Gastritis / Stomach Ulcer

it was 4 months they told me not 4 weeks however I have since had a word with them and they agreed to see me earlier and funny enough my letter came through today with an appointment for 27/4/2016 to see he specialist so not long to wait. They have agreed to perform a endoscopy under a general so at least we're get the procedure done this time, just gotta see them on the 27th then we're schedule it in or even a CT scan. It still all points towards some kind of gastritis or an ulcer but I would like some results to confirm it rather than guessing that's what it could be. Hopefully we're get it sorted soon, thanks for coming back to me on here Dave, it's nice just to talk to someone about it.

Thanks again. David

Hi James good news indeed. Its so common on these threads, are you still on any meds (ppis)? On the down side you will find this reoccurs, it maybe 8-10 years or 1-2 but just watch for it and jump on it at the first signs.  PPIs can be portrayed? has the bad guys but they can be a lifesaver.  Use them as required but get off of them soon as you can also.  Tummys are very Sensitive and personal items, as I said right from the start I’m not a great believer in the changing food changers your life club (not knocking them either).  I agree with not eating the >>>> thats out there though. But you’ll find that most people have a flare up and it can’t be pinned to anything.  I think alcohol and stress are the two main triggers.  I’ve read 100s and 100s no 1000s and 1000s of threads over the years and just like yours, you get 6 -12 months of such pain and discomfort  and this leads to distress and anxiety which in itself leads to more pain etc etc. Or you’re put on a ppi that makes your problem worse because it does not suit you (lansoprazole) doubles me up in pain. Anyways you are now a fully-fledged member of the troubled tummy club lol. Next time you won’t worry about it so much.  As your doctor not come out with IBS lol, they love this, can’t find the problem, you’ve got IBS.  Good luck James

Hi James, just wanted to bump this thread because your symptoms sound kind of similar to mine and what I'm going through. Been back on the PPI for 15 days now and haven't had any real relief of my symptoms. Have a constant burning ache in my upper abdomen before, during and after eating. 

Had a CT scan, blood tests, chest x-ray, urine tests, stool tests, etc. which all came back negative. Had H Pylori but already went through the antibiotic treatment and had a negative breath test result (although I'm going to get retested whenever my symtoms resolved).

Just wondering if you had that constant burning ache as well, and about how long did it take for your treatment to relieve your symptoms?

Hi jon forget what the box says on PPIs, go back right to the start of this thread and you'll see that they take 6 months to one year. Why they say one month I just dont know??  Try a different PPI such as Pantoprazole 20mg/40mg.  Pantoprazole worked where the rest have failed!!  You may need 40mg for a couple of weeks and then drop to 20 as soon as you can.  If the doc gives you 20s you can mix and match. So very very common dont worry. Think you have gastritis, use gaviscon? at bedtime a good mouthful but take your PPI in the morning.  Dont underestimate gastritis its painful and makes your life a mess.  An endoscopy? would see the inflamed area/s. 

Hi Dave, thanks for your reply. I'm currently on pantaprazole twice a day, and still haven't gotten any relief after two weeks. My diet is also incredibly limited. Is this normal?

20mg twice = 40 or 2 x 40mg = 80mg??  I used to split my dose into 2 like you but was told you must have them together??  I still sometimes split them 12 hours apart but if I get acid bad I take 2 x 20mg at the same time and this sorts it.  Ive got to say that 40mg should sort it but sometimes the dose at the begining can be high as when your treated for HP which comes in at 2 x 40mg =80mg/day.  In saying that I alway use Gav at night which really helps.  I would have expected 40mg to have worked wonders in 2 weeks so try taking them together, oh do you wait the one hour after taking them before eating??  The only time I had to wait 8 weeks for them to help was after an endoscopy, the tech thought he was rodding a drain lol?!!!! During that 8 weeks I lost 2 stones and was in constant pain. Wheres the pain and acid??  General tum or more central chest, does it get worse after eating or better, does it hurt when the food goes down & was your cat scan with contrast, do you have pain or only acid???  ?Dont worry, we'll get to the bottom of this, pardon the pun.  I still feel they need to have a look inside your tum and see whats occuring.

I'm taking 2 40mg pills, before breakfast and dinner. I usually wait 30 minutes after taking them to eat. Pain is typically in my upper abdomen, but sometimes radiates to my back and left/right area below my rib cage.

I've had blood tests, ct scans, stool tests, and an ultrasound which came back negative.i also did the h pylori treatment and had a negative breath test afterwards, but I'm wondering if it was a false negative. Haven't really noticed any acid since I've been on the PPI, it's been more of a burning ache in my upper stomach area. Thanks for your help, it's much appreciated!

Hi, Sorry to hear that you are not feeling great but i can tell you from experiance that it will get better its just a long road to recovery. The best advice I can give you is to eat well by this i mean no foods that will upset the stomach but good wholesome bland foods packed with nutriants & low fat, no alcohol, none whatsoever. It took me around 6 months to start feeling better, i put the main reason for this was the change in diet. Other things i found helped were Aloe Vera liquid. hope you get better soon.

Ok got it, I had the exact same pain in those areas plus under my far R/H rib, chest right through to my back and my oesophagus.  I still think your feeling the inflamed areas from the acid prior to you taking Pantop.  It can take 6-12 months to heal. Your dose is still the same as the treatment dose for HP, if you've not got acid I would look at reducing this after the 4 weeks.  Has the doctor said why your on 80mg???  I'd be dropping to 40 and then try mixing and matching 40-20mg per day until your on 20 most of the time and when stable try and go every other day etc.  Give it a couple of months at the very very least to heal.  If you still have pain after 2-3 months see if you can get an endoscopy?, I'm not a doctor but I've seen so many over the years and consultants that I have very very little confidence in any of them, they look in the wrong place, give the wrong meds and when you tell them where your pain is they just look at you with eyes wide open.  I'm lost re the CAT scan prior to endoscopy, they are not nice but tell you whats occuring in your tum, the camara never lies lol. You may even have an ulcer or a HH which require an endoscopy? but you'er on the meds anyway so give it a few months to heal.  Before PPIs came out and we had only ranitidine I would be in pain for 12 months each time.  I now op for low dose PPI all the time to stop the endless toing and froing?.  If you've got no acid now just the pain your half way back to normal, dont worry there are 10000s of us out there who've had the same thing and still have it in some form.  The main thing is to kill the acid, its the long term effects of acid that can lead to much bigger probs, scared areas are quick to inflame again and when this occurs again and again your in for long term probs. 

Thanks for the reassurance, it means a lot. Doctor told me to continue on this doseage for 2 months before being evaluated. I just hope it works.

Thanks for the reassurance, it means a lot. Doctor told me to continue on this doseage for 2 months before being evaluated. I just hope it works.

Thanks James, I'm glad you're feeling better. It's been a rough couple of months for me so far.

Thanks James, I'm glad you're feeling better. It's been a rough couple of months for me so far.

Doctors, pheww, my only problem with such a high dose is that the side effects can give you the same pain and sometimes even worse pain.  I was once put on 40mg lansoprazole?, well it about killed me, the pain and side effects on me were horrendous?.  I really thought that was me done, no one told me it could even be the lansoprazole. Pantoprazole saved my life.  Omeprozole also gave me probs but nothing like the other.  I understand why hes/shes done it, its a simple method to ensure that if its acid related they've nailed it.  In 2 months on that dose you will have to ween yourself off slowly or you'll experiance acid and burning like nothing you've had prior.  Hope this makes sense I can't find my glasses so I'm typing semi blind lol.  I'll bet in 2 months your feeling much better but if that is the case keep on a low dose for a while if your doc will alllow you to.

For sure. I'm just in so much constant pain atm, and it's hard to go on sometimes.

For sure. I'm just in so much constant pain atm, and it's hard to go on sometimes.

If your ok with the 80mg/day then ok but look pantop up on the web, if I take 40 for longer than 2 days my bowls lock up and the pain starts.  And from my limited research it would appear from the tests thats theres little or no gain between the 40 & 80mg/day.  But the manufactures do state 80mg for severe cases????  but they would. I hate meds all meds but they are life savers but I always try to keep to the lowest possible dose, just monitor yourself well.  If your bowls lock up you may need to drop your dose, but anyway 80mg/day WILL sort your acid out lol.  Its like puling your nail off for an in-growing toe nail, it stops the nail growing back but a little trim might have done the job, only my thoughts, dont read anything into them!!!!!  Keep us all imformed pal what occurs, just keep posting we are all here for you.

Hi Dave, I have been following your posts for a few months and find you very knowledgable and was wondering if you could shed any light on my stomach problem.

I posted on here about 2 months ago so won't bore you with my full horror story.

It all started Oct 15 with back pain radiating around to my upper abdomen, thought kidney/urine infection. Went to GP, run bloods, all clear. The pain now was definatley central abdomen just under ribs and burning.

Referred for Endoscopy found mild Gastritis so prescribed Omperazole and referred for ultra sound. Omperazole seemed to increase my pain and spead to whole abdomen, renching/tearing/stabbing/nausea/feeling hot almost like i was going to humanly combust..

Since then I have tried Lanperazol/emperazol/rinidine to no avail, I have now been left with acid reflux my diagnosis, as GIs don't think I have this and it is just a symtom mimicing acid reflux.....

I have had Coloscopy/CT Thorax to pelvis/numerous blood tests etc....

now waiting for a PH Mamortory test..but when is the million dollar quetion.

If this is all down to gastritis why has it not gone away, I am not over weight, eat healthy, dont drink,smoke or eat large meals, have cut out coffee and only drink 3 cups of green tea a day.

I really am at a loss and can't  put up with this burning/bitter/sour taste in my mouth and throat for much longer.  I have no appetite but Drs don't want to know, last conversation with my GP was try Apple Cider vinegar as he had heard it helped some people.

I' m back at the Drs tomorrow but don't hold much hope as they seem to think it is all anxiety, which yes i'm anxious but only because I don't know what is wrong.

Sorry to rattle on but I can't keep going back to DRs as I think they will be ordering the men in white coats to come and take me away..

Any advise would be much appreciated

PS: I still have all the abdoman pains.

I was hoping you were wrong when you said it reoccurs but unfortuatly thats what has happend, im not anxious about it this time because i know what it is. Im gonna change my diet again and get back on the PPIs and hopefully i can get over this soon. It funny thats its nearly a year to the day that this started last year.

Hi James, its funny because even though I have it all the time now it does get worse at the same time each year also.  I've put mine down to drinking loads of squash in the summer (which I'm sure dilutes the acid even more) but back to tea and coffee around October time, also a slighty different food intake. Sorry its come back but dont worry mate you can manage it. I used to be on omeprazole? 20mg for ages but it stopped working and Pantoprozole at just 20mg (20mg Omp = 40mg Pantop according to the tests conducted) worked great, now I'm back on Omeprazole 20mg due to the Pantop stopping working.  What I'm saying or trying to say very poorly is you'll have to find what works for you and then when you feel better juggle your dose and take as low a dose as possible.  Then try and come off but be ready to just have 1 tab every 2-3 days if required. The docs will say that does not work but it can.  The pharmacist? told me that all PPIs work the same and cant understand why one can give me stomach pains after a year and yet then the one that did'nt work then does!!!  In a nut shell James I dont think they know half.  I've been reading the threads on here this last year and some docs are now going for the max dose of PPis from the off in many cases.  So read up on PPis and if one gives you tummy pains swop and see what happens and set your own dose and then adjust that as required and you'll be ok.  The docs just dont have the time to adjust and re-adjust and its far more easy for them to say here it is 40mg Omp daily for life and thats what the blogs seem to be pointing to.  Keep in touch james. 

Ruby so sorry I've only just seen your post as I only get notifications on James blogs for some reasons.  James has just posted and I've just seen yours.  How are you doing now?  I've read your last blog and yes 100% your problems pain could be down to simple Gastritis but they also seem a bit low in your back.  I would say that you had a slight infection even though it was not picked up.  Many times people have 2-3 4 issues and not just 1 like the docs would have you think.  OK the PPIs can give you really bad tummy pains, Lanperazo? 30mg was really painful for me.  Now the meds and the docs will say after 4 weeks the PPis will start to work, ok they will but its more like 4-6 months to heal and the pain from the tummy and the PPIs can be worse when you go on them.  I would say you have the typical acid reflux and thats what you want to hope for.  No one can say for certain oh its 100% this that or the other but I can say that yes what you have is what I had with Gastritis? which when you think about it is inflamation of the tummy lining.  How painful is a tiny mouth ulcer?  Now you could try 300mg/day zantac Ranitidine? or even 600mg/day and see if your ok with them. If you can take PPIs see you doc re them.  The results are not as good as PPis if you look them up but it well suit you.  I really think  that some form of PPi or Ranitidine? etc is needed as your tests show you are inflamed.  But how are you now and whats are you taking??  I'm sure if you post I should get the comment but I'll keep popping back anyways.

Hi Dave,  Thank you very much for your reply its much appreciated. Unfortunatley there is not a lot of change in my symtoms I have been taking Ranitidine 300g a day for a week now but have not noticed a big difference.

I had a PH Mamotory test back in October which came back completly normal, I do not understand because if there is no acid been found what is this taste and burning in my mouth/throat/chest but would this explain why PPI's do not work.

I'm really at a loss and just keep thinking the worse albeit I have had all the tests.  I asked my GP if he thought I still have Gastritis and he would not comment and said I need to speak to my GI. for which I have an appointment this Friday.

I can't find any pattern with the food I eat and pain, it just seems to come on so randomly.  Yesterday I was fine for a few hours and then all of a sudden I started to feel the pressure building behind my sternum and then the nausea and then the bitter/sour taste and then felt awful for the rest of the day and woke up this morning with the feeling that there had been a bonfire in my stomach overnight and the cinders were smouldering, I cant believe this has been going on over a year now.

I read alot of people on here seem to be on Panto, do you think this would be worth trying, I'm just petrified of putting anything in my system Thank you once again Dave and any advise is always appreciated.

Hi Ruby, all I can say is your symtoms? are indeed looking like acis reflux, do you burb when you feel the pressure??  Did they pick up a hiatus hernia? at all whan they conducted the Endoscopy??  Now 300mg Ranitidine? is a very low dose and when I was on it back in the 90s took a full 12 months to heal me and then I was on 150 for another year. If you look at the tests 40mg Pantoprozole? or 20mg Omperazole? is a standard dose.  But when I had it bad 20mg was no-good at so I had 40mg OM for a full year -18 months once again.  So a week does nothing.  The tests say something like 82% of people are healed in 4 weeks and 90% after 8 weeks!!!!  Well I must be the other 10%. Like james above it takes time to heal and then could be on-going treament.  First dont worry you've had the tests.  But even when you've had them you still worry, been there got the t shirt.  The tests say you'er inflamed and you feel the burning and the acid, the facts are there.  Now what you need is to find out the best meds to stop the acid and heal the imflamation.  Dont trust the docs to do that.  Oh stress, its sets mine off like hell, even 40 mg omp does nothing.  It maybe that 150 ran am and 150 ran before bed helps you.  I know some take the 300mg am and again at bedtime.  But if you can tolerate PPis I would really go with one of them at a high does for a month or two and then come back to half dose eg maybe 40 mg omp, 40mg pantop and then back to 20 mg and 20mg and if your taking pantop back down to 20mg.  You need something to stop this cycle but you'll be looking at the end of April or May time before you START to feel better.  I'm off downunder for Christmas now but will still pick up emails but I may not reply right away.  Dont worry thats the first thing, you will improve but its takes time and the best med for YOU and the dose that suits YOU have to be found.  Oh just got acid bad myself and I'm on 40 mg Omp today!!!!  Its wont stop it but reduces it to a level that wont damage/burn you.  Remember it may just go after treatment but then comeback, its may go and never come back, it may never go but you manage it,  or you just manage and learn to live with it with treatment!!!!  Treatment/meds is never good, meds have side effects but acid burning you will lead to a lot worse and you dont want that.  But it will take time on meds, a month is nothing, give them time and get the right med at the right dose and it will work.   

Hi Dave,

When this first started back in Oct 15 I used to burp alot and had the gnawing pain in the centre of my abdomen just below the ribs and it hurt if I pushed it but I don't recall any reflux.  It wasn't until I was treated for H-Pyroli (although I had not tested positive), that the reflux started. I do burp now but not very often and it doen't always happen when I have pain.

I will definatley request a prescription for PPI when I see my GI on Friday and hopefully get this thing under control.

It just worries me that when they scoped me last Dec I had no symtoms of acid reflux and am worried now that some extensive damage has been done but when I have previosly mentioned this to two different GI's they say if I have reflux its non erosive... but how can they be so sure without scoping me again.

Anyway Dave hope your reflux has calmed down by the time you read this and hope you have a lovely Christmas down under.

Will update you after my GI appointment on Friday and thank you very much for your advise.

Yep,had just the same couldn't lay on my tum at night even. I really do feel you have a mild case of gastritis with gord. If you had a serious case you would be doubled up in pain trust me on that. Damage takes time not one year to be a problem. Now, here's a prediction for you, when you start on ppis you'll see no improvement or little for around 4 - 6 weeks. Then you'll think one day I feel a tad better today. Then come April you'll be thinking thank goodness. Oh you may have some side effects at first most common are bowls pains low bowls, not going to the loo or going too much and wind from both ends, but hey just feeling semi better is worth it. This time next year this will be behind you or under control. I can remember when mine started all that time ago. I paid private because of the lack of information the doctors had. Waste of money. Just the same nowadays. The fact is they will tell you what it's not but not what it is   Ibs is favourite when all else fails them.  They see so many bad cases that chronic cases don't warrant their time. You'll be fine. Now go and enjoy Christmas and let us know which medications and dose They put you on.

If only the Drs had told me that I could expect lower abdominal pain while on Omp I would have carried on taking it and may well have been mended by now instead I was told that it did not agree with and to stop taking it. Helpful!!!!,

Hey Dave,

You seem to know your stuff and I'm glad this thread is still going, though I wish you all felt better! I've had symptoms for the past 3 ish months that are still coming and going and getting resolved. They say it's reflux but seems so severe!

I took antibiotics back in August and on the last night of taking them I was violently sick. I should say I stupidly took them on an empty stomach while having my usual diet of sporadic eating, drinking tea and coffee and eating pizza late at night. Since this episode of sickness my life has unfortunately changed.

I had bad oral thrush for a month after the medication and would retch in the morning and on an empty stomach. I thought it was to do with the thrush buthe I still get it occasionally so I'm not sure now. About a month in my anxiety was building and I can't eat the same portion sizes I used to, so I developed nausea sometimes after eating. Things got a bit better but I eould have off days where I felt either sick or too full of acid and bagged up to eat.

About 3 weeks ago I had a severe bout of nausea through this which triggered a panic attack. Since then I've had little to no appetite and get full really quickly when I eat. I have also had severe burning in my stomach.

The doctor has monitored me for months and I got diagnosed with reflux. I'm on omeprazole which is beginning to calm the burn down and the nausea when I eat, which I don't get all the time anyway. But I am so scared not having an appetite - even when I get hungry I'm just put off food. It feels so dien at Christmas to look at good and not want it.

All my blood tests, including for h pylori, are all normal. But I have never felt so ill. Please help.

Welcome to the thread mj. Now you have hit upon an issue that I have seen on many sites such as this. What you mention seems again common and the blogs seem to suggest that woman are more prone to this than men! Or are woman more likely to post?  Now what does reflex cause by the time you notice and go to the doctor? An area or areas of inflammation that are in contact with acid on an ongoing basis. Then you eat and swallow your food which inflames further.  I have no idea what other chemicals also attack such areas at this time also. Gastritis via reflux or other causes is tunder diagnosed, go to the docs and tell them you have pain in the far right hand side under your ribs. They say well there's only your liver there and do liver tests and gallstone tests and rightly so but they miss many times inflammation of your tum or intestines due to acid for whatever reason and don't put you on ppis so by the time your doc has then sent you foe the camera  you ur condition is worse. Gastritis is painful and back to you're comment the tummy is a sensitive creature and every positive action and negative action seems to have consequences upon it.  

Hey Dave,

Well for me I had never noticed an issue with this until I took antibiotics 3 months ago. That night I was sick and from there I've had a myriad of issues that are pretty scary - sometimes I feel like I'm dying. Can gastritis cause a loss of appetite? I have had that in the past 2-3 weeks on and off and it's scared me, but I've also had insomnia since I had a bout of severe nausea 3 weeks ago. I think it's all just got on top of me and scared me that there's something seriously wrong with me. When I got the nausea I had been leaving my stomach more empty so I dunno if I've messed up the stomach lining. That's when I've noticed it burning a lot.

The omeprazole has brought the burning down to a more manageable leevl but I feel swollen inside if that makes any sense? And sometimes when I eat I feel a bit choked up - I also especially notice this on an empty stomach. It puts me off eating. It's so weird and unnerving!

Docs said acid reflux, potential ulcer, potential gastritis with ulcer, or even a hernia. I hate going to the doctor usually but this has impacted my life so much it's forced my hand and I had to go. The anxiety definitely makes it worse - I feel calm today and things are easier to cope with.

Could you shed any light on my symptoms from your experience? Sometimes I am just off food completely, I don't want it. Stomach burns when it's empty, feels congested when it's full and my oesophagus feels irritated at times. I feel sick sometimes when I eat but that's kind of narrowing down now to 3-4 times a week since I'm eating little and often. It doesn't happen after every meal but there doesn't seem to be a pattern in regards to food (I do notice it worse with fried food I have to say).

There is nothing more unnerving than not having an appetite for 2 weeks while all of this is going on. It's terrifying.

Hi Dave,

Just a quick update.  The GI appointment of last week was a complete waste of time, I have been told that i am suffering from a functional disorder and is most possibly nerve related so has recomended that I take Gaberpentan and been reffered to the pain clinic.  I questioned the fact that I thought I was still suffering from Gastritis and acid reflux and was told it was highly unlikely.  As you can imagine I came away very dissapointed, it was not my regular GI and I don't even think he listened to my account of symtoms and most definetley didn't read my notes.  I am going back to my GP tomorrow to see if they will give me a script for some PPI's, albeit I think I may have a fight on my hands.  I currently have pressure around the Sternum, bitter/sour taste, chest area and back is burning, how can this be just a functional disorder!!! so just taken some Ranidine.  Hope all ok with you..

sorry on the on the iPad and posted to soon lol. Back to the issue. Your symptoms are the most experienced by people. Yes it's very easy to panic and think the worst, been there.  Now I'm no health professional but it does sound like you have excessive acid and maybe reflux. Your panic sorry to call it that is adding to the problem, in fact it maybe worse than the problem itself. Does that make sense? Omeprozole does make you feel blotted and fills you with wind. Just keep taking the meds. I will reply when I get a min in detail.

Hey Dave,

Thank you for your reply. Sicne I posted this I have calmed down a great deal. I'm actually tired again which most people would be fed up with but I am relieved! I was wired for about a month there.

Omeprazole is making me so gassy, it's embarrassing. I'll tell you honestly, and please lol at this because I'm not meaning to be rude but I am so farty. I'm lucky to have a boyfriend and family who don't think this is disgusting but they find it hilarious - don't know what's worse! I actually find that one omeprazole a day feels healthier for me than 2 but I've been advised to take 2 by my doctor so I'll try and go back to two. If it's unbearable I'll go back to one a day again but he says I'm on a healing dose.

So after weeks of panicking and spending over 100 quid at this time of year phoning helplines about my issues (I lost my mind - it's been horrific, this stomach stuff), I saw my GP on Friday and he calmed me down. The first time he had said it was acid reflux didn't really resonate with me, I found it impossible that something so benign could make me feel like my insides were rotting slowly. He explained my symptoms to me rather than the other way around! Kept askingm e if I felt like I was gagging (that and the nausea scares me the most but I do hate the heartburn as well). He said it's reflux oesophagitis. He's referred me because I've lost 11lb in 4 months but it's explained weight loss because there are weeks I won't touch food. He said the oesophageal symptoms are the ones giving me the nausea and that my stomach is churning due to the acid and stress. We discussed antidepressants but actually explanations and communities like this put me at a lot of ease, even when the symptoms are horrible.

My GP told me to "enjoy the bad things in life over Christmas" in moderation because I was bemoaning how dull my life has become without my favourite things or the odd drink. I ended up having pizza with my workmates at lunchtime on Friday. BIG MISTAKE. Felt absolutely dire, had to take buccastem for reflux and nausea though they calm you down as well because they shut down the nausea centre in your brain. But pizza is out for the time being, I overdid it big time and just did an "all you can eat" thing when clearly that's not agreeing with me just now.

So all in all, things are a bit better. Heartburn has completely gone. I get the odd niggle but it's not waking me up 10 times a night. I am sleeping better. Last night is the first night I only woke up once and wasn't nervous. This has been for months. I'm tired and better rested. I have eaten Christmas dinners, just in smaller portions. I get nausea twice a week now and to be honest last night had a bit of bother but I was painting a picture for my pal's Christmas and barely noticed because I was preoccupied in something good for once!

I've been referred for a scope but my GP said "the specialist will tell you what I have been and we'll see how your oesophagus is healing". I think I'll need to manage this for a while and deal with the odd bad day but much better than I was a few weeks ago. Funny now that I've relaxed I'm hungry again - I even ate dill pickles yesterday with cheese and it didn't reflux too badly!

Thanks for keeping me sane, sorry for the rambles!

Good news, are you saying your on 20mg x 2? If you are on 40 it can as you know give you wind! I've spent hours looking at the test results of all the ppis and 20mg per day is almost as good at healing as 40. Now in saying this I do find that I sometimes need to up mine to 40 per day. So your doc is correct but don't worry if you drop to 20. Now I can only tell you what I would do, I'm no doctor but when you go and see a doc and a consultant and they ask you what meds and dose you would like it and then tell you to manage your own illness it somewhat makes you feel uneasy lol. Go steady on the food and don't overload and stay off the spirits wine and gassey beers. Try the stouts! Back to your dose, I also find 40 makes me constipated but if you can stay on 40 do so for around 8 weeks and then drop to 20 if your doc arrgrees. Look up the test results yourself and you'll see, I bet your doc has never looked at them. Anyway your on the mend, have a great Christmas and lets us all know how you go.

hi ruby the question I would be asking is: can functional disorder cause gastritis like the endoscopy found? I would like to be a fly on the wall when he replied! Now what I used to do was when I got a consultant that seemed to come up with shall stay politely a daft prognosis I just would tell them I wanted my views recording on the notes.  Some of these people make silly and I mean silly statements.  I was told for years I had ibs because they didn't want to look.  If you have inflamed areas something must be causing them, yes? So I agree with you. How did the trip to the gp go?

Haha, I dunno, Dave. He's a pretty thorough doctor. He has been amazing. He said antibiotics are in his opinion the most dangerous drug he prescribes - I would agree with that. I've done roaccutane for skin and that is a gauntlet, let me tell you. But I got fragile skin, dry lips, a bit of depression and weakness of the skin for the duration and a few months after. It has been fine since. And a simple dose of antibiotics has wiped me out. I counted how many meds I've taken for the knock on effects of the flucloxicillan and I'm currently at 8 prescribed - PPI's, I had thrush following this and couldn't swallow properly for a week (I still dunno if my curent digestive issues are relatd to that btw), anti nausea tablets and I've been dabbling with anxiety meds short term. My non prescription meds list is pretty extensive, too.

Thanks for the info re: gas and omeprazole. I was bricking it when I started getting lower abdominal rumblings and pains in my hip region, but it seems to be gas moving through my system. It has subsided over the weekend since I moved down to 20. I'll keep at 40mg but if it starts to get grumbly or create other lower abdominal issues I'll take 20mg. My doc knows about healing but I do feel (don't want to speak soon) that my oesophagus is less tight when I swallow and my stomach doesn't feel as hollow or burning. I can't feel food when it hits my stomach, unlike 2 weeks ago where everything hitting it made me feel like a balloon!

I'm off the booze for a lonnnng time after this, sadly. I have had a few gins when it wasn't as bad a few weeks ago but it still doesn't agree and I've just managed to get a grip on my anxiety. Booze sends my anxiety off the chart at the best of times! So being boring and sensible this year. I've noticed some of my mates ask how I am then disappear only to basically say "are you better yet?!" a few weeks on. I'm usually out hillwalking on adventures, car trips and nights out but this is the way it is just now. I need comfort, healing, books and to be by my fire till this all calms down. It's given me a huge scare and tbh till it completely resolves I'll still feel a bit "out of it" when it comes to socialising with folk who can consume normal food and booze, haha. Shame because loads of my family and friends are being supportive but I do feel I'm getting more from forums just now in terms of advice and people knowing how crummy this feels. My boyfriend's sister has had gastritis before and she's been great as well.

Have a great Christmas, too and thanks so much

Hi Dave,

Better than I expected, trying me on 20mg Pantoprazole and 300g Ranidine for 14 days and if I feel impovement will put the Panto on repeat. Been taking for 3 days now and agree with Mj the gas is horrendous!!! but this is the only thing that has changed at the moment.

What I still don't understand is I feel so unwell all the time, flu like symtoms - shaky, shivery then really hot then back to normal (if there is such a thing)! It's just concerning that I can feel ok one minute then bang all hell breaks loose.

Another thing that has been mentiioned is bile reflux but would this cause the burning, I did ask the question but as usual got an evasive answer.

Anyway I'll keep taking the tablets and hope will see some improvement shortly.

Thanks again Dave

Hey Ruby,

I actually dropped myself down to 20mg since I instinctively knew the tablets were causing further problems, and at times I felt like food wasn't digesting. I feel much better now! I had 2 dinners last night, ahaha. Though I do feel like my stomach is churning a bit this morning.

My GP mentioned bile reflux and seemed really certain about it. It seems it depends on your Doctor which isn't encouraging. My original doctor thought I had campylobacter! I wish it had been that, haha.

I was terribly worried about all this a few weeks ago and my appetite went. It was terrifying. I am hungry again even though I'm uncomfortable and sleeping so much, I think my doctor relaxed me. Sometimes we just need a detailed explanation and someone patient having our back.

When I stress about this I get flushes. I don't know if it's related. I also have caught every infection under the sun since this started! So I currently have a head cold!

My time with this happened after antibiotic use, could be a lowered immune system. Everything starts in the gut after all.x

Hi,

?Your story is so familar, this nightmare started Oct 15, prior to this I was having a lot of problems with my teeth and was on constant Antibiotics along with popping Iburfuem drinking coffee all day and not eating much and bang!!!

?Last night I went back to my GP as I have a bacteria infection that will not go away, I have already had 3 rounds of Antibiotics and now back again so will be starting a 4th once the test results are back, so questioned the fact that this would be the 4th round and was told that there was no way that Anibiotics would cause gut problems!!!

I can't believe it as when I was first diagnosed with Gastritis the GI told me that the Antibiotics/Ibuf and coffee were probaly the cause. Unbelievable!!!!

?Anyway MJ glad you are on the mend and and hopefully you are now over the worse.

Hey,

Oh they absolutely do cause these issues, I can testify to that! I feel like they ripped my stomach lining in half, to be honest! On the mend now but found out a girl had norovirus and is now back in work - this is really cruel and I'm not usually germ phobic but feel like I need to be really careful just now in terms of catching things...since I got the stomach issues I've also come down with a chest infection and a cold last week so my immune system is already low! Can handle colds and chest infections but terrible with stomach stuff, it just affects me mentally so much as well. I'm really strong with other stuff. I think if you work in a hospital (which I do) and find out someone had noro, give them till Christmas off and make sure they don't come back. I'm so paranoid about bugs and everything now I've had this awful time because it seems far away that I was healthy and robust and can't afford to lose any more weight! x