I've had mild gastritis since my 20's (now 60's), and it's become worse since they never used to connect it with overacidity. My first hospitalization with it a few months ago scared the H out of me as after being on Protonix for several weeks, the side affects were intolerable. So I stopped it.

Now every bite of food I take I wonder if I'm going to get sick. I do take a natural anti-acid which helps, as well as the acid/alkaline diet. But having to give up huge addictions like caffeine & wheat barely give me much to choose from eating.

Wondering if anyone can relate. (Had a relapse last night after taking some chinese herbs for my back!!)

Thanks for sharing.................carole

I have (had) several problems, gastritis and a hiatal hernia as diagnosed by endoscope, and a failing gall bladder (removed one week ago) as indicated by the low ejection fraction of 17%. I had numerous symptoms including indigestion, pain/burning, and nausea. I was not having a reflux problem, however. Since the removal of the gall bladder the nausea and stomach aches went away, but I still get the burning pain in the center of the stomach that radiates a bit to the left side and on through to the back. Prior to my gall bladder removal, I too tried Protonix for several weeks and I did not get any better. I saw my surgeon yesterday for a surgery follow-up appointment and told him about my continuing pain. I told him the Protonix didn't help me. He suggested trying Pepcin AC, an over-the-counter drug. I tried it last night before eating, and to my pleasant surprise, I had no symptoms last night. That hardly makes for a scientific study, but I will continue to take the AC before dinner for a week to see if I stay symptom free. If I do, I'll go off the treatment and see what happens. My H Pylori biopsy was negative by the way. Speaking of which, have you been tested for H Pylori? I also wonder about your gall bladder.

No, on the biopsy. But had my GB removed many years ago, and I'm sure it's a major contributor to my G.I. problems.

I've done pretty well up until the hospitalization a few months ago. Now I'm paranoid!! The Protonix was a nightmare.

On with the research. Thanks for sharing.................carole

Then you have NOT been tested for H Pylori? It is a major contributor to gastritis and ulcers and if you have it, would be worth getting it treated. There are blood tests, breath tests, and of course biopsy to diagnose this bacteria.

Oh yes, I can definately relate. I haven't had gastritis as long as you have but I am pretty sure it isn't going away anytime soon. I was diagnosed with "mild" gastritis after an endoscopy almost 3 years ago and have been having problems ever since. I also had my GB removed over 2 years ago and I am sure that didn't help the situation. I have daily nausea, stomach pain, full feeling under left rib cage where stomach is and HORRIBLE acid reflux (to the point of waking up choking on my stomach acid at night) if I do not take my PPI. I have taken almost every PPI out there in hopes of "healing" the gastritis but none have worked or will start to work and quit working after a couple months. I take Pepto bismol or Gaviscon some days because the PPI alone just doesn't cut it. I have tried avoiding things that irritate the stomach like caffeine, greasy, spicy, acidic foods with no luck either. Both the breath test and biopsy for H. Pylori came back negative. I still have not figured out how it began in the first place--my guess would be probably after I had the stomach flu w. vomitting and was pregnant with my son at the same time. Dr.'s don't know what to make of it either...they just hand me more pills and tell me to come back in a month. I am at my wits end with this...I don't even remember what it feels like NOT to be sick anymore!!:eek:

Negative on that bacteria.

Negative meaning you were tested but came back negative for H Pylori? If you mean you haven't been tested for it, I strongly recommend that you do.

Oh yes, I can definately relate. I haven't had gastritis as long as you have but I am pretty sure it isn't going away anytime soon. I was diagnosed with "mild" gastritis after an endoscopy almost 3 years ago and have been having problems ever since. I also had my GB removed over 2 years ago and I am sure that didn't help the situation. I have daily nausea, stomach pain, full feeling under left rib cage where stomach is and HORRIBLE acid reflux (to the point of waking up choking on my stomach acid at night) if I do not take my PPI. I have taken almost every PPI out there in hopes of "healing" the gastritis but none have worked or will start to work and quit working after a couple months. I take Pepto bismol or Gaviscon some days because the PPI alone just doesn't cut it. I have tried avoiding things that irritate the stomach like caffeine, greasy, spicy, acidic foods with no luck either. Both the breath test and biopsy for H. Pylori came back negative. I still have not figured out how it began in the first place--my guess would be probably after I had the stomach flu w. vomitting and was pregnant with my son at the same time. Dr.'s don't know what to make of it either...they just hand me more pills and tell me to come back in a month. I am at my wits end with this...I don't even remember what it feels like NOT to be sick anymore!!:eek:

You have many more symptoms that I do, and I was dx with "severe gastritis". The Protonix helped get me thru a "crisis" period after an accident, but after 2 weeks, I started with the side affects........intolerable body aches; heartburn (never had before); interstitial cystitis, increased joint pains, constipation & pain with the hemroids, so after weaning down from 40mg 2x/day to lx/day to 20mg 2x/day, I no longer could handle the side affects, and stopped the Protonix over a week ago.

My side affects immediately disappeared, but I still had slight heartburn or sluggish digestion if I tried something I wasn't ready to handle. So I'm in the testing period now and will continue to do everything to avoid Protonix unless my stomach gets really bad.

We're all so different in how we handle this difficult illness.