How I cured my gastritis

Gunvor,

Yes, I had all the tests and yet no diagnosis. Basically, they've told me it is IBS. I tried PPI's (Nexium, Dexilant) and H2 Blockers (Zantac, Cemitidine) but although they helped they didn't help 100%. My doctor said I had been on the PPI's too long and took me off. Finally I got a reumatologist to provide me with amitriptyline. This is an old school tricyclic antidepressent. It has been extremely helpful. I can finally sleep without pain waking me up throughout the night. I am taking a very low dose of only 10mgs. Typically it is prescribed for depression at doses of 150mg+. There is research out on the use of this drug for IBS. I posted a link to some earlier. Let me know if you can't find it.

Thanks for that! I got it prescribed, but I am still breastfeeding my son so I'm a bit hesitant to start. I will have to wean him soon though.. I have also tried all the PPI, H2 blockers and ALL  the antiacids, but kinda do feel they're making me worse, yet I can't do without. Am hoping this strict diet will help me.. 

Yeah, funny story. We were giving it to my dog years ago to help with firework stress on the 4th of July.  I took one by accident and I was nursing. My OB/Gyn said I should pump and dump. So, I think you're right.

Be careful with this drug, is normally used for nerve issues at low doses of 10mg as well.  It is used for depression but is not very effective.  I used it for 2 weeks and stopped because it was giving me tremor and rapid heart.  It was for never issues in my case. 

I heard that but hadn't experienced it myself and couldn't find anything in the side effects that scared me. Thanks for sharing this. We should always be careful.

Hi Neoison555.  I'm sorry to hear about your problems.  I've struggled with this condition, too.  I was diagnosed with gastritis.  But my symptoms are very mild now; and oftentimes I don't notice any symptoms at all.  I haven't taken any medication at all.  I just followed a low-fat, low-acid, low-FODMAP diet.  But I make sure to eat at least 2400 calories a day, to maintain my weight.  That's very important, because too much food (calorie) restriction causes our stomach emptying to slow down dramatically.  And that will lead to more problems with reflux.  So here's what I eat each day:

Breakfast:

80g baked salmon

150g steamed white rice

50g steamed broccoli

100g root veggies, slow cooked in crock pot (rutabagas, turnips, beets, parsnips, carrots)

1/2 large banana

20 almonds

Mid-morning snack:

150g plan full-fat yogurt (Fage -- it has no fillers)

20g walnuts

Lunch:

80g baked skinless chicken thigh

150g steamed white rice

50g steamed broccoli

100g root veggies, slow cooked in crock pot (rutabagas, turnips, beets, parsnips, carrots)

1/2 large banana

20 almonds

Mid-afternoon snack:

150g plan full-fat yogurt (Fage -- it has no fillers)

20g walnuts

Dinner:

60g beef and 10g beef liver

150g steamed white rice

50g steamed broccoli

100g root veggies, slow cooked in crock pot (rutabagas, turnips, beets, parsnips, carrots)

1/2 large banana

20 almonds

I drink a tall glass of water with each of the three main meals, and a little in between meals.  It's about 2 quarts (8 cups) per day.  I don't eat any processed foods (other than the yogurt), so my diet is naturally low in sodium.  But if your doctor says you should consume more sodium, then definitely do so.  

Do not bend over or lie down within 3 hours after eating.

Do not wear tight clothing or belts.

If you are prone to anxiety, as I am, try to find ways to reduce that.  I do deep belly breathing for 5-10 minutes each morning.  It really helps.  But you have to do it properly.  There's a good description of this kind of breathing in two great books:  The Panic Attacks Workbook, and The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook.

Be patient with this diet.  It will take a week or so before you notice improvement.  But it will work.  Just buy all the food and cook enough to last you for 5 or 6 days.  That's what I do.  Let me know how it goes, and if you have any more questions.  Take care.

Scott

Also, elevate the head of your bed by 5 or 6 inches.  That is important.  Don't try using more pillows -- it won't work.  Place some wood blocks or books on the floor, to prop up the head of your bed.

I cured my gastritis with herbal medicine and supplements. It started off as a flu with nausea and wanting to vomit. I went to the GP who told me that it was gastritis and gave me some PPIs which I didn't take. I changed my diet instead. I eliminated wheat produce, dairy, nuts. It wasn't difficult in any case cause I really couldn't eat. At the beginning I had stomach burns, aesophagitis, the stomach always felt really full. I also felt as if I had some sort of cuts in the stomach possibly ulcers. 

Bloating, sphinker reflux and like a big fist at the back of my throat. 

After changing the diet I went on to take slippery elm powder three times a day. I was only eating broccoli and spinach at the time (that was the only thing that wasn't giving me problems). 

I went to see a herbalism who gave me a herbal mix which included ginger and other herbs. Another herbal mix which helped my stress levels. I also took fish oil, GLA and vitamin C daily. 

Turmeric with coconut milk every day to cure the stomach lining and fermeted food such as kefir and sauercraut. I also did 5 days of cabbage juicing but I didn't find big benefits from it.

4 months down the line I don't feel anytihng anymore. I'm still vigilant as to what I eat as I know that it's still a little sore and I cannot indulge much in dairy or other but I'm really happy now. Of course I have stopped drinking coffee or any sort of alcohol. Although I must say that the last time I went out with a friend I shared a few sips of beer and I didn't have any issue.

Very good diet but I have some questions and comments-

Why water with foods, I read is not good for us.

In my case I can't eat rice because I'm gluten sensitive and rice is a grain (low amount of gluten).  That right there takes away some calories which I need just like yourself. ;-(

WOW, I see you eat nuts like crazy " That is nuts"  jejeje  I do too, mostly because I like them and they add the extra calories I need but I only eat them 2-3 times daily. Maybe I should go up to 1 dose for meal and snack. I lost 60 pounds which is not good. ;-(

Btw, walnuts are acidic (very high). Almonds are not. ;-)

 

Hi Papote53.  I have not heard that about water with meals.  I like it.  

Rice does not contain any gluten.  The only grains that contain gluten are wheat (including wheat varieties like spelt, kamut, farro and durum, plus products like bulgar and semolina), barley, rye, triticale and oats (if the oats were processed in a facility that processes wheat or other gluten grains).

As to the acidity of walnuts, I didn't know they were considered acidic.  Perhaps I never notice that because I always eat them with yogurt.

Thanks for the information.  Please eat more.  Don't restrict too many foods, because it only makes things worse (slows digestion and stomach emptying).  Take care.

Also, I eat my bananas quite ripe -- lots of brown spots.  If I eat them before they're ripe, they make me constipated.

Personally I cannot eat as many nuts as Scott. Too much fat for me. Also I can't tolerate bananas, although if they are very ripe it might be OK - I have not tried. I do drink some water with meals particularly if there is anything dry. If I eat a lot of dry food without water my stomach gets irritated.

They are both foods that can cause problems so starting low is the right option.  Now, for those wanting to gain weight is the best option if they can eat that much.   I myself love them but no walnuts because they are acidic.

There's is some concern that water will dilute the digestive juices or interfere with digestion but some say drinking water during or after a meal actually aids digestion. Water and other liquids help break down food so that your body can absorb the nutrients.  Now, as for rice- oryzenin is a glutelin found in the seeds of rice.  There is many types of gluten and all grains have gluten ,is just that they are not the same gluten wheat has.  All of them are inflammatory even if you do not have gluten sensitivity. 

Hello. Scott I agreed with you about how much we eat and what we eat.

I do the same amount of food like you do.

I see you have 5 meals

I only have 3 meals

For breakfast, lunch, dinner

9oz g of white rice

Small potato

150g of Veg all except the one that are acidic like pepper, eggplant, all of them stim

4 0z of chicken/ tuna or turkey

The potato, the vegetables, and half of the rice I put in a blender plus I add half of benecalorie that is 1.5 oz. I just put the half then I use the other half in lunch. That give me enough calories so Im able to keep my weight and not over fill my stomach. Between meals I drink coconut water, watermelon juice. I make my own I just blend. I also make oatmeal milk. Is delicious I just add some honey. That keep me hidrate and give me some calories. Also take natural juices. Like carrot juice with celery, beets,. Spinach. There a lot of combination

I follow my instinct if I'm thirsty I drink. How ever I do not drink anything 30m before a meal and 1 hour after a meal. I take my time to eat at least 40minutes. I'm still on ppi dexilant I skip one day .

Every morning 1 hour before breakfast I make potato juice 6oz I use my juice extractor.

So far been able to tolerate more acidic food. However I keep a distance. I focus on what I can eat and not on what I can not eat.. we just have to keep moving.

I agree three meals a day is what you want to do Max. You have to give yourself time too fast from 7 p.m. until 6 or 7 a.m. because you have to give your stomach time to heal and if you're always putting food in your stomach and eating it never has time to recover fully. Two months ago I was eating sodium-filled Foods and eating four or five times a day and my gastritis got worse and recently I switched to zero sodium zero citric acid and I feel like finally I am getting better each day.

Hi Henrinho4 -- thanks for posting your meal plan.  That sounds very healthy!

I took sodium ascorbate (alkalinized vitamin c) 2000mg everyday for 3 months. Then I coupled it with small frequent feedings every 2 hours. I did not gain nor lose weight because i just divided my three meals into smaller portions. This one worked for me. I dont know how did the sodium ascorbate did it but i think the vitamin c helped my gut to heal while its alkalinity helped neutralize my acidity. Meanwhile foods react differently for each person, have a diary and record what foods aggravate your symptoms and be sure to remove them from your diet. Banana, beans and some vegetables were bad for me. I agree that water also had helped me a lot. 3 years of gastritis and finally i felt relieved by just doing these things in 3 months. It took patience especially that part on eating every 2 hours literally. I hope you find your cure too.

WOW, thank you for this information-  I had this dream 2 months ago that I needed to drink vitamin C. I even told my wife because in the dream someone I did not know was telling me to drink vitamin C and that will cure me. I looked around and all I saw was acidic vitamin C with gluten so I gave up. Time to buy some vitamin C. ;0)

Ive also read about the drinking of any liquid is not good for us when consumed at the same time as food as interferes with digestion but what if you have to take a few medications that say take with meals with water. Ive also read drinking cold water when especially eating fatty foods, the cold water sets the fat whilst still in our stomachs 

Yes, it does interfere. Just drink a sip of water with each pill.  I use room temperature water, didn't know about the cold water. ;-)

I am taking ppi 40mg of nexium.. not good but I have gastritus and need that to heal completely before I start weaning off. I have noticed after I eat a nasty taste in back of throat and slight misting up heartburn. So I did something no recommended by my Doctor. But I took a nexium Capsule apart and subtracted 10mg and took 30mg in the morning. Then 10mg with mushed small peice of banana at night before bed on empty stomach.. My first balanced day happened with no reflux and painless night of repair. I have up days and down days.. some days feel better than worse. Also still taking Carafate which keeps me up at night. Just a tweak that worked for me.

Hi Henri

Have you started gaining back your weight? Let me know and Good luck!

Salmon rice and broccoli for breakfast?!

Lol...yep! Though I'm now eating oatmeal instead of rice for breakfast. And quinoa or rice with lunch. Potatoes or rice with dinner. But still salmon and veggies. 😃