I have gastritis. what now? I need advice and support please

[ZingGoesPop]

I am in pain since Wednesday morning.
my stomach was cramping and in agony, was a bit sick and had pain in my back,shoulder blades and lower part of front ribcage.

GP said it's gastritis and prescribed Omeprazole (20mg/day for a month).
Said it could take weeks to get better.

Also I had a baby 2 weeks ago (our 7th child).
The pushing phase was horrible.I had to keep stopping because my stomach hurt and I felt sick as I squashed my stomach with each push.
he was born with the cord round his neck and was not fully engaged at point of being fully dilated, so my tummy was very high up and I just kept on squashing my stomach.
I was actually sick half way through 2nd stage, but even worse I threw up twice immediately after delivery - which caused the most violent contractions of my stomach ever, like knives were dug in. it was horrendous.
GP said I damaged some abdominal muscles which will also take a while to heal (by themselves).

so here I am, in floods of tears, because I am in a lot of pain (can only take paracetamol).
it hurts to stand, walk, talk, cough, sneeze, bend down, laugh.
even crying hurts.
DH is going back to work on Monday and although MIL can help a bit I'll be left with dealing with 7 children, inc a newborn whom I struggle to bf as he is very sleepy (he had TT cut, and gaining back weight slowly).
while in so much pain.

wtf am I going to do? how do I cope? what if it's for weeks or months or years?

And the diet? I looked it up - some makes sense, some contradictory but basically it's crap.
I don't have the time or energy to cook special meals for me.
just what am I going to do?

Congratulations on the new baby, Zing, and that you are feeling so rotten.

I had gastritis flare-ups following helicobacter a couple of years ago, have you had a blood test for that? (my GP was convinced because of my age, and being blonde and fertile that I had gallbladder trouble but it turned out to be h.pylori infection)

Anyway, what I found helped once I'd taken the antibiotics to get rid of the infection but still had the gastritis was:
gastrocote tablets from the pharmacy counter- they taste like butterscotch and are as cheap as chips compared to the heavily advertised (ie Gaviscon) gastricky remedies. IIRC about £8 for a tub with a 100+ in.
Manuka Honey- one of the high dosages.
Aloe Vera
Peppermint oil capsules.

Now I occasionally get a flare up, but find the peppermint oil capsules on their own sort it.

Omeprazole just left my stomach feeling raw tbh, but I know a lot of people on it longterm. It just wasn't right for me.

Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks again all of you - sorry for no individual replies, I'm typing on phone so can't see what everyone said.

I feel a bit better today.
I'm going to have a bloodtest asap - MW is coming tomorrow so no good, but might be able to book one for Tue morning before DH goes to work (also depends on when he has to leave)
if not, it will be Thu or Fri, he'll be working from home so I can pop out.

I had some chicken, butternut squash & courgettes baked in some olive oil & marjoram for lunch.
I fancied it and it felt good to eat it!

As for help - yes, DH had cooked some food ahead already, he is very good, he's been doing all the housework & childcare.
he's been telling the kids they must be very well behaved, helpful & look after me.
The older four do stuff like emptying dishwasher, hoover up, tidy up (if nagged enough ), also they can help the younger two with breakfast or making sandwiches for them.

I think it's key to find out what it is that I actually have, but it is Occam's razor applied, if it's most likely to be gastritis that's what GP will try to treat/confirm/eliminate first.

The pain is still there, but more bearable than yesterday so I feel more positive, which is a good thing.

MIL is taking DS3, DS4, DS5 & DD out for a daytrip tomorrow - she offered, just because she wants to - which comes handy.
(DS1 & DS2 will be home as they got really badly sunburnt on Friday, can't wear clothes...)

we'll take it day by day.

sangria
sorry for your bad experiences and what you went/are going through.
Thanks for dietary advice, I need to experiment, don't I?

As always I'm looking for the silver lining - if I eat less fatty & sugary & processed etc food, I will only be healthier!
and maybe slimmer too?

thanks for support

Have you had a second opinion re gastritis?

2 weeks after having a baby there are all manner of things it could be.

apermanentheadache

thanks, yes it could be a lot of things and I'm going to push for tests.
I'm not happy about "gastritis, take meds, be back in 6 weeks"
GP didn't even mention diet change or anything!

gingerroots

aloe vera - a friend of my sells aloe vera products, good tip, I'll call her.

and about mint oil/mint tea - I did a bit more internet reading, some say use, some say it didn't help, but I had some weak plain peppermint tea yesterday and it was ok.
I started a food diary tosee if any good or bad patterns emerge.

another friend is a nutritionist she will help with food ideas & supplements (especially as I breastfeed).
she gave me some slippery elm to try and see if it helps.

I also found out that chamomile tea is very good, so I'm sipping that instead of just water all the time.

just a quick update - well not much happened.
taking omeprazole but forgot it some days. I eat anything and I'm absolutely fine.
I had a blood test last Friday - results will take up to a week.
I need to do a sample for testing H.pyroli - but it's complicated for me to get to GP till this Friday. I'm guessing if it's there it will not just dissappear.

Thanks again for all advice and sympathy. I actually think the pain could have been a stomach virus as it's completely gone.
if there's more I'll update again, I don't like to just start a thread but not give "closure" IYSWIM.

and mig you are amazing and I'm very thankful for your messages. you really are a star. thank you!