How I cured my gastritis

Sorry Susan, I don't know enough to comment on your post, I just wanted to say that you might get more responses by posting in one of the Gut, bowel and stomach forums.

Hi Susan!  In order to be sure what is going on, on the inside, the scope is the best way to know.  Interesting, that I also had no acid reflux symptoms, burping acid stuff but I did have slight heartburn and nausea as well  Also felt as if my bra was too tight--and many times I would unhook it or not wear one, ahh.   If I were you I would feel better knowing with a scope and able to treat it better whether with homeopathics or omeperazole.  I first had erosive gastritis--ulcers, got better with the omeperazole and then it was just gastritis.  I was on omeperazole for 1-2 years and eventually felt worse.  I was able to wean off of the PPIs slowly and now feel so much better.  I would stay on the omperazole and add the slippery elm as you are doing.  The other thing that I did was used the zinc carnosine.  Google that if you want to see what that does and the combination of zinc and slippery elm was very effective.  It was at that point when taking those 2 plus the omeperazole for a time until the pain was gone did I then wean off the PPIs while still taking the 2 supplements.  Then added an H2 blocker when I came off the PPIs.  

If you have insurance to cover the EGD and your doc thinks that is the next step, it pays to know exactly how much and where the inflamation is.  Then you can plan the next step.  Good luck!  It will get better!

Hi thanks Barbara, whats H2 blocker? im just going to google the zinc carnosine now, You say after being on the omeprazile you adventually felt worse and felt better after weaning of them. So you weaned off the omeprazole but carried on with the other two suppliments then added the H2 blocker. have i read this correct? im in the Uk and no insurance needed. 

Thanks

Sue 

Hi Susan, Sorry for the delay in my response.

After a year or two on the omeperazole, i started having bloating issues and the pain just never really went away.  And with all the side effects of long term PPI use, I decided it was time to wean.  So correct, that I weaned off the PPIs using the slippery elm and zinc carnosine daily using it in conjunction with the PPIs, then I switched to every other day PPIs and H2 blocker on the alternative day--which is an acid reducer, not an acid blocker, so it lets your body have a little bit of acid to be able to break down foods and absorb vitamins like calcium, iron and magnesium and B12, which can be depleted and cause a host of other problems while on the PPIs--like omperazole.    I am still taking daily H2 blocker, like Pepcid-AC or Zantac, and still taking the slippery elm and zinc carnosine, and drinking lots of water.   And feel so much better. 

hi susan! i think the surest way to know what type of condition u have is to undergo endoscopy. i have taken the PPIs for a month and felt better but my gastritis recurred again after neglecting the proper diet. these foods triggered the recurrence of the disease - choclate donuts, junk foods, cheese... also, stress is a factor. i am hoping and praying taht we'll be healed in time.

I was  very allergic to PPI s it was severe itching after 10 days  that began in my hands then feet then everywhere, stopped immediately .

 Back to Marshmalloe . aloe , zinc carnosine, and our old friend Slippery Elm

Sue 

Thanks for your reply.

How did you get out of the yo-yo effect? Like, what happens if you eat some trigger food now. I certainly hope you don't, but just asking. How long have not had any flareups? How long it took you to get out of yo-yo?

I'm starting to doubt whether PPIs actually do anything, but dare not to taper off. What is your opinion about their efficacy? I've heard some people stopped it even when they were not fully healed and felt no difference, or even felt better. It's not that I'm not improving, but it's that I have a nagging doubt that might improve even without them, not sure though.

One more thing: I read somewhere you couldn't tolerate dairies. I also couldn't. Diarrhea right away. I tried Lactase pills (14000 dose) and I can now eat dairy again. Works wonders. I also tried garlic powder instead of garlic and had no irritation. Just wanted to share this.

I meant "helped" not "help". I haven't taken PPIs for years now.

You know what, I get to the point of "feeling healed" after a couple of months and then make a slight mistake and I'm back to square one. I find it extremely difficult to stay on the healed point. Did you go about for one year without doing ANY mistakes? meaning that you didn't get back to square one for a year? otherwise, how did you manage to break out of the yo-yo?

How long did it take you the get where you are? 

I don't wanna assume the tempting role of the devil, but just for the sake of science, can you eat burgers and french fries now? Those must still be off the list, right? or tomatoes, garlic and onion?

It took me a few months to be healed then I have been careful with what I eat for years. Yes I can eat a burger but no pickles, onions, tomatoes or dressing: I put cheese on it, avocado, bacon, lettuce and that is fine. I eat a few fries, not the whole basket. Tomatoes are ok once in a while. Garlic and onion are still a no no but sometimes I have it at the restaurant, it bothers me for a day then I am fine again. It is all about management. As soon as I feel the slight discomfort I go back on a strict diet and I stopped trying to "reintroduce" irritating foods. I just said bye bye to most of them and with time stopped wanting most of them.

I haven't had strong pain for years and the slight discomfort and/or reflux I feel after eating irritating foods does not last more than a day now. But I am careful with what I eat, it is not hard anymore, just a new habit/way of life.

So you were never sent to square one by eating a tigger food? Just a small set back and then continous healing? Almost all the pople who I've talked to are somehow stuck in this yo-yo for a couple of years before they get their life back. You get better to the point of getting healed, intorduce something, flare-up, and then back to eating gruel. Put this on repeat. You seem to have evaded this somehow. I'm interested to know how. 

I also do exactly as you say. I stop experimenting the moment something irritates. But sometimes, it's just too late, and I'm back to a level that even water irritates me. Then should build up from ground zero again.

I haven't been back to square one no. I think the only reason is that I cook most of the food I eat which is non irritating.

What about the beginning stages of gastritis where you were introducing new foods without being sure whether they are safe or not? Like I cooked lentils once and read online they are safe, but got a flare-up.

As for garlic: Garlics really irritate me. But I've found that I can use garlic powder (in reasonable amounts) with no problem. The taste is there but it doesn't irritate. Thought I might share this. The same might go with onion powder.

That's exactly what I think too. I am trying to expand my diet just a tiny bit more and then will hopefully stick to it. That is the hardest part: not experimenting when feeling better and confident. Even when experimening, it is best to try in very small amounts, I've come to realize. 

Really great job that you've done it. Good luck for even getting better.