "under control" if you could call it that. I'm not messing myself like i was before hospital. But I'm scared that when I get up to 5 steroids a day again that they'll wear off again like they did the first time.

I'm on SOOO much medication right now. I'll say right now I don't feel 22, I feel 92. I'm on my steroids, theyre called Predisolone, currently on 7 a day, decreasing by one per week. I'm taking Mezavant XL: 4 a day, Omeprazole: 2 a day, Iron Supplement tablets: 3 a day. I was given a few bottles of Gaviscon for my phantom stomach aches and bloody paracetamol too, the most generic painkiller in the world. I have half a mind to go to my doctor's office and start raging. Nothing is working. and I mean NOTHING. It's a joke. My life has been put on hold because I'm so ill. I've never been this poorly before and I've developed a very negative outlook that this is now my normal state, as in I'm never going to feel alright again sad Whatever the Hells happened to me has become permanent. somehow and will not go away.

I went to my doctor's office last week for a check up just to see how I was doing. That turned out to be pointless. The doctor told me that the steroids can give people stomach aches HOW STUPID IS THAT. I'm such a mess. So the steroids can give me stomach aches, but I've been having stomach aches daily since before I was on the bloody steroids. I haven't felt normal now since August, I haven't felt good for 6 months, I have lost half a year of my life. A small upside is that I have been eating almost like normal despite the Colitis and stomach aches. It's all become so normal now that I don't care anymore, I'm just eating and putting up with it because nothing makes me feel better.

7

I have been dealing with the same issues for almost a year and they say stress and ibs. I have done every kind of test there is that I can do. I'm only 31 years old and always been real healthy. Did you find anything to help with the stress or make you feel better?

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Wow Andy I take it back I'm not currently going through what you are. My god it sounds awful, I really do feel for you mate. I hope things start improving for you and soon. There's nothing worse than the unknowing and it sounds like the doctors really don't have a clue what's wrong with you. Have you thought about going private, I know it can cost a small fortune but as I'm sure you will agree health is more important than money. I have got an appointment for endoscopy in next coupl of weeks but my symptoms seem to have eased off slightly last day or two. I know bit early to say and probably jinx it but maybe it's the new medication I'm on. I've stopped taking Lansoprazole as the course finished and I didn't want another course as I'm worried this would mess up my stomach acid balance. I'm still taking Colofac for stomach cramps and now also donperidone to help with the sick feeling and it is suppose to help food pass through quicker. I'm still losing weight but hopefully find out more after camera test.

I really do hope things improve for you mate. Not fair to have to put everything on hold while they figure it out. Keep me informed if you don't mind sharing.

All the best

Terry

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make sure you don't come off ppi's abruptly ie lansoprazole omeprazole etc etc coming off these medication's will put you back in the same state as when you first started taking them!!! coming off ppi's abruptly creates double the acid in the stomach even skipping daily doses could make you sick because of acid backup from the proton pump, taking doses 1 or 2 hours later can also cause problems, wean yourself off ppi's! speak to your doctor about taking smaller doses off ppi's in the morning and a h2 blocker at night ie ranitidine then replace your morning ppi dose with a morning time h2 blocker so you would be taking 2 doses of h2 blocker ranitidine daily this is because h2 blocker acid reduction is not 24 hour effect like lansoprazole and other ppi's, long term ppi usage can cause bone loss, osteoporosis. h2 blockers shouldn't cause these problems "speak to your doctor" also coming off h2 blockers shouldn't create excess acid or as much excess acid as coming off ppi's abruptly "speak to your doctor"

make sure your not being given a placebo which would be putting our health in danger!!! whilst your on ppi's for now take them at the correct time which is 30 to 60 mins before breakfast doing otherwise will reduce lansoprazole's potency by upto 40% typically a 30mg lansoprazole dose 30 mins before breakfast work's best for me although i cheat by ten minutes for me more like 20 minutes before breakfast. cut out orange juice pure or otherwise, tomatoes, black pepper induces acid secretion, you might have problems with gluten and dairy "reduce them and see if your alleviated". i'm going through a bout of suspected gastritis currently dairy bloats and causes nausea until i switched to 1% fat milk although the bloating and nausea have gone down i have a feeling i have a problem with the lactose which there is slightly more of in 1% fat milk. have to go sorry. just one more thing me personally for myself find these experiences G-d puts us through as lessons to be grateful to G-d and remain grateful to G-d, us humans can easily forget the blessings upon us ie enjoying a nice meal without feeling sick or discomfort, i have a feeling some humans not been shown to be grateful would burp off after a meal without any recognition orf G-d's mercy. after suffering from trapped wind through life i have definitely reminded myself to thank G-d after every burp for the relief! don't get me me wrong i'm definitely no saint

but i try to remember to be grateful through reminders. good luck. turn to G-d.

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tea and coffee don't have any calories or nutrients but cause acidity in the body and relax the pyloric sphincter causing acid back flow into esophagus, me personally i used to drink tea but when i cut it out my acid reduced by upto 20% and every bit helps.

you said a diet eliminating wheat and dairy would be almost impossible but if you replaced a portion or 2 of wheat for potatoes that would still help a lot! if most of your daily complex carbs come from wheat you will get excessive acidity also in the lower gut. i dreaded boiling a potato a day but it's not hard or time consuming ie boil a sliced 200 gram potato "skin intact for fibre" in 10 to 12 mins, this 200 gram potato should replace wheat equivalent of 2 slices of thick bread. definitely do 1 times 200 gram portion daily but and keep a daily limit of 2 times 200 gram portions daily max well it's kinda working for me. obviously the potato should be part of a balanced meal of carbs, protein and a little fat me personally i used to give a good spray of mayo around 15 grams before the gastritis, i find mayo not too acidic compared to other fats.

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Thanks for the replies and stuff. I'm not on Lansoprazole I'm on Omeprazole. I'm on two of those a day, one in the morning and one in the evening. I've been taking them AFTER meals because that's how I was given them by my nurses in Hospital & that's how I was directed to take them.

I'm still struggling with stomach aches every day. These Omeprazole PPI's don't seem to help me out a damn bit. What's really pissing me off is the fact that I'm also on steroid treatment for my Ulcerative Colitis & apparently steroid treatment can give stomach aches. I'm taking Prednisone & I've overall been on it now for 8 weeks, I'm currently on 6 tablets a day with food, & I'm slowly going down by one every week, (next week starting Wed i'll be on 5 tablets a day)

Some good news is that my Ulcerative Colitis seems to be very gradually calming down after 4 months of a bad flare up. I've stopped passing blood into the toilet & my cramping has subsided significantly in these last few weeks. I've also put some weight back on. It's likely that its just because of the steroid treatment, but it's still a good thing right? I've been eating like my old self again, albeit a little healthier. I just mean I've been eating AS MUCH as my old self.

So what's really my only BIG problem these days is my constant stomach ache that I'm getting every day. The last time I went to see my doctor, he said that he thinks my stomach aches are because of my Ulcerative Colitis... I'm not a doctor, but I was always told that Colitis ONLY affects the large intestine and rectum and nothing else further up. I've been a little worried that maybe I actually have Crohn's but my doctors don't think that's the case.

I've been told time and again that my stomach ache isn't an ulcer and one doctor when I was in hospital told me that the likelyhood that I have stomach cancer is pretty much impossible, his words were something like, "if you had a malignancy in your stomach for 4 months, you would be in pretty bad shape right now, probably dead". The last doctor I saw which was a couple of weeks ago told me that once my Colitis calms down completely and when I'm off the steroids then my stomach aches will stop too, but that honestly felt like a bit of bedside manner.

To be quite honest I'm at a complete loss as to why my stomach has been broken since September. I've not felt nauseous for a long while now, I'm talking November time now. My stomach just ...hurts. Right under my breastbone a dull ache. It doesn't have me keeling over and it doesn't make me feel sick. I haven't been vomiting. It's very vague, but constant. There are some days/evenings where it seems to not be so bad, almost not there, but it always comes back.

I've got an appointment with a Gastro specialist at my local hospital on the 28th of this month. I think I've got a full hour with the guy & this is the dude who was monitoring me when I was in hospital just before Christmas, so he's someone who knows what's going on with me which is good. I'm gonna have a list of questions as long as my arm when I go see him. I think this doc's gonna decide what to do with me at that point, wether to get me a Colonoscopy or a Gastroscopy (or both for goodness sake.) I'm hoping that my bowels just keep on improving over these next 11 days so much so that he won't find it necassary to get me a Colonoscopy, but whatever I suppose, I've had 2 before, 3rd times a charm and all that right?

I'm going to really push him to give me some solid answers about my stomach though. Because all my doctors and nurses and consultants and GP's have focused ALL their attention on my Colitis over the last 5 months, and my stomach aches have been left on the sidelines, when to be honest that's what's giving me the most grief. I can deal with my Colitis to a point, I've been dealing with it for 4 years, but I've never had a stomach ache that's lasted me 5 months.

By the way, I have experienced coming off PPI's suddenly. When I was first ever given them in September I was on Lansoprazole 1 a day half an hour before breakfast like what you said. And I took them for the whole month of September. After that time I think my stomach felt a little better but for about 3 solid days I had the worst heartburn I've ever had, but I just chugged a load of Gaviscon and it went away. So I'll definately make sure that I ask about slowly tapering off any of my medicines.

I've not been given any H2 blockers, do you think they might help with my stomach aches more than the Omperazole since that doesn't seem to help..?

As far as my diet goes, I was told my my doctors that diet doesn't really affect Ulcerative Colitis, & that I should just try to have a healthy balanced diet like any doctor will tell anyone. However I have shuffled things a little for myself. I have cut down on fibre, as in none at all, and I've stopped having so much pasta, I normally eat quite a lot of it. I never drink tea or coffee, & I haven't had an alcoholic drink since 2011, so I didn't really have that to worry about. But despite all this nothing seems to relieve my stomach aches, so I'm not sure that there's a point in experimenting with what I'm eating.

I know my posts are always quite lengthy but I really appreciate the people who end up reading this crap & responding to it. It;s nice to know that there are nice people out there who have have similar experiences to me, so thanks again.

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good job i come back to edit my post otherwise i'd not have seen your reply seen as i don't think i got any email alerts but maybe you need to log into patient.info to retrieve replies, although i haven't thoroughly checked my email's either i still doubt i would have seen any replies. anyway the reason i came back is ive gave you some serious misinformation regarding eating potatoes including potato skins infact i could be misrepresenting my symptoms as gastritis or maybe ive got gastritis induced by eating potato skins with potato! my symptoms started over a month ago nausea, lack of appetite pain in between the middle breastbone area especially when lying down even 5 hours 30 minutes after final meal but 6 weeks or longer ago i remember also getting crampy stomach and lose stools not diarrhoea but almost! now regarding potatoes, potato juice or potato without skin is actually used in the treatment of peptic ulcers as i read and found out last night! but the potato skins which contain most of the fibre and even more of all the minerals and vitamins that are found in the potato flesh but still potato skins contain toxic poisonous glycoalkaloids like solanine, In potatoes 30–80% of the solanine develops in and close to the skin i think the solanine started gastritis off for me or i misdiagnosed my symptoms because solanine poisoning has the exact same symptoms ie, nausea, cramps, diarrhoea etc etc also because i didn't know what i know now ie potatoes exposed to sunlight "cause green in potato skins" or potatoes growing shoots because of emplacement in complete darkness both double triple or create even more solanine in potatoes, 6 weeks ago when i went crampy! i eat a green skinned potato including skin which set of a long chain of events! yesterday and today i peeled my potato well and got good results even within 2 days and instantly infact! nausea has decreased, wind which increases gastritis symptoms has decreased as well as annoying stomach acid and back flow of undigested food "probably potato skin fibre" i think i still have gastritis but hopefully "G-d willing" it will go much faster, ive read of many cases in the past fortnight of people with gastritis lasting 6 months plus "G-d forbid". back to fibre i have concerns i could end up a little constipated! if so i would definitely look for another source of fibre ie possibly and rarely french cut green beans which actually promoted alkalinity in my stomach when i tried them a couple of days ago but too early to tell and ive ditched them until gastritis ends because excess fibre and gastritis definitely don't mix, you need to research insoluble and soluble fibre especially with your condition, research leaky gut! which affects intestines, read up on healing foods for your conditions. i disagree with your doctor regarding free food consumption! many would also disagree! my belief would be along the lines of moderation in all foods! a good balance of foods. many will also agree to eliminate trigger foods trust me most people have them! ie citrus fruits especially oranges, tomatoes, coffee, tea, dairy, gluten etc etc, now i can tolerate gluten and dairy in moderation if i replaced my potatoes with wheat which would mean all my complex carbs would come from wheat, i would get increased stomach acid, breathing difficulty from acid backflow into lungs, increased acne, but moderation and decreased wheat gluten has helped reduce symptoms for me. i have a feeling you could be getting too many complex carbs especially from wheat which is one of the main ignored causes of acid reflux problems. sounds like your on the path to healing "G-d willing" i think decreasing fibre possibly helped you but like i said research insoluble and soluble fibre both have different important roles and some fibre is needed to prevent problems but realise fibre is hard to digest for that reason the stomach generates more stomach acid to break it down and i just remembered too much fibre creates more lower intestinal acid which would inevitably cause your symptoms infact i think that's your main problem excess fibre inducing lower intestinal acid and irritation! research on it, the excess acid might be passing easier into your intestines because fibre would become a spongy conduit for acid!!! there's definitely a connection between fibre and lower intestinal acid increase!!! i just read about it the other day. good luck and get well soon no need to reply i wont be back here infact i only created an account to reply on this issue. it's a shame someone who doesn't drink or smoke should have to go through such an ordeal get well soon fella and try some patient faith in the one G-d creator of all things.

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Hi Andy my name is Oscar im 17 years old and I have read everything you have wrote and I am also going through the similar thing you are going through I have had stomach pain and ache and none of my medication of Omeprazole and Ranitidine seem to work. I have had this pain for 7 weeks now and it does not go away, its been really hard and frustrating for me since I do sports such as Cross Country, Soccer, and Track & Field I have had to avoid running I been trying to run but I just cant run as I used to because the pain comes in when I start running or working out. I also get hungry a lot especially when im in school, the pain gets worse if I do not eat the only way to stop the stomach pain is by eating but then it comes back after. I have been to the doctor and hospital so many times but they tell me the same thing everytime that its stress gastritis inflamation in my stomach. I have been tested blood tests, CT scan, and tested for pylori but it appeared I had nothing at all. I have been demanding the doctor for a endoscopy which is also a gastroscopy and she has told me I have to take omeprazole and rantitidine and if does not work she will prescribe me new medication. I have took so much medication anti-acids nothing seems to work my doctor has been strict not wanting to send me to a gastro specialist to do me a endoscopy because she says its stress. I have been demanding for to get referred to get send to specialist and she finally did me a referral which will take about two weeks to arrive. I wanted to know Andy how did your appointment go with the specialist? Did you get a gastroscopy? Did they find anything? Were you given new medication? How are you feeling now? If you dont mind sharing. Thanks.

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Hi Andy, very sorry to hear all the pain and discomfort you're in. I am like you with similar symptoms and went on the same journey. May I suggest you look at alternative medicines to ease your symptoms. I have been prescribed PPI's and they had a REALLY bad effect on me! I then turned to natural medicines and I have to be honest when I say they are working. Research Mastic Gum and look at the benefits. Also look at probiotics. I have changed my diet radically and eat cabbage, broccoli, sprouts etc. I realise these types of vegetables cause bloating but after a week my stomach has accepted them and the wind and bloating has subsided. I have 2 probiotics a day, 1 in the morning and one before bed. This has helped ALOT. My symptoms which were similar to yours have now gone. Also look up the benefits of bananas. All the food I have mentioned are good for gastritis and colitis. I hope this may assist. Good luck.

15

Hi Andy

I am 22 years old. I started the symptoms you described about three years ago - after being on a antibiotic called roacutane - I repeatedly went for tests and and to the doctors but they just said you have gastritis and that's it. They then said it may be an intolerance to wheat. So I cut this out my diet.. Six months later I felt no better I was feeling lethargic, depressed, bad ance, constantly burping, bloatedness...etc.

two months ago I went to my friend who has a bio residence machine, she hooked me up to this and as I suspected the machine said I did not have a wheat intolerance. It said I had no good bacteria in my gut, and it said I had bacteria called HPYLORI, a small stomach ulcer and LEAKY GUT/DYSBIOSIS.

If you have the above symptoms then I recommend finding someone who has a bio residence machine. It tells you what you lack and what you need.

In my case I need to remove the bad bacteria - hpylori and then put in the good bacteria.

Swedish bitters remove bacteria from your gut, and then probiotics - I take 120billion organisms a day - help to put the good bacteria in your gut.

I went 2 months with no sugar and coffee or processed food and this helped and last week for two days I felt normal but I was stupid and thought I was better and ate loads of sugar and coffee.. Unfortunately I'm back to square one again now.. Feeling seriously lethargic, STARVING all the time but as soon as I eat I feel sick.

Today I got more supplements... Probiotics and glutamine and leafy elm.

I am going to go to a nutionalist too to see if they can recommend anything.

DO NOT take any of the crap the doctors give you it just has chemicals in which will only mask the problem. You need to get to the root cause, which to me sounds like hpylori bacteria which if not treated WILL lead to a stomach ulcer like me and to leaky gut.

I'm not a doctor but I know the hell your going through cause I feel the same, it's sick and tiring and unfair and I strongly suggest you go on a bio residence machine as the NHS WONT recognise leakygut / hpylori / dysbiosis so head ups.

Oh and endoscope is the worst thing ever I wouldn't recommend it to am enemy- if you have to have it make sure they put you to sleep!!

Good luck smile update me

Meg

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I hate to add to the sob story but I have also been suffering

Exactly the same symptoms. Bad burps that if I dont get out can lead to being unable to breath correctly.

feeling of being lethargic, worn out and generally in bad shape.

Can I ask did anyone get it from going on holiday? Me and 6 mates went to Grand Caneria, I got it the worst but 2 of my other mates also have whatever it is.

I have had blood tests including for HPYLORI which came back fine. Ultrasound fine, Stool test fine. Is it worth now doing a camera down my throat and a allergy test. I have been on lanzoprazel for 3 months like you guys, it gives me relief but im still not the same as I was before.

Im feeling like it would be more use asking my nan to get out her medical dictionary and diagnose me than go back to the doctors again, im down there more than my best friends lol.

I cant eat pizza, bread or drink anymore. Have cut gluten out my diet 2 weeks ago to no avail.

I have had a few nights out drinking but have not been able to get out of bed for 3 days after. Im 31 and a little at my witts end,

Oh It first came on with a week of intense roughness, I was on holiday and after day 2 I was in bed. trying to throw up but nothing coming out, burping continually, exhaustion. Now the burping is less frequent but seems to linger longer, Its almost as if its lodged half way up my throat. Its been 6 months and would try anything to get rid of it

17

Hi Kelty,

It wasn't after a trip I suffered this but after a Christmas party! Not a great deal of drinking but enough to make you feel a little rough the next morning.

I am only just starting to feel better. It’s taken a complete change of diet cut out alcohol :o( and no bread at all. Like you I can’t eat pizza or any tomato based products as it makes me want to throw up.

My body feels constantly tired and this is not like me at all. I have had to stop the PPI's and this took about 2 - 3 weeks to get out of my system. It appears according to the tests I have had I do not have H Pylori so I have no idea what’s caused my issues.

I also have to admit the whole experience has really left me shaken almost with anxiety, something that I have never had in the past. Also has left me with headaches and spells of light headedness and dizzy. A very strange and unnerving feeling.

You may want to do some research around gastritis and have a look at some of the super foods which can assist. Try drinking water, add good leafy greens to your diet and look up the benefits of mastic gum.

I hope that helps and I wish you well.

18

I didn't think about giving up tomatoes that might not be a bad idea.

I've been watching the walking dead and I think it's happening (just kidding),

What kind of super foods would you recommend.

I know alcohols deff of the diet for a while

19

Hey everybody, me again

I didn't ever think this post would ever get such a response, I really do appreciate everybodys input and support much love to u all smile

Anyway, BIG update

It's been about a week now since I finished my steroid treatment for my Colitis flare up, but my bowel movements have been nice and normal now since mid February *SO HAPPY* :D

I had my Endoscopy and Colonoscopy done about 4 weeks ago, my Colonoscopy revealed a Total Pancolitis, which means that my whole large intestine had been inflamed, the biopsies confirmed that I DO have Colitis not Crohn's (something I was panicking about)

Having the two procedures straight after each other at 8:30am wasn't fun. The prep was typically the worst part, like always. The Endoscopy restricted me from eating pretty much all the day beforehand & I had to down the bowel prep drink for the Colonoscopy ...BLEEUURGH!!! haha, it wasn't that bad actually. You know what they say, "3rd times a charm" I tolerated the bowel prep a Hell of a lot better this time, I actually finished it & didn't gag, like at all, I was really surprised & proud with myself smile

Anyway I didnt really handle the Endoscopy well, the throat numbing spray didn't seem to do the trick I thought. I was given a pretty high dose of the sedation through my hand & I felt pretty drunk after about 10 seconds which was cool, but the feeling didn't last long. Once the camera was in there I for some reason was unable to stop swallowing sad I couldn't really feel anything but the whole situation was really quite unpleasant. The nurses looking after me were really really nice, they could tell how nervous I was.

I felt like the camera was stuck in my throat when actually, I learned later on that they did get to my stomach. At one point the nice nurse sitting by my head said to me "If you want us to stop sweetheart just raise your hand" & without thinking I did so. If I had known that the camera was all the way into my stomach I would have been a bit braver & let them finish sad oh well hindsight is a great thing.

Anyhow I had to do a barium meal swallow to make up for the failed endoscope test, which got arranged for me just 4 days after the scopes, the quickest the NHS have ever been for me haha. The cup of Barium was ok, I think bowel prep has desensitized me to horrible drinks. The barium tasted like milky, chalky... something I don't know. The guys who performed the whole thing were pretty cool, they were pleasantly chatty with me. I got given a plastic shotglass which I described to my dad as "extreme lemonade" which was to slightly distend my stomach, it made me really gassy but I had to try & refrain from burping lol. I haven't actually heard back from the x-ray dudes & its been almost 3 weeks, so I'm assuming everything was ok...?

My symptoms have cleared up, I'm so very happy smile H. Pylori WAS found in my stool samples, I'm starting a 1 week course of triple therapy next week. Even though my stomach ache that lasted 5 months is now gone, my doctor still wants me to have the treatment to kill the bacteria, I can't wait to kill the little b*stard. I've also been referred for an abdominal ultrasound scan on the 14th of this month. I think at this point it's just for good measure.

In regards to my Ulcerative Colitis, I have enjoyed nice solid bowel movements for about 3 weeks now. I apologize for being graphic but hey this is a medical forum for abdominal issues smile The only bump in the road was this morning when I had to suddenly go for a poo that was very soft, but I put that down to the fact that it was pancake day yesterday haha (the price I pay for indulging myself I think)

I'm seeing my gastro specialist again this friday. Hopefully the last time for a while. I'll be able to ask him about the barium results & the treatment for H.Pylori. I think I'm gonna have to have some blood taken as well (I rekon doctors at my hospital are secretly in league with a vampire cult, they seem to take 3/4 blood samples off you at the drop of a hat haha)

20

Glad to know things are looking up andy. The worst parts not knowing as they can't treat. Hopefully soon u be fit as a fiddle.

I just had my h.pylori tests back and they were all fine. I definitely don't feel fine tho. The dr was about as much help as a condom with a hole in it and had to Fight to get referred to the gastro people. Redid my bloods, they were all fine, my white blood cells came back border line but the dr, said that was normal.

Have started mastic, been on it 4 days and still on a Ppi. Still not making me feel much better tho.

Just want to return to a normal healthy life tbh but doesn't look like that while the NHS fart about.