Dealing with something like long-term gastritis?
May 29, 2022 7:52 PM Subscribe
I’ve always had a sensitive stomach but recently it’s gotten a lot worse. Basically looking for some feedback and / or inspirational tales of gastritis that went away :’(
As above, my stomach has always been pretty sensitive. After a couple years of various treatments for my GERD type symptoms, I found myself well enough to eat pretty much anything, including coffee and alcohol. This was fine for years with very minor symptoms of any kind.
About two months ago, I started getting terrible acid reflux that would create a throbbing sensation in my gut and give me a headache basically every day. I realized it was probably related to diet and switched my coffee to green tea, but that still wasn’t gentle enough, so I cut all caffeine and alcohol. After a couple weeks the reflux was still going on so I started taking Nexium (20mg), which I hadn’t taken for years. This made the throbbing go away and quieted the headache, but I still had a feeling of head pressure and a “fist”-like feeling in my gut (under the sternum and sometimes under the left ribs).
It’s been about 6 weeks on the PPI and my stomach is still very sensitive. I still have the head pressure & dizziness. I tried a coffee drink the other day— just a sip, for the first time since this started, and had an acid attack all day. (I won’t be doing it again.) This is honestly just starting to really depress and scare me. I have a GI appointment in a week from now. I can tell there is a feedback loop of anxiety / stomach problems and my anxiety is through the ROOF. My doctor told me I could try a low dose Zoloft for anxiety, but from what I can tell that is quite rough on the stomach.
Anyway, I don’t know what this is. I’ve read some gastritis forums around the web and most people seem to have different symptoms from me— triggered by foods, which mine doesn’t seem to be (mostly caffeine & alcohol). Also, there’s a lot of bad advice floating around about special supplements, rejecting western medicine, etc. that is effing with my head.
Basically, if you had something like this did you get a diagnosis? And did it ever go away? I’be been really struggling to keep up at work and maintain a social life, spend time with family etc. because I feel like such trash all the time.
As above, my stomach has always been pretty sensitive. After a couple years of various treatments for my GERD type symptoms, I found myself well enough to eat pretty much anything, including coffee and alcohol. This was fine for years with very minor symptoms of any kind.
About two months ago, I started getting terrible acid reflux that would create a throbbing sensation in my gut and give me a headache basically every day. I realized it was probably related to diet and switched my coffee to green tea, but that still wasn’t gentle enough, so I cut all caffeine and alcohol. After a couple weeks the reflux was still going on so I started taking Nexium (20mg), which I hadn’t taken for years. This made the throbbing go away and quieted the headache, but I still had a feeling of head pressure and a “fist”-like feeling in my gut (under the sternum and sometimes under the left ribs).
It’s been about 6 weeks on the PPI and my stomach is still very sensitive. I still have the head pressure & dizziness. I tried a coffee drink the other day— just a sip, for the first time since this started, and had an acid attack all day. (I won’t be doing it again.) This is honestly just starting to really depress and scare me. I have a GI appointment in a week from now. I can tell there is a feedback loop of anxiety / stomach problems and my anxiety is through the ROOF. My doctor told me I could try a low dose Zoloft for anxiety, but from what I can tell that is quite rough on the stomach.
Anyway, I don’t know what this is. I’ve read some gastritis forums around the web and most people seem to have different symptoms from me— triggered by foods, which mine doesn’t seem to be (mostly caffeine & alcohol). Also, there’s a lot of bad advice floating around about special supplements, rejecting western medicine, etc. that is effing with my head.
Basically, if you had something like this did you get a diagnosis? And did it ever go away? I’be been really struggling to keep up at work and maintain a social life, spend time with family etc. because I feel like such trash all the time.
Best answer: I had this, it got worse, to the point where I was hospitalized, then sent home with powerful antibotics... which made me feel only a little bit better. Eventually saw a gastroenterologist, who discovered I had (very unusually) an undiagnosed parasitic infection, got me on a very strong dose of appropriate meds, and slowly cleared up the whole thing. Took roughly a year to sort out.
This is basically what GIs are for, you're headed to the right place, even if whatever the trigger is might take time and energy to fix. You will eventually be alright, just hang in there.
posted by StrikeTheViol at 8:21 PM on May 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
This is basically what GIs are for, you're headed to the right place, even if whatever the trigger is might take time and energy to fix. You will eventually be alright, just hang in there.
posted by StrikeTheViol at 8:21 PM on May 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
Best answer: When I worked for a major manufacturer for two years I had increasingly bad gastritis. Doctor suspected ulcer and did tests; everything looked normal. Had a prescription for antacids and did not get much relief. Then I quit that job. The gastritis went away immediately. I concluded that the stress of working with toxic coworkers was the cause.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 10:19 PM on May 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by a humble nudibranch at 10:19 PM on May 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
I don't have any answers for you, but just my own experience.
I have gastritis. Went through all the tests and scopes. Seems that in my case gastritis is caused by anxiety.
Being on anti anxiety meds helps. But what also helped is therapy. I was having that "second arrow" problem.
It's a (I think Buddhist?) idea that unexpected problems in life are like arrows, and our anxiety and upset at the pain of the first arrow, is like a second arrow.
You can't do anything about that first arrow, but you can avoid the second arrow of self inflicted fear and anxiety.
Therapy helped me with that.
Good luck, and I am sorry you're having to deal with this. It really sucks.
posted by Zumbador at 10:45 PM on May 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
I have gastritis. Went through all the tests and scopes. Seems that in my case gastritis is caused by anxiety.
Being on anti anxiety meds helps. But what also helped is therapy. I was having that "second arrow" problem.
It's a (I think Buddhist?) idea that unexpected problems in life are like arrows, and our anxiety and upset at the pain of the first arrow, is like a second arrow.
You can't do anything about that first arrow, but you can avoid the second arrow of self inflicted fear and anxiety.
Therapy helped me with that.
Good luck, and I am sorry you're having to deal with this. It really sucks.
posted by Zumbador at 10:45 PM on May 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
Supposedly the square stemed spices, mints, oregano, thyme can cause reflux. Mint is taken to relax the stomach sphincters so people can belch, traditionally. You can have marinara if it is garlic and basil. Sometimes you need a magic bullet, 1/2 cup of vanilla soy milk is that, for me. When you brush your teeth or use mouthwash, be scrupulous about washing it all back out of your mouth. Use yogurt and other probiotic foods to keep up your good gut bacteria. If you had a run of antibiotics and then this set up, find broad spectrum probiotic to help you rebuild your good gut bacteria.
Your spleen is on the left, about where you are describing discomfort. ( The left.) On your right, is the gallbladder, that will cause you discomfort ~4 hours after eating a fatty meal if you have gallstones. Don't eat close to bedtime. If you do, take 1/2 cup of vanilla soy milk on top of it, but stay up, and walking around long enough to get the bubbles out of your stomach. Sleeping on your left side, at least as you start to sleep, is better for keeping your pyloric valve, (where reflux burns,) free from backwash, and more able to release air, without also releasing stomach acids. Do not take iron at night, that irritates the stomach. If your multi vitamin has iron, take it at lunch , instead. If you use an asthma inhaler, they are designed to relax the bronchii, they will also relax the pyloric valve if you do not take time to rinse out your mouth and throat totally, after using them, rinse and spit, do not swallow. This is why people often have to take proton pump inhibitors, (that inhibit stomach acid production,) along with asthma meds.
posted by Oyéah at 10:41 AM on May 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
Your spleen is on the left, about where you are describing discomfort. ( The left.) On your right, is the gallbladder, that will cause you discomfort ~4 hours after eating a fatty meal if you have gallstones. Don't eat close to bedtime. If you do, take 1/2 cup of vanilla soy milk on top of it, but stay up, and walking around long enough to get the bubbles out of your stomach. Sleeping on your left side, at least as you start to sleep, is better for keeping your pyloric valve, (where reflux burns,) free from backwash, and more able to release air, without also releasing stomach acids. Do not take iron at night, that irritates the stomach. If your multi vitamin has iron, take it at lunch , instead. If you use an asthma inhaler, they are designed to relax the bronchii, they will also relax the pyloric valve if you do not take time to rinse out your mouth and throat totally, after using them, rinse and spit, do not swallow. This is why people often have to take proton pump inhibitors, (that inhibit stomach acid production,) along with asthma meds.
posted by Oyéah at 10:41 AM on May 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
Check out “The Acid Watcher’s Diet” book. I’ve recommended it to countless patients and many have found the info in it indispensable. Also, consider an H. Pylori test to r/o the bacteria that causes ulcers. The GI appt is the right move.
posted by Fritzle at 7:46 PM on May 31, 2022
posted by Fritzle at 7:46 PM on May 31, 2022
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posted by Bottlecap at 7:57 PM on May 29, 2022 [1 favorite]