- Messages
- 83
- Location
- Kent, England
In August 2016 I developed sudden gastric symptoms including nausea, loss of appetite, fullness when eating, bloating, abdominal pain (most frequently after eating; but often lasting 1-2 days after), occasional heartburn. I was put on Lansoprazole, then Ranitidine between August and December but my symptoms didn't respond to either.
I was finally diagnosed with mild gastritis of the lower stomach in December. No cause was given (I suspect natural susceptibility followed by stress and taking iron). H. Pylori and coeliac tests came back negative. They put me on Omeprazole after I said the Lansoprazole and Ranitidine hadn't helped. I started to take probiotics.
In January, relieved I only had gastritis, I made huge changes to my diet which continue to this day - bland, alkaline foods. No dairy, no gluten. And obviously nothing exciting like coffee, alcohol, tomatoes. On my worse days I have liquid/pureed foods such as babyfood, smoothies and juices. I haven't detected any trigger foods. My stomach just seems permanently irritated on some level, and this determines how badly it reacts to foods. Even a few mouthfuls can hurt-I've already switched to trying to eat little and often.
In early February, I was still no better and added in Zinc Carnosine and digestive enzymes.
In late February I was switched to an oro-dispersable Lansoprazole as I'm struggling to swallow pills. I did a two month course, which I didn't respond to (except shocking heartburn for a few days when I came off)
In March, I had made no progress and added an gut-lining support supplement which includes MSM, slippery elm, l-glutamine. I think it initially made a little improvement.
In April, I did a course of mastic gum. No response.
In May, still very unwell, I gave DGL liquorice a trial. No response.
In June, I increased my l-glutamine to about 20g/day. No response.
My bowels are working fine - no constipation, no diarrhoea.
I've lost 22lbs - which is significant weightloss as I'm a very small person already -and the trend is continued slow weightloss. I'm barely eating about 50% days as I feel so ill. A GP tried to dismiss me with IBS-which I don't think is the cause. My bowels are in full working order. This illness has also been steady for 10 months, with not even a week's break.
Is there anything else I've missed? Anything else I could try? Is gastritis really this difficult to recover from?
I finally have my follow up consultation next week so I'm putting together the questions I want to ask and tests to request.
Any advice and suggestions welcome!
I was finally diagnosed with mild gastritis of the lower stomach in December. No cause was given (I suspect natural susceptibility followed by stress and taking iron). H. Pylori and coeliac tests came back negative. They put me on Omeprazole after I said the Lansoprazole and Ranitidine hadn't helped. I started to take probiotics.
In January, relieved I only had gastritis, I made huge changes to my diet which continue to this day - bland, alkaline foods. No dairy, no gluten. And obviously nothing exciting like coffee, alcohol, tomatoes. On my worse days I have liquid/pureed foods such as babyfood, smoothies and juices. I haven't detected any trigger foods. My stomach just seems permanently irritated on some level, and this determines how badly it reacts to foods. Even a few mouthfuls can hurt-I've already switched to trying to eat little and often.
In early February, I was still no better and added in Zinc Carnosine and digestive enzymes.
In late February I was switched to an oro-dispersable Lansoprazole as I'm struggling to swallow pills. I did a two month course, which I didn't respond to (except shocking heartburn for a few days when I came off)
In March, I had made no progress and added an gut-lining support supplement which includes MSM, slippery elm, l-glutamine. I think it initially made a little improvement.
In April, I did a course of mastic gum. No response.
In May, still very unwell, I gave DGL liquorice a trial. No response.
In June, I increased my l-glutamine to about 20g/day. No response.
My bowels are working fine - no constipation, no diarrhoea.
I've lost 22lbs - which is significant weightloss as I'm a very small person already -and the trend is continued slow weightloss. I'm barely eating about 50% days as I feel so ill. A GP tried to dismiss me with IBS-which I don't think is the cause. My bowels are in full working order. This illness has also been steady for 10 months, with not even a week's break.
Is there anything else I've missed? Anything else I could try? Is gastritis really this difficult to recover from?
I finally have my follow up consultation next week so I'm putting together the questions I want to ask and tests to request.
Any advice and suggestions welcome!