Gastritis

danlojo

Hi

Just before christmas I ended up in A & E after speaking with NHS direct due to severe stomach pain and pain in the middle of my back radiating to the right side.

After checking heart ECG, bloods, XRays and scan on gall bladder it was 'decided' that I had gastritis and also many gallstones but were small ones.

I have been on Omeprazole twice a day until last week where the doc said that I should be ok now and the meds should have sorted out the gastritis. The meds did help

4 days I've been off the meds and only been eating bland food as chocolate and citrus fruits seem to make it worse.

I am now up at this silly hour in the morning as the severe pain is back in the same areas as before.

Reading up on the internet states that to get rid of Gastritis you need 2 different types of meds as it can come back but I was only prescribed one.

Doc did say that if it did reoccur then I would be in for the camera down my throat to confirm gastritis. Why the hell are they treating me for it if it isnt confirmed? (A question I will be asking at my next appointment!)

Anyone had gastritis and what outlook I can expect as I feel pretty crap at the minute.

sarah*a

Yep - had it! Got it - hence the silly o'clock posting - currently in big pain in exactly where you said :mad: (also other pains and med problems which is why I'm having a flare up!)

Can't give medical advice on here - forum no no but I'm on 'Lanzoprazole' which is the only thing that works for me.

I was in Hosp for almost 3 weeks with it just over 18 months ago - on Morphine for the pain too :eek:

Go back to the GP - I was only given a certain amount of meds from the hospital but it was understood I would see my GP about a repeat prescription - was on for six months then off and it came back six months ago so have been represcribed.

But if it's come back they will probably want to go ahead with the endoscopy - which isn't pleasant but does find out whether you have certain bacteria that are causing it (something like helicopter or heliotrope - heli-something anyway :doh:) or if it something else like an ulcer (mine is down to my single but fairly large gallstone which isn't worth an op to remove )

The med you're on is an acid controller/ulcer treatment so they are treating the symptom not the problem maybe? But by it recurring it is maybe showing that is isn't 'just' gastric reflux and they need to treat the 'bigger' problem IYKWIM?

Anyway - go see your GP asap (tell the receptionists you have just got out of A&E if they try to give you an appt for three weeks time or whatever) and they will prob represcribe and refer for further tests.

good luck - it bl00dy hurts doesn't it :mad:


ETA: I had to google it 'cos it was bugging me! Helicobacter pylori and yeah - citrus fruit/juice can make it worse but eventually you can eat a full complement of foods again just in smaller quantitys

danlojo

Thanks for the reply Sarah

Managed to fall in and out of sleep for a couple of hours.

I am going to hang on until tomorrow (if I can) to see my GP.

Maybe they didnt leave me on the meds long enough?

To top it all it's my birthday today and we have family over for dinner (fortunately my dad will be chef) but I can see I'm going to be curled up somewhere all day:(

Would blood tests not confirm gastritis?

The endoscopy doesnt sound nice but if it sorts this out then that'd be great.

Even if they do confirm it then it can flare up again and again then....great:(

sarah*a

Happy Birthday _party_

Sorry your still feeling sh!tty for it though

I'm still up - though it has eased a little

If it's come back so painfully after only four days off the meds I would say you need to be seen again.

Try to hang on for your GP if you can - A&E is a tedious place to be - especially on your birthday!! and you wouldn't be a priority so could end up hanging around for ever :mad: But stress to the receptionist that you need to see someone asap and go sit and wait for an emergency appt if thats all you can get.

I find a warm water bottle (not burny hot!) can help as it eases some of the tension and a large glug of gaviscon can help if you catch it before it gets too painful - but speak to your GP about that too as he may advise for or against

Gastritis can be diagnosed by blood tests but thats only relevant if you are anemic (I think - trying to remember from the tests I had ) If your stomach lining isn't bleeding the blood tests won't tell them anything definate and an endoscopy will probably be the chosen route. Its uncomfortable but gives a much clearer picture.

Try to relax and enjoy your day

:cool:

danlojo

Been back to docs and the last doc should not have taken me off the meds. Should apparently be on them for 6 - 12 months to allow my stomach to recover.

Got my new meds and looking forward to feeling better as the last few days have been a nightmare,:(

sarah*a

danlojo wrote: »

Been back to docs and the last doc should not have taken me off the meds. Should apparently be on them for 6 - 12 months to allow my stomach to recover.

Got my new meds and looking forward to feeling better as the last few days have been a nightmare,:(

yes I thought that might be the case

Hopefully you wont need the nasty camera procedure

:cool: