Hello.

Could someone please tell me what Gastritis is?

I have been prescribed with 30mg Lansoprazole gastro-resistant capsules, but i am beginning to wonder if they are the right meds.

I have Hypertension, IBS and now suffer from discomfort that started in the middle upper region between my ribs and has turned into tenderness/discomfort beneath my ribs on both sides. The doc said it was acid in my tummy and gave me the prescription mentioned above.

Anyway, if it was acid wouldn't i have acid indigestion/burning in my throat. I have never had that.

Also, i have taken the meds a week now and it has had no effect, surely something should have happened by now.

Any advice would be great

Regards
Paul

Hi Paul

I have chronic gastritis. Was diagnosed almost 13 years ago.

I have symptoms every single day. Sometimes all day; sometimes just at night; most times I'm woken up in the middle of the night with my stomach burning.

I have tried every single medication, both prescription and OTC as well as alternatives. Nothing works and nothing helps.

I just saw my gastro doctor last week because my HIDA scan showed my gallbladder functioning at 17%. I thought for sure that this was the reason I had these symptoms. After meeting with two surgeons, both agreed that there was no correlation between my symtoms and GB disease. And removing the GB would not alleviate my symotoms. It's surgery and not something I need. I could have it taken out but there really isn't any medical reason for it.

Gastritis is simply an irritation of the stomach lining. It can be caused by over usage of pain medication; too much alcohol, or a bacteria such as Hpylori.

Did you have a scope?

I agree -- Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining.
It needs to be diagnosed by a Gastro Doctor that uses an Endoscope that examines the stomach lining as well as the esophagus.

Hi,
If this is the case shouldn't i have had the examination prior to being prescribed gasto-resistant capsules.

many thanks
Paul

Hi,
If this is the case shouldn't i have had the examination prior to being prescribed gasto-resistant capsules.

many thanks
Paul

Absolutely. HOw would the doctor know what he is treating? A scope is easy and painless - you don't even feel it. The only criteria would be that someone needs to be with you - or at least take you home because you won't be able to drive yourself. The doctor will talk to that person about what he saw.

You could have GERD/Reflux that sometimes mimics gastritis. You could have an ulcer. You may have Hpylori that can only be seen via a biopsy (they take a small tissue sample in various parts of your stomach - again, you don't feel it).

So correct me here if I'm wrong - the doctor tells you it's gastritis without running any testing?

Hi Nanci,

The doc did not say it was gastritis, she told me it is likely to much acid in my stomach. She then prescribed me a months dose of Lansoprazole, to be reviewed in the month, if it works i will be given a repeat prescription for it. She tells me too much acid in the stomach and IBS go hand in hand.

This is the reason why i ask what Gastritis is, i am trying to work out if this is what she is telling me i have.

Anyway, the tablets don't work, if anything it is worse. I have discomfort everywhere under my ribs, but particularily on the left side now.

Regards
Paul

Hi, I wouldn't say you'd absolutely need to have an endoscopy before getting medication. Often it's done to see if it helps in a certain time, and then an empirical diagnosis is made based on your positive response. It's cheaper than getting a scope so this is often done.

However, it is nice to get real observations of your insides rather than just trial-&-error.

Sounds like your doc could be thinking gastritis, but she could also be thinking GERD (some people say GERD is too much acid - but that's not true; it's too much acid reaching parts above your stomach).

You need your doc to tell you point blank what "disease" or condition she thinks you have, specifically.

I had an endoscopy and was told I had mild chronic gastritis. I have no clue what that is. The GI said that that was not what was causing all of my problems. That was in December. Then in March I had the HIDA scan done, adn it showed my gallbladder functioning at 9.5%. They took out my gallbladder 4 weeks ago. I don't know what was causing my symptoms. Right now I still have to watch what I eat, or I have spasms in my stomanch that are excrutiating. Also, I just went to ER twice over the weekend, and found that I have kidney stones. Also, my bowels are not working as they should right now. I am going back to doctor on Thrusday. It seems to me that everything hits at once.
Sorry about going into all that. But, do you think that gastritis and the gallbladder could be related?? It does seem that your gallbladder isn't functioning as it should. ZI am wondering if your problems could be being caused by the gallbladder. I think mine were, but it is really hard to tell this soon I guess, especially since I have many underlying conditions as well, and tons of reasons for other aches and pains in the abdominal area. if I am this bad at 20, I don't want to see what it feels like to be 50 or 60. Eeek.
Hope everything gets better for you!! Good luck.

I feel like I am a guru when it comes to gastritis. I've had it chronically for over 12 years and have had numerous testing.

First of all, the doctor is guessing Paul. What is she basing her facts on? She hasn't tested you. I went to a doctor who didn't test me (first time around). He said I have GERD and he presrcibed Prevacid. It did very little to alleviate the symptoms of constant burning in my stomach. During this time, I moved to another state. My symptoms never let up and I chalked it up to the stress of moving, finding a job, etc.

After a year, I fianlly went to a gastro doctor. He did a scope; I didn't have GERD I had gastritis - chronic. No sign of GERD at all.

I am part of a small percentage of people who actually have symptoms. If doctors took a sampling of the adult population, more than half would have gastritis and most would not have symptoms.

My GB is functioning at 17%. I went to two surgeons and both concluded that there is no correlation between gastritis and GB disease. I don't have stones or sludge according to the tests. So, taking out my GB is not going to stop my gastritis symptoms and minus the fact I do not have classic GB symptoms, there is no medical reason to take it out.

The issue with gastritis is something is causing it. It's a symptom. What that is remains a mystery for me. Of course, having a glass of wine or over eating certain foods make the symptoms worse. I can't recall a night that I haven't woke with burning under my breast bone into my stomach; not one single night!

So, my opinion is you need to first be tested to determine what it is you have!

Acid surpressants is the first line for GERD and sometimes gastitis but for me, they made me feel worse not better.

So I continue to look for alternative meds and continue to suffer!

Thanks everyone for the responses. It seems as though there are alot of people with worse symptons than me.

Funny enough i have felt a little better the last 2 days, it has not entirely gone away but the discomfort around my ribs has certainly eased. I never noticed before but it seems to worsen a little when i eat. It seems to be worse still with coffee. I do like coffee and probably drink too much of it, and i suppose the obvious answer it to stop drinking it. But has anyone else found coffee effects there symptons.

kind regards
Paul

Yes Paul, coffee does make me feel worse somtimes. Wine and tomatoes sauces do as well. But when I'm feeling reallly bad, it doesn't matter whether I drink say coffee or not. So, if I'm going to feel like crap anyway, I'll drink the cup of coffee that I enjoy.

Glad to hear you're feeling better