Gastritis and being unable to eat- is this normal?

Hi Mimichacha,

I have exactly the same symptoms as you and as Emily.  I’ve also lost a lot of weight and find it hard to eat even the smallest amount.  I’ve just started with otc Nexium Control 20mg. (I know there is also another Nexium which need some prescription).   Is that what you are taking ?  And how long did it take until it helped ? How many days/weeks?  Did it also help against the nausea and feeling of weakness?  

I really hope all of us get over this soon so we can get our life back.  

Hi LCat, i have gastritis but i have no problem eating but my stomach is usually bloated at the top , and i get this pains in upper back. It feels like gas pains. Do you ever experience this?

Hi Mary

yes I do get that every day ... ...and nausea and debilitating feeling of weakness.  We’re you always able to eat since your gastritis started ?  Do you have times during the day when you feel better ?  Do you take any PPIs or other meds ?

Hi LCat i was diagnoised with gastritis a year ago. I am also going through perimenopause so this is when it came on. I lost over 30 lbs.I managed to gain 6 lbs back. For the past few months i have managed to get it under control until recently. So o dont know if the symptoms are actually coming from my hormones or what or even both. I have no problem eating, i just have to watch what i eat. If i eat the wrong thing i will definately pay for it the later. I am basically feeling some sort of symptoms almost all day and daily. Like i said im experiencing menopause too. I am constantly bloated and pain moving around in my uppet back, and sometimes passing gas and sometimes i cant. Its no fun! Im not taking any ppi , only treating with diet and natural supplements. How long have you been dealing with this?

You can get digestive trouble with the perimenopause.

Hi Pippa58442 have you experienced this with perimenopause? The digestive symptom is awful, it just wont let up.

Hi LCat, since my last post, my GP had my endoscopy results and told me I had chronic active gastritis. That’s why causes the abdominal pain, nausea, loss of appetite etc. I’m on prescription Nexium 40mg per day and my stomach has settled, it’s been 4 days on these so far but I find I feel a bit light headed. I’m seeing my gastroenterologist next week and he will go through my biopsies in more detail. I’m also seeing a dietitian to help with my diet whilst my stomach lining heals.  I’ve started eating very plain foods, small portions around 6 times a day to try and increase my strength. I’ve also started a daily probiotic. I’m certainly not there yet but hopeful after doing some research on gastritis, causes and remedies etc. Good luck and let’s keep in touch here to share our story and recovery and what works and what doesn’t. 

Ill post again gain after I see my gastroenterologist. 

Hi Mary.. exactly like you I lost 30 lbs. Therefore I guess initially you also weren’t able to eat(?). How did you temporarily get this under control? What diet do you do?  I am on  ‘low FODMAP’ diet (as my Consultant wanted me to do) but I can eat tiny amounts only anyhow.  I found so much contradicting information on the Internet and don’t like It.  Like you I don’t like PPIs or any drugs unless there is no choice.  I just started with the otc PPI (my GP plus Consultant constantly saying would help) only because I’m desperate.  My gastritis problems started in October 2017 after food at a Festival ....and after a nasty influenza in January it got so much worse.  How long do you think until we will recover ... do you think ??  We will we will we will recover ....

I’m not in perimenopause yet but I read up on the symptoms and there are around 60.  Digestive problems can be one of them

Hi Mimichacha, I am happy for you that you that your stomach has settled.  It seems that the PPI helped.  There were so many scare stories about PPIs in the media in 2017 and so many people in forums make negative remarks (PPIs didn’t help etc) .... which I found confusing and not encouraging.  So it was good to hear your recent experience.  How did you find your dietician? Is she/he specialised in functional gut    There are so many contradicting views re diets :  no lactose, no gluten, lots of fibre, low fibre, no fibre, no fat, paleo, no fructose, no foods which are fermenting, prebiotics (which ARE fermenting), probiotics, no probiotics, no sugar, no artificial sweeteners, no additives, herbal teas, no herbal teas, only alcaline water and alcaline food etc etc.  In the end : there’s nothing you can eat.   That’s why I haven’t yet looked for a dietician.  I guess you’re also located in the  UK?  My GI Consultant’s advice is PPIs, Probiotics and the Low FODMAP diet.  Which Probiotics did you start?  Did they agree with you instantly?  How long have you been taking them?    You’re right. It’s so important to get your strength back.  

HI LCat, my way of getting it under control was really through my diet . I also had anxiety really bad with it but then I found out that the PPI was causing it to worsen and making me weaker. So now i wont touch ppi because it makes me feel worse. But once i stopped it and changed my diet by only eating steamed veggies, aloe vera, and drinking lots of water i eventually got better i gradually started to add other foods but only alkaline foods such as salmon and organic chicken. To this day, my diet is still like this. I drink green smoothie which i juice, and follow a diet for my gastritis and perimenopause. I dont have any burning in my stomach at all like when it first started, i was not even able to drink water for a while. The only symptoms now are the bloating, burping , and the ill feel if i eat something my tummy doesnt like . I also gets like stomach palpitation ..which im still trying to figure that one out. My doctor has me taking fish oil for the inflammation. Oh may i add that if you have anxiety with it, the anxiety has to be treated so you can eat better. As long as my anxiety was skyrocketed i could not gain weight even though my stomach was better.

Hi LCat, 

I hear you, so much conflicting information on the internet. The scare stories around PPI’s seem to be around long term use, my Dr’s also confirmed this. They only expect that I’ll be on my PPI for either the 4/8 week period. I intend to do everything I can in order to heal my stomach via diet and supplements. The probiotic I take is called Natures Way, I’m in Australia so you may not have that brand in the UK. I take one every day and no issues. I also eats lots of natural yoghurt and started drinking camomile tea. I’m keeping my meals simple and bland until I see my dietitian this Thursday. I’ve also ordered some bone broth to try as that has gut healing properties also. I’ve read up on the FODMAP diet, it seems more for IBS but I’ll see what my dietitian has to say. My gastroenterologist advised a diet high in probiotic foods and PPI’s, didn’t mention the FODMAP. 

Ill post again later in the week. 

Hi Mimichacha, I’ve still not found the ideal PPI to calm down my stomach.   I wanted Nexium (Esomeprazole) but was given a cheap Generic Esomeprazole.  I first thought oh that’s ok but it wasn’t ... it caused hell for 3 days for me.  I noticed that the inactive ingredients +delivery mechanism were very different.   I then was told by my chemist : you can buy the branded Nexium OTC.   I bought ‘Nexium Control’ 20mg (but that also was sort of like an Nexium OTC Generic.... crazy....) tried for 3 days.  It didn’t cause hell but didn’t help either.  Should I have doubled the dose?   I was then told ‘you can’t get branded Nexium in UK even if you want to pay’ (nobody sells it as it’s so expensive). Now  I don’t know what to do.  We can buy Natures Way in the UK.  I wanted to first sort out the choice of PPI before starting with a probiotic in order to analyse what works.   My Consultant mentioned VSL3, Symprove or Alflorex .  Did you start PPI and Probiotic at the same time?  I’m also puzzled why I’m supposed to do the famous Australian FODMAP diet even though I have chronic gastritis.  It seems that London GI Consultants think that FODMAP is always good anyhow  (maybe because a low fermenting environment is desirable). It’s also the view that Probiotics are good anyhow.  GI seems not an exact science ( hard for me to accept coming from a science background).  There are 500 different bacteria strains in our microbiota.  How do we know exactly which ones we need to top up ?  I know I need to calm down and accept a ‘trial and error’ or ‘hit or miss’ approach.  How did you find out which dietician to choose = specialised in GI ?  I’m also eating lots of joghourt and milk ... as, at least, I can eat/drink those 2 items.  Many people are against dairy .... for me it’s a way to survive...

Hi Mimichacha, how did you choose your dietician?  How did you know whether she/he is specialised in GI issues which is a sub specialty.  Yes we can buy Natures Way in the UK as well.  Did you start your PPIs at the same time as your Probiotics ?  I’ve not yet started the Probiotics as I wanted to see what works etc.  I know FODMAP is for IBS and I have chronic Gastritis.  I guess the Consultants think it’s good anyhow ... maybe because it creating a low fermenting environment.  I also eat lots of joghourt and milk ... the only thing I can get down.

Hi Mary, my GP as well as my GI Consultant believe that I should try the PPI route.  I just haven’t yet found the PPI that works for me as well as the dosage of the respective PPIs. It’s hard work and seems ‘trial and error’.  My stomach is such in a bad state and I guess diet alone won’t be enough.  When your stomach is very bad .... that probably would make anybody feel anxious.  I just wait until my stomach is 10% better ... then the anxiety will be lower.  It’s all connected to the physical pain.  When I can’t eat it’s just my stomach hurting when anything gets down.  It’s caused physically due to my chronic gastritis.  Gastritis seems to take an awful long time to resolve and needs a lot of patience.

Hi LCat, 

I found my dietitian by searching the web for local ones. This one specialised in gut health, they will generally say that in their qualifications. I saw her today and I have a list of what to eat and so forth. I also have to take 2x doses of antibiotics as my gastritis was caused by Helicobacter Pylori, a bacteria which lives in our stomach. My gastroenterologist said I should be clear after that but whilst that is working, just to mind my diet. The dietitian said any daily probiotic would do. I also started drinking bone broth which has great gut healing properties which the dietitian recommended. It tastes very unpleasant but I don’t care. 

Hi Mimichacha,

Good that they identified what caused your problem = Helicobacter Pylori.  That means it can be treated.  Good ! I also had H. Pylori -  at least for 3 years (or longer?) without knowing -  I was just very very ill for 3 years with all sorts of suspected scary diagnoses.  After 3 years I insisted that something must be wrong with my stomach.  An Endoscopy was done and a strong H Pylori infection found as well as gastric ulcers and gastritis. This and other tests showed no other nasty things.  Like you I had the Triple Eradication Therapy.   It worked and after 2 months, 2nd Endoscopy I was told I’m Helicobacter negative.  

Hi again Mimichacha, regarding diet : 

I also did some research into dieticians trying to make sure they’re registered etc.  It seems that you’re in better shape than myself as you’re able to sort of eat.  I can only drink half fat milk (I drink lots of it as I’m desperately forcing myself to get anything down) and eat one type of Yoghourt ( not probiotic ) and some tiny amount of boiled veg (not much).  Did your PPI help you against nausea and enable you to get a tiny bit of appetite back?  I’m still struggling with the help of GP to find a PPI for myself that works and doesn’t make me feel worse.  That’s why I was so happy to read that your PPI worked for you (it’s encouraging to read positive results).  I’ve been given today by my GP a 3rd PPI which is dispersible, a Generic Lansoprazole which I will start tomorrow.   See how I will feel in 5 days or so.  Are you taking your Antibiotics for 1 or 2 weeks?  Luckily the Eradication Rate is pretty high with these tried and tested therapies.  Let me know whether you notice the improvement after the Antibiotics.  Or maybe you feel already much better anyhow because your PPI is a success for you ?  I’ve also heard about the bone broth idea.   Do you buy this on the Internet???  I would feel too sick to cook bone broth for myself.  

Hi LCat, 

I’m so glad that your HPylori treatment was successful. I’m on the antibiotics for 2 weeks. I must admit they make me feel a bit off but I will persevere knowing that the light is at the end of the tunnel.  I get a headache right after I take them, a little stomach upset and sometimes I feel dizzy, light headed. Did you experience any side effects with your HP treatment? I’ve only been on them for 2 days now so I hope my body will get used to them so I don’t have to feel like crap for the next 2 weeks. 

The PPI did allow me to get my appetite back and once the next two weeks are over I’ll slowly start to introduce other foods I normally eat. I’m not having another endoscopy but my Gastroenterologist is sending me for a breath test after 2 months to check if the HP has been eradicated. He’s confident it will be and I’m hoping so also.  My PPi didn’t necessarily help with nausea but just seemed to settled down my stomach and allow me to start eating.  I have both Zofran and Maxolon for nausea but haven’t had to take any since I started the PPI. 

I’ve read some medical articles online whilst doing my research on HP and gastritis and it is rare but can happen for the HP to come back. Might be an idea if you got tested again? Whilst an endoscopy is invasive, the breath test is another option.  

Let me know how you go with your PPI, god willing you will start to get some relief. Regarding the bone broth, I purchased it online from an Australian company called Broth of Life but there were heaps to choose from, I just kept it local to ensure quick delivery. 

Hi Mimichacha,

Yes the antibiotics don’t feel great but I took them as I wanted to get rid of this nasty H Pylori  :  You’ll get through it !  I was very ill for 3 yrs from 2012-2015, then had my 1st Endo plus + helicobacter P. test = gastric ulcers, Gastritis + HP positive, then took Antibiotics, 2 months after I had my 2nd Endo with biopsies:  Ulcers gone but still Gastritis + HPnegative.  After some time I was super healthy and unbelievably happy for 2 years.  Then, last Oct 2017, I was at a Festival + ate there, afterwards felt ill with my stomach for months.  I felt sick, nauseous, tired, weak but was sort of able to eat.  I ignored it for 3 months.  In Jan 2018 I got a nasty Influenza on top.  The Influensa was gone but :  This totally ‘wiped out’ my stomach.  I ate nothing for 4 weeks, non stop in bed, and have been feeling super sick, super dizzy and weak, lost 2 1/2 stone. Then forced myself into eating milk and joghourt (not losing weight longer). 4 weeks ago went again to London Consultant and had a stool test : HP negative, other bacs + parasites tests : negative plus my 3rd Endo with biopsies: mild chronic Gastritis, HP negative.  The HP tests I am told are 90% reliable.  Let me know whether you start to feel better whilst the antibiotics are killing the Helicobacter. 

Thanks LCat, I can’t wait to finish these antibiotics and PPI. I’ve decided to stop even the PPI once the antibiotics finish. I’m going to try herbal remedies instead and have made a list based on similar forums from sufferers who have had HP. I note that whilst the bacteria is killed off by the medication, our stomachs could still be damaged hence I’ll try a few natural remedies. So far I have these which have helped people: slippery elm, DGL licorice, mastic gum, turmeric, LGlutamine, bone broth and zinc carnosine. I’m back at work this week also after being off for 7 weeks but my Dr has me on reduced hours. The medication feels like it’s sucking the life out of me and making me very tried, really low energy. It’s good all your tests came back negative for HP. You may just have to be patient and heal your stomach lining with nutritional foods and supplements. Good luck, let’s post again in a few days to see how we feeling. 

Hi Mimichacha, so sorry and sad that you feel so horrible from the Triple Therapy.  I felt just exactly like you when I took them. I also stopped the PPIs then, but only (as opposed to you) because they never settled my stomach.  I tried the H2 blockers (Ranitidine) but didn’t help me either.  Like you I looked on many many forums which worried me then even more.  My first consultant told me that I would instantly ‘feel great’ afterwards.  From all I read many many people didn’t instantly feel great but it took time to recover.  However there are definitely a number of people who felt instantly better after those 2 weeks (sadly I wasn’t one of them).  So don’t give up yet !!  because you may belong to the group of those lucky people.  I really hope you will... But then it helped me to read that also the other people eventually got better after some time.  I totally recovered after a few months and I felt soooo wonderful.  Gastritis needs a lot of patience which I’m certainly not good at.  That was the hardest for me to be forced to be patient.  I’ve also looked at all those natural things you mentioned as well, after my Triple Therapy, and considered to try all of those, one by one in order to analyse which ones would help.  Almost all of them looked to me worthwhile trying except that Mastic Gum .... what many people wrote sounded terrifying.   It sounded like having some extremely scary side effects.   Not all natural drugs seem to be harmless.  Regarding the other ones you mentioned .... the only reason I haven’t yet tried them was this : 

Hi Mimichacha,   ..... I discussed this with my London Consultant who has quite a positive attitude towards (some) natural herbal remedies.  I personally found it very important to discuss herbal stuff also with my GP and Consultant because of interactions between drug and herbal remedies,  even interaction between 2 types of herbal remedies.  Also good Dieticians would know a lot about this subject.  I remember London Dietician recommended the bone broth as well as LGlutamine.  However, then at the time, to my surprise, I recovered and felt so great, no pain, no nausea, no weakness any more ..... so there was no need to try the herbal stuff.  However, now I’m considering trying some of those natural remedies.  And I will ..... I just need to first try this Probiotic on its own to see whether it will help.... And if not I will start trying L-Glutamine etc and other herbal ones.  Are you going to try all of them at once or individually?  Are you planning to ask your Dietician and/or your GP.  I yes I would be keen to hear their views and, in particular your personal experience.  Hang on in there .... you WILL get better .... 

Hi LCat, I’m going to wait until I finish the antibiotics before I try any supplements. I’ll stick to really bland food for the next month or two and see how I go. Like you, I’m not keen on putting to many herbal supplements in my body at the same time. Unfortunately, my GP doesn’t seem to be too skilled at responding to my questions, I think he just doesn’t know. I have an appt with my gastroenterologist in July but I don’t want to wait that long and will see a naturopath or kineasiologist. I received a recommendation for one and know they can prescribe herbal remedies.  I also can still return to my dietitian so that’s another option.  I’ve been having my probiotic since early April, within a few days of leaving hospital so by the time I finish my AB I’ll be on them for 5/6 weeks. I bought a greater strain one to continue, 30billion as opposed to the 10 billion I’m taking now. Have you been managing to eat more? My day consists of wholemeal bread with avocado, oatmeal, fruit, lean protein and veggies, bone broth and camomile tea, Manuka honey also.  It’s getting boring but I know I have to keep going. Let’s also remember that people don’t post in these forums when  they feel fantastic, we come here to share our stories and what works for others may work for us too, if not we try another option. We need to remember that just because the AB kill the HPylori, it doesn’t mean they heal our stomach lining. The HP has already done the damage unfortunately and a lot work is involved from the individual themselves.  I hope the probiotic is working for you. I’m also a member of several gastritis support on Facebook if you’re n there, look them up. There’s regular posts, mostly about people commenting on their symptoms but once in awhile you will see a positive story and feel hope. Take care 🙂

Hi Mimichacha, just wondering how you are doing ?  I’ve been feeling horrid for a few days..... super dizzy weak and nausea.  However yesterday since PM I felt a lot better.  For several hours I felt no nausea and much stronger physically.    This morning I woke up and felt pretty good.  I was already thinking of calling my Consultant telling him that I’m better.  But then around 11.00 all the horror is back with a vengeance:   Weak nausea etc.  I bought a herbal remedy (as I’m so desperate) called ‘Iberogast’.  But I haven’t tried it yet .... I’m worried to make it worse....There were 1 or 2 clinical trials however they were done in Germany and therefore they may be biased in favour of herbs.  When I have moderate stomach pain I can handle pain but I hate nausea and feeling weak/dizzy.   It would be good to hear if you’re any better .  

Hi Mimichacha, 

I just sent you a message which disappeared.  Nice.  How are you doing ?  I’ve had a few horrible days with dizziness, nausea, tiredness and stomach pain.  I can tolerate the pain but I had the dizziness, weakness and nausea ... it makes you feel like you’re 99 years old .  Yesterday PM I felt really much better for several hours.  Also this morning I felt good when waking up.  I was going to call my Consultant to let him know.  However since 11.00 AM it came back with a vengeance.  It would be great to hear if you feel better.  

Take the medication you bought;  there is no harm in trying it. If it doesn’t work or makes you worse, simply stop it.  If it does help, you will have found a solution.  One way or the other, you will find out what is best for you.

Hi Mary and Pippa,  I must admit I never thought of the connection between digestive symptoms and menopause.   However I can now see the logic of what Pippa said.  I never experienced any menopause symptoms .... at least I thought I didn’t .  I thought I sailed through life without a menopause (never any hot flushes etc).  Maybe my severed suffering of digestive problems of many years is due to the menopause.  Neither the GP nor the GI Consultant mentioned this.  But it is a clear possibility as I have also joint pain when my stomach is very bad.

Hi Pippa, I just sent a post also to Mary.  It was quite interesting that you mentioned a link between gastritis and menopause.  I never noticed any menopause symptoms (at least I thought I didn’t as I didn’t have the obvious ones like hot flushes etc).  Neither the GP nor GI Consultant mentioned this.  However after you mentioned this to Mary,  I now think it makes sense what you said, in particular, as I have also joint pain when the Gastritis is really painful.  I had a bad Helicobacter infection with gastric ulcers years ago and had the Antibiotics Eradication 2 years ago.  It was eradicated but nevertheless the painful symptoms still continue.  That’s why my Consultant thinks my gastric problems were not connected to HP infection.  Otherwise I would have felt better after the ABs.  Regarding the various acid reducing drugs, I’ve been given so many drugs .... none of which worked.  I tried several PPIs as well as H2blockers....no help but horrible side effects.  That’s why I’m now worried to try anything new ... especially when it’s herbal which means it’s probably not scientifically tested.  How are you doing these days?  

Hi LCat, 

Sorry to heat you have been unwell. I finished the antibiotics last night and stopped the PPI also. Today was my first day without medication. I felt awful this morning, headaches and dizziness, but I’m hoping that’s from stopping the meds. I had an early dinner, as you do with this condition, around 5-30pm and have felt a tightness/fullness in my stomach ever since. Its now 8pm and I’m sipping a camomile tea hoping that will assist. Did you experiment this also? I’m really hoping things start improving soon. 

HI Mimichacha,

Yes I felt exactly the same as you do now.  I also stopped the PPIs like you when I finished the antibiotics because they didn’t help.  And yes I felt really lousy and I didn’t belong to the group of those people who felt great after the Therapy was finished.  Sorry to say that.   It was very disappointing for me at the time.  It was so bad that I thought ‘maybe the Helicobacter is still there’’.  I was obsessed with this worry.  But like so many other people who felt like me :  The Helicobacter WAS eradicated ..... I just felt equally horrible even though it was gone .  My Consultant had told me that was unusual.  At that time I also went to a new Consultant in London who told me that many people feel horrible for quite a while after the Eradication.  And he was absolutely right.  I know now from years and years of reading and researching that only a smaller percentage of people feel good after the Helicobacter is eradicated.  So how you feel is definitely not unusual.   It is also convenient that you’re at present off the PPIs because when you will need  to test again to confirm Eradication  (stool test?  or Breath test?  or Endoscopy?) you need to be off the PPIs ..... otherwise you may get a false negative.   I waited 2 months before retesting.

I have been fighting fit and I am going on holiday tomorrow with my dad. We are getting the boat to France and then we will drive over to Italy.  I have also been writing lots of poems too.

I read there are 66 symptoms of the menopause, many of which doctors miss.  In the case of h pylori, some people still continue to be unwell even after successful treatment.  The strong antibiotics and h pylori itself ravage the stomach.

Hi LCat, 

Thanks for your response. At least I’m not the only one. I’m continuing to take my supplements/probiotics in any case and starting yoga tonight to see if that will help. I just want the dizziness to go away but understand my body has gone through so much and needs time to recover. I’ll never go on those PPIs again. I’m going to get tested for HP eradication via the breath test and already confirmed with my local pathology that no PPIs or other acid suppressing med should be used for at least 4 weeks before the test. That means I’m due to be tested around end June. In your instance, how long after you started to feel almost normal after finishing the triple therapy? 

Hi Mimichacha,

Are you saying the probiotics and supplements having helped yet?  I would be interested to understand why you will never take the PPIs again.  I was really hoping they would help me to feel better but was very disappointed 😔.  PPIs are called the gold standard .... besides the fact that they can have long term bad side effects.  But at least I was hoping to get some relief.  Instead I had no relief but instant nasty side effects.  I can imagine that they probably provide relief for people with GERD.   Also a GP mentioned that lots of patients with gastritis he had didn’t get relief from the PPIs.  That really surprised me as I thought I was the only one.  It took me 6-7 months to get better (sorry) but then I was 100% super for again.  Don’t worry please ...for you it may be quicker......How do you feel now .... any slightly better ??

Hi Pippa,

are you saying that you’re feeling much better now ?  I find it not very reassuring that GI Consultants dont seem to be yet sure whether H Pylori causes the Gastritis and these horrible symptoms or whether they’re by caused by something else.  I asked my GI Consultant  whether that could possibly mean that my Helicobacter Eradication didn’t help my Gastritis.  He said this may very well be possible.  I assume, for other reasons, it’s important anyhow to eradicate it.  It seems  that  there are many patients where Helicobacter was eradicated but their gastritis and horrible symptoms didn’t get better because what they have was not caused by Helicobacter but by something else.  but no GI Consultant can tell you by what it is caused.   medicine just isn’t yet advanced enough to answer this question.  And if if they’re caused by other factors, they don’t yet know what else would cause the Gastritis and symptoms.  So much research still needs to be done.  Meanwhile a lot seems to be guesswork.  Maybe in 50 or 100 years we will know more.  

I also would be keen to learn from you whether yoga helps against the annoying dizziness

Yes, I’m very well thanks.  Hope you can get to the root cause of your stomach woes.

Hi LCat, 

I don’t want to take PPIS again due to the horrible side effects, the dizziness I couldn’t stand, plus the long term side effects.  I do believe an individual can manage their symptoms by following a healthy lifestyle and eliminating all those triggers. It’s Tuesday today, 5 days off PPI and antibiotics and my dizziness has lessened. Here’s hoping it will go away completely in a few days. I did yoga for the first time last night, have to say today I feel better than any other day I have for months. It was so relaxing. I’ve also realised how much flexibility and muscle tone I lost whilst being bedridden with my illness. I do recommend it if you get a chance to try. I’m going to try and go once a week, it’s a start to regaining my full health 🙂 I do feel that my supplements and probiotics are assisting my recovery. My naturopath said to finish my first monthly dose of all, then go 5 days without and judge how I feel. If I feel worse, I should continue them for another month. If I feel great, I can stop.  With your PPIs have you tried different ones? I know from these forums, some people cope better when they try different ones and find the one with minimal side effects. 

Hi Mimichacha,  

I’ve been thinking about you and wondering how you are doing.  I’ve tried all the PPIs and they haven’t helped me at all but just made me feel much worse.  I’ve also stopped taking ANY antacids.   I noticed tgT I get much worse with them.  So if I feel acid I just suffer it and it seems better for me.  It blows my brain why PPIs  are the ‘gold standard’ if so many people don’t get better with them.  I’m now able to eat every day some vegetables like potatoes, courgettes, asparagus, broccoli and vegetable soup with tiny amounts of   Chicken bits (boiled).  I’m able to drink tonic water (even though fizzy).  I’m still very dizzy and weak.   Do you think I could try some exercise even though feeling so weak?  I’ve never tried yoga and wouldn’t know where to start.  I understand there are different kinds of yoga.  Do have some advice?  Should we force ourselves against the tiredness and dizziness ?  or is that unhealthy ??  I would be good to hear how you’re doing.

Hi LCat, sorry to hear you’re unwell. I was going ok until yesterday and today, had an upset stomach. Not sure if it was something I ate or if I’m still healing. I’ve had some good days since stopping all my medications, just over 2 weeks ago and some not so good.  I’m still experiencing dizziness/light headedness and it’s so frustrating. I’m wondering if this is because of the inflammation/gastritis? My naturopath said it was, she mentioned it takes around 6 weeks for the stomach inflammation to go down whilst using the supplements she put me on.  My GP was no help, hence why I’ll be seeing another Dr in a few weeks for new insight. I’m glad you are able to tolerate more foods, did you manage to get some supplements to assist your healing? What you’re describing is exactly how I felt. It does get better, I can honestly say I feel better than I felt 2 weeks ago. It’s just such a slow recovery and I for one am a very impatient individual. Please try and do some gentle exercise, they will make you feel better. I went for a walk today and felt better, but after I ate something my tummy was mildly upset. I’ve also found if I have a poor nights sleep, I feel worse the next day so that seems to affect our healing also. Try and ensure you get plenty of sleep. Let me know how you go 🙂

Try some milk to ease the heartburn; don’t let the acid burn your stomach.  Milk is natural. My brother, who is a doctor told me that acid reflux can erode your stomach lining over time causing further damage. 

Hi pipa who do we believe ? Because naturopaths and holistic doctors tell you to stay away from milk because it causes inflammation. Cow milk is not made for human to drink but only for their baby calves. I only drink almond, rice and goat milk.

LCat somehow i think the gastritis are linked to hormonal imbalances. I never had the problem until i started going through peri. A couple of naturopaths thinks that the adrenal glands causes it,me personally i think it could be some truth in it.

Hi Mary, 

I don’t go to Naturopaths as I’m  in the UK where they  are very expensive and I’m not sure whether they’re any good.  At least I wouldn’t know how to check their credentials.   However I must admit that this makes sense.  The adrenal glands  can cause a lot of these symptoms.   Are you in Australia?

Hi Pippa, 

I’m a Northern European and 90% of Northern Europeans are ok with milk and milk products, only 10% seem to be lactose intolerant.  When I got ill in October and very ill in January, milk and Yoghourt very we’re the only thing she Ive been able to eat.  So I’m  grateful for milk as it helped me survive!!!!!!  Better milk than nothing !!!! I’m now able to eat some vegetables etc , Im eat less milk but I still do as it has calories and helps me to survive.   There’s been a trend during the last few years to say that milk and milk products are sooo  bad for you.   I wonder whether this is really true or whether it’s just another fad.   When you read the Internet ... regarding diet ..... there is sooo much contradicting information .... like whole fibre is a MUST ... then again  whole fibre is bad for you as it’s hard to digest etc.   In the end it says ‘everything is bad for you’  depending on the website you look at.   What I’ve learn to do is watch what I can eat without getting very ill from it and milk seems fine for me.   

Yes, and, Pippa, milk is natural .  You’re right. If it doesn’t seem to harm me ... why not?   I’ve tried all the other stuff years ago like soy milk, almond milk,  and all the other fake milks.  I didn’t like them and they didn’t  make me feel good either.  So WHY is it such a crime to drink milk ?  I also must admit that I hate the idea of all this chemically and/ or artificially produced other fake milks.   I wouldn’t mind trying them if I was healthy.... but in my condition now Im not up for those kind of experiments.....especially if it doesn’t feel great if I tried them.

Hi Mimichacha, 

The last 6-7 days have been a rollercoaster.  I had alm of a sudden a good day... I was soo happy, made so many plans,  for soo much work done and wax convinced that ‘now I will recover.  The day after, it was pay back time:  I was soo bad soo horribly bad,  on the 3rd day again a good day,  but 4th day the utter hell again, 5th day good AGAIN,  but 6th Day absolutely horrible .  Today is day number 6.   I’ve been waiting for 2 good days in a row but it doesn’t seem to happen.  Even though I’m now able to eat several vegetables and potatoe, a tiny amount of avocado, 1 banana per day, also tiny amounts of protein like 4 super thin slices of Parma ham per day and tiny amounts boiled chicken and fish.  Mimichacha,  I know you mentioned them before, but can you tell me again which supplements you’re now taking and which ones you find easy to take.   Are they really really helping?  I’m so scared to try anything that’s not natural.  And I found - strangely - to my surprise-  that since I stooowf taking ANY antacids , even stopped taking Gaviscon or Rennie,  I don’t feel as I’ll as I didn’t before ..... which probably means that they made me even more ill...... what’s the point then taking them ????

A lot of research tends to suggest on thing is bad for you one day but good for you the next.  The best research you can do do is to try the food out for yourself.

My grandad cured his duodenal ulcer with milk alone. 

Interesting.   Did he only drink milk  and survive on milk alone ?  and for how long ?  I remember when I was pregnant with my 1st child,  I was also feeling very sick when I was pregnant and I was only able to drink milk and eat some fruit .... anything else made me vomit.  And I survived and so did my child also survive..... even though I only drank milk and ate some fruit.

Hi LCat, 

My supplements are from the Bioceuticals range, Intestamine (you drink this before a meal) and UltraBiotic 45 which is a probiotic and you take this before retiring. I’m in Australia so not sure if this brand is available to you in London. I like to think they are helping, I don’t think it’s one thing I’ve done in isolation which has improved my condition but several things all together.  I’ve been on my supplements for nearly 4 weeks and apparently it’s the 6 week mark for the Intestamine doses to really have the healing effect on your inflamed stomach so until that point, I will continue to watch what I eat. It’s the dizziness and the feeling of being off balance that is annoying me at the moment, off for a second opinion with another Dr in the next few weeks.  

I know what you mean by roller coaster, I had that experience also but as time goes on, you will start to have more good days than bad.  Hang in there 🙂

Hi LCat, 

I completely understand about the roller coaster ride. I was the same also at the beginning and whilst I’m not 100% better, I do feel better week by week. 

It looks like we can’t mention supplements and brand names here as my previous reply to you has been deleted. I also can’t say that any one thing I’ve done has improved my condition, but several things such as diet, supplements, researching what worked for others and trying it, all together have contributed to my improvement.  I’m still very frustrated about my dizziness/off balance sensation and my GP hasn’t a clue so off to get a second opinion in a few weeks.  I do highly recommend though you find a holistic practitioner in your area or naturopath and look into trying some supplements. Try camomile tea, which is good for inflammation and slippery elm as a start. You can buy this in powder form and drink it before your meals. Hang in there. 🙂

Hi Mimichacha,

Your reply has helped me so much to make me feel better as you seem to believe that I might also get better slowly slowly as you said you did.  I woke up not too bad today .... will see how the day will go.   Yesterday was the utter hell day again.  I’m desperately desperately waiting for 2 bearable days in a row which doesn’t seem to want to happen.  On the bad days .... what really makes me suffer so much, in particular, is exactly these dizziness/off balance spells.   They make me also very upset as I feel like 99 years old and then I get scared thinking ‘maybe I’m finished and super old’ and maybe that’s it.  By the way I would be very surprised if ANY GP or ANY GI could help you with the dizziness/off balance.... even your new GP.  (Even though it would help if the new GP had some more empathy).  I think this is above their level of knowledge.   Medicine isn’t advanced enough so they won’t be able to physiologically analyse what it exactly is, what exactly causes this and how to get rid of it.   Believe me I have quite a bit of knowledge in this area from my university degree background.   They won’t be able to sort this problem in an easy way via a drug.  I really really hope that it will eventually go away on its own for both of us.  The reason why I hope for this is because I had this years ago as well ... also thanks to my stomach issues.   And then it did  go away on its own:  my stomach recovered and  instantly also this dizziness stuff was 100% gone !!!   Are you also still taking your probiotics as well ?  I’m also curious what your naturopath thinks what can be done about these dizziness issues.   Have you asked her?

Hi again,

what a shame that your reply is being moderated.  I understand now more what the moderators do and it is actually a good thing as they’re trying to protect us.     I had some of my posts moderated when they were very long.   Maybe they have to read through to ensure no harm is done.  But then, when they noticed that I was ‘a harmless individual’ my post reappeared later.   Who knows maybe yours will also reappear.   Or as you said, maybe they don’t want brand names but don’t mind if we use generic names

Oh look, Mimichacha,

Your post has not been deleted.   

Hi LCat, my response was published and at least you saw the brand of supplements I am taking.  I'm not having a good day unfortunately, its this headachey/dizziness/off balance which is troubling me the most. This upsets me greatly also.  I was so fit before I got HPylori and even though I finished the antibiotics only 2 weeks ago, it seems to be taking ages to recover. I struggle to exercise when I feel like this and even though yoga is helping, I only went once this week as I had an upset stomach Mon/Tue and again today, Thu.  It never seems to end.  I also want to get back into gentle walking which I know helps but am cautious due to feeling 'off balance'.  It's such an awful feeling and I'm finding comfort that you have this symptom also; I haven't found too many that do.  It almost assures me it's part of the healing process and knowing that yours disappeared the first time around when your stomach was healed is great news . I am still taking my probiotic and will do so for 2 months, (have nearly finished one 30 day dose).  I touched base with my Naturopath and she mentioned it would take a minimum of 6 weeks for the Intestamine to heal the stomach lining.  Once that point passes, we can look at what other underlying causes could be contributing to the dizziness/off balance sensations. So in other words I have around another 2 weeks to go   I'm also not expecting this new GP to cure my dizziness, but she may have a better understanding of it or have treated other patients with it. I'm back with my GI in early July to check the results of my breath test for HP eradication and I will definitely be speaking to him about it also. I'm hoping him being a GI he would have had more patients with the same issues and will at least get his thoughts.

Yes, happy it came up for you so you could see what I'm taking.  Now to wait for my next response to be approved LOL

My grandad continued to eat normally and potioned himeslf with lots of milk until the ulcer healed.  He was a pre NHS GP.

Milk does not ordinarily cause inflammation unless you have a sensitivity to it. Not everyone has a problem with cows milk; everyone is different. If we all listened to all these experts all the time, none of us would eat!   If cows mlk was so bad for all of us, there would surely be health warnings about it on TV to caution us against it.

The best research we can do is to try things out to see if they help us or not.  Milk really soothes my stomach and it cured my grandad’s ulcer.  I don’t pay attention to any of these ‘experts’ because one day one thing is good and the next day it is bad.

Pippa are you saying your grandad was a GP?

Hi Pippa, 

I just had an email alert where a doctor warns people about all these other milks like soy milk  (which it says is carcinogenic) and almond milk ( I’ve forgotten what’s bad about that) and all the other ‘fake’ milks.  For goodness sake.   It sounded really scary ... I wish I wouldn’t have read it.  So what on Earth are we then allowed to drink ?  Frankly I rather trust cows milk.  That has been around forever.  How do I know I can trust all these other ‘milk replacement milks’ or ‘fake milks’ ?  Just because somebody says they’re better.  Lots of them are also full of all sorts of chemicals.   It’s big business in the food shops because all that stuff is expensive.   So how do I know, just because it’s expensive.... and fashionable....does that means it’s ok?  Not so sure.

It’s better not to listen to any so called experts otherwise we would all end up eating nothing at all.  I only avoid certain foods if I know they upset my stomach.  Other than that, I just eat what I want.   Food advice can change on a daily basis   I would just contnue doing what you are doing and don’t bother about any research that you read.

He was and he had his surgery in his house.  He was great at diagnosing too.

Hi Mimichacha, I wrote a really long post to you on the day you felt so ill  (Thurs) .  But it was all lost when I received a phone call.  The dizziness / off balance is also  what I find most upsetting.  It makes me feel 99 years old I find.  How did you actually catch the H Pylori?  Were you also on a trip abroad like I was?  When  I recovered the first time around, I have no words to explain how wonderful this felt.  Every day I woke up I jumped up into the air from joy even though it was ‘just a normal day’.  But after this horror ‘just a normal day’ felt like heaven !!  I felt ecstatic every single day.  It was the opposite of dizziness.  Also believe me, Mimichacha, you and I, we are definitely not the only ones who feel like this.  Last time around when I was so ill for so long,  there was one forum with people worldwide (not active any longer today) with hundreds of people (7400 + posts)  who were talking to each other for years.  (I never posted myself .... I only read it).   It was a life saver for me.  They had exactly those symptoms like you and I have.  They were also horrified when their symptoms didn’t improve after the AB Therapy.  Some people who had recovered went back every 3 months to help the desperate ‘newcomers’ telling them that they will get better.  A lot of people tried all sorts of things to get better.  From what I read .... most drugs/supplements didn’t seem to help and they just eventually recovered on their own.  I don’t remember anyone of these forum members who had any sinister illness in their GI systems  (even though they all worried and had numerous tests which all seemed to turn out negative).  Nevertheless they suffered terribly like I did first time around.  Now I’ve had a crazy 8 days .: .. 1 day I somewhat felt better making all sorts of plans and getting lots of work done...feeling happy and hoping to get better, day 2 the horror is back with a vengeance, Day 3 like Day 1, Day 4 like Day 2..... never 2 better days in a row.  It’s almost as if the stomach is playing a game with me.  Regarding the ‘underlying conditions contributing to the dizziness/off balance feeling’ .... my experience from when I had this last time around was this :  when the stomach problems were gone,  the dizziness/off balance was instantly gone as well.  I’m totally convinced that these 2 things go together.  Once the stomach is fine and you feel and know when it is fine .... you would have appetite ... you’re able to eat....Your dizziness/ off balance would BE GONE !  How did you feel on Tuesday ... the day you felt somewhat better ??  How was the dizziness/off balance feeling on that day ??  I’m also curious what your new GO will say.   

I can imagine that he was great at diagnosing.   When he cured his duodenal ulcers with milk,  did he actually only drink milk and survive on that ?  If yes, for how long ?  Do you know ?  Was it months ?  Or what else did he eat ...... just asking in case he told you ...

Hi LCat, I had 3 ok days actually and today I'm back at work after a long weekend and the dizziness/off balance is back with a vengeance.  I finished my 30 days of probiotic on Friday and haven't resumed them again. I had to see if I was feeling better after the first 30 day does and stay off them for 5 days.  I honestly felt the dizziness improved in the last 3 days but today it's back again.  It also seems to be worse in the mornings and then tapers off during the day, but still comes and goes. I'm grateful for these types of forums, I think I would have gone mad if it wasn't given Dr's don't tell you everything because I'm convinced they either don't know or don't care given this isn't a life threatening illness, just debilitating to your normal life.  My HP started after I had an iron infusion, prior to that I have had no stomach problems my whole life.  My gastro Dr said it wasn't linked but I believe it is, I don't believe in coincidences like he said it was.  Something about the iron infusion has caused my gastritis/HP, I'm convinced of it!   I am able to eat a lot more in the last week than what I was previously.  I have slowly brought in many foods I was avoiding at the height of my infection and after and I've had no problems with my stomach thus far. I even managed a glass or red wine over the weekend.  I too had no sinister illness in my GI or bowels when I initially ended up in Hospital in April,. I was tested for everything sinister and everything came up clear, my HP came up in one of the biopsies they took off my stomach.  I'm so grateful for your comments, that eventually the dizziness will go away on its own once the stomach heals.  I feel that my stomach is healing well and am continuing to take my supplement before lunch/dinner daily, even though my meals are mostly low in acid and home prepared, healthy meals.  I don't get many hunger pangs like I used to and am relying on this feeling to tell me my stomach is completely healed, these days I'm eating for the sake of it as I know I have too.  I hear regarding our stomachs playing a game with us, it does but our mind is also closely linked to that.  We need to ensure our mind stays happy and healthy so our stomach can respond. Since this illness, I have come to realise how closely they are linked and really do try my best to stay stress free, it's not easy but we have to for our sakes, to try!  

Hi Mimichacha, as I was hoping for 2 good days in a row, instead I had 3 days in a row but bad ones.  So sorry to hear that you had a bad day when going back to work.  That must have been tough.  Does work help by distracting you from thinking about the stomach?  I’m also interested to hear how you’re now being off the probiotics ?  Regarding the iron infusion,  iron is known to be an irritant to the stomach as a potential side effect.  It blows my brain why your Gastro did not know this.   My GP knew this.  Even in other drugs,  you sometimes find yellow or red ferric oxide as inactive ingredients which can be irritating your stomach.  I believe your analysis that the iron infusion may be  have something to do with the stomach problems is a very valid assumption, in particular, as an infusion is usually much stronger than tablets.  Also the timing when it happened.  I couldn’t agree more with you.

Mimichacha, also I didn’t initially know this but learned later that a majority of people with HP did not feel better directly after the Eradication Therapy .   The HP needed to be eradicated, however, it seems that for those people their gastric problems were not actually caused by HP but by ‘something else’  (doctors do not know by what as medicine is not advanced enough).  Those people continue to suffer.   A smaller majority get instantly better and, that’s what I understand,  in those cases the Gastritis/Ulcers were caused by HP.   What really interests me is the subject ‘hunger pangs’ ...... what is it and how does it feel?  Is it possible that I would have this to and not know ?  Also, what food do you eat during the day?  Like you I’m only able to eat at home.  Most interesting food I had in my freeze and cupboards I’ve given away to my relatives.  It’s sad 😔 I used to love going out to eat now I have to say no to everything.  I can now eat milk, Yoghourt, potatoes, tiny amount of some Danish cheese, asparagus, courgettes, green beans.  Since 2 days bananas and tiny amounts of mango and cantaloupe melon.

Cooking was almost one of my passions.  I have a huge collection of recipes in Special folders.  Family and friends used to love coming to my house whilst I cooked for them.  Now I have become a boring person who doesn’t cook.   I think I will have to totally change my life.  I realise only now how much of peoples’ lives is centred around food.   We have sooo many restaurants in the UK , everyday another trendy place is opening up and that’s where most people seem to spend their time and socialise.  I guess I won’t be able to be part of this.  What are your thoughts on this?  I will probably also be always worried about the food in restaurants .... can I trust the youngsters who are cooking that it will be prepared hygienecally ?  Can I be sure there will be no bacteria in the chicken etc ?  There’s are also so many very tasty fresh ready meals available in our supermarkets.  Now I might be worried about all those additives and preservatives.  I never worried/ thought about those before.

I’m a great cook also and enjoy entertaining. For the most part I’ve made slight adjustments to my regular meals and making them even healthier than before, like substituting lean beef for chicken, grilling instead of frying etc. I have eaten out twice in then last two weeks but was very specific in my order, i.e. no marinade on my meat, it must be grilled and salad on side with dressing on side. I ordered grilled salmon both times and had no problem. I have had to change my life the last few months and like you have been housebound. I do believe it is temporary until our stomachs fully heal and I also believe that can happen also. Get yourself the Acid Watchers diet book, I reference that if I’m not sure if I can eat something. 

 LCat, I had heard the same thing. That being a lot of people still took weeks/months to return to feeling normal after HP eradication. I still get full very easily and know from my Dr that that feeling means your stomach is still inflamed. But I will say, it is much better than it was 4 weeks ago. By not having hunger pangs like I used to, I’m surmising it is either because I’m inactive and my metabolism has slowed right down or the fact I still,have healing to do. Ive managed to introduce some foods back into my diet with no gastritis symptoms afterwards or the next day, does this mean I’m partially healed?

Given my gastritis has only been caused by HP, I like to think it didn’t cause a lot of damage before diagnosis and treatment; unlike some others I have come across in these forums. My normal diet consists of oats with almond milk for breakfast or whole grain toast with avocado. Snacks are usually fruit ( banana, grape, pear, melons) or plain natural yogurt with dried cranberries and chia seeds. Lunch is either soup or plain boiled potatoes with some olive oil, salt, apple cider vinegar or a small salad with lean chicken. Dinner I usually repeat one of my lunches. I’ve only been drinking water and camomile tea with honey. Although I did have a small glass of red wine on the weekend and no issue. I can also tolerate Parmesan, feta and haloumi cheese. I’m in Sydney so we too have an abundance of great restaurants and cafes and it’s been hard n my husband as we were such foodies before, always eating out at least once a week and either trying a new place or visiting one of our faves. 😞??

Hi LCat, I had another bad day unfortunately. Still dizzy/ off balance sensations which seems to generate mild nausea each time it occurs. I find work an annoyance at the moment rather than a distraction. I wish I didn’t have to worry about going to work and performing, I’d rather just fully concentrate on getting back to 100% healthy but alas with bills to pay, that is not to be. I finished my probiotic on Fridaynight and found I was fine for the 3 days following. The last 2 days as I mentioned, my off balance feelings have quite bad, not sure if it’s linked to stopping probiotic though. I’ll stay off them for another few days and see what happens. It’s frustrating as it’s all trial and error. 🙁😩

From what my dad told me, he ate a normal diet and drank lots of milk with it.  Other than the milk, I don’t think he took anything special.

Hi LCat,

How are going now?  I can see you haven't posted for a while, hope you're feeling better?

Hi Mimichacha

I haven’t posted for a while but there hasn’t been a single day when I haven’t been thinking of you, Mimichacha and wondering how you’re doing.  So lovely that you’re also thinking about me.  Ive assumed you’re better.  I’ve been battling through...fighting hard trying to recover.  Usually 1 good day then 3 bad days etc.  On the good days I’ve been reading and reading finding a solution to recover.  I’m also trying to introduce tiny amounts of new foods by trial and error.  Most of them don’t work.  I’m reading lots about the microbiota, the gut/brain axis, the gut as the 2nd brain etc. and the different beneficial bacteria strains and how to rebuild the microbiota by eating the right foods.  I’m also extremely interested in the strains that are in the Probiotics etc.  as they’re are meant to re-balance the microbiota.  My Consultant is totally convinced that the microbiota is key for recovery.   How are you doing Mimichacha ?  How is your analysis :  did the Probiotics make you better ?  I’m soo looking forward to hearing from you .... whether you recovered somewhat.  Whenever I recover I promise to stay in touch ....And yes you’re right : everything is trial and error .  It needs a lot of patience to observe every little thing ... totally against my personality

Hi LCat, so glad to hear you are at least having some good days. I'm the same with my vertigo/dizziness. A recent blood test with another GP came back normal so there is no explanation for it as yet. I have been referred to an ENT Dr to check my middle/inner ear. In discussion with my husband last night, he suggested I stop probiotics for a while and see how I feel. I was telling him I have researched and found articles online which discuss side effects such as nausea, headaches, brain fog and dizziness plus others amongst users of probiotic supplements. From a diet perspective, my stomach has been feeling pretty good. I have brought back many foods previously banned and I've had no issues so I'm happy with how far I have come regarding that. I had my breath test for HPylori eradication last week and get my results early next week. Fingers crossed!!

Hi LCat, 

Hope you’re feeling better each day. I tested negative for HP yesterday which was a relief. I’m still having feelings of dizziness and nausea though. Today was especially horrid. I came home from work at lunchtime as the nausea was overwhelming and the room wouldn’t stop spinning.  I’ve been resting all afternoon and eagerly await my appointment with the ENT in 2 weeks. 

Hi Mimichacha, 

oh no! I’m so sorry to hear how horrid you feel.  You don’t deserve this.  But Im so happy that the HP is gone.  I know how horrid this dizziness and nausea feels.  I had it yesterday again.  However, I must say that the 3 days before yesterday I felt surprisingly good.  So there is hope for both of us!!!   But yesterday it was back with a vengeance.  Years ago I had especially the tiredness and nausea for a long time .   I’m 99% convinced that this is all caused by the stomach and not by ENT problems.  I also saw years ago in ENT Consultant (private) who told me that I needed a painful op.  However, due to knowledge from my university degree, I didn’t agree with that view and got a 2nd opinion from an Oxford ENT Consultant  :  He examines me and told me there was nothing wrong ....and it would be cruel to put me through unnecessary surgery.... he couldnt of course help with my agony.  He could only tell me it was not ENT related.   Consultants are highly specialised and sub-specialised and only understand their own specialty .

Hi Mimichacha, 

Did I ever tell you : when I had this years ago, I was ill with fatigue and nausea for 3 years and nobody could tell me that it was my stomach.  I was made to believe and scared for months told I had likely an ENT problem (but I didn’t), then a Lung Consultant thought I had COPD plus Lung Cancer even though I never ever smoked a single cigarette (he said I was unlucky).  After months of scares I changed Consultant and went again to Oxford and had an MRI : my lungs were in perfect order .... not even asthma. A GP thought I had a serious heart condition.  I went to a reputable Consultant :  he couldn’t find a serious heart condition.  While I always said ‘what about my stomach? It feels very unwell’ .  An ultrasound was done and I was told that stomach and guts are fine (but they were NOT fine). After many months of suffering I insisted and  I had an Endoscopy and FINALLY they found  :  I had Gastritis plus Gastric Ulcers plus HP.  After this I was made to believe that I was likely to have Pancreatic Cancer due to my symptoms which didn’t go away after the AB Therapy.  I wanted an MRI which the consultant didn’t want.  I was scared like crazy and too ill for making decisions but still had the guts  to decide to change to my present London Consultant who is at a top London’s hospital.  He did the MRI and there was no pancreatic cancer either .  He told me he has many many patients where HP is gone but  who are ill for quite some time after the AB Therapy.   You see I went through this hell being ill and scared for 3 years.  I’m not blaming anybody for this.   Stomach symptoms can be so debilitating and so vague (fatigue and nausea etc) and it’s hard to analyse that they actually all originated from the stomach/gut.  Not surprising that the nerve is called ‘Vagus’.  I think it’s a very good name for this Nerve.

Hi Mimichacha,

I’m also wondering whether your fatigue and nausea would get better soon as you said that you temporarily stopped the Probiotics.  I had big problems from the probiotics I took.  I just didn’t want to say this to you before as I didn’t want to discourage you from taking (trying) them.  Years ago when I took them my nausea and fatigue became a lot worse.  However I had a different probiotic from the one you took.  I sometimes wonder whether they are a ‘shot in the dark’ :  I e we hope that it’s exactly those strains of micro bacteria we need but there are 500 different strains .... so how do we know which ones we need and which ones we don’t ?  I have no doubt that they researching this and will find out in the (hopefully near) future.   Then we will know exactly which strains we are lacking and should take. ....  How long was it since you stopped them ?  Also, you have a very good husband.  When you feel nausea that helps so much .... when he is kind to you....and discusses everything with you .  My husband is also very kind and encourages me  and says :  ‘you KNOW and I KNOW you WILL get better!’   And believe me Mimichacha : even though I’ve never met you in person, from everything you said and from describing your symptoms :  also I feel that I know YOU WILL also get better !!! 

Hello LCat, thank you so much for your encouraging words and sharing your story with me. There is hope for both of us and we need to keep going. If the ENT can eliminate any ear problems, I’ll move on. I’m not sure if I mentioned it, but I had a massage last week and my masseuse said my neck and back of head felt very congested. When she stretched my neck out, I felt this pressure in my head and ringing in my ears. When she stopped, it subsided. I felt horrible the next day but then had a few good days until yesterday brought me back to reality.  I recalled I had the same issues when my mum passed away a few years ago, that being I carried all my pain and stress in my neck and head. I suffered from horrible headaches at the time but without the dizziness. She died of pancreatic cancer and it was detected in her blood work straight away so your experiment with that Dr who told you that must have been atrocious. 

I also approached my naturopath to see how long I should continue the supplement for, she’s going to review my file and get back to me. I’m still not taking any probiotic and back to drinking Yakult, eating more yogurt, kefir and saurkraut. My GI said it’s hard to find the right strain of probiotic your body needs so it’s really trial and error in finding the right one which doesn’t give you any side effects. I’m thinking I’ll stay off the probiotics and just increase priobiotic foods in my diet. It’s been a week since I stopped them and I really don’t feel any different tomwhen I was taking them, if anything the brain fog feeling I had had somewhat lessened.  I wonder how we can tell when our stomach lining is no longer inflamed? I’ve managed to eat pizza, hot chips and drink wine with no issues. Surely if I still had inflammation, that would have upset me? This morning I started with a glass of warm water and lemon juice to test myself further and I felt and still feel ok. Does it take overnight to experience a reaction? I’ve been so careful these last few months that I haven’t really had a major reaction to any foods I’ve brought back into my diet. 

I have ave found a HP group on Facebook and there is loads of information and real life stories from other sufferers. There is a few with the dizziness issues still occurring after 12 months of testing negative. I know everyone is different but I’m praying mine disappears soon 😢

Hi Mimichacha,

I wish I could read those things on Facebook.  I must admit I never went on Facebook as I never trusted this Zuckerman Guy .... as when I finally decided ‘ok now I’ll go on facebook’...... then all these News came out how Facebook allowed companies to misuse peoples’ private information!!! I was so angry about this ..... and the bad news about Facebook never stop.   Both my sons quit Facebook and one of them quit ‘Whatsup’ which is also owned by Facebook.   I love Whatsup and didn’t want to quit it.  Are you not worried about Facebook misusing our private information ?

Hi Mimichacha

I also don’t dare to take the Probiotics as I’m risk averse. I also understand that, even if the Probiotics would help, it would only be temporarily :  as soon as you stop them , the new strains disappear in your guts very quickly .... that means you will have to take them for the rest of your life in order to benefit...  I eat yogurts and other probiotic foods.  I see you’re eating Sauerkraut which is prebiotic.  Prebiotics  are good at promoting the growth of beneficial microbacteria... I wonder if I should try Sauerkraut.  Does it not give you an acid stomach ?? Do you eat it warm or cold ? The Low Fodmap Diet doesn’t allow any Prebiotics as they’re fermenting... but strangely it allows all sorts of alcohol like wine, even Gin but not beer as this is fermenting... 

Hi Mimichacha

Believe me you will definitely know when your gastritis is gone.  When my gastritis was gone years ago I felt 100% great, no nausea, no brain fog, no dizziness, no fatigue, no stomach pain.  I never had a single bad day.   I gained my weight back.  I was able to eat anything.  I was able to run, to walk 15 miles per day, go back to sailing across to France, Channel Islands and back, go skiing in the winter.  It was like this for almost 2 years.  I felt so good and felt really young and superfit :  I was totally convinced that it will never come back.  Believe me ... you will know!  

Hi Mimichacha,

Does it take overnight to experience a reaction ?  This is tricky ... I wonder.... I’m reading it takes 48 hours to get a reaction.  That makes it hard to analyse.  I notice much quicker (at least I thought I do ).  I got a bad reaction from eating fruit (which I love) so I had to cut it out.  Do you have time to read ? I’m reading lots of medical research and some books written by renowned GI Professors (Cambridge etc).  I find that helps me to understand the subject of which foods are not beneficial etc.  A lot of Diet information out there is blatantly old and wrong.  Lots of other Diets Fads are around and driven by the food industry .... quite shocking .... and surprising.... I was naive ....and noticed that also I was brainwashed for decades into believing in wrong theories. I hope this will give me better guidance.  

I really dont care but i understand always have how facebook and the rest work 😁

Hi LCat,

Hope you have well.  Had my apt with ENT finally, turns out one of the ABX for HP is known to cause damage to the nerve endings of the inner ear. Normally people recover once the meds are stopped but in case, its continuing 2 and a half months down the track.  In any case I am working with a physiotherapist to improve my balance which so far has been helping.  I hope you are feeling better

Hi Mimichacha,

I’ve been thinking of you yesterday again and wondering how things are going.  That makes sense that the nerve endings are damaged.  Is that what the ENT Consultant said ? The idea to work with a physiotherapist also sounds really promising.  Let me know how it will help you ..... which I believe it should.  I’m sooo looking forward to hear that you’re getting better.  I’m now starting to have better days.  Every other day seems to be a good day .... the day after I’m falling back.  But it still seems to be an inprovement.  I’m unbelievably careful what I’m eating and reading many books about the subject..... if they don’t know enough about this subject .... maybe eating the right food would help..... at least I hope.  

Hi Mimichacha,

I haven’t heard from you.... I hope you’re feeling better ..?

Hello Mimichacha

I’ve been thinking about you and really hope that your Physio Therapy is helping you to recover from your nausea.  It would be great to hear that you’re feeling better.  

Hi LCat,

?Sorry for my late reply    the physio is helping and making my dizziness/off balance.  I have exercises I do at home and catch up with my physio every two weeks.  I've had some issues with my stomach.  I was going so well then I started to bloat slightly after lunch, have gas and a little stomach pain, almost like my stomach was making popping sounds if that makes sense.  I spoke to my Naturopath who presecribed digestive enzymes.  I took one and it made me so sick. I was nauseous, stomach cramping and diarrohea until it wore off.  Then I tried another brand, and after a few days the same happened.  I'm not sure what else I can try given digestives all have similary ingredients so something is not agreeing with me.  Did you have this LCat?    I'm thinking I try and increase the probiotic foods in my diet.  It just started happening a few weeks after my stomach had been feeling pretty good.

?I'm also glad to hear you have been eating more and doing well.  Please let me know how you get on.

hi Mimichacha,

sorry Ive been busy and didnt reply however I always wonder how you re doing. I truly hope you re feeling better. Let me know how things are going for you.

HI LCAT,

Its been awhile. Hope you are doing ok? I am back to myself again after a long road but glad i am healthy again.

For four years I've had stomach discomfort that gradually worsened to the point where I was not eating too much. I had moments of reprieve where I felt somewhat human again and then cheating with bad food fell back into the discomfort again. each time I go for an endoscopy they come back with no cancer no h pylori. no seeming reason why this was occurring. I suspect my gut broke down over time due to food allergies. Then most recently when a very stressful event occurred the next day I woke up to a change. suddenly I couldn't tolerate any food going down and even liquids we're uncomfortable. i have lost a bunch of weight and it's hard to not stress. it's frustrating to wake up every day and when I try to eat it hurts. how do you calm a stomach that's p****d off? also very gassy, nauseous and crampy....i know what you all are going through. any advice? I'm on an acid blocker and low grade anti anxietymeds which offers a little reprieve from the constant liquid burps

Hi Mimichacha,

I've been thinking of you so often - you cannot imagine . But somehow Iost the link and couldn't remember how to fond you again ... on which link ....

But now by pure coincidence I found you again.

How are you doing ?

I was so happy to read that you are were normal again. I truly truly hope you're well !!

I guess you won't receive my message as you may not be with this webpage any more...

Hi Pippa

I spoke to to you years ago...

how are you ? are you still on this website ??

I hope you are well.