1. Community
  2. General
  3. Alternative and Complementary Medicine

How I cured my gastritis

Posted , 375 users are following.

ines6375
ines6375

When I got diagnosed with mild gastritis (but no H. Pylori) and esophagitis, I looked all over the internet to find what to do. I did not find many accounts of people who have cured themselves successfully and how they did it. So I thought I would write my story once I am cured. Here it is. If you have cured yourself from gastritis too, please share your experience below as well.

Many people ask how long it takes to be cured. At first I started on dexilant for a month but I did not see any improvement. After a month I kept taking dexilant and I started the low acid diet in parallel. I got much better in 2-3 days. After two months on dexilant and one month on the diet, I felt completely good. Then I stopped the dexilant cold turkey and got a lot of pain and acidity back in my stomach. Now I regret I did not take the dexilant a little longer as my stomach was obviously not healed and not strong enough to go through the rebound effect of stopping dexilant. I regret also that I did not stop dexilant slowly taking it every other day for a week, then every three days for a week, .... I felt anxious about taking a medication that has so many side effects taken long term and I wanted to stop immediately, which was not reasonable.

Anyway there I was back at the beginning with stomach pain and acidity day and night. I felt pain related to the esophagitis as well which really scared me. I hesitated to take dexilant again but I decided to try to cure myself the natural way. Below I describe what I did. I got cured in approximately two months, getting slowly better week by week. After two months of natural cures I had no stomach pain anymore and no excess acid, I was able to sleep again, felt like a new healthy (and lighter -- I lost a few pounds) person. However after those two months, I felt that I needed to follow the diet another month for my stomach to get strong and be able to handle a less strict diet.

THE CURE

Books

Most of what I did is summarized in two books which I found very useful:

The first book is "Dropping acid: the reflux diet cookbook & cure" by Jamie Koufman. This is the book I based my diet on. The only disagreements I have with the author regard dairy products that I stopped taking as they make the stomach produce more acid (very clear for me), and the use of ginger, manukka honey and aloe vera which I find too irritating and/or acidic (and I don't feel that they help). Also she does not talk about salt which is known to be irritating for the stomach lining in excess, I felt an improvement when I lowered my intake in salt. I will explain the diet more in details below.

The other book is "Ulcer free! Nature's safe & effective remedy for ulcers" by G. Halpern. I know you may have gastritis and no ulcers but the two conditions are related and what cures one usually cures the other too. I used some of the natural supplements recommended in this book. In particular slippery elm (this one is actually not mentioned in the book) and DGL licorice for stomach pain (coat the interior of the stomach lining), Zinc-Carnosine (reduce inflammation and protects stomach lining - I felt a great improvement after starting to take it especially with acid production at night), and cabbage juice (finished my recovery with this one, after two days I had no stomach pain anymore at night). I describe the supplements more below.

What did not work for me

Mastic gum hurts my stomach. It is supposedly helpful against H. Pylori which I knew I did not have (I had been tested).

Prelief removes the acid in food and stomach very efficiently but causes constipation.

Tums works well for 45 minutes but then there is a rebound effect with the stomach producing more acid.

Manukka honey hurts my stomach (Too acidic, Ph level 4, but maybe also because of the tea tree essential oil in it). It is supposedly helpful against H. Pylori.

Aloe Vera is too acidic (around Ph level 4), and I don't feel it is doing anything positive.

Ginger is irritating and I don't feel it is doing anything positive.

Probiotics helps with digestion but not really for the stomach.

Zantac works very well at removing the acidity but makes me feel dizzy and incredibly tired.

PPI worked very well at removing the acidity and pain in my stomach while I was taking it while doing the diet, but I had a bad rebound effect when I stopped (one must stop slowly by taking it every other day for a while). Also having too low acid in the stomach because of PPI might cause problems in the long term (problems with Calcium and B12 absorption, bacterial infection more likely).

39 likes, 3077 replies

3077 Replies

Prev Next
  • kennybones
    kennybones ines6375

    Posted

    I'm really wondering here if the little symptoms i have left of the gastritis actually is gastritis.. First of all, I started noticing some rib muscle pain as soon as I started taking the PPIs. Apparently it's not an uncommon side effect. It can also be a side effect of gastritis itself as well.

    However, what I have left is some occational sharp pain that lasts anywhere from half a second to a couple of seconds. Then it's gone. This comes and goes throughout the day.

    And just 10 minutes ago I thought I'd do a test and drink some luke warm water with lemon juice in it. And no pain at all. Actually I think I feel better. Might be placebo though. I'm planning on doing this every morning for the next few weeks, see what happens. Unless symptoms return. 

    But I've been on PPIs for a month now continously. I was planning on doing them for a month only, then slowly stopping by cutting down over the next month by taking them every other day for two weeks. Then every three days for next 2 weeks. 

    It's just that I don't want to start cutting down unless I'm really sure my has healed enough. Maybe I should do another full month, just to be sure?

  • JEG435
    JEG435 ines6375

    Posted

    Because of the side effects of PPIs and I am hypothyroid, I want off. I went toa naturopath, who has added to the PPIs, mastic gum in am, DGL ultra 15 min before meals and bed, acid ease with meals, probiotic 2x a day, and slippery elm lozenges between meals. My sleep is not interrupted with coughing. Only a couple of times of discomfort when I forgot to do something. I long ago gave up seltzer, recently coffee,and very little (minimal) alcohol, and more, trying to be careful about diet. I am hoping to heal. The naturopath said stopping PPIs cold turkey causes problems.  You have to do it gradually, which many of you have attested to.   Thanks for all of your comments and info. 
    • mariast
      mariast JEG435

      Posted

      Hi, Jeg435. Did these supplements help you? How are you after all those years?

  • franz2015
    franz2015 ines6375

    Posted

    Hi Ines,

    I hope you are still here to reply ><.... 

     it's been 2 weeks since i was diagnosed with erosive gastritis proximal corpus and esophagitis la grade a. i was hplyori negative.

    i'm taking meds 2x a day 40mg omeprazole and 3x a day domperidone and mucosta.. i do started the diet for gastritis and i feel a bit of comfort.. but not totally 100%.. i came back to the doctor and told about my condition and also told him that the diet help a lot. no beef and pork.. but she keeps insisting that i can eat any as long as its not spicy, tomato,citrus and sour foods..which is kinda confusing and depressing..i even ask if she could prescribe me vitamins or supplements but she said i dont need it so i believe my doctor tried beef but i got more pain and bloatedness so i just keep my diet back..

    one more thing is gastritis is like flare up (i dont understand what flare up is) acid reflux and upper abdominal pain right? but for me i feel more discomfort and pain on my lower abdomen.. i feel few on the upper but it is just nothing compare to lower abdominal discomfort/pain or a tight feeling on my low waist.. so im confuse if this is really gastritis or what.. and how severe is my gastritis compare to others is my situation a lifetime suffering ? will i ever go back playing sports and hiking ? sad( .....

    i'm just 24 years old and trying to build my carreer and dont even have a family of my own yet... i'm a man but this makes me cry.. i'm also the eldest in the family what would happen if my parents is old who will care for them and supply their needs .. im so crying right now  it's="" been="" 2="" weeks="" since="" i="" was="" diagnosed="" with="" erosive="" gastritis="" proximal="" corpus="" and="" esophagitis="" la="" grade="" a.="" i="" was="" hplyori="" negative.="" i'm="" taking="" meds="" 2x="" a="" day="" 40mg="" omeprazole="" and="" 3x="" a="" day="" domperidone="" and="" mucosta..="" i="" do="" started="" the="" diet="" for="" gastritis="" and="" i="" feel="" a="" bit="" of="" comfort..="" but="" not="" totally="" 100%..="" i="" came="" back="" to="" the="" doctor="" and="" told="" about="" my="" condition="" and="" also="" told="" him="" that="" the="" diet="" help="" a="" lot.="" no="" beef="" and="" pork..="" but="" she="" keeps="" insisting="" that="" i="" can="" eat="" any="" as="" long="" as="" its="" not="" spicy,="" tomato,citrus="" and="" sour="" foods..which="" is="" kinda="" confusing="" and="" depressing..i="" even="" ask="" if="" she="" could="" prescribe="" me="" vitamins="" or="" supplements="" but="" she="" said="" i="" dont="" need="" it="" so="" i="" believe="" my="" doctor="" tried="" beef="" but="" i="" got="" more="" pain="" and="" bloatedness="" so="" i="" just="" keep="" my="" diet="" back..="" one="" more="" thing="" is="" gastritis="" is="" like="" flare="" up="" (i="" dont="" understand="" what="" flare="" up="" is)="" acid="" reflux="" and="" upper="" abdominal="" pain="" right?="" but="" for="" me="" i="" feel="" more="" discomfort="" and="" pain="" on="" my="" lower="" abdomen..="" i="" feel="" few="" on="" the="" upper="" but="" it="" is="" just="" nothing="" compare="" to="" lower="" abdominal="" discomfort/pain="" or="" a="" tight="" feeling="" on="" my="" low="" waist..="" so="" im="" confuse="" if="" this="" is="" really="" gastritis="" or="" what..="" and="" how="" severe="" is="" my="" gastritis="" compare="" to="" others="" is="" my="" situation="" a="" lifetime="" suffering="" will="" i="" ever="" go="" back="" playing="" sports="" and="" hiking="" sad(="" .....="" i'm="" just="" 24="" years="" old="" and="" trying="" to="" build="" my="" carreer="" and="" dont="" even="" have="" a="" family="" of="" my="" own="" yet...="" i'm="" a="" man="" but="" this="" makes="" me="" cry..="" i'm="" also="" the="" eldest="" in="" the="" family="" what="" would="" happen="" if="" my="" parents="" is="" old="" who="" will="" care="" for="" them="" and="" supply="" their="" needs="" ..="" im="" so="" crying="" right="">

     it's been 2 weeks since i was diagnosed with erosive gastritis proximal corpus and esophagitis la grade a. i was hplyori negative.

    i'm taking meds 2x a day 40mg omeprazole and 3x a day domperidone and mucosta.. i do started the diet for gastritis and i feel a bit of comfort.. but not totally 100%.. i came back to the doctor and told about my condition and also told him that the diet help a lot. no beef and pork.. but she keeps insisting that i can eat any as long as its not spicy, tomato,citrus and sour foods..which is kinda confusing and depressing..i even ask if she could prescribe me vitamins or supplements but she said i dont need it so i believe my doctor tried beef but i got more pain and bloatedness so i just keep my diet back..

    one more thing is gastritis is like flare up (i dont understand what flare up is) acid reflux and upper abdominal pain right? but for me i feel more discomfort and pain on my lower abdomen.. i feel few on the upper but it is just nothing compare to lower abdominal discomfort/pain or a tight feeling on my low waist.. so im confuse if this is really gastritis or what.. and how severe is my gastritis compare to others is my situation a lifetime suffering ? will i ever go back playing sports and hiking ? sad( .....

    i'm just 24 years old and trying to build my carreer and dont even have a family of my own yet... i'm a man but this makes me cry.. i'm also the eldest in the family what would happen if my parents is old who will care for them and supply their needs .. im so crying right now>

    • lynne69494
      lynne69494 franz2015

      Posted

      hi Franz,  l guess ines will get to you later.  l,m sorry to hear how bad your feeling, and l can relate to it, l was diagnosed with acid reflux years ago, but any problem l had went when l had my gall bladder removed. l was diagnosed with gatritus a few month back, stomach and doedenum, not oseophagitus, my symptoms were more nausea daily for months prior to scope, and it really wears you down physically and mentally, lost my appetite with it, lost weight, got bloated after meals belching,  put on omprazole, didnt seem to help much, stopped taking them after a while, but they might have helped in that time, l went on diet of small plain meals, pots, broc carrot chicken or fish, or sandwich,got pro biotics, ginger tea, stopped lactose, use coconut or almond milk, it has improved in last few week, keeping my fingers crossed as its improved before and come back, but will stick to diet. l was told by a consultant on diagnosis of acid reflux and inflammation to cut back on red meats, so just eat  chicken and fish, we all have different diets and ideas, others will advice you, but dont give up, people with simular probs do improve. goodluck
    • ines6375
      ines6375 franz2015

      Posted

      Hi Franz,

      There are contradictory scientific studies about whether a low acid diet is helpful or not so doctors don't stand by it usually but I found it useful for me. But now that I am much much better, I tolerate more acidic foods in small quantities but still no garlic, onions, citrus, ... I guess those are the most irritating. It is important for you to pay attention on how you feel with different types of foods and take only the ones that don't irritate you. I believe the diet I suggest at the beginning of this thread is pretty safe in this regard. I am not suprised you react badly to beef and porc as they are a bit fatty and fat makes our condition worse. I was avoiding them too when I was sick and now I eat them very rarely and always in reasonable quantities.

      About your bloatedness and pain in your lower abdomen it makes me think that it might be IBS. People who have stomach problems have IBS too more often than the normal population. I get bad pain in my lower abdomen with gluten, you could try going gluten-free for a week and see if it improves. Also you might want to check the fodmaps diet online. Some people are more sensitive to lactose or beans or cabbage (see the fodmaps diet). I am sure you will find a way to manage  and a diet that is good for you, and go back playing sports.

    • ines6375
      ines6375 franz2015

      Posted

      I am sorry I can't really help you to know if your gastritis is worse than others and how it will evolve with time in your particular case as I am not a doctor and I have never heard of Erosive gastritis proximal corpus. Do you know if it is an autoimmune condition? What causes it?

      The gastritis I had was just regular mild gastritis I guess with some oesophagitis.

    • franz2015
      franz2015 ines6375

      Posted

      I think the proximal corpus is the area of the stomach where it is damaged.... erosive I think because  there are some damage or tear part on my mucosa.. I'm not really sure.. though the problem is the lower abdomen is more of an impact it's noticeable more when after eating. I feel that it I could have IBS too but .. or maybe IBS is really my sickness?  but I was endoscpied and seen that I have esophagitis and gastritis so its confusing me.. no acid reflux and heart burn ... the only acid reflux is  burp and some minor discomfort on my upper abdomen and bloat. this is making me crazy..  how do you know if you have IBS? the only test for it that I did is Xray. and could it be celiac disease? I dont really know..  thx for the reply .. I envy you that you were healed.. crying a lot this days.
    • ines6375
      ines6375 franz2015

      Posted

      To my knowledge there is no test for IBS, you just witness a reaction in your lower abdomen like pain (inflammation type pain) and bloatedness, also bowel movements are irregular, some people have more constipation, other diarrhea, some both alternatively. Some degree of IBS is not uncommon. It is different than celiac disease. Your doctor can test if you have celiac disease but I have never heard of a test for IBS.

      IBS is independent of the stomach problems but many people like me have both. The good news is that IBS can be managed with a fodmaps gluten-free diet (lactose free too for some).

      I don't know if you have IBS or not but your doctor diagnosed you with the gastritis and oesophagitis, so those are real. You can have gastritis and oesophagitis without noticing acid reflux. Personnally I never had much acid reflux, I have mostly silent reflux which I did not know about before I learned what it is. Dr Koufman has some books about this which you might find interesting.

    • franz2015
      franz2015 ines6375

      Posted

      about the stomach pain that you are feeling is it really exactly in the stomach upper abdominal pain?  which is more dominant or constantly giving you discomfort.. upper or lower... what's the color of your stool back then.. THANK YOU SO MUCH INES!
    • franz2015
      franz2015 ines6375

      Posted

      about the stomach pain that you are feeling is it really exactly in the stomach upper abdominal pain?  which is more dominant or constantly giving you discomfort.. upper or lower?... what's the color of your stool back then.. THANK YOU SO MUCH INES!
    • ines6375
      ines6375 franz2015

      Posted

      The stomach is just below the rib cage on the left. This is where I felt a pain. I don't have it anymore but from what I remember it was lasting and was painful if you press on it.

      My stool were a very light and weird color, very soft, I forgot the details, I probably talk about it previously in this thread.

  • acakes
    acakes ines6375

    Posted

    Anyone try Gaviscon Advance for Gastritis? Does it coat and protect the stomach from acid?
  • sandy231
    sandy231 ines6375

    Posted

    Did your symptoms come back after you left this diet , supplements, PPI?? I mean did it cure you for ever? I am a 22 years female. Three years ago I was diagnosed with mild chronic gastritis with No H.pylori. I didn't use any NSAID, nor do I smoke or drink alcohol. I don't know why it all happened and I am still suffering from it. I am on PPIs off and on from past three years and symptoms are worse this year. I had no pain in esophagus and now it's burning and feeling really painful in esophagus. I suspect of having esophaghitis as well. Do you think Pepzin GI and DGL alone can help without slippery elm? I am just afraid that it will have any sideffect. Do all these three supplements have any side effect or do they interfere with PPIs? Plus how do you take PEPZIN GI before meal or after meal? I have heard it works better if take during a meal. Please mention what mg slippery elm and of what brand??? Do you think I can get treated with the same supplements since I am suffering from past three years

    Waiting for you reply. Helpless.

    P.S reply soon.

    • sandy231
      sandy231

      Posted

      One more question. Is it possible to get back on normal diet. By normal I don't mean coffee, sodas, teas or fatty fried foods. Just normal healthy food but not really strict? I am getting married in october and worried about these symptoms. Pepzin GI and DGL may reach me after a month or so. So still on PPI and antacid. And should I stop taking pepzin GI and these all supplements immediately???
    • ines6375
      ines6375 sandy231

      Posted

      I tried the natural supplements for many months, I got an improvement with them but I did not get completely cured. What cured me completely was to take the PPI every day for two months than decrease slowly the dose over two months while following a strict diet.

      About the diet, I can't stop or I feel bad immediately. But it has gotten more relaxed now. I eat small quantities of acidic fruits, red meat, mild spices and dairy from time to time, a tomato every now and then, I don't count how much vegetal fat I eat anymore. But I still can't eat a normal meal at the restaurant with garlic, onions, spices, ... Sometimes I do and I feel bad for a few days (silent reflux). The difference with before is that I only get silent reflux when I eat irritating foods, I don't get bad stomach pain like I used to. But I feel that if I start eating "normally" the gastritis will be back after a short while.

      On the other hand I got used eating without irritating foods, my diet is healthy and I don't mind anymore. I use a lot of herbs for flavor. I don't feel deprived because I don't eat citrus, onions, garlic or lots of spices at home. The only frustration I have is that I can't really eat at the restaurant or at a friend's dinner without feeling bad afterwards. When I go out, I always go to the same restaurant and order the same salads without dressing (I just put olive oil) that I know are safe.

      I can't tell you the brand for slippery elm or my message will be deleted, but you can send me a private message.

Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.