Gastritis after upper GI procedure

Hi @lobste, welcome to Connect. I'm tagging fellow members @ntp01 @yyyy and @lorettanebraska, who have all talked about managing gastritis and other issues. I'm hoping they may have experiences to share with you. You may also find some related information in this discussion on Connect:

- Barrett's esophagus, gastroesophageal reflux disease and acute gastritis http://mayocl.in/2aSjxzJ

Lobste, have you ever had a consult with a nutritionist?

I consulted a dietitian.

Hello @lobste,
I'm glad to know you've consulted a dietitian; diet can certainly play an important role in relieving gastritis symptoms. Could you tell me a little more about what your dietitian has said?

I was first diagnosed with gastritis 7yrs ago and have had issues with it every so often. I also have had the funny feeling you described until after I have urinated or had a bowel movement. I had to change my diet, eat small meals through out the day, not eat at least 2-3 hrs before bedtime, learn how to deal with stress better, no caffeine, coffee, decaf coffee, citrus fruits bother me, very limited alcohol, lots of fruits and vegetables...I also take probiotics (MEGAsporebiotic & Florajen3) and a multivitamin. Seems to have helped.

Hello @julier123,
I'd like to welcome you to Connect. and thank you for sharing your insight.

I'd also like to invite @ntp01, @jafd, @opaqueandblue, @lorettanebraska, @bananaz4516, @nidfer63, @lobste, @gts, @jewels11, @bearylynn, do you have any suggestions or tips that might be of benefit to this discussion?

I stumbled on this site from so much googling on the digestive issues I've been suffering. Gastritis for 10 yrs now, on and off PPIs severally. Recurrent epigastric pain + nausea and bloating. Endoscopy 3 times. Last one done March 6 2019 and now diagnosed with severe intestinal metaplasia. It's been a dreary journey.

Hello @afrochic and welcome to Mayo Connect,

I am glad to hear that you found this site while googling. I had the same experience several years ago and I have found a lot of support on Connect.

I can certainly understand your concern. The symptoms you mentioned are very uncomfortable and certainly worrisome. If you care to share more, could you tell a little bit about how these symptoms affect your eating? For example, do you eat small frequent meals, what about the consumption of fats, caffeine, etc.? Do different foods make your symptoms worse? What about your lifestyle, do you engage in a mild exercise like walking etc.?

I found a Mayo website on the topic of intestinal metaplasia, https://www.mayoclinic.org/search/search-results?q=intestinal%20metaplasia.

You have mentioned having gastritis for 10 years. Other than the endoscopies, have you had other gastric procedures and/or surgeries? What other types of health problems have you experienced? Is there a family history of gastrointestinal problems such as yours?

I look forward to hearing from you again and I certainly hope you find some answers to this troubling problem. Given your long history, have you sought a second opinion at a multidisciplinary health center (like a university medical center) or a Mayo facility?

Hi @afrochic Please let me add my welcome to @hopeful33250.

Teresa asks some good questions here. Your diagnosis does sound very troublesome. I am trying to figure out some gastric problems I have developed myself, but hopefully, the diagnosis won't be too serious.

I agree with Teresa about seeking a second opinion. That never hurts and it is good to know that you are moving in the right direction. If you are close to a major medical center, that is the best place to go.

Please do let us know your progress in confirming your diagnosis or finding it may be something else.
JK

Hello @hopeful33250
I'm so sorry to be replying one month later. I've been on a mental, emotional and physical rollercoaster. I have followed the dietary restrictions (no fatty food, fried food, coffee, sugary and processed foods, citrus etc to at least 98% faithfully yet I've come to see that what I eat or don't eat doesn't affect the symptoms. I eat bland foods like rice, potatoes, steamed vegetables and lots of fruits especially bananas, watermelon, blackberries, strawberries and apples. I am doing the best I can so far. Some days I'd get by with no symptoms only to be hit by severe nausea for the next 2-3 days. I do brisk walking but not daily. No surgeries done for any condition. I have siblings who suffer from IBS and also gastritis. But they all have it under control.
I live in Abuja Nigeria and have seen experienced gastroenterologists in the best hospitals in the city who have told me the line of treatment for my condition is PPIs and wouldn't change even if I flew to another country for treatment.

Thank you @contentandwell I'm so sorry to be replying after one month. I have sought a second, third and even fourth opinion where I live in Abuja, Nigeria. They all reach the same conclusion saying the line of treatment is the same all over the world. The second Gastroenterologist said not to worry too much about the IM diagnosis as we'll be repeating the Endoscopy in some months to make sure nothing sinister is happening. He placed me on more PPIs and advised to elevate my bed. The PPIs offer no lasting relief unfortunately so I've gone off them totally and now relying on my diet. Some days I feel no symptoms, some days I feel so terrible I can barely stand. About to start looking into herbal and naturopathic treatment. I think conventional medicine is limited in its knowledge and treatment of this condition.