Gastritis, Esophagitis, GERD , small Hiatal hernia , diverticulosis

Finding a certified dietician at your local hospital is a great idea, @lucytodd. I did the same thing when I began the FODMAP eating plan and it was very helpful. I do agree that it can be confusing at times but it seems to be worthwhile for anyone who has a problem with IBS.

If you are interested in reading more about the FODMAP eating plan, we have a discussion here on Connect that you might find interesting. Here is the link to that discussion,https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/fodmap-eating-plan/.

Here is a video by a Mayo dietician who talks about the benefits of the FODMAP diet.

Hello @fari9 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am so sorry to hear of your reflux issues as well as thrush. This sounds like a very difficult combination of problems. I would think that eating and talking would be painful. Have you lost weight?

I went to Mayo Clinic's website to find some information about thrush. Here is a link to some information, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/oral-thrush/symptoms-causes/syc-20353533. If you read the article, you will see that thrush can have many causes, including weakened immunity, diabetes, dental problems, and some medications (including steroids, especially inhaled steroids) Do any of these disorders seem to be true for you?

As a year and a half seems like a long time to not have any relief from the symptoms, have you considered getting a second opinion?

@fari9 - I also ended up in ER some years ago with Candida esophagitis. Thrush all way down. Also have GERD. At the time I was taking antibiotics frequently as well as prednisone now and then.
I thought I had a heart problem because of the severe pain.
At the time I was treated with antifungal medication.
Have you had another endoscopy to see why the pain is there? Reflux can cause a lot of pain.

Your symptoms sound a lot like mine. Have similar problems and finally last week was diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis. Other doc didn’t find it in all his test, but went to a great place, Loma Linda, Ca and he found it with first test. Not glad I have it, but at least I know what to treat. I’m a little different, have had a distal pancrectomy, which lead to type 2 diabetes, then pancreatitis, but that was years ago, but does seem to be an underlying pre-condition. Since then have been suffering with symptoms very similar to yours!

I didn't really have any issues till last Jan 2020 came down with severe sore throat like there were broken glass in my throat. After putting up with it a few days cause they said it was a virus, I started having hives and then they put me on antibiotics and prednisone, the hives went away, but I started throwing up really bad where I couldn't keep anything down, even my own saliva. So I ended up in ER and then got admitted cause I threw up blood ( coffeegrind looking). They did all sorts of tests while in the hospital and couldn't figure out what was going on except the Thrush. Unfortunately they didn't give me the right medication for the Thrush and by the time I figured out what I should be taking, I had lost 25 pounds in 2-3 weeks. I then went to different GI and ENT doctors and they gave me gabapentin for the pain so I could eat some soft food. They still don't know why the pain in my mouth has lasted so long. I have seen several ENT's and GI, dentists, had CT scan done, but they say its normal. The gabapentin has helped and over time with eating soft food, I am no longer loosing weight, but I am still in pain and can't eat anything sweet cause I feel like it aggravates that area, almost swelling in the throat. Anything hitting my mouth makes me caugh and sneeze, so it's hard to keep the food in. I have dry mouth now as well. I tried to give a shortened version, since as you would imagine I have tried many things.... I am on Omeprazole twice a day now. I didn't know if anyone has experienced this and I just don't want it to end up being cancer later on since I have had lung cancer too and am on remission.

I don't have reflux issues where you usually would think of like in my chest, unless its coming up all the way to my throat, but it's hard to pinpoint.

@fair9 - Thanks for more details. It’s possible that antibiotics and prednisone caused your thrush.
If you have dry mouth you have to do your best to keep it moist.
Vomiting with coffee ground material means there is bleeding in the stomach- this is probably the result of prednisone.
If you haven’t had one very recently I think you need another endoscopy to see what is going on.

Update :
I went to Mayo Clinic for 3 tests , Endoscopy (my 3 rd in 5 years) w/ endo flip . Entroscopy ( w/ contrast ), which is a c scan of just small intestines. 2 hr SIBO test .
I was assigned to a random Gaste Dr. That they picked out for me . I wasn’t allowed to just pick one and waited 8 months to get on .
4K $$ later ( and $800 for lodging 3 nights )… I was back yo square one ☝️.
They didn’t help me find out anything more than I knew .
His suggestions were deep breathing exercise classes , or speech therapy!!! Or a strong antidepressant . Ok ✅.. No no and no ….
I’ve tried a few low dose antidepressants through all these years . Along w/ elimatiin diets, every supplement they make for gastric health , and everything else I org wrote about .
Now it’s May 2023 …
I’m worse than ever .
Close to 10 years in . Day & Night w/o a days break .
I went to my old Gastro Dr here who I was seeing in 2020 . She said , why are you back here !! I was like , because I went to Mayo like you told me and got no help , just bills .
Now I haven’t seen a new Gastro Dr in over a year. I saw a FM APRN but she’s all over the map 🗺️ w/ things .
Plus I pay out of pocket .
I did they Keto diet recently but to no avail . My 1000’s of deep non stop belching and non stop churning gut is horrendous. Plus it’s causing me so much fatigue during day and I don’t want to eat , but I’m sick 🤢 if I’m digesting or empty gut . My heart palpitations are getting worse because I know I have Gastro Cardiac Syndrome now .
I live on Ultra Pepto and Heart Calm ( Triple Magnesium). My life has been ruined 10 years. No Joy , can’t eat . Don’t really have the energy to do much but housework and take care of my dogs . Hubby still works and is very patient and kind but it takes away from us having any fun .
Definitely depressing.
I’m 2.5 hrs from Cleveland Clinic Weston , FL . Anyone ever been to this Dr.? Or any there ?
Sorry to ramble …just still looking for answers to feel better / even if it’s only 1-2 days a week .

I’m new to this group. I appreciate that you feel safe enough to share. You sound at wits end. I empathize with you. Thank God you have an understanding husband. Having Crohn’s, diverticulosis, colitis, fibromyalgia, and arthritis (I’ll stop there), seems most “helps and meds” are short lived. The entire process of living in these nightmares is a personal Hell. Yet, you struggle onward even rage against the pain and suffering. Why? Because you still have Life! Not as you want it to be but AS IS. You are not about to give up or give in…and, I know the fatigue, pain, and anguish can feel overwhelming but You Keep Fighting the good fight! We WIN because we Believe that we can! We don’t look pretty at the finish line but these auto immune disrupters know we put up a good fight with Intent to Win!

What choice do we have ?
I have two grown kids that just got married ( both have been out of the nest since college ) now 30 and 34 . They both just got married in 2022. So I’m sure they will be starting families soon .
I have two loving dogs that depend a lot on me and my husband. I have some close friends but in other states .
No real friends here where I live . My kids are 2 hrs away and we only see them every 3-4 months for a day and a night .
I don’t drive last 4 years in FL , it’s too crazy here .
I want to give up … I really do . I’m tired as you I’m sure are of living like this and being so sick you can’t enjoy a meal , can’t sleep 💤 well , can’t just be w/o suffering .
It’s a double edged sword 🗡️. Staying here or not want to ne here anymore.
Life has not been enjoyable for almost 10 of my 61 years .
I’ve had plenty of ups and downs before that but I was healthy then .
So we keep going …
We pray maybe one Dr. Or that the Lord would help us .
I’m tired ,
We leave for a weeks vacation after 4.5 yrs not going on one .
I’m not at all excited.
That’s sad …
I’m going for my hubby and my pups 🐶.
It’s an Ocean front townhouse two hrs north of us .
I’ll do the best I can .
Thank you for your kind words and I pray 🙏 for you too .