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I think I have gastritis

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 8/26/2011 10:04 AM (GMT -7)
I went through a period of anxiety and panic attacks that put my stomach in distress real bad I wasn't eating hardly at all while going through that. Well here are my symptoms i have a burning gnawing pain in the pit of my stomach i'm not eating much cause of this i also get nausea's in mornings and after i do eat i feel bloated and gassed up. i take nexium 40mg for acid reflux but it isnt helping ever since my panic attacks and getting in this mess. i have noticed that the burning stops after i eat. does this sound like gastritis? and do you think stress can cause gastritis? thanks in advance
Posted 8/26/2011 10:24 AM (GMT -7)
You might consider changing from nexium to another ppi. Everyone reacts differently to these, and I've found that Prevacid, for example, worked much better than nexium for me.

Yes, stress absolutely affects the way your digestive system works, and how much stomach acid you're producing.
Posted 8/26/2011 10:32 AM (GMT -7)
Thank you for replying, I also noticed at the bottom of your page you have proctitis I have ulceratice colitis diagnosed in 2003 not on any meds not flaring right now but can't tolerate mesalamine drugs
Posted 8/28/2011 9:05 AM (GMT -7)
I have been having very similar symptoms. Bad nausea in AM when I first get up. Poor appetite. Have IBS as well and it has been acting up. I've even purchased a wedge pillow to use at night and I still had a lot of acid last night! I'm on several meds--Zofran generic, Bentyl, have been on Prilosec for years, stool softener, and Fibersure. Good thing is that I've lost weight in the process! I'm hoping that changing my diet will help. I'm also starting on Probiotics. I'm wondering if I should switch my Prilosec to something else? Had a Drs. appointment Friday and he didn't feel that I needed antibiotics even though I've been wrestling with this for a few weeks!
Posted 8/28/2011 11:09 AM (GMT -7)
Over the past 10 years or so I have actually gone to the ER because of gastritis. It is no joke, it makes you feel like complete hell and I would leave the ER saying "gastritis"??? Because I thought i was dying. I get the gnawing pain as well with no appetite at all sometimes, even diarrhea on occasion. I am taking otc zegerid which seems to help but I found that stress really makes it worse. I also have high anxiety and panic so trying to stay calm is often a challenge. Watch what you eat as well as much as you can. Chocolate is a huge no no for me.
Posted 8/29/2011 12:15 PM (GMT -7)
Tinlou can you describe your symptoms of gastritis? I am boated a lot and badly after eating. And I agree I feel ike complete hell.
Posted 8/29/2011 3:31 PM (GMT -7)
My symptoms always started with burning stomach, nausea, no appetite at all, i felt weak and shaky which would make me think it was just anxiety but then i would sometimes get the diarrhea too and sometimes belching. I would go to the ER only to be diagnoses with gastritis, like i said it is no joke, you feel really bad.
Posted 8/29/2011 3:44 PM (GMT -7)
I agree its no joke I have been trying to get back to normal for awhile now my stomach always burns when its empty and badly in mornings. But after I eat I'm miserable too I have the belching that only relieves it for a second then I'm bloated and gassed up and just miserable. Nexium always helped me with acid reflux but ever since I took a bad anxiety panic attack that lasted month and not eating got me where I am now and nexium isn't touching this. Its only keeping the acid down out of my throat. What did you take to help you get comfort for it to heal. It feels like your dying.
Posted 8/29/2011 4:28 PM (GMT -7)
Well since my insurance would not cover Nexium i tried Zegerid otc and it works pretty well most of the time. Yesterday I had to take a Tagamat too because it has been bad the last few days. I tried Prevacid but it gave me major anxiety/panic feelings so i had to stop. It is just so unpredictable because I can go for months feeling ok and them BOOM it comes back...it is a life long struggle to keep it under control. I also have silent GERD though too.
Stress and anxiety are big culprits for me though. Have you had any tests at all yet to check your gallbladder?
Posted 8/29/2011 8:21 PM (GMT -7)
anglfrmhvn,
Yes I do believe stress and anxiety can cause gastritis.
I had gastritis two years ago. It hurt more when my stomach was empty.
You should see a doctor and the doctor should recommend an EGD scope. My gastritis was repeatedly missed by my primary care physician and the pulmonologist (who put me on the prednisone that started the problem). On my second visit to the ER I had a doctor who had me drink a lidocaine cocktail. It numbed my stomach and took the pain away, thus giving the preliminary diagnosis of gastritis.
After I was diagnosed I changed my diet and I was pain free for a few days, but then the pain returned and just wouldn't be subdued again for 3 months. I took Aciphex, Zantac, Carafate and Tums. Carafate (liquid) coats your stomach so it can heal and it can help a lot. You just have to time it between meals so it can stick to your stomach long enough to work.
I eventually turned the corner and got better at relaxing family weekend. Being super careful about what I ate and when I dosed my medications seemed like the right thing to do, but finding some way to relax and release stress would have been just as helpful in the healing. I wish anxiety were easy to control!
Good luck.
Posted 8/29/2011 8:43 PM (GMT -7)
anglfrmhvn, what meds are you using to treat your UC? Have you been to see your GI? What does your GI say about your upper gastric pain? My first diagnosis was proctitis - but then that doc never looked beyond the sigmoid colon. It wasn't until a few years went by that I had an EGD and my new GI saw the inflammation in my esophagus; I had gastritis on that scope also. I would say that given you already have an inflammatory bowel diagnosis you need to go see your GI.
Posted 8/31/2011 2:17 PM (GMT -7)
I'm not on any meds for my uc as of right now I also need to find me a new gi doc. But it just seems like my stomach never did this til I had my panic attack episodes that lasted 7 months and not eating right now I can't get back to normal. I'm constantly miserable in my stomach and scared to death to go get checked. Should I stop taking nexium if it isn't helping? And can someone please describe your gastritis symptoms in full detail? Thank you
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